New Year messages from EU leaders: unity and hope amid global challenges

As the European Union steps into 2026, heads of state and government from its largest member countries – Germany, France, Italy, Spain, as well as Cyprus, the country holding the rotating Presidency of the Council of the EU – delivered poignant New Year’s addresses.

Drawing from themes of peace, democracy, and collective strength, the leaders emphasized the need for citizens to unite in the face of economic pressures, geopolitical tensions, and domestic divisions.

Macron emphasizes unity, says he will serve until his mandate ends

French President Emmanuel Macron, speaking from the Élysée Palace, framed his address around three core wishes for the French people: unity, strength, and hope. He urged national cohesion against division, stating, “Every French person has a role to play” in combating racism and antisemitism.

On the international front, Macron called for “concrete” commitments to protect Ukraine, underscoring the need for renewed strength and independence.

Looking ahead, he inspired optimism by declaring, “Let’s not give up. We will succeed” for ourselves and our children.

Macron also reaffirmed his personal commitment amid a difficult domestic environment, vowing, “I will be at work until the very last second, striving each day to live up to the mandate you entrusted to me.”

He stressed the importance of stability in the upcoming presidential election, adding, “I will do everything I can to ensure the presidential election proceeds as calmly as possible – in particular without any foreign interference.”

Finally, he highlighted immediate priorities: “From the very first weeks of the year now starting, government and parliament will have to come to an agreement to provide the nation with a budget. It is essential.”

Merz highlights war in Ukraine

In his first New Year’s address as Chancellor, delivered on 31 December, Friedrich Merz reflected on the challenges of the past year and expressed optimism for 2026, describing it as a potential “year of new beginnings” for Germany and Europe.

Merz emphasized self-assurance in a volatile world, stating, “We are not the victims of extraneous circumstances. We are not at the mercy of great powers. Our hands are not tied.”

He highlighted the ongoing war in Ukraine, noting that Ukrainians were entering their fourth New Year “under the most difficult circumstances,” and stressed that Russia’s aggression threatened Europe as a whole: “Germany is also facing sabotage, espionage and cyberattacks on a daily basis.”

On domestic issues, Merz pledged reforms to social systems amid demographic shifts, increased defence spending, and efforts to restore economic competitiveness through reduced bureaucracy and innovation.

Concluding on a note of resolve, he declared, “Germany is a great country. Let us be guided by confidence and faith in our own strength also in 2026,” adding that the year could mark a return to “decades of peace, freedom and prosperity” if Europe asserts its interests more strongly.

Mattarella reflects on Italy’s history

Italian President Sergio Mattarella’s end-of-year message addressed the hardships of 2025 while invoking hope and democratic values.

He opened by acknowledging global suffering: “A difficult year comes to an end. We are all well aware of the reasons for this and, as always, we hope for better times. Our hope is, first and foremost, for peace. Faced with the homes and dwellings devastated by bombings in Ukrainian cities, faced with the destruction of power plants, leaving children, the elderly, women, and men to endure the bitter winters of those lands, faced with the devastation of Gaza, where newborns are freezing to death, the desire for peace is ever greater, and the refusal of those who deny it because they feel stronger becomes ever more incomprehensible and repugnant.”

Reflecting on Italy’s history, he noted, “Eighty years are a short span of time when viewed through the eyes of great history, but they have been deeply significant decades,” and praised women’s role in democracy: “The first frame of our journey is represented by women. The sign of the people’s unity, in fact, was symbolically impressed by the women’s vote, finally called to the polls for the first time. That sign gave the Republic an indelible democratic character, initiating a path, still ongoing, towards full equality.”

Urging the youth, he said, “Take their fate into their own hands and therefore also that of the Republic,” closing with, “With the hope that the new year brings serenity, peace and confidence in the future.”

Sánchez highlights economic growth

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez bid farewell to 2025 with an upbeat video message posted on social media on 31 December, opting for a digital format rather than a traditional televised address.

In the nearly two-and-a-half-minute clip, Sánchez delivered a month-by-month recap of his government’s achievements, insisting that “this Government has improved your life month by month.”

He touted economic growth, declaring “Spain is growing like never before”, and highlighted measures such as pension increases, minimum wage hikes, housing initiatives, extended parental leave, aid following wildfires, and solidarity actions toward Gaza.

Concluding on a forward-looking note, Sánchez pledged continuity, vowing his administration would continue going all out to improve the lives of ordinary people.

The message notably avoided references to corruption scandals or political controversies plaguing his party.

Cyprus takes over the rotating EU Presidency

Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides delivered a televised New Year’s message on 31 December, hailing 2026 as a “milestone moment” for the nation as it assumes the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union for six months starting 1 January.

“This is, without doubt, a moment of pride, a national mission, and a great responsibility,” Christodoulides said, expressing confidence that Cyprus would rise to the occasion while working toward “an autonomous union open to the world.”

He touted the country’s economic resilience, noting that “the dawning of 2026 finds the Republic of Cyprus… moving forward with confidence and pride on the path of economic growth, boasting full employment, zero inflation, a significant reduction in public debt and successive upgrades in its credit rating.”

Highlighting ongoing reforms, the president pledged continuity: “We will continue with exactly the same determination in 2026, with the pension reform and the substantial increase in pensions as our flagship reform.”

Christodoulides closed on an optimistic note: “In a few hours, we will be welcoming 2026, with the flag of the Republic of Cyprus proudly flying on the highest mast in Europe, and with the certainty that our homeland will continue to move forward with responsibility and confidence.”

The address underscored national unity and European engagement amid global challenges.

Bulgaria is “world news”

“To reclaim our democracy, we must not waste the energy from the squares and the opportunity to change the country,” Bulgaria’s President Rumen Radev stated in his New Year’s address.

“In just a few minutes, Bulgaria will become world news. The decision to adopt the single European currency is a strategic choice at a contentious moment,” Radev stated in his New Year’s address.

He noted that the introduction of the euro is the final milestone in Bulgaria’s integration into the European Union. However, Rumen Radev continues to believe that abandoning our national currency should have occurred only after a referendum with the people.

According to the head of state, the protests have shown that people want “democracy, justice, fair elections, objective media, a real European perspective, and a dignified life.”

The President reminded that in 2026, early parliamentary elections are ahead, as well as presidential elections in the autumn. The government resigned following unexpectedly powerful protests in Sofia and many large cities against the Borissov-Peevski oligarchic model.

Nearly one million Bulgarians protest oligarchy as Borissov hints at January resignation

Caption: Revelers look at a light and fireworks show displayed on the Arc de Triomphe to celebrate the New Year 2026 on the Champs-Elysees avenue in Paris, France, 31 December 2025. EPA/CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON