Ursula von der Leyen to deliver State of the Union in Strasbourg on Sept 16, 2026

The European Parliament gathers for a plenary session in Strasbourg from September 14 to September 17, 2026, with the headline event the annual State of the Union address delivered by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday, September 16.

Commission to outline past year and next steps

Von der Leyen is expected to review the Commission's achievements over the past year and to set out the legislative initiatives planned for the year ahead; this will be her second State of the Union address in the current mandate.

Topics flagged for the speech include European defence and security, continued EU support for Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East, the bloc's strategy to adapt to a changing global order, competitiveness, jobs and sustainable prosperity, the fight against climate change, the next long-term EU budget after 2027, democratic resilience, migration management and the protection of the EU's fundamental values.

Members of the European Parliament will use the plenary week to assess the work of the Commission and to present their own priorities for the coming year. The annual debate on the State of the Union also allows MEPs to scrutinise the Commission and to influence the direction of EU policy.

The event will include an honorary guest: the Canadian prime minister Mark Carney is due to attend the debate as a guest of honour.

Parliamentary leaders say the State of the Union debate is a key moment of accountability: it promotes transparency and democratic scrutiny of the Commission's agenda across member states.

Photo: press material from the event