Dear readers,
The year 2020 has been unlike any in our lifetime. For some of us, it was a year of loss. For many others, it was a year of illness. And for all of us, it was a year in which our 'normal' lives were turned upside down and became almost unrecognisable.
The year 2020 has indeed knocked us about, but it never knocked us down. This is also true of our European Union: it stands stronger than ever. It was a year of many 'firsts'. We took bold, unprecedented decisions and — in some cases — historic action.
Looking back…the crisis made us stronger
When COVID struck in early 2020, like most of the world, we were taken off guard. COVID-19 is, after all, the first global pandemic in one hundred years. As it raged across Europe, it hammered our economies and disrupted our societies. But we banded together and responded with emergency measures that protected our citizens and our businesses.
Since then, we have taken decisive measures to make our Union stronger and lay the groundwork for a robust recovery.
First, vaccines. As we speak, vaccines are starting to be rolled out across Europe. The international community's achievement in developing vaccines in record time — less than one year — is monumental. The European Union took a leadership role in mobilising international funds for vaccine research. This global success story could also be a European success story.
Second, we took an unprecedented decision: the EU would borrow collectively to assist the hardest hit and ensure a strong recovery, invest in our green and digital transitions and reform our societies and our economies. In total, we will mobilise 1.8 trillion euros in the next few years. This is a clear sign of the unity and confidence of our Union.
Third, one year after committing to climate neutrality by 2050, we have just raised our ambition even further. At last week’s European Council meeting, we agreed to reduce our carbon emissions by at least 55% by 2030. This reaffirms our credibility as the global leader in climate action and solidly anchors our prosperity and social transformation to our climate ambition.
But we can’t do it alone. We have therefore made our climate ambition a cornerstone of our European diplomacy to encourage others to join the fight. We want to get everyone on board. And other countries have indeed followed our lead on this ambitious path.
And fourth, our long-term goals. COVID may have dominated 2020, but it will not monopolise our priorities and our vision for the future. Our vision for Europe's place in the world remains crystal clear — we want to be more autonomous, less dependent and more influential. We want a stronger Europe that contributes to a better and fairer world.
Looking forward: confidence, convergence, unity
The year 2021 will offer a set of fresh opportunities to build a new, post-COVID world. But it's up to us — we will need to take responsibility for the world we want to live in. We will need to roll up our sleeves and lay the foundation for our future, a prosperous future underpinned by strong climate action and a commitment to the rule of law and our European values.
Our number one priority will be to relegate COVID-19 to the history books. That’s the only way to get our economies humming again and our societies back up and running. That heavy burden will fall on the shoulders of vaccines. We will need to coordinate our efforts to roll out vaccines safely and efficiently. And as we prepare for the future, we will need to get to work building a Health Union, so our healthcare systems become more resilient.
This won’t be the last pandemic; we must therefore prepare and reinforce our international cooperation. The EU must continue to lead in this arena; this could be accomplished through an international Treaty on Pandemics.
Our next multi-year budget and recovery fund offers a rare opportunity to modernise our economies and power forward our green and digital transitions. We must take full advantage of it.
The coming year will also be important for our international relations. President-elect Biden will take office next month in the United States. The US is a long-time friend and ally. We want to re-establish an ambitious alliance, based on our common interests and shared values, including revitalising our multilateral engagement to tackle pressing global issues.
As we look beyond COVID, China will remain a key partner in addressing climate change, health issues, and debt relief for poorer countries. But we want a fairer relationship. We will press ahead with our negotiations to rebalance our trade and economic relations, while continuing to defend human rights and promote democratic values.
And of course, next year will be the start of a new relationship with the United Kingdom. As in all 'new' relationships, it might be awkward at first. But in time, with good will from both sides, I am confident that we can forge a relationship that is in our mutual interest.
Dear friends,
It is often in the hardest times that we discover our greatest strengths. And 2020 has been one of the hardest years on record. We have come face to face with our vulnerabilities. But we have also rediscovered our enormous strengths, talents and creativity. And 2020 revealed our greatest strength of all — our unity. This unity will again guide us in 2021, as we work to make Europe stronger, more confident, and a force for good in the world.
I wish you and your families a safe and joyful holiday season…and all the best for 2021.
Charles Michel |
