Special Address by Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission | DAVOS 2020

The top five risks for our economy climate-related. That is still scope to address these risks, but the window of opportunity is closing we have to act now. dear Madam president What's the life on the lion? Jill Wilson real chest That's the beginning of a new. decisive decayed for your I'm convinced Madam president said you were clearly defined strategy and reasonably leadership with benefit and Future. Sapaio metis said you have set for us to European Union a consequential.

Europe has super temperature to provide Global Leadership to Anza challenges. We need to address climate change Industrial Revolution inclusive digitalization. Ghost competitiveness as well as you are in the world. I deeply believe Saturday concerning our planet and our economy and climate continent has to self. That's a good role model for sustainable capitalism. I look forward to witnessing transformational Journey under your leadership. But I'm President we welcome you very called the lady but because you should have told

him the first time as the president of the European Commission. Ladies and gentlemen, excellency's. Thank you very much. It's wonderful to be back here indeed the world economic Forum stands for operation. For listening to each other. New ideas for the future and very well aware that some safe that the global order as we still together last 50 years is outdated. And whether we agree or not. We all have to recognize that it has been challenged every day. And this is not a question of only one country one party one president. It is a global

phenomenon driven by personal sentiments. People feel that their workplace is changing before their eyes. They're worried about the future of the business or the future of the families. They stick to all the rules they give their very best everyday, but no matter how hard they try. They feel the world is moving fast. And well, they are different ways to deal with these obvious changes. You can either move forward at the exclusion of others like restricting the internet fueling nationalism. Building on a narrative US

versus them. Or you can take an inclusive approach with your neighbors. Bring to the table all the scientists from all over the world connect your business and innovators to create new markets and sustainable jobs and don't lose all the answers people are asking for they are ready to change. But they want to see that they can make a decent living. And to find the solutions among nations, I think we need to upgrade and modernize our International forum and we need leadership to these topics to the next

level. There is no better example for this than climate change. It is a global challenge. Most of us not all of us but most of us agree that we need to ask we feel the urgency. I mean the evidence is overwhelming if you look at the droughts the flats the fires the heat waves. the rising ocean the extreme weather situations we've had before but not as frequent as not as intense as it is today. The world economic forum's so-called Global risk report identifies

that the top five risks for our economy climate-related. There is still scope to address these risks, but the window of opportunity is closing we have to act now. And this is the reason why the European commission presented as its first priority. The European green deal will be the world's first climate Mutual continent by 2050 unlock the investment The Innovation the creativity that is needed. over the next decade the European budget will mobilize 1 trillion Euro of

investment. It's going to be European money. National co-financing private investment. This is you who we need to join and of course strongly supported by the European investment and visit our climate bank, and this will create a green investment wave. And there's at your mom's. Last month's 44 of Europe's largest investors representing 6 trillion Euro of acids called on the European Union to put climate neutrality into law. They want that law. They say they need that law because it would give them the confidence the

accountability and reliability to make long-term Investments. The European green deal is our new growth strategy. the novelty and the difference 12 fossil fuel base model is that we will Foster growth that is not extracting resources, but that gives back to the planet mold and it takes away from it. And Europe have the first-mover advantage. I will squeal strengthen it. Icing the whole world increasingly needs clean Technologies a new Solutions because we will all face the same limits

of fossil fuel-based Rose. Therefore you will seize the opportunity. I'll battery Alliance smart green hydrogen power off showing power clean steel decarbonize gas. You name it? This will create Innovation value-added will create jobs. But there's no point in only reducing greenhouse gas emissions at home. if we increase the import of CO2 from abroad and this is not only a climate issue. It's also climate issue, but it's not only a climate issue. It is also an issue of fairness. It is a matter

of fairness towards our business. A fairness towards Alburtis, and we will protect them from unfair competition. One way for doing so is a border carbon border adjustment mechanism. Franklin I prefer to encourage our trading partners to work with us for Global Level Playing Field for the benefit of all of us. California for example is showing the way. with an emissions trading system that covers 85% of CO2 emissions And I also come in China for taking the first steps toward the CO2 pricing system. And these may

be only first steps to a Level Playing Field. But if we achieve Global pricing for CO2 of a greenhouse gas emissions, if it turns into a global Trend, we will have a global Level Playing Field where no carbon border taxes needed anymore. And this is an example of a new modern international framework we need this shows but if you engage with Europe, you will find a reliable partner working for most sustained world, but we ask for fairness in which I will have a lot to offer. We are the largest single Market in the world. Will one of the three largest

economies we are the largest source and destination of foreign direct investment. We have more than 80 free-trade agreements and over 700 international economic agreements. The next negotiations will start in February with our British friends. All these Agreements are not just about trade their platforms to shape and harness globalization and their drivers to build common solutions to challenges such as climate change or digitalization. We will be for sure moving out of an Economy based on fossil fuels.

And we will be moving towards the sustainable at the digital economy. We're working on this digital economy. And we consider of course data. As a renewable resource such as wind or sun. every 18 months we double the amount of data. We produce every 18 months. National Data commercial data 85% of which we never ever use. This is not sustainable. Within such data the Hidden Treasures that I'm tapped opportunities for business and for society is going to

co-create a framework to allow the use of these data consists of a trusted pool of non-personalized data. The government's businesses and other stakeholders can contribute to and thereby. We open up data as a resource for Innovation and bring new solutions to the market. And our scientists are already beginning to do this. We are creating is European open science Cloud now. It is a trusted space for research has to store their data and to access data from researchers from other disciplines.

We will create a pool of information leading to a web of research insight. And every researcher will be able to better use not only their own data, but also those of others they will discover to new inside will have new findings new Solutions. This is what we call the European open science cloud, and we are the first in the world to do so. It is being developed in Europe. 4 European researchers for European Solutions but the idea is but once we have the rules of the games of the game ready?

We will open this up to a broader public sector at the business as well. So that companies can come in share the data and use the data. And the idea is that we will open it up to international national players to in the very end. We have the biggest European signs organizations like the CERN or the MBL the European molecular biology laboratory major national centers universities and many many others. It is from science. for science What was a clear perspective to open it up to a broader society and economy? Enabling sharing

of none personal data will be one important pillar of our new data strategy. a pillar Is the protection of personal data? Ladies and gentlemen for the protection of a person's digital dignity is the overriding principle. for us The individual is not just a mere customer. I'm not just a date appointment others. Within the general data protection regulation gdpr we set the standards for the world. And we have to set a similar frame for artificial intelligence

to a frame. That allows progress and allows research why you're protecting the personal privacy. autonomy and safety a frame that allows business and digital solutions to grow in Europe provided that they comply with it. A framework which will also give guidance to International companies those who wants to do business in Europe. ladies and gentlemen This is about Europe shaping its own future. But to be more assertive in the world. We know we must Step Up in some fields.

Recent events have exposed what we have to do more. Libya shows the cost of division hesitation I just come from the conference on Libya in Berlin last Sunday. It was good to see that the International Community took an important step in the right direction and you can count on the European commission to strongly support the process to what's reconciliation and reconstruction. It takes very little power to break a fragile balance. But the true power lies in putting the pieces together back together again.

I doing the last decade. Europeans learned the importance of a stable neighborhood from Ukraine to the shores of the Mediterranean from the Western Balkans to the Sahara. We have learned the importance to invest more long-term stability and to prevent crisis. And this is where you work and make a real difference. We are the largest donor for Development Corporation. Corporation in the world. In fact, we invest in this that the rest of the world combined. But we must also do more. When it comes to managing

crisis as they develop in Europe also needs credible military capabilities and we have set up the building blocks of European Defense Union. It is complementary to Nato. And it is different that is is European way to foreign policy and foreign security policy power is an important to it without any question, but it is never the only one who always comes with diplomacy and conflict prevention. It always comes with reconciliacion and reconstruction, which is by the way something European

Europeans know very well because we all have gone through this year in Europe. ladies and gentlemen Well, the world around us is changing the things we want from Life remain the same. We want to take pride in our work. We want to spend time without loved ones. We want to breathe clean air and to drink clean water. We want to feel at home where we live. We want to feel confident that our children will have all these things we take for granted. And if we

want to stay true to all we hold dear. We need to be open-minded. We need to embrace change. We have the collective responsibility to find new ways to make this possible. We need to ReDiscover the power of corporation based on fairness based on mutual respect. And this is what I called geopolitics of mutual interest. This is what you're up stands for. This is what Europe will work for and with all those who are ready to join. Thank you for your attention.

Madam president listening to USA European. I'm proud because you give back a kind of not the kind of stuff off. Let's do it. Let's not just complains that we are lagging behind us. We have the capability to do it, but I think that was the essence of your message now if I'm coming let's say salt into Europe was built on Southern Ocean of unity in diversity and sometimes small diversity in unity. So my question is how do you ensure set the political unity and cooperation that costs European member states will exist to really successful

Implement you are coyotes likes to green tea competitiveness digital agenda and of course geopolitical commission if I may say so Yes, this is this is a challenge and visit the beauty of the European Union because if you look at the history when I was born and went to school there were only six member states today. Just one life span later. We have 28 member states. And of course this is always a challenge between the national interest and the common European interest. We have to Define and relating to your question the good part at the moment being is of

course, we have times of hesitation at times of division. We all know feel the urge of having to move forward not only in the field of the European green deal, but I want some digitalization also in the topic of migration. For example, the good part is I put full with my political guidelines. But there's also since some of the so-called strategic agenda of the European Council is all heads of state of God and government of the member States and its strongly overlapping. So in other words, the the

the political Chambers have the absolute same agenda on top of the European Parliament with a very strong push towards research and the two But there is one more point with that is more convincing. It's the European people have understood that we have to step forward what climate change is concerned that in digitalization. We have to put our own European way forward and I think it's very important for politics and policy never to oversee. If the people move forward that we

adapt our policies and are delivering what they are asking for therefore. We are in the fortunate situation that all these different entities of the European Union come together with one very strong call to be the first climate Mutual continent in 2050. To step forward and digitalization as I pointed out and I think this is a very good precondition to really be active and to move forward. Have you been to teach your phone when you have one I think additional obstacle because

of brexit discussion will absolve a lot of energy of the commission see ability of implementation of your ideas. Akira answers know and I'll explain why first of all we have been dealing with the phenomenon brexit already Sims 3 and 1/2 years. Now, we have a task force. He's heading the task force. So this will be the ongoing task force for the negotiations with our British friends. And this is separated from the Daily Business. We were just talkin about we have

to fulfil in the commission more points. I want to mention first of all we do have now the withdrawal agreement which has gone through the European Parliament and the British Parliament and within the astrology agreement. We've solved the largest the biggest problem we had ahead of us. The one is Citizens rights. It was very important for us to have Clarity on citizens. 3.5 million European citizens living in the UK and vice-versa 1.2 million British citizens living in the European Union is good for them.

So they have the right secure second piece on the island of Ireland most important spots. We wanted and we did protect. Oh my mistake Island and be successful down with a withdrawal agreement and the third point in the wheat roll agreement is the financial settlement with fine with that too. We have on top the so-called political declaration, which is kind of a shock pool that is describing the roadmap. We want to go on together. And therefore I didn't just

describe that things are very well set for the negotiations. Now, we will work day and night to get that done. As one last point. We have to be very clear on the is a difference whether you are a member state or you're not a member State what access to the single Market is concerned. So the closest the United Kingdom is to the European Union the better the access to the single Market if it's the UK's choice not to do so to be more distant to the European Union. Well, then there will be no distance, of course to the

single Market what Level Playing Field is concerned and what free movement of goods capital and services is concerned. See people here is a horse business people. Say I'm ready to make what you have in mind for you. Thank you. Are friends. I mean, I I pay tribute to 45 years of contribution of our British friends to the European Union all these civil servants European Union to we are friends we share so many of common values and common interest if you look at the

well, we know that we're sitting on the same side of the table and we have a lot in common now, we have to sort out this very clear thing the what I just said access to the single Market that is a condition either you align and you accept the rules and your clothes or you are more distant. This is the UK's choice so you can shape this choice to but the overarching messages we are friends we have been friends and we will be friends because we have so much in common two different. So, let's conclude session by

saying let's work together to make you version happening. Thank you.