15.09.2021

URSULA VON DER LEYEN: TO SUPPORT THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF EUROPE

2022 must be dedicated to Europe's youth, who have sacrificed so much in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen said in a speech on the state of the EU to MEPs.

The main highlights of her speech were also the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, climate change, international threats and the Community Defense Union.

She said an Erasmus-like program called ALMA was being prepared, which would allow Europe's young people to gain professional experience in other countries in the community. New resources are also being sought for the Next Generation program, which funds various projects to rebuild the EU economy after the coronavirus pandemic. The main emphasis is on the green economy, education and other sectors.

"Young people in Europe have filled words with empathy with content," Von der Layen said, pointing out that the young generation is ready for bold action and is the hope for the future of the community.

In the conditions of severe crises - health, economic, we have managed as a "United Europe", said the President of the European Commission to MPs and added that more tests are ahead, especially because the countries are not recovering at the same speed.

She also noted that the EC will strictly monitor compliance with European values, such as compliance with the rule of law. Equality before the law is a right that must be respected by all countries and that this principle must be respected throughout Europe, Von der Layen added. The EU will soon begin serious work to protect European budget funds. "Corruption undermines the foundations of democracy," she said.

With regard to the fight against coronavirus, the EU will focus on accelerating the vaccination of third countries. The data show that less than 1% of vaccines are in low-income countries. There are also "worrying differences" regarding vaccination of the population in EU countries.

Von der Leyen pointed out that more than 700 million doses of vaccines have been given in EU countries, and more than 70% of the adult population of the community has already been vaccinated. But nearly half of the EU's vaccines have been exported and distributed to 130 countries around the world.

"The pandemic is a marathon, not a sprint," she said, adding that the results were due to empathy and work "as Europeans." The EC will also work to better prepare for a pandemic response.

With regard to the economy, the community has learned lessons and the recovery of gross domestic product will not take a decade, as was the case with previous economic turmoil. The EC will analyze economic governance and a number of reforms are forthcoming, targeting, for example, the labor market in Spain, the tax system in Austria, digital skills, 5G and digital technologies in general.

Another priority will be the fight against tax evasion and financial fraud. The profits that businesses generate are due to social infrastructure, education and companies have to pay fair taxes for this.

The EU will restrict the import of goods from countries that use forced labor, as "human rights are not a commodity," Von der Layen said in a speech.

Scientific data is already clear - climate change is due to human activity, said Ursula von der Leyen. She was adamant that now was the time to act and cited as an example some of the measures that European countries are taking. In recent months, for example, a very large number of electric cars have been registered in Germany. The EU will set up a Social Climate Fund to help fight energy poverty. 34 million Europeans in a state of energy poverty, recalled Ursula Von der Leyen.

She pointed out that each continent has its own responsibility in the fight against climate change, but the leading economies must support poor countries and the EU will allocate 4 billion euros a year in this regard. Von der Layen called on other partners to follow suit. The EU and the US can send a very strong signal to the world community in the fight against climate problems, and the world will "rest" if there is a clear strategy to reduce emissions from China, added Von der Layen.

"We are with the people of Afghanistan," the EC president said. She pointed out that with regard to international crises, the community works with other international organizations, but also "can and should do more on its own".

Von der Layen explained that they are working to create an EU Defense Union to reduce the community's dependence in this area. Work must be done to improve cybersecurity, to produce weapons in EU countries, so that the community can have an independent defense policy. "Europe needs to go one step further," she said.

 In his speech, the EC President outlined more measures to protect media freedom. Legislation is being prepared at EU level to guarantee media freedom. "The media are not economic entities, they must work in the conditions of independence," she was categorical.