The President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso delivered the "State of the Union Address 2010" on Tuesday, 7 September 2010 at the European Parliament. In his State of the Union Address 2010, President Barroso set out his strategic programme for the Union for the next year. "My message to each and every European is that you can trust the European Union to do what it takes to secure your future." The President also assured that the economic outlook today is better than one year ago. "But our work is not finished. We must accelerate our reform agenda," he added.

Todays address was the first-ever State of the Union address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg. The ensuing debate enabled MEPs to review with Mr Barroso the developments in the European Union since the EP elections of June 2009 and the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty in December 2009.

Hence, President Barroso said the recovery was gathering pace but unevenly, and unemployment was still too high. He called for greater use of the internal market and less red tape. He also called EU countries to show solidarity in tackling Europes economic problems over the next year. “We either swim together, or sink separately”, he said.

Read the full presidents speech. Letter by President Barroso to the Members of the European Parliament.