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#SOTEU - State of the European Union: Time to check how far we’ve come

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Jean-Claude Juncker delivers the State of the European Union speech Don't miss this year's Soteu debate! 

The State of the European Union debate takes place on Wednesday 12 September at 9h CET, looking back at what has been achieved and what still needs to be done. Find out how to follow the debate online and join the discussion on social media.

The annual State of the Union debate is a chance for MEPs to scrutinize the work and the plans of the European Commission and help set the future direction for the EU. This year’s debate is especially important because it will be the last before the European election in May 2019 and a new Commission takes over. This debate will not only review what has been delivered in the past years to EU citizens, but could also set the tone for the next five years by discussing future challenges and how to tackle them.. 

The event starts with a speech by Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, evaluating the past year and outlining plans for the coming year. This is followed by a debate with MEPs, who will  set out what they believe should be the EU’s priorities.

Among the issues discussed in last year’s debate were plans on defence, security, legal migration, international trade, social equality and how to strengthen the EU’s budgetary capacity and democratic decision-making process. Read more about in the press release.

Live coverage

Watch the debate live online here  or here in any of the EU’s official 24 languages.

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On 11 September at 3pm CET, President Antonio Tajani will answer questions on the debate during a live session  on Parliament's Facebook page. The State of the EU debate will be streamed live on Facebook on 12 September.

MEPs’ views

Find out what MEPs have to say about the State of the EU on social media on the EP Newshub.

Twitter

In addition you can get live updates in your own language thanks to the Parliament's Twitter accounts. Join the online discussion using the hashtag #SOTEU.

Audiovisual materials

Extensive coverage by Parliament's audiovisual services will be available here.

Parliament’s role

The State of the Union is about ensuring transparency as well as accountability. The debate takes place every year during the first plenary session of September.

As the EU’s only directly-elected body, the European Parliament acts as the people’s voice at the European level. During the 2014 European elections voters enjoyed for the first time the opportunity to influence who would become the new president of the European Commission. This change resulted in a greater role for the Parliament in setting the EU’s political agenda.

In less than a year, hundreds of millions of Europeans will elect a new European Parliament and decide who will lead the next European Commission. The future of Europe is in their hands. Read more about the coming European elections in the press kit.

Get involved

If you want to help raise awareness of the European elections next year, click here.

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EU Reporter publishes articles from a variety of outside sources which express a wide range of viewpoints. The positions taken in these articles are not necessarily those of EU Reporter.

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