Comment: Ambitious plans of the European Commission in the course of the pandemic | Comments from DW Reviewers and Guest Contributors | DW

Times as tough as a pandemic name for uncommon speeches. It is kind of potential that, making ready for her speech, the pinnacle of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen was guided by simply such concerns. Her first speech on the scenario within the European Union turned out to be extraordinarily lengthy and in some factors extraordinarily particular. During the present disaster, this could give Europeans unprecedented confidence.

The disaster ought to be considered as an opportunity: this message turned the leitmotif of the speech of the President of the European Commission, which has been on this submit since December 2019. Ursula von der Leyen praised the truth that the EU, weakened within the first time after the outbreak of the coronavirus, has once more managed to reveal its resilience.

Economic Recovery Fund – an enormous achievement for the EU

Indeed, the truth that the EU member states had been in a position to rapidly agree on a program of financial restoration by taking up joint debt obligations might be thought-about an unimaginable achievement, and by the requirements of Brussels, even a revolution. In the presence of a sure stress, the European Union will be capable of implement its plans.

The time has come to harness this enthusiasm, von der Leyen emphasised in her speech. The crucial reforms in such areas because the financial system, digitalization, local weather safety and even the extremely controversial concern of migration ought to be carried out as deliberate, and never dictated by extraordinary occasions.

After the disaster, the EU should grow to be even stronger

The choice to allocate a big sum to the EU financial restoration fund, which will probably be distributed in keeping with the opinion of the European Commission, additionally signifies that Ursula von der Leyen has acquired unexpectedly broad powers. The head of the European Commission intends to make use of them: she made it clear in the midst of her speech, making quite a lot of particular initiatives.

According to her plan, greater than a 3rd of 750 billion euros ought to go to local weather safety initiatives, and 20 p.c – to realize “digital sovereignty” of the EU, that’s, making certain the storage and processing of information with out the assistance of American and Chinese issues. In addition, Ursula von der Leyen advocates the introduction of a minimal wage throughout Europe, the creation of a “well being union” and empowerment of Brussels on this space, in addition to the event of a dependable mechanism for digital id of all EU residents.

Criticism of Putin and Trump

Calling for larger cohesion within the EU, the pinnacle of the European Commission additionally factors to exterior threats. She criticizes Russia, China and Turkey and insists on the independence of the European Union, together with from the present White House, which she clearly separates from the United States as a rustic. The primary distinction between von der Leyen and US President Donald Trump is that the pinnacle of the European Commission, to start with, focuses not on the precept of “Europe first”, however on international cooperation.

Von der Leyen leaves little question about who she wish to see on the White House in January 2021 – earlier than eager about resuming transatlantic relations. After observing how Donald Trump, in addition to Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin behaved in the course of the pandemic, the pinnacle of the European Commission made the suitable conclusion for herself: self-centered propaganda has not benefited anybody but. Therefore, whereas different international locations are fencing off from the remainder of the world, a geopolitically lively Europe should take the lead within the worldwide area, von der Leyen is bound.

Real instances – extra convincing than phrases

For this, nevertheless, it’s crucial to realize larger unity among the many EU international locations. For this cause, von der Leyen advocates that EU overseas coverage points be determined by a majority vote, in addition to for strict adherence to the rule of legislation within the EU international locations, together with Poland. She requires lastly discovering a compromise on the distribution of asylum seekers within the EU.

At the identical time, the pinnacle of the European Commission has virtually given up on Great Britain: she solely made a final warning to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson about the necessity to adjust to the present agreements. Now von der Leyen, reasonably, is betting on progress in EU relations with the Western Balkan international locations, in addition to on partnership with African international locations.

Building the longer term is an bold aim set by disaster administration supervisor von der Leyen. She didn’t select this position herself – she was compelled to do it by the pandemic. Her speech is acceptable for the duty at hand. In her speech, she even borrowed the phrase of her idol, German Chancellor Angela Merkel – “We can handle it!” – which she uttered in the course of the migration disaster in 2015. “We can handle this,” mentioned Ursula von der Leyen. The bar she set is extraordinarily excessive – now she must soar excessive.

By Bernd Riegert, DW Columnist

The commentary expresses the non-public opinion of the writer. It could not coincide with the opinion of the Russian editorial workers and Deutsche Welle typically.

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