Ursula von der Leyen prepares 2026 State of the Union address

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is preparing her annual State of the Union (SOTEU) address, scheduled for September 16, 2026. The speech aims to review the previous year's achievements and outline priorities for the upcoming term.

Top officials indicate that von der Leyen faces the challenge of demonstrating results from her second Commission while maintaining a parliamentary majority amidst rising populist sentiment. The address is expected to address urgent EU challenges and potential future shaping of the Union, including discussions around the EU budget and taxation.