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The head of the European Union, Ursula von der Leyen, delivers the first State of the European Union speech on the UK’s plans to renegotiate Brexit, warning countries not to place economic interests above human rights , and says it wants to relaunch the European economy devastated by the coronavirus through a new agreement.
By Stefan J. Bos
The speech by the president of the European Commission, the EU executive, underscored concerns about the coronavirus pandemic.
Ursula von der Leyen told European lawmakers wearing face masks in Brussels that the bloc must overcome its fragmented approach to tackling the coronavirus. She said it was essential to further centralize decision-making on health issues.
Von der Leyen acknowledged the fragile state in which the pandemic had left the EU, and authorities say the death toll is approaching 150,000.
After EU members agreed on the € 1.8 trillion or $ 2.1 trillion recovery fund and the long-term budget, there was criticism; not enough was spent on health problems.
He also told EU lawmakers that Italy would host a global health summit next year, during the G20 presidency of 19 countries and the EU.
Britan and Brexit
But Van der Leyen also warned Britain, a member of the G20, not to renegotiate the agreement on leaving the EU. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has called his plan to unilaterally rewrite Britain’s divorce deal with the EU as an insurance policy against “unreasonable” behavior by the bloc.
Von der Leyen said this was unacceptable as it would increase tensions, including in Northern Ireland and Ireland. “The EU and the UK jointly agreed that it was the best and only way to guarantee peace on the island of Ireland. And we will never back down on that,” he recalled.
“This agreement has been ratified by this House and the House of Commons. It cannot be unilaterally changed, ignored or discarded. It is a matter of law, trust and good faith,” emphasized Von der Leyen.
He also invoked the memory of the late British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, known as the ‘Iron Lady’. “I remember you the words of [late British Prime Minister] Margaret Thatcher: ‘Britain does not violate the treaties. It would be bad for Britain, bad for relations with the rest of the world and bad for any future trade treaty ”. This was true then and it is true today. “
Other examples
“We have seen the pattern in Georgia and Ukraine, Syria and Salisbury, and in electoral meddling around the world. And this pattern is not changing, and no pipeline will change that,” he added.
That was an indirect reference to his own native Germany and others who struck substantial energy deals with Russia. Indeed, he questioned the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, a cornerstone of German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s energy policy.
Von der Leyen also expressed his support for peaceful protesters in Belarus, who have demanded the resignation of former President Alexander Lukashenko. It obtained a $ 1.5 billion loan from Russia on Tuesday, despite international concerns over allegations of torture and other rights abuses by opposition supporters in Belarus.
And he urged Turkey to stop, called for its aggression and begin a more peaceful dialogue. He said Turkey is “in a troubled region and an important economic and trade partner.” And he recognized that that country is home to millions of refugees. But, “nothing justifies the aggression against its neighbors.” She said Greece and Cyprus “are the EU member states that can always rely on the solidarity of the Union to protect their legal sovereign rights.”
In addition to international politics, Von der Leyen demanded more attention for what he sees as a rapidly changing climate. The top European Union official on Wednesday proposed a more ambitious target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Europe. She set a reduction goal of at least 55 percent by 2030 compared to 40 percent.
Commission President Von der Leyen believes it should help all 27 EU countries achieve climate neutrality by 2050.
