Debate on the 2025 State of the Union Address

On September 10th, 2025 at 9:00, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, delivered her first SOTEU speech of her second mandate to the European Parliament. During a speech that lasted well over 70 minutes, the President addressed the most pressing challenges the European Union faces and set out her ideas and agenda for the coming year.

The same evening at 17:00, a debate was organized by the Bruges Library and European Documentation Centre with Rector Federica MOGHERINI and Professor Michael KAEDING as the main speakers. They were introduced by academic assistant Harm van de Plassche, who opened the lively evening by poignantly touching upon the origins, history and meaning of the State of the Union Address as a concept. Rector Mogherini and Professor Kaeding then followed by explaining how we can interpret this year’s address in different ways. Rector Mogherini offered her views from an insider’s perspective, and Professor Kaeding provided us with an academic take on things.

The well received event was closed off by a brief Q&A session where staff, students of the Victoria Amelina Promotion and participants of the EUDA/EUDP programs had the chance to raise their voices.

A selection of the event photos can be consulted here.