The news:
On Wednesday 13 September 2017, the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, will deliver his State of the Union address at the European Parliament.
After a broad debate across our continent on the #FutureofEurope, with citizens, with the European Parliament, national Parliaments, local and regional authorities, and civil society at large, the President will take these ideas forward and give his personal views on the future of Europe as well as his priorities for the year to come.
The background:
Every year in September, the President of the European Commission delivers his State of the Union speech before the European Parliament, taking stock of the achievements of the past year and presenting priorities for the year ahead. The President also sets out how the Commission will address the most pressing challenges the European Union is facing. The speech is followed by a plenary debate. This kick-starts the dialogue with Parliament and Council to prepare the Commission Work Programme for the following year.
Anchored in the Treaty of Lisbon, the State of the Union address is foreseen in the 2010 Framework Agreement on relations between the European Parliament and the European Commission, which also foresees that the President sends a letter of intent to the President of the European Parliament and the Presidency of the Council that sets out in detail the actions the Commission intends to take by means of legislation and other initiatives until the end of the following year (2018 in this case).
The event:
At 9.00 on Wednesday 13 September 2017, Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker will deliver his speech in the European Parliament Plenary Chamber in Strasbourg. The event will be broadcast live on EbS and an enhanced livestream will also be available on the Commission’s Facebook page.