European Commission

The EU’s overall political strategy is developed jointly by its institutions: the European Parliament, European Council, Council of the European Union, and European Commission.

In particular, the European Council provides the EU’s direction and goals for a 5-year period in the EU Strategic Agenda.

Every five years, at the beginning of a new Commission term, the President of the Commission also determines the priorities for its upcoming term of office.

Every year, in the speech on the State of the Union, the President of the Commission presents and debates with the European Parliament the achievements of the Commission during the previous year and announces key initiatives planned for the year to come. These initiatives are also shared with the President of the European Parliament and with the rotating Council Presidency in a so-called 'letter of intent'.

Based on this and on the 5-year overarching priorities, a plan of action for the next calendar year is set out in the Commission work programme. It describes how the priorities will be turned into concrete actions.

Through strategic foresight, the Commission also seeks to embed future insights into its policy-making, strategic planning, and preparedness.