STRASBOURG, 15 September 2026 – As Commission President Ursula von der Leyen prepares to deliver her State of the Union address and engage in a debate in Strasbourg on September 16, 2026, the Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament (S&D) are calling for a change of direction. In their view, Europe must move away from deregulation and towards prioritizing the well-being and working conditions of its citizens, promoting social justice, and strengthening its sovereignty.
Iratxe García Pérez, president of the S&D Group in the European Parliament, stated, “Europe is at a crossroads. We are not simply choosing between different policies or political parties, but between two very distinct visions for our future. One built on fear, unlimited power, nationalism, and the rule of the strongest. The other, the Europe we believe in: a Europe that protects its people, defends democracy and international law, fights climate change, guarantees social rights, and has the strength to determine its own future.”
The S&D Group is committed to delivering tangible results for the people of Europe. They have already made strides in this direction with the Affordable Housing Act, aimed at addressing the short-term rental crisis. They are now calling for stronger regulations to combat speculation. Additionally, the S&D Group is demanding a Quality Jobs Act that includes stronger workplace rights, protections against artificial intelligence and algorithmic management, better mental health support, and measures to close gender gaps.
The Group is also prioritizing affordable, high-quality food, fair incomes for farmers and fishers, resilient supply chains, and sustainable European production. They are advocating for clean energy at fair prices, which would combine energy independence and competitiveness with support for households and industry. The S&D Group also emphasizes the need to strengthen the Green Deal, as climate action is vital to Europe’s health, security, and future.
In terms of Europe’s sovereignty, the S&D Group is calling for a genuine European Defence Union, joint procurement, and a stronger European industrial and supply-chain capacity. They also expect commitments to support Ukraine in its defense against Russia’s war of aggression, work towards a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, defend international law and the International Criminal Court, and pursue credible and merit-based enlargement based on democracy and the rule of law.
The S&D Group is also pushing for a Digital Fairness Act to protect minors and consumers from addictive design, dark patterns, unfair personalized pricing, and data misuse. They want to establish limits on the use of targeted advertising and build trusted platforms, cloud, artificial intelligence, and data infrastructure. Additionally, they are advocating for Big Tech to pay its fair share and respect democratic rights.
However, delivering on the S&D Group’s priorities requires adequate and sustainable financing. As such, they will oppose any attempts to weaken the Commission’s proposal for the next Multiannual Financial Framework during the upcoming negotiations. The Group stresses the need to protect cohesion policy, the Common Agricultural Policy, and social investment, including a strong European Social Fund. They also believe that new own resources are necessary to finance Europe’s social, environmental, digital, and industrial objectives, alongside gender budgeting. The S&D Group asserts that Europe cannot be asked to do more with less.
President Iratxe García Pérez concluded, “As we approach the State of the Union debate, this is the choice Europe must make. Not between north and south. Not between east and west. Not between security and freedom. Not between competitiveness and climate action. Between a Europe that retreats and a Europe that acts. Between those who believe the strongest should decide everything and those who believe that democracy, solidarity, and the rule of law make us stronger.”
About the S&D
The Socialists and Democrats are the largest progressive force in the European Parliament, bringing together MEPs from all over Europe.
www.socialistsanddemocrats.eu
S&D press contact
Andrea Maceiras Castro
President’s Spokesperson
andrea.maceirascastro@europarl.europa.eu
+32 474 75 67 42
