State of the Union 2025

STRATEGY2025-09-10

Our proposals will cut EUR 8 billion a year of bureaucratic costs for European companies. A digital Euro for example will make it easier for companies and consumers alike. And further omnibuses are on their way – for example on military mobility or digital. For innovative companies, we are preparing the so-called 28th regime and speeding up the work on the Savings and Investments Union. Because we have many high potential startups in key technologies like quantum, AI or biotech. As they grow, the limited availability of risk capital forces them to turn to foreign investors. This is wealth and jobs going elsewhere. And it jeopardises our tech sovereignty. This is why the Commission will partner with private investors on a multi-billion-euro Scaleup Europe Fund. It will help make major investments in young, fast-growing companies in critical tech areas. Because we want the best of Europe to Choose Europe. We need clear political deadlines. This is why we will present a Single Market Roadmap to 2028. On capital, services, energy, telecoms, the 28th regime and the fifth freedom for knowledge and innovation. Only what gets measured, gets done.

This will also support our investment in the technologies that will fuel our economy. Clean and digital. Take artificial intelligence. A European AI is essential for our future independence. It will help power our industries and our societies. From healthcare to defence. So – we will focus on the first key building blocks – that's from the Cloud and AI Development Act to the Quantum Sandbox. We are massively investing in European AI Gigafactories. They support our innovative start-ups to develop, train, and deploy their next-generation AI models. When we called on the private sector to join forces with us, the response was overwhelming. And later today I will meet CEOs from some of the largest European tech champions. They will hand over their European AI & Tech Declaration. This is their commitment to invest in Europe's tech sovereignty. And we must also take the same approach on clean tech – from steel to batteries. Europe's clean tech sector must stay in Europe – and we have to take urgent action.

I am convinced: the future of clean tech will continue to be made in Europe. But for that, we also need to make sure that our industry has the materials here in Europe. And the only answer here is creating a truly circular economy. So we need to move faster on the Circular Economy Act. And move ahead in those sectors that are ready. Finally, we need to keep up the speed. So the Commission will propose an Industrial Accelerator Act for key strategic sectors and technologies. In sum, when it comes to digital and clean tech: faster, smarter and more European.

This is why we will propose a new Grids Package to strengthen our grid infrastructure and speed up permitting. And to go with that, I am presenting today a new initiative called Energy Highways. We have identified eight critical bottlenecks in our energy infrastructure. From the Øresund Strait to the Sicilian Canal. We will now work to remove these bottlenecks one by one. We will bring governments and utilities together, to address all outstanding issues. Because Europeans need affordable energy right now.

In some communities across Europe, traditional media are struggling. In many rural areas, the days of going out for a local paper is a nostalgic memory. This has created many news deserts where disinformation thrives. And this is very dangerous for our democracy. Because informed citizens who can trust what they read and hear are essential to keep those-in-power accountable. And when independent media are dismantled or neutralised, our ability to monitor corruption and preserve democracy is severely weakened. This is why the first step in an autocrat's playbook is always to capture independent media. Because this enables backsliding and corruption to happen in the dark. So we need to do more to protect our media and independent press. This is why we will launch a new Media Resilience Programme – it will support independent journalism and media literacy. But we also need to invest to address some of the root causes of this trend. This is why in the next budget, we have proposed to significantly boost funding for media. We also need to enable private equity. We will therefore use our tools to support independent and local media. A free press is the backbone of any democracy. And we will support Europe's press to remain free.

Online bullying. Adult content. Promoting self-harm. And algorithms that prey on children's vulnerabilities with the explicit purpose of creating addictions. Too often mums and dads feel powerless and helpless. That they are drowning against the tsunami of Big Tech flooding their family homes. I strongly believe that parents, not algorithms, should be raising our children. Their voice must be heard. This is why today I am here to tell you that I am listening. Just as in my days – we as a society – taught our children that they could not smoke, drink and watch adult content until a certain age. I believe it is time we consider doing the same for social media. Our friends in Australia are pioneering a social media restriction. I am watching the implementation of their policy closely to see what next steps we can take here in Europe. I will commission a panel of experts to advise me by the end of this year on the best approach for Europe. We will approach this carefully and listen to everyone. And in all of this work we will be guided by the need to empower parents and build a safer Europe for our children. Because when it comes to our kids' safety online, Europe believes in parents, not profits.

I am working on legislative packages to empower this pro-European majority. And I am so delighted, dear Roberta, that we have managed to renew the Framework Agreement between the Commission and Parliament. This will only strengthen our cooperation. And it will be an enabler for us to work on the real reforms that are needed. Because I support the right of initiative of the European Parliament. And I believe that we need to move to qualified majority in some areas, for example in foreign policy. It is time to break free from the shackles of unanimity.

Action items (10)

Mastersheet initiatives linked to this strategy.

Actions referenced in the strategy document that have no Mastersheet record yet.

All announced action items have been matched to Mastersheet initiatives.