President von der Leyen in her first State of the Union address of the new mandate has a unique chance to set the tone for the years ahead. Employers and entrepreneurs across Europe will be listening for one thing above all: urgency.
welcomes the proposal but also realises that the EU needs to prioritise the phase-out of Russian gas and oil in 2026, ensuring full and definitive completion by the end of 2027 at the latest, and recognises the urgent need to cease funding Russia’s war effort and place the EU’s security above the perceived short-term financial gains of a handful of Member States. The new article 7 that the EESC proposes would put oil imports on an equal footing with gas imports.
When I took office in April 2023, Europe was at a crossroads. War had returned to our continent, trust in democracy was under strain and citizens were facing a cost-of-living crisis, high inflation and the twin green and digital transitions. From the very first day, I made clear that our pledge would be to stand up for democracy and speak up for Europe. This was not a slogan but a mission.
When I took office in April 2023, Europe was at a crossroads. War had returned to our continent, trust in democracy was under strain and citizens were facing a cost-of-living crisis, high inflation and the twin green and digital transitions. From the very first day, I made clear that our pledge would be to stand up for democracy and speak up for Europe. This was not a slogan but a mission.
In these two years the EESC has proven it is more than an advisory body. It has become the voice of Europe’s civil society, speaking up for democracy, social justice and sustainability. We launched the Enlargement Candidate Members initiative, giving 147 civil society representatives from nine candidate countries a seat at the table. They shaped opinions, joined debates and showed that enlargement begins not at accession but with participation. With Commission support, the initiative is secured until 2027 and will grow further, including Kosovo in the next phase.
We also defended democracy at home and abroad. Civil Society Week has become a flagship event for participation. We worked with the European Parliament to mobilise citizens for the 2024 elections and supported the Commission’s Defence of Democracy package. Through our Rule of Law Group we carried out missions to candidate countries and gave visibility to journalists and activists. The EESC has become a recognised watchdog for democracy, rights and the rule of law.
The social dimension was central to my presidency. We brought housing back onto the European agenda, created the Youth Test, advanced gender equality and built cooperation with UN Women. We placed water security on the map with our Blue Deal. We made sure that young people, women and vulnerable groups had a structured voice in Europe’s future.
Looking outwards, we turned the EESC into a Global Gateway for Civil Society. We built a milestone partnership with the African Union, revived the EU Brazil Round Table, strengthened our voice at the United Nations and stood as Europe’s democratic voice at the G20 Social Summit. These steps showed that democracy is not only a European project but a global one.
The debate on the next multiannual financial framework has confirmed the need for a strong EU budget that matches our ambitions. The current proposal is not sufficient, especially as enlargement will require substantial new resources. Cohesion policy must remain a strategic investment tool and enlargement must be properly funded.
As my mandate comes to an end, I am proud that the EESC is more visible, more relevant and more united than ever. We stood up for democracy when it was under pressure. We gave civil society a real voice in enlargement. We defended social justice and equality. We projected Europe’s values to the world. This is the legacy we leave to the next presidency. Europe needs organised civil society more than ever and the EESC has shown that it is ready to deliver.
