The State of the Union Address by Commission President von der Leyen gives a realistic picture of the challenges Europe faces, while pointing towards a future in which our Union can be stronger, more resilient and autonomous.
16 September 2026 – Reacting to President von der Leyen's 2026 State of the Union address, the Employers' Group of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) welcomed the Commission's renewed focus on competitiveness, the Single Market, energy costs and access to capital, while stressing that Europe's businesses will now judge the agenda on delivery, not ambition.
Hosted by the EESC Employers' Group and organised by ELEC - European League for Economic Cooperation, with the support of INSME and AZIMUT, the conference will bring together EU policymakers, experts, industry representatives, and civil society with the aim to contribute to the ongoing debate on the future of European defense by proposing a strategic, institutional, and value-based framework for a European Defense Policy.
Water resilience requires stronger cooperation, recognition of access to affordable water as a universal right, and a more effective multilateral framework. The EESC brought together civil society actors to help shape the EU contribution to the 2026 UN Water Conference.
