The President of the European Commission appeared combative in front of MEPs, nine months before the elections. However, she has not announced whether she intends to run for a second term.
A political speech, nine months before the European elections. The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, delivered her State of the Union speech on Wednesday September 13, the last of her mandate, in Strasbourg, to MEPs. The former German Defense Minister took forty minutes to defend her record, while, since taking office in 2019, the European Union (EU) has had to face the crisis linked to Covid-19 and the war in Ukraine.
The one who has not yet announced whether she intends to be a candidate for a second term, notably defended the Green Deal,“just and equitable”, faced with reluctance, notably from European conservatives, and called for preparations for EU enlargement. Unlike last year, theUkraine was not the central theme of his speech, delivered by juggling English, French and German. Franceinfo summarizes what you need to remember.
Defending the Green Deal in the face of criticism
Despite the adoption of the climate plan, the Green Deal, which aims for carbon neutrality by 2050, remains largely unfinished with 37 texts still under negotiation, including those, hotly contested, on “nature restoration” and the supervision of pesticides, Ursula von der Leyen announced her desire to “stay focus” and of “stay ambitious”. Environmental legislation is causing growing tension among certain member states and MEPs from its own camp, the European People’s Party (right), who are calling for a “break” regulatory.
A tribute to farmers
In German, Ursula von der Leyen rendered “tribute to farmers” Europeans, while affirming that nothing opposes agriculture and protection of nature. She has recognized that the latter “are subject to the growing impact, on their work and income, of Russian aggression against Ukraine, of climate change, with the droughts, fires and floods that this causes, but also of new obligations “. She thus promised to “guarantee a just and equitable transition” with “the solemn promise to leave no one behind”, also promising “dialogues” with industrialists.
Accelerating the issuance of permits for wind power
It front of “unparalleled difficulties” wind energy, the manager plans to“further accelerate the issuance of permits”already facilitated in the law currently being adopted on renewables. “We will present a package of European measures on wind energy, closely coordinated with the industry and the Member States”she added.
The opening of an investigation into Chinese subsidies
The President of the Commission announced the opening of an investigation into subsidies that she considers illegal granted by China to electric cars sold in Europe. She said she wanted defend European industry in the face of “artificially low price”. “Global markets are now flooded with cheap Chinese electric carsshe stressed. Europe is open to competition. Not a race to the bottom.” The announcement was received as “a positive signal” by the Association of European Automobile Manufacturers.
The promise to fight against “headwinds” that threaten the economy
Ursula von der Leyen pointed out the “strong headwinds” darkening the economic situation. She cited labor shortages, “competitiveness bottlenecks”but above all the persistence of a “high inflation”. The return to the objective of 2% inflation in the euro zone “will take time”she admitted, while it stood at 5.3% over one year in August in the EU.
A call to “finish the job” on migration policy reform
Speaking in French, the President of the Commission called on MEPs and member states to bring about the difficult reform of migration policy. “Let’s show that Europe can manage migration effectively and compassionately. Let’s finish the job!” she urged. This migration pact, presented in September 2020 by the Commission, notably provides for a system of solidarity between Member States in the care of refugees and an accelerated examination of asylum requests from certain migrants at the borders. But negotiations between Parliament and member states are proving difficult.
Support for Ukraine reaffirmed in the face of Russia
The European leader welcomed the “great advances” made by kyiv on the path to its accession to the Union and reaffirmed the support of the Europeans “as long as necessary” in the face of the Russian offensive. She thus promised a new envelope of 50 billion euros for the next four years. Ursula von der Leyen also took a moment to pay tribute to Victoria Amelina, a Ukrainian writer killed in a Russian strike in Dnipro in July. The MEPs applauded for a long time to pay tribute to his memory.
A call for rapid progress on EU enlargement
The leader’s words on the subject were awaited, while President of the European Council, Charles Michel, had called on the EU to prepare to integrate new members “by 2030”. “The future of Ukraine is our union. The future of the Western Balkans is our union. The future of Moldova is our union”she said, reaffirming her support for EU enlargement.
After explaining that she was convinced that the EU could function with more than 30 member states, she said she was in favor of modifying the treaties, while affirming “that you shouldn’t have waited” to talk about enlargement. “It is time for Europe, once again, to think big and write our destiny”she said.