The "Highlights from the first year in office" and "State of the Union 2025" are two of the 13 official AD5 reference documents. Questions about current Commission priorities are among the most common on the EU Knowledge test.
The Six Political Priorities
The von der Leyen Commission's second term (2024-2029) is built around six headline ambitions:
1. European Green Deal
- Climate neutrality by 2050 — legally binding under the European Climate Law
- 55% emissions reduction by 2030 (vs 1990 levels) — the "Fit for 55" package
- Circular Economy Action Plan, biodiversity strategy, farm-to-fork strategy
- Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) — preventing carbon leakage
2. Europe Fit for the Digital Age
- Digital Decade targets for 2030 — 80% with basic digital skills, 20 million ICT specialists, all key public services online
- AI Act (the world's first comprehensive AI regulation)
- Digital Services Act (DSA) and Digital Markets Act (DMA) — regulating platforms
- European Data Strategy and data governance framework
3. An Economy that Works for People
- NextGenerationEU recovery fund (€806.9 billion)
- European Pillar of Social Rights — minimum wages, work-life balance, gender equality
- Banking Union and Capital Markets Union completion
4. A Stronger Europe in the World
- Strategic Compass for security and defence (2022)
- EU enlargement process — candidate status for Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia
- Global Gateway — €300 billion infrastructure investment (EU's alternative to China's Belt and Road)
5. Promoting our European Way of Life
- New Pact on Migration and Asylum
- Schengen area integrity and border management
- Rule of law mechanism and annual Rule of Law Report
6. A New Push for European Democracy
- Conference on the Future of Europe outcomes
- European Citizens' Initiative
- Transparency and media freedom legislation
Key Numbers to Remember
| Target | Value | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Climate neutrality | Net zero emissions | 2050 |
| Emissions reduction | -55% vs 1990 | 2030 |
| Digital skills | 80% of citizens | 2030 |
| ICT specialists | 20 million | 2030 |
| NextGenerationEU | €806.9 billion | — |
| Global Gateway | €300 billion | 2027 |
Exam Strategy
Questions about Commission priorities tend to test specific numbers and dates rather than general knowledge. Know the exact emissions targets, the Digital Decade figures, and the major financial envelopes. Also be ready to identify which priority a specific initiative falls under.