Ursula von der Leyen will give her speech on the state of the European Union this Wednesday morning before the plenary session of the European Parliament.
But what is the story of this speech?
The State of the Union, or State of the European Union (SOTEU), is an annual speech used by the President of the European Commission to present the main political priorities, objectives and initiatives of the next legislative year.
For this reason, it takes place in mid-September, after MPs have returned from the summer holidays. In the long speech, which lasts between 40 minutes and an hour, the head of the commission reflects on the greatest achievements and – in a careful framework of institutional self-criticism – the mistakes of the last 12 months.
The text is usually sprinkled with a dose of political philosophy: the Presidents openly reflect on the European Union’s raison d’être and its unwritten future, while urging their audience to work together for shared prosperity.
This year’s SOTEU is poised to make history: Ursula von der Leyen will become the first Commission President to deliver the speech with an all-out war in Europe.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine and the deepening energy crisis are expected to top the von der Leyens’ agenda, casting a distinctly darker slant on the special occasion.
Watch the video above to learn more about the history of the State of the European Union address.