‘This is the moment for Europe’
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Ursula von der Leyen calls for unity to confront crises
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Says chances for a Brexit deal are fading
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Sets higher emissions cut goals
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Proposes "courageous" diplomatic policy
The European Union's chief executive yesterday laid out ambitious goals to ensure that the bloc is more resilient and united to confront futures crises after the coronavirus pandemic, which has plunged Europe into its deepest recession in history.
In her annual State of the Union address, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen doubled down on the flagship goals she set out on taking office last December: urgent action to combat climate change and a digital revolution.
"This is the moment for Europe," von der Leyen told the European Parliament in a wide-ranging speech that ran for around 80 minutes. "The moment for Europe to lead the way from this fragility to a new vitality."
Von der Leyen, who wants Europe to become the world's first climate-neutral continent by mid-century, unveiled a plan to cut the EU's greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% from 1990 levels by 2030, up from an existing target of 40%.
The former German cabinet minister also called for greater investment in technology for Europe to compete more keenly with China and the United States, and said the EU would invest 20% of a 750 billion euro economic recovery fund in digital projects.
Turning to the troubled talks with London on the future relationship between the world's fifth-largest economy and biggest trading bloc, von der Leyen said every passing day reduces chances for sealing a new trade deal.
She stressed that the EU and Britain negotiated and ratified their Brexit divorce deal and warned London the agreement "cannot be unilaterally changed, disregarded or dis-applied".
Brexit talks were plunged into a new crisis this month after Prime Minister Boris Johnson put forward a new Internal Market Bill that would undercut Britain's Withdrawal Agreement.
Chiding EU countries for an ineffective foreign policy, she said the bloc must get better at responding to events unfolding around the world.
"When member states say Europe is too slow, I say to them 'be courageous and finally move to qualified majority voting'," she said. "Be it in Hong Kong, Moscow or Minsk: Europe must take a clear and swift position."
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