Von der Leyen faces China (and enlists Mario Draghi)

2023-09-13 20:58:00

Time.news – A Europe that responds to the call of history. Who realizes today to prepare for tomorrow. Which faces the challenges of a planet in boiling by making agriculture and nature protection go hand in hand, inaugurating a new phase of the Green deal focused on dialogue and industrial transition. A Europe that faces China’s economic assertiveness on electric cars and relies on Mario Draghi to maintain its competitive advantage.

This is the Europe that the President of the European Commission presented, Ursula von der Leyen, in his State of the Union speech to the plenary of the European Parliament in Strasbourg. The last of the legislature but not necessarily the last of his career.

In his long speech – one hour and four minutes – he proudly took stock of the past four years and defined the challenges and priorities that separate him from the elections. “More than 90% of the political orientations I presented in 2019 have become concrete measures. Together we have shown that, when it acts courageously, Europe achieves its goals. There is still much to do, so let’s stand together. Let’s transform the present and prepare for the future”, he highlighted.

When Europe is bold, it gets things done.

And our work is far from over – so let’s stand together.

Let’s deliver today and prepare for tomorrow.

My #SOTEU address ↓

— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) September 13, 2023

The successes

“We saw the birth a geopolitical Unionwhich supports Ukraine, strongly opposes Russia’s aggression, reacts to China’s assertiveness and invests in partnerships”, he listed. But that’s not all. There is the European Green Deal defined as the fulcrum of the economy and “a program whose ambition is unparalleled”; il Next Generation Eu“a historic instrument that allocates 800 billion euros to reforms and investments”; the digital transition of which the EU is the global vanguard; gender equality with the Commission’s proposal which establishes “the fundamental principle against violence against women: no means no”.

At dinner

The most important announcement concerns the Asian giant and its electric cars. “This is a crucial industry for the green economy, with enormous potential for Europe. Currently though Global markets are flooded with cheap Chinese electric cars, whose prices are kept artificially low thanks to large state subsidies. These practices cause distortions in our market. And just as we don’t accept them when they come from within, we don’t accept them from outside either. The Commission will therefore open an anti-subsidy investigation into electric vehicles from China. Europe is open to competition, not a race to the bottom.”

The economic challenges

Von der Leyen indicated three: “The shortage of labor and skills, inflation and the need to facilitate economic activity for our companies”. And to best address them, he entrusted the former Italian Prime Minister, and former number one at the ECB, with the task of drawing up a report on European competitiveness.

“We will have to be more far-sighted and define a way to safeguard our competitiveness. This is why I asked Mario Draghi, one of Europe’s greatest economic minds, to prepare a report on the future of European competitiveness. Because Europe will do whatever it takes, whatever it takesto maintain its competitive advantage.”

Mario #Draghi will prepare a report on European competitiveness. Good ideas to revive our role in the global economy. #SOTEU @vonderleyen pic.twitter.com/jqY1TTQUd4

— Paolo Gentiloni (@PaoloGentiloni) September 13, 2023

Migrations

The priority is to complete the Pact “on which agreement has never been so close” and to demonstrate that “Europe is capable of managing migration with effectiveness and compassion“. At the same time fighting traffickers (an international conference in Brussels announced) and signing agreements with other countries on the model of the memorandum with Tunisia.

The Great Union

“Membership is a process based on merit” but von der Leyen is ready to also support “the modification of the Treaties” to favor the enlargement of the EU. “The future of Ukraine, the Western Balkans and Moldova lies in our Union.”

Ursula von der Leyen and Roberta Metsola

The promise

“Europe today finds itself at the time and place where history is being written. The future of our continent depends on the choices we make today. On the steps we will take to complete our Union. Europeans want a Union that defends them in a time of fierce competition for power. But also a Europe that protects and supports them, as a partner and ally, in their daily battles. We will listen to their voice. What is important for Europeans is important for Europe.”

Politics

The most important reaction to von der Leyen’s speech came from the president of his own group, the European People’s Party (EPP), Manfred Weber. In recent months he had been engaged in a strategy that many had identified as an attempt to move closer to the right to form an alternative majority and do without the socialists and democrats (S & D).

In his speech he thanked the presidents of the other two majority groups, Iratxe Garcia Perez (S&D) and Stephane Sejourne’ (Renew Europe) for their “fruitful collaboration in these crucial moments”. “Europe’s political engine works! The von der Leyen majority did it!,” he said.

However, the socialists did not appreciate his opening to the right. On the opposition benches, the Greens and the Left have instead pointed the finger at von der Leyen for having accepted too much the requests of the less green current of the EPP in order not to lose support by aiming for a second mandate. The conservatives of ECR ​​and ID rejected the speech, considering it an “election manifesto”.

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