State of the Union Address 2016: Towards a better Europe - a Europe that protects, empowers and defends

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker delivered his 2016 State of the Union address before the European Parliament in Strasbourg on 14 September. Setting out his priorities for the year ahead, the President said: “The next twelve months are decisive if we want to reunite our Union. Europe is a cord of many strands – it only works when we are all pulling in the same direction: EU institutions, national governments and national Parliaments alike. And we have to show again that this is possible, in a selected number of areas where common solutions are most urgent.” Building on the political priorities of the Commission, President Juncker announced a series of major initiatives including a proposal to double the duration and financial capacity of the European Fund for Strategic Investments to spur jobs and growth, and accelerating work on the Capital Markets Union to provide companies with access to diversified sources of financing. The State of the Union speech starts the dialogue with the European Parliament and Council to prepare the Commission Work Programme for the following year.