“No surprises in the European Commission President’s speech”

On the margins of the annual State of the Union address by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen – SOTEU 2022, MEP Irena Joveva attended the State of the Union debate at Hiša EU (House of the EU) on Wednesday, 14 September. In her opinion, von der Leyen’s address was predictable, or at least unsurprising. It contained some positive announcements, but also omitted many topics. Regarding the President’s mention of the Western Balkan countries, the MEP observed that the EU should finally stop giving false hopes and promises which it fails to keep.

According to Joveva, what we have been hearing much too often are merely wishes and ideas on how the Western Balkans should become a part of the EU. She believes that the Commission President is right to touch on the Western Balkans in her annual State of the Union address, but she is also convinced that without shifts in the EU’s decision-making system, no progress can be achieved. She criticised the system of consensus required in the Council, where some Member State leaders often pursue narrow vested interests, while the European Parliament and the European Commission have no competence to decide on the progress of the Western Balkan countries towards EU accession.

The MEP assessed the President’s speech as rather general, despite at times containing some specific announcements, where the biggest concern is their implementation.

Joveva opined that the Commission President had failed to sufficiently address social issues and the media, such as the European Media Freedom Act, which is to be proposed this week, and there was scant mention of the rule of law.

Nevertheless, Joveva praised the Commission President for highlighting in her speech the area of mental health, which does not receive attention it ought to. She expressed her satisfaction that the report on the impact of COVID-19 closures of educational, cultural, youth and sports activities on children and young people in the EU was expected to be adopted during this week’s plenary session, to which she contributed as a rapporteur on behalf of the Renew Europe group.

The speech by the European Commission President and MEP Joveva’s contribution to the debate can be viewed HERE.