Von der Leyen EU debates the new Transatlantic agenda at 2021 Munich Security Conference

Views 5

Speaking at 2021 Special edition of the Munich Security Conference on 19 February, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen focused on climate change and digital transformation as two major topics that could be driving the EU-US new global agenda. https://www.eudebates.tv/events/von-der-leyen-eu-debates-the-new-transatlantic-agenda-at-msc/

#eudebates #Security #MunichSecurityConference #MSC2021 #2021MSC #21MSC
She touched upon the EU actions to fight climate change, including the goal of making Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050, and invited others to ‘match our ambition'. “A shared transatlantic commitment to a net-zero emissions pathway by 2050 would make climate neutrality a new global benchmark. And it would be a timely message in the run-up to COP26”, von der Leyen said. She commended the US return to the Paris Agreement and the initiative to host a Climate Leader's Summit on Earth day.

She equally invited the United States to join EU initiatives on regulating the digital market and to together ‘create a digital economy rulebook that is valid worldwide'. “We want to make sure that what is illegal offline is also illegal online. And we want clear requirements that internet firms take responsibility for the content they distribute, promote and remove”, von der Leyen explained.

Von der Leyen stressed it was up to the US and the EU to strengthen their cooperation again, as partners and indispensable allies. “If we lead the way, this is not only about joining forces. This is a signal to the world,” she concluded.

Lieber Wolfgang Ischinger, Ladies and Gentlemen, Indeed, I vividly remember how two years ago Joe Biden promised at the Munich Security Conference: ‘We will be back'. And indeed, we have just seen and heard it: The U.S. is back. And, as we have just heard, more globally committed than ever. This commitment could not come at a better time. How we come out of this crisis will have profound consequences – for our citizens, for our economies, and also for the position of our common alliance in the post-COVID-19 world.

Let me give you two examples for what could be driving our new global agenda. The first example is climate change. Climate change is the looming crisis behind COVID-19. And the loss of biodiversity is a main driver of today's and potentially future pandemics. More than a year ago, Europe has said that it wants to become the first climate-neutral continent by 2050. And with our European Green Deal, we want to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% already by 2030.

But to successfully fight global climate change we need others to match our ambition. And they do. From South Korea to Japan, from South Africa to China. And we are really excited that President Biden re-joined the Paris Agreement on his very first day in office. Because the United States is our natural partner for global leadership on climate change.

Share This Video


Download

  
Report form