Speech by Mr von der Leienas on the situation in the Union in 2021
UNION SOUL AWAKENING
Introduction
Mr President,
Honourable Members! Honourable Members!
Many people feel that their lives have stopped while the world is moving forward.
The events are developing so fast and the challenges are so enormous that they are sometimes difficult to comprehend.
At this time we are looking for our essence. People think about the meaning of their lives and there is extensive discussion on shared values and sharing of vaccines with other countries.
But when i look back at the past year and assess the situation in the Union today, i see a spirit of spirit in everything we do.
In the words of Robert Schuman, “Europe” there is a need for soul, ideal and political will to serve this ideal.”
Over the past twelve months, Europe has seen these words in life.
In the world in most health crises that have not been seen the centurieswe chose to stick together so that vaccines that save human lives are equally available in all parts of Europe.
In the deeper in the global economic crisis that has not been seen for decades, we chose to stick together by creating a tool Nextgenerationeu.
And all the time in the worst climate crisisas our planet is experiencing, we chose to stay together again and start the European Green course.
That is what we have done together as the Commission, Parliament and 27 Member States. As a single Europe. And we can be proud.
But the time of the coronavir is not yet over.
During the pandemic, the time of suffering has not yet expired in our society. We cannot make unprecedented people's hearts, give life to those who divorced them, and turn the time lost by our young people. As the world recovers at an unequal pace, there are cracks and we are faced with both new and emerging problems.
It is therefore clear that the next year will also examine our character.
But i think there is a human spirit in the tests, a human soul.
Seeing what is happening in the Union, i know that Europe will pass this test.
This confidence is inspired by the inspiration that we can draw from European youth.
Because our youth empathy and solidarity are not empty words.
They are convinced that we are responsible for our planet.
Although they are concerned about the future, they are determined to make it better.
Our Union will become stronger if we are more like our next generation: let us think deeply, be determined and take care. Let us be rooted in values and be courageous.
This approach will be more important than ever in the next twelve months. This message is contained in a letter of intent sent this morning to the President of Parliament, Sasol and Prime Minister Janšam, on our next year's priorities.
EUROPE: UNITED IN THE DAYS OF INSECURITY AND RECOVERY
Honourable Members! Honourable Members!
The year is a long time in the pandemic.
When i stood before you 12 months ago, i did not know when, and if ever, we would have a safe and effective vaccine against Covid-19.
But today, despite criticism, Europe is in the leading positions in the world.
More than 70 percent of the adult population are vaccinated in the European Union. And we were the only one who offered half of the vaccines produced in our territory to other countries in the world. Throughout THE EU we delivered more than 700 million doses, while more than 700 million were shipped outside Europe for more than 130 countries.
We are the only region in the world that has succeeded.
The pandemic is a marathon, not a sprint.
We followed scientific knowledge.
We fulfilled the promise given to Europe. We filled the promise to the world.
Our approach was right because we acted The European in the spirit. And it gave the results!
But there is no reason to be self-satisfied, although we have all the reasons to be sure of ourselves.
Our first and most urgent priority is to accelerate the process of vaccination in the world.
In low-income countries, less than 1 % of the worldwide vaccine doses have been administered, indicating the level of injustice and the urgency of action. It is one of the biggest geopolitical issues of today.
The European team is investing a billion euros to increase the production capacity of mRNA vaccines in Africa. We are already committed to sharing 250 million doses.
Today i can declare that the Commission comes up with a new commitment to donate another 200 million doses by mid-year.
It is not only an investment in solidarity but also in global health.
The second priority is to continue working here in Europe.
We see alarming differences between the scope of vaccination in the various Union countries.
That is why we must not lose the pace.
And Europe is ready. We have another 1.8 billion dosage. They will be enough for us and our neighbours when we need to start boosting vaccination. Let us do everything we can to ensure that the current situation does not address the pandemic of the unvaccinated population.
The last priority is to strengthen our preparedness for pandemics.
Last year, i said that it is time to set up a European health Union. Today we have fulfilled this promise. We have come forward with a proposal for the establishment of AN EU Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority HERAand commence its activities.
We will be able to deal with health threats in the past in the past and more.
We have innovation and scientific capacity, private sector expertise and competent national authorities. It must now be combined with substantial funding.
I therefore propose: in the field of health to start a new mission and resilience mission covering the whole OF THE EU. “European team” would provide an investment of eur 50 billion by 2027.
We will therefore be sure that no virus will be able to convert the local epidemic into a global pandemic. For investment, it is the best return.
Honourable Members! Honourable Members!
The establishment of the European Health Union is a major step forward. I would like to thank the European Parliament for your support.
We have shown that by doing together we are able to act rapidly.
I'll give you an EU digital certificate as an example.
To date, more than 400 million certificates have been established throughout Europe. 42 countries from 4 continents have joined the system.
We proposed to create it in March.
You supported this idea!
Three months later, the certificate was already running.
Thanks to these shared efforts, while the rest of the world talked about it, Europe did so.
We got a lot of things. We, needlessly, set up the instrument SURE. Support from it was received in Europe by 31 million workers and 2.5 million companies.
We learned the lessons from the past when we were too broken and our actions were late.
The difference is obvious: the previous time took 8 years to return the euro area GDP to pre-crisis levels.
This time IT is expected that IN 19 countries GDP will return to the pre-decandic level already this year and the rest are next year. The growth of the eurozone in the last quarter has stalled both THE US and China.
And that's just a start. Lessons from the financial crisis should be seen as a warning example. Europe then declared the crisis too early and we had to pay for it. We won't repeat this mistake again.
The good news is that Nextgenerationeu we will invest the funds now, both short-term in Recovery, long-term prosperity.
We will address the structural challenges of the economy: from labour market reforms in Spain to pension reform in Slovenia or tax reform in Austria.
We will make unprecedented extensive investments IN 5G and broadband networks. However, investment in digital skills is equally important. The implementation of this task will require leadership and a structured dialogue at the highest level will be needed.
Our response will give a clear direction to both markets and investors.
But, looking forward, we must also think about how the crisis has changed the structure of the economy: increasing debt levels, having different effects on different sectors and creating new patterns of work.
The Commission will therefore re-launch a discussion on the review of economic governance in the coming weeks. Its intention is to reach a consensus on what we will do next time before 2023.
Honourable Members! Honourable Members!
It will soon be 30 years since the CREATION OF THE EU single market. For 30 years, it has been a driving force for progress and prosperity in Europe.
In the early stages of the pandemic, we defended it against the pressure that would have fragmented it and declined its foundations. In our recovery process, the Single Market is a driver of quality jobs and competition.
This is particularly true for the digital single market.
We came up with ambitious proposals last year.
The limitation of the power of the main digital platform gateways.
On the commitment of these platforms to their democratic accountability.
The promotion of innovation.
On the tracing of artificial intelligence.
The digital area is the key to success and errors in it can be expensive. The Member States agree on this. Digitisation expenditure by learning Nextgenerationeu the funds will even exceed 20 %.
This shows the importance of investing in European technological sovereignty. The digital transformation must be organised in accordance with our rules and values.
For example, i'll guess semiconductors, these tiny chips on which everything works: from smartphones and electric runways to trains and healthy smart plants.
Without microschemes, the digital area could not exist. While we are talking here, many production lines, despite growing demand, have already reduced capacity due to semiconductor deficits.
However, when global demand reached unprecedented altitudes, Europe's share of the value chain — from design to production capacity — has shrinked. We are dependent on the modern chip manufacturers in Asia.
Therefore, the question is not only about our competitiveness. It is also a matter of technological sovereignty. So let us look at all our attention.
We will come up with a new European chip act. We must combine our research, design and testing capacity at global level. We need to coordinate EU and national investments throughout the value chain.
The aim is to set up together the most modern European ecosystem ecosystem that will include production. This will provide supplies and open new markets for revolutionary European technologies
Yes, that is a huge challenge. And i know that some good will say that it can't be done.
But the same 20 years ago also said about the satellite navigation system Galileo.
Look at where we are now. We've been doing it all together. Today, the European satellites provide a navigation system for more than 2 billion smartphone users worldwide. We are the leaders of the world. So we'll dare again, this time in semiconductor.
Honourable Members! Honourable Members!
The pandemic has left deep scars and severely damaged our social market economy.
Every evening we went to our dwelling windows and door-to-door doctors, the forefront staff.
We all felt how much we were dependent on them. These people donate themselves to work that receives little remuneration and is not protected as much as they deserve.
Applause may have been lost, but we must not miss these strong emotions.
That is why it is important to implement The European Pillar of Social Rights.
This means quality jobs, fair working conditions, better health care and a balance between work and private life.
The pandemic has taught us the value of time. Nothing is more valuable than the time we have devoted to our relatives.
We will therefore propose a new European care strategy.
Let anyone get the best care that is available and find a better balance in life. However, social justice is not only a balanced time but also a fair tax policy.
In the social market economy, it is only recognised that companies are working with profit. But this profit is achievedthanks to a number of prerequisites: infrastructure quality, social security and education systems.
Therefore, a fair contribution from these companies is the least we can expect from them. We will therefore continue the fight against tax evasion and tax fraud.
We will propose legislation that will help to discover hidden profits that are masked in mailboxes. And we will do everything to achieve the historic global agreement on minimum corporate tax rates.
Adequate tax payment is not only the public finances but, above all, the question of fairness.
Honourable Members! Honourable Members!
We have all used the benefits of the European social market economy. And we must ensure that the next generation of these foundations can build their own future.
Our new generation is highly educated, highly talented and extremely motivated. This generation has come out of a lot to take care of the safety of the people.
Being a young man usually means to reveal the world. To have something new. Get friends for all life. Find your own way. And what did we call from today's young people? Follow the distance, sit at home and learn remote. For more than a year.
So everything we're going to do is from the green course to Nextgenerationeu it will be devoted to protecting their future.
For this reason, the instrument Nextgenerationeu is to be financed from new own resources, which concept we are currently developing.
But we must also make sure that we do not want to create new traps. Europe needs all its Youth.
We need to cheer the ones that the system does not notice. Those who don't have a job. Those who never came.
For them we'll offer a new app ALMA.
ALMA these young people will be given the opportunity to obtain temporary work experience in another Member State.
Because they deserve the same chance as Erasmus. It will enable them to learn skills, establish a link and recognise their European identity.
But if we want our Union to be more like them, we must give young people the opportunity to influence the future of Europe. The soul and vision of our Union must be capable of exciting them.
That was what Jacques Delors spoke about, asking the question: “How can it be for Europe if young people do not consider it a joint project and do not see their future in it?”
We therefore propose a European Year of Youth in 2022. This year will be devoted to young people who have abandoned so much for others. We are looking forward to the participation of young people in a conference on the future of Europe.
It's their future and must be their conference.
And as we have pointed out at the beginning of our mandate, the Commission will incorporate a conference in its legislative initiatives.
EUROPE - UNIFIED RESPONSIBILITY
Honourable Members! Honourable Members!
This is a generation of conscience. They make us do more and act faster to overcome the climate crisis.
The summer events just explained why. We saw floods in Belgium and Germany and forest fires in the Greek islands and in the French mountains.
And if we do not believe in our eyes, we must just follow science.
THE UN recently published an Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. It is an institution for climate change zinātnes in the field.
The report does not raise any doubt. Climate change is a man-made. But because they are man-made, we can do something.
As i have recently heard say: It's warm. They're us. We're confident. The situation is bad. But we can fix it.
And the change is already happening.
More electric cars than diesel cars were recorded in Germany during the first half of that year. Poland is now THE EU's largest vehicle battery and electric bus exporter. Or, for example, new European Bauhaus, which led to a creativity explosion in architects, designers, engineers across the Union.
It is clear that the process has moved.
And that is what is the basis for the European green course.
Last year, i announced our goal of reducing emissions by at least 55 % by 2030.
Since then, we have turned our climate goals into legal commitments together.
And we are the first major economy to come up with comprehensive legislation to achieve this.
You have seen how complex the details are. But the target is simple. We will fix price pollution. We will clean up the energy consumed. We'll have smarter cars and cleaner planes.
And we will ensure that more ambitious climate targets are combined with more ambitious social objectives. It must be a fair transition to the Green Economy. We therefore proposed the creation of a new social climate fundto address the energy poverty problem of 34 million Europeans.
I trust that both Parliament and the Member States will maintain a set of measures and ambitious targets.
In terms of climate change and the natural crisis, Europe can do much. And it will support others. With pride today i declare that THE EU will double external financing for biodiversity, particularly the most vulnerable countries.
However, Europe cannot do this alone.
At the Glasgow COP26, the world society will live a moment of truth.
The largest economies, from THE US to Japan, have set targets to achieve climate neutrality in 2050 or soon thereafter. They must now be accompanied by concrete plans drawn up until the Glasgow meeting. The current commitment to 2030 will not achieve the objective of preventing global warming by 1.5 °C.
Responsible is every country!
The objectives set by President Si China are delighted. But we call on the same management to set out how China will achieve them. The world would be relieved if China showed that by mid-decade it could achieve peak emissions and reduce the use of coal in its own home and abroad.
Although responsible for each country, major economies have a special obligation against least developed and least the Protected Countries. Climate finance these countries are important, both in terms of mitigation and adaptation.
In Mexico and Paris, the world committed to providing $100 billion per year by 2025.
We are fulfilling our commitments. The “European team” gives 25 billion a year. However, other countries still represent a huge gap in the path towards achieving the global target.
The elimination of this gap will increase the chances of success at the Glasgow meeting.
Today, my message is that Europe is ready to do more. We will now propose an additional eur 4 billion to climate finance by 2027. However, we expect the United States and our partners to increase their contribution.
Tackling climate finance through joint action BY THE US and THE EU would be a strong signal of global climate leadership. It's time to act.
Honourable Members! Honourable Members!
This climate and economic leadership is essential to achieving Europe's global and security goals.
It also reflects a broader change in the world at the time of transition to a new international order.
We're in in a new era of hypercompetition.
In an era where, for some good purposes, all the funds are good: from vaccine promises and loans with high interest rates to missiles and misleading information.
In an era where regional rivalry is dominated and the great power redirects his attention to one another.
Recent developments in Afghanistan are not the cause of these changes but are a symptom of them.
First and foremost, i would like to say clearly: we support the Afghan people. Women and children, prosecutors, journalists and human rights defenders.
I am thinking in particular of the women who are now hiding from the men they have put in prison. They are at risk in terms of their contribution to the rule of law and the rule of law. We must support them and we will coordinate all efforts with Member States to achieve their safety.
And we must continue to support all Afghan people in their own country and in neighbouring countries. We must do everything possible to prevent a real risk of widespread hunger and humanitarian disasters. We're going to give our house. We will again increase humanitarian aid to Afghanistan by eur 100 million.
It will be part of a new, broader Afghan support packageswe will come forward in the coming weeks to combine all our efforts.
Honourable Members! Honourable Members!
The development of events in Afghanistan was truly painful to all the families of the fallen military.
We put heads in front of soldiers, diplomats and humanitarian workers who sacrificed their lives.
In order for their contribution to never be devoted, we must reflect on how this mission could end so rapidly.
There have been very worrying questions that the Allies will have to address within NATO.
However, there is no security and defence question to which the answer is less co-operation. We must invest in the shared partnership and use the unique advantages of each side.
We are therefore working with the Secretary-General, Jens Stoltenberg, on a new EU-NATO joint declaration that will come forward by the end of the year.
But it's just one part of the equation.
Europe can - and it is clear that it should be spinning and want to do more alone. But if we want to do more, we must first explain why. I see three broad categories.
Firstwe must ensure stability in our neighbourhood and in different regions.
The world is connected by sea strains, storm seas and wide land borders. Because of this geography, Europe is better known than others that if the crisis is not dealt with in time, this crisis goes to you.
Secondthe nature of the threats we face is rapidly evolving: from hybrid attacks or cyber attacks to increasing armament in space.
Revolutionary technology has had a large balancing role in how aggressive states or non-governmental groups can be able to use power today.
The army and rockets are no longer needed to cause mass damage. You can paralyse industrial plants, city administrations and hospitals - all you need is a laptop. You can disrupt elections using a smartphone and Internet connection.
Third reason it is that the European Union is a unique security provider. There will be missions in which NATO or THE UN will not participate but where EU presence would be needed.
On the spot, our soldiers are working with policemen, lawyers and doctors, with humanitarian workers and human rights defenders, with teachers and engineers.
We can combine military and civilian, as well as diplomacy and development aspects, and we have a long history of peace-building and protection.
The good news is that we have started to develop a European protection ecosystem in recent years.
But we need the European Union for defence.
There have been many discussions on expedition forces over the past few weeks. How much and what types of forces we should: battle groups or EU deployment forces.
It is undoubtedly part of the debate and i believe that this will form part of the solution.
However, the more important is the question of why it has not worked so far.
We can have the most advanced forces in the world, but if we are never ready to use them, what benefit?
So far, we have been hampered by not only the lack of capacity but also the lack of political will.
And if we have this political will, we can do much at EU level.
Let me give you three concrete examples:
firstly, we must build a framework for collective decision-making: i call it a situational awareness.
We fail if Member States operating in the same region do not share their information at European level. It is vital that we improve cooperation in the field of intelligence.
But it is not just about intelligence in a narrow sense.
It is about bringing together knowledge from all services and all sources. Starting with space and finally with police officers, starting with the open source code and ending with development agencies. Their work gives us unique expertise and depth.
They are available!
But we can only use them to make informed decisions if we have a complete picture. And there is no one at this time. We have knowledge, but they are unrelated. The information is fragmented.
The EU could therefore consider setting up its own common situational awareness centre to combine the various information.
And to be better prepared, fully informed and able to make a decision.
Secondly, we need to improve interoperability. We are therefore already investing in joint European platforms, starting with destroying planes and ending with unmanned aircraft and cyberfield.
However, we must continue to think about new ways of exploiting all possible synergies. One example could be the abolition OF VAT on the purchase of defence equipment designed and manufactured in Europe.
This would not only increase our interoperability but also reduce our dependence.
Thirdly, we cannot talk about protection without talking about cyber threats. If everything is connected, you can break everything. In view of the scarcity of resources, we must combine our forces. We should not limit ourselves to the prevention of cyber threats, but also seek to be a leader in cyber security.
This should be a Europe where cyber defence instruments are developed. So we need European cyber defence policy, including legislation on common standards under new European Cyber Resilience Act.
So we can do a lot AT EU level. However, Member States must do more.
It starts with a joint assessment of the risks faced and a common approach to addressing them. Expected Strategic compass the process of this discussion is important.
We must decide how we can make use of all the opportunities already provided for in the Treaty.
Therefore, during the French Presidency, President Macron and the eu will call the summit on European protection.
It is time for Europe to reach the next level.
Honourable Members! Honourable Members!
In the rest of the world, the protection of your interests does not mean just defending yourself.
It aims at building strong and reliable partnerships. It is not a luxury - it is essential for the stability, security and well-being of our future.
This work starts by deepening the partnership with our closest allies.
Together with THE US, we will develop our new agenda for global change: from the new Trade and Technology Council to health and sustainability.
THE EU and THE US will always be stronger together.
The same applies to our neighbours Western Balkans.
By the end of the month, i will visit the region to send a strong signal that we are committed to continuing the accession process. We owe all those young people who believe in a European future.
We therefore increase our support through our new investment and economic plan, worth around a third of the region'S GDP. As investments in the Western Balkans are investing IN THE future OF THE EU.
And we will also continue to invest in our partnerships in our neighbourhood: we will be more active in the Eastern Partnership and implement the new programme for the Mediterranean, and we will continue to work on the various aspects of our relations with Turkey.
Honourable Members! Honourable Members!
For Europe to become a more active member of the world, it must focus on the next generation of partnerships.
Having regard to this, the new EU strategy for the Indian and Pacific region adopted today is a reference point. It reflects the growing importance of the region for our prosperity and security, and that autocratic regimes are used to try to expand their impact.
Europe must be more present and more active in the region.
We will therefore work together to deepen trade links, strengthen global supply chains and develop new investment projects in the field of green and digital technologies.
This is an example of how Europe can process its model to connect the world.
We're good at financing the roads. However, it is no point for Europe to build an ideal route between China-owned copper mines and China-owned port.
We must become smarter for this type of investment.
We will therefore come up with our new Connectivity Strategy shortly Global Gateway (“Global Gateway”).
We're going to build Global Gateway Partnerships with countries around the world. We want investment in quality infrastructure that brings together the flow of goods, people and services around the world.
We will use a values-based approach that will offer our partners transparency and good governance.
We want to create links, not dependency!
And we know how it can work. Since summer, a new submarine optical cable connects Brazil to Portugal.
We will invest with Africa to create a clean hydrogen market that connects the two shores of the Mediterranean.
To launch a global gateway, we need a “European team” approach. We will connect institutions and investments, banks and business lines. And we will make it a priority at regional summit, starting with the next eu-africa summit in February.
We want to convert global gateway into a reliable brand worldwide.
I would like to say clearly: business worldwide, global trade - that is all good and necessary. However, it should never be enforced at the expense of human dignity and freedom.
There are 25 million people in the world who are being forced or forced into forced labour. It will never be acceptable for us to be forced to produce products and that these products then come into trade in Europe.
We will therefore propose to ban products produced by forced labour from our market.
Human rights are not sold at any price.
EUROPE: UNIFIED FREEDOM AND DIVERSITY
Honourable Members, people are not bones.
Look at what happened at our borders with Belarus. The mode has been manipulated in Minsk. They have put people in aeroplanes and literally driven them in the direction of Europe's borders.
It must never be tolerated.
And the rapid European response confirms this. Be sure we will continue to support Lithuania, Latvia and Poland.
Let us call things in real words: this is a hybrid attack with the aim of destabilising Europe.
Honourable Members! Honourable Members!
These are not individual cases. We saw similar incidents at other borders. And we can expect them to be seen again. Therefore, by improving the Schengen area, we will provide new means of responding to such aggression and ensuring unity in the protection of our external borders.
But as long as we do not find a common denominator for managing migration, our opponents will continue to use it for their own purposes.
Meanwhile, traffickers continue to use people by sending them in deadly routes across the Mediterranean.
These events show that every country is interested in shaping the European migration system.
New Migration and Asylum Pact we have all the necessary to deal with the various situations we are faced with.
All elements are already available. It is a balanced and humane system which is useful for all Member States in all circumstances. We know we can find a common denominator.
However, during the year since the Commission came up with the Pact, progress has been extremely slow.
I think this is the right moment The European migration Management Policy. I therefore call on you in this Chamber and in the Member States to speed up the process.
This is ultimately a question of trust. On trust between Member States. On the trust of European citizens that migration can be managed. Trust that Europe will always fulfil its imperative duty to people who are the least protected and whose needs are the highest.
There is a lot of eagerness to defend the views on migration in Europe, but i believe that the common denominator is not so far.
Because if you ask most European citizens, they would agree that we should act to limit irregular migration but also act to provide asylum to those who are forced to escape.
They would agree that we should return those who do not have the right to stay. But those who come here legally and make such a significant contribution to our society and the economy should be taken.
And for us for all it should be agreed that the subject of migration should never be used for divisions or as a manipulation tool.
I am convinced that the way Europe can build trust between us in relation to migration can be found.
Honourable Members! Honourable Members!
To the general public rooted in democracy and shared values, there are solid foundations. It trusts people.
As a result, new ideas are born and a change occurs, so we can overcome injustice.
Trust in these shared values united the founding members of our Union after the Second World War.
The same values also united the freedom fighters who had caused the iron curtain to collapse over more than 30 years ago.
They longed for democracy.
They wanted to elect a government in a free elections.
They desire to live in a legal country where all the laws are equal.
They longed for freedom of speech and independent media.
They wanted the rapporteurs of the repressive intelligence to no longer spiel on their fellow citizens and that corruption would end in the passages of power.
They craved for freedom, which makes it possible to vary from the majority.
As the current Czech President Václav Havel specifically formulated, they longed for “excellent European values”.
These values stem from the European cultural, religious and humanist heritage.
They are part of our soul, our essence, which today determines our identity.
These values are closely enshrined IN EU Treaties.
And we all committed to respecting them when we became part of this Union as a free and independent nation.
We are committed to defending these values. And that determination never happened.
The flavour of our values is the legal order and European Union Courts judgments. These judgments are binding. And we're looking for them to be executed. In every Member State of our Union.
Therefore, the protection of the rule of law is not only a noble objective but also a hard work and an ongoing effort to improve the situation.
As a result of reforms, our reports on the rule of law have become part of this process. Some examples are the reform of the judicial system in Malta or the anti-corruption investigation in Slovakia.
As of 2022, our reports on the rule of law will also include concrete recommendations for the Member States.
However, there are concerns in some Member States. And in this respect, i would like to emphasise that there is always a dialogue at first.
But it is not a self-objective, the dialogue is being tackled with purpose. Our approach is therefore dual: dialogue accompanied by decisive action.
That was what we witnessed last week. And that is what we will do.
Because of the right to independent judiciary and the right to equal treatment in front of the law, people must be guaranteed that they can rely on these rights and, in addition, whether they belong to a majority or minority.
Honourable Members! Honourable Members!
The European budget is a quantified future of our Union. The budget must therefore be protected.
We must ensure that each euro and each cent are used for the intended purpose
and in accordance with the principles of rule of law. The investments that our children will provide for a better future must not be in dubious hands.
Corruption not only affects taxpayers. It also pushes out investors. Corruption creates a situation where much money can also be bought and those who are in power can circumvent democratic state rules.
To protect our budget, we will investigate every thing by doing everything that is in our power.
Honourable Members! Honourable Members!
In defending our values, we also replace freedom. Freedom to be the one you are, the freedom to say what comes to mind, the freedom to love what your heart makes.
In addition, freedom means being free from fear. During the pandemic, many women were deprived of this freedom.
It was a particularly hard time for those who had no place to shelter and escape from their pāridarītājiem. We need a beam of light in the darkness to find a way out of this fortress, but they must be in front of the court.
And women must recover their lives.
So by the end of the year we propose legislation on combating violence against women. It will provide for prosecution, preventive measures and protection in both the Internet and real life.
It is about human dignity and fairness. It is a European soul. And we must help it become stronger.
Honourable Members! Honourable Members!
In the end, i would like to draw your attention to the freedom through which all other freedoms are heard, that is the freedom of the media.
Journalists and journalists live only because they do their job.
Some receive threats and are beaten, but others are even murdered. And that happens to us, in the European Union. I would like to mention just a few words. Daphne Karuana Galicia, Yan Kucjack. Peter de Vrice.
Maybe in some details these stories vary. But one of them is common: they struggled for our right to information. And they had to die.
Information is a public good. We must protect those who enjoy transparency, journalists and journalists.
We have therefore come up with a recommendation today on how to better protect journalists.
In addition, we must distort those who are threatening the freedom of the media. Media companies are not simply economic operators.
Independence is very important in their work. This is why Europe needs a legislation that ensures such independence.
Next year we will propose law on freedom of media.
Because, in defending our media freedom, we also replace democracy.
Conclusion
Honourable Members! Honourable Members!
In the past, the strengthening of the European ideal of Schuman is a long-term work.
And we should not hide our inconsistencies or shortcomings.
But our Union, even if it is not perfect, is both oblivious and unique in its magnificence.
It is the Union in which our individual freedom rooted in a strong society.
The Union, which is composed of our total history and values, and in various cultural and perspektīvas.
The Union that has its own soul.
It is not easy to find the right words to express the essence of that feeling. But it's easier to borrow them from someone who inspired you. So i invited us to join our honorary guests today.
Maybe you know her — it's gold medal from Italy, whose story fell into my heart this summer.
But you probably don't know that just in April she told her that her life was threatened. She was operable, she struggled for survival and recovered.
And only 119 days after his discharge from the hospital, she won a gold medal in paralympic games. Honourable Members, honourable Members, allow you to present Beatrix vio. Bebe has passed so much hardship, being very young.
Her story is an example of how to do impossible. How to achieve success thanks to talent, persistence and always positive attitudes. She is a real embodiment of her generation: the leader and the substitution of the values she is about.
And that's all she has achieved, living with confidence: if something seems impossiblethen it can be done. In her native Italian: “Se sionimpossibile, allora si può fare.”
That was the spirit of the founding members of the European Union, and that is Spirit of Europe's new generation. We will therefore be inspired by Bebe and all young people who change our expectations of the borders.
Who tell us that you can be what you want to be. And that you can to achieve everything you've got belief.
Honourable Members! Honourable Members!
This is Europe soul.
This is Europe future.
We'll build it together.
Viv l' Europa. Let Europe live!