Lower living costs, stronger borders and a more competitive economy. These topics dominate Parliament’s expectations for Ursula von der Leyen’s State of the European Union speech. Political groups broadly agree on the problems facing Europe, but differ sharply over climate policy, taxation and how much the EU should intervene.
The Commission president will deliver her annual address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg on 16 September. The State of the European Union reviews the Commission’s record and sets out its priorities for the coming year.
Ahead of the debate, Parliament’s political group leaders presented competing demands ranging from affordable housing and new taxes to deregulation and tighter migration controls. Parliament President Roberta Metsola said lawmakers wanted “answers and concrete action”.
Ms Metsola said people expected lower bills, greater security, competitive businesses and control over Europe’s borders. “Those are the questions that matter. And this is no time for small steps,” she added.
Cost of living and competitiveness unite groups
Concern about household finances and employment extended across much of the political spectrum. Manfred Weber (DEU), leader of the centre-right European People’s Party, placed the economy and well-paid jobs at the centre of his priorities. He pointed to public fears about living costs and unemployment.
Socialists and Democrats leader Iratxe García Pérez (ESP) called for affordable housing, quality jobs and better prospects for young people. “Salaries, pensions, education, health: this is what Europe needs to respond to for our people,” she said.
The Left demanded a more interventionist response. Its co-president Martin Schirdewan (DEU) accused Ms von der Leyen of weakening the Green Deal and workers’ rights while living costs increased. He called for European taxes on large technology companies, wealthy people, food retailers’ excess profits and the arms industry.
Competitiveness produced wider agreement but different remedies. Ms Metsola warned that European companies faced heavily subsidised imports and products made under unfair conditions. “Europe should remain open to the world,” she said. “Openness cannot mean vulnerability.” Similarly, Renew Europe leader Valérie Hayer (FRA) emphasised removing barriers within the single market. She also called for economic partnerships focused on critical raw materials.
If we do not stop this suicide for the European economic policy, we will be far behind the economic policy of other countries.
— Stanisław Tyszka, ESN Group Co-Chair
The issue also dominated last year’s State of the European Union debate. As EU Perspectives reported at the time, Ms von der Leyen promised to reduce energy costs, support European industry and simplify regulation. Its return to the top of Parliament’s agenda suggests that political groups remain unconvinced by the results so far.
Climate and EU powers expose divisions
Climate policy revealed the clearest disagreement. Green co-president Terry Reintke (DEU) criticised the Commission’s response to another summer of deadly heat and extreme weather. She demanded a plan to phase out fossil fuels and adapt Europe to worsening climate conditions.
Groups on the right argued that environmental rules had damaged European industry. Nicola Procaccini (ITA) of the European Conservatives and Reformists called for “real deregulation” and a green transition that was less ideological. Stanisław Tyszka (POL) of the Europe of Sovereign Nations blamed energy prices and emissions rules for falling competitiveness, describing current economic policy as “suicide”.
Meanwhile Marieke Ehlers (NLD) of Patriots for Europe expected Ms von der Leyen to propose “more EU, more money, more centralisation”, while her group wanted the opposite. “The central message from us to Ms von der Leyen would be: less is more,” she said. Her group called for fewer restrictions on businesses and everyday life.
Migration and security nevertheless appeared across the political divide. The centre-right and right-wing groups demanded stronger borders, while Renew called for the EU migration pact to be implemented alongside legal routes for workers. Support for Ukraine and stronger European defence also featured in demands from the European People’s Party and Renew.
Ms von der Leyen must now turn those shared concerns into concrete proposals. The debate will show whether they can survive Parliament’s sharply different demands.
