In her first State of the Union address on 16 September 2020, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen presented her vision for a Europe that emerges stronger from the pandemic and leads the way towards a new vitality. The key messages for the future are the need for Europe to become green (stressing the European Green Deal) and to develop and release its digital economy potential. Both these key political elements also hold potential for development of rural areas (i.e. new approach to green energy and hydrogen valleys, ensuring full coverage of rural areas with broadband).
For more information about the State of the Union 2020, including President von der Leyen's speech, Initiatives proposed in the Letter of Intent to President Sassoli and Chancellor Merkel, and ‘Von der Leyen Commission: one year on’, please visit this webpage.