- Age groups
- Ages 12 to 15
- Ages 15 and over
- Topics
- Type of material
What is the State of the European Union address (SOTEU)?
It's an annual speech delivered every September by the President of the European Commission before the European Parliament. The speech is an opportunity to address Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) but also European citizens to share the vision for the EU, highlight recent achievements and announce major upcoming actions.
The State of the European Union (SOTEU) is the moment when the EU sets its priorities, addresses today’s challenges, and turns vision into action.
This year’s SOTEU takes place on 10 September.
In this video, you’ll learn:
- What SOTEU is and why it matters
- How it shapes EU policies on jobs, energy, security & more
- Real examples: from securing chips supply to media freedom
What actually happens during SOTEU?
- Review and reflection: The Commission President stands up in front of Members of the European Parliament, to look back at the past year, assessing what was achieved.
- Looking to the future: The President lays out concrete goals, new laws and upcoming initiatives for the next year.
- Live feedback: As soon as it ends, Members of the European Parliament debate with the Commission President.
Why does it matter to you?
The initiatives announced at SOTEU directly shape daily life across the European Union with key announcements that impact your future.
Toolkit educators 12 to 15 years old
Toolkit educators 16 years old and above
Understanding the topics
Your educator will explain what the State of the Europe Union is.
Different topics will be mentioned, but they'll be discussed with political words. Let's try to understand them and find different words to explain them. For each of the topics below, write down a different version of what they mean.
Toolkit students 12 to 15 years old
Toolkit students 16 years old and above
On the same topic
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