When: Wednesday 16 September at 8.15

Where: Media stand-up area by hemicycle, European Parliament, Strasbourg

You can follow the press point live via EP webstreaming and the European Broadcasting Service.

From 9.00, you can follow the 2026 State of the European Union debate with Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney will attend the debate as a guest of honour.

You will find all footage, extracts and pictures, as well as videos from previous SOTEU debates, on the EP Multimedia Centre’s dedicated page.

Practical information for the media

Journalists are strongly advised to arrive at the Parliament well ahead of the debate.

Debate on the State of the European Union

The State of the European Union debate is a key moment of accountability for the European Commission towards the EU’s democratically elected representatives, fostering a more transparent and democratic Union. It allows MEPs to scrutinise the European Commission’s work and help…