| European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker will deliver his first State of the Union address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday 9 September, from 09h CET. His assessment and proposals for the future will be followed by a debate with MEPs, who will have their own analyses and proposals to make. They will also say what they expect from the Commission Work Programme for 2016. The migration crisis and Schengen, Greece and the eurozone are likely to be among issues to be raised.
MEPs expect President Juncker, elected last year by Parliament based on the outcome of the European elections, to present a review of what has been achieved since then, an outline of upcoming Commission initiatives, and also a long-term vision for the EU. The debate is likely to focus on the migration crisis and Schengen, Greece and the eurozone, growth and employment in the EU.
The debate will start at 9h with Juncker’s State of the Union speech, followed by EP political groups’ leaders and members. It ended with Juncker’s replies to MEPs’ questions and interventions. A dedicated website, with information, useful links including webstreaming and a Twitter dashboard (#SOTEU) will be online on Monday, 7 September.
The State of the Union debate is an important part of Parliament’s democratic scrutiny of Commission work. The Commission President has presented assessments of the political developments in the EU and plans for the future every year since 2010. But this is the first time that the State of the Union speech will be delivered by a Commission President actually elected, rather than just approved, by the European Parliament.
Below please find a video to introduce the State of the Union debate.
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As the lead candidate of the party which won most seats in the European elections of 22-25 May, on 15 July 2014 Jean-Claude Juncker was elected by the European Parliament in a secret ballot as President of the new European Commission to take office on 1 November 2014 for a five year term.
In 2014, for the first time, the European Council proposed to the European Parliament a candidate for President of the Commission (Spitzenkandidaten) "taking into account the elections to the European Parliament and after having held the appropriate consultations".
Prior to the 2014 elections, presidential candidates were for the first time nominated, enabled to present election programmes and run campaign for the position.
The first State of the Union address to the European Parliament was delivered by José Manuel Barroso on 7 September 2010. |
