And you might have seen some of them in the documentary ‘The Social Dilemma' – I can only recommend it. Image. And images, like we saw a few weeks ago when an angry mob stormed the Capitol, were beyond my imagination. But we can meet them – if we work together. In an interview with, “The Commission was unrealistically optimistic that it would roll out the vaccines without obstacles. And this year, the World Economic Forum is once again asking the right questions with your initiative, Klaus, ‘The Great Reset'. And we will put forward legislation to ensure that the EU market does not drive deforestation on the other side of the world. Ladies and gentlemen, from the protection of our democracy to the protection of our nature: Europe has everything to win from this new form of international and sectoral cooperation. No matter how tempting it may have been for Twitter to switch off President Trump's account, such serious interference with freedom of expression should not be based on company rules alone. And maybe we also took for granted that the doses ordered would actually arrive And I thank you very much for your attention! These guidelines were inspired by her discussions with the parliament’s political groups, as well as by the European Council’s strategic agenda for 2019-2024. We want it clearly laid down that internet companies take responsibility for the manner in which they disseminate, promote and remove content. © 2019 Thierry Monasse/Getty Images. And we have dedicated 37% of NextGenerationEU – that is our EUR 750 billion Recovery Plan –, 37% dedicated to the European Green Deal. And now, the companies must deliver. The first ever European Climate Law will hopefully soon come into force. It is cohesion between regions that is the heart of European solidarity. The pandemic has massively accelerated the process. And climate activist Greta Thunberg was also on top of a guest list full of stars. It is true for all major societal challenges. Unfortunately, the storming of the Capitol Hill showed us how just true that is. Presidents Michel and von der Leyen’s official visit to Ankara: main takeaways European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met with Turkish President Erdoğan in Ankara on 6 April in the highest level attempt there has been in the last five years to relaunch EU-Turkey relations. European Commission President Ursula … This new programme, it will be proactive. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for inviting me again. Von der Leyen's first annual speech launches the autumn political semester in the EU, in which she is expected to address the Covid-19 pandemic, migration and key foreign political issues. In summary, the UK got there first, placing an order in May, 2020, for 100 million doses. I want to invite our friends in the United States to join our initiatives. This is what we will work for – and I know I can count on you and the World Economic Forum to help us build it. Almost three quarters of the Earth's surface have been altered and we see the changes in our everyday lives: Less wilderness and wildlife, increasing temperatures and extreme weather. READ MORE: Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine nearly 95% effective in trials It is not important what country ends up with the first approved vaccine, what matters is that the world has a safe vaccine and that the most vulnerable receive it first, she says. A hollow tree had been infested by bats. But I think it is learning fast”, he said. When we lose forests, we do not ‘just' lose green space or natural habitat. Second, it would secure long-term and predictable funding for this task, rather than reallocating resources every time. Von der Leyen pledged to ensure that EU funds are spent with the rule of law guaranteed. Because we cannot accept that decisions, that have a far-reaching impact on our democracy, are taken by computer programmes alone. Our European Union green bond standard, for example, and taxonomy will lead the way. And this is why I strongly support a growing culture of sustainable corporate governance. This is also why early in the pandemic, the European Union, together with organizations like the World Economic Forum, or the Gates Foundation and Global Citizen organized pledging initiatives to mobilise funding for the global coronavirus response. And we know that in a pandemic there is no time to lose. Speaking to. President von der Leyen and Professor Schwab spoke on the second day of Davos Agenda week. World Economic Forum articles may be republished in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Public License, and in accordance with our Terms of Use. We will put forward legislation to help us get there from renewables to emissions trading, from clean hydrogen to the circular economy. But sometimes you just have to listen carefully. So Europe stands ready. And I must say, I am delighted that the U.S. has now re-joined the Paris Agreement, in one of President Biden's first acts in office. This will be a public-private partnership – and it will sit within our new European Health Emergency Response Authority, or in short HERA. And that is true. Companies, who get ahead of the game now, will have a big advantage. To understand why, I want you to accompany me to a remote village in Guinea, just for a minute. Addressing the virtual Davos Agenda 2021 summit of global leaders, she warned: “We know that preparedness is everything. It is local and regional authorities that are bringing the EU through the COVID-19 pandemic. And a year ago, my bilateral talks revolved primarily around the question: Would, for example, the U.S. government impose punitive tariffs on European carmakers? The EU was late to authorise Covid-19 vaccines and "still not where we want to be", European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said. From South Korea to Japan, from South Africa to China – economic powerhouses around the world now share our ambition. Greta Thunberg's message to world leaders at #DavosAgenda, Building trust: Here’s what you need to know about The Davos Agenda 2021, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Public License, Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship. Not everyone, however, shares these views. Epidemiologist Ricardo Mexia, president of the National Association of Public Health Doctors in Portugal, is reluctant to criticise the Commission. “The EU is doing its best in a difficult situation. In fact, they mutually reinforce each other. Black Women Died From Coronavirus At Far Higher Rates Than White Men: Study; After the Capitol Riot, Democrats Are Torn Over Working With the G.O.P. © 2019 Geert Vanden Wijngaert/Bloomberg/Getty Images. In the last 100 years, more than 90 percent of crop varieties have disappeared from farmers’ fields, and all of the world’s 17 main fishing grounds are now being fished at or above their sustainable limits. A key explanation for the gap between the EU and UK vaccine roll-outs is down to the British–Swedish company, AstraZeneca, and the controversial vaccine procurement contacts. So take the vaccine that will hopefully protect us all from COVID-19. And we do know just how tragic the repercussions were across Africa and the world. The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone and not the World Economic Forum. Dear friends, this is one of the priorities of the European Green Deal I presented to you indeed in Davos last year. Because we want the values we cherish in the offline world also to be respected online. To nurture innovative ecosystems, for example where universities, companies, innovators can access data and cooperate. We were too optimistic about mass production. This is why the Commission launched the Digital Services Act and the Digital Markets Act in December. President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen has expressed her 'deep regret' over the debacle surrounding Article 16 of the Brexit withdrawal agreement. Ladies and gentlemen, a year ago at Davos, we talked also intensively about digitalization. Enquire to become a member or partner of the Forum and help stop deforestation linked to supply chains. I am confident President Ursula von der Leyen will build an even stronger partnership with our Committee as it is the one million regional and local elected politicians who are Europe's safety net, who are key actors in managing the pandemic and who will be crucial actors in fostering our recovery. European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, gave a special address to Davos Agenda Week. And in the latest World Economic Forum Global Risk Report, the top five global risks are all related to the environment. Like for so many of us, the storming of the Capitol came as a shock to me. The European Union will dedicate 20% of NextGenerationEU to digital projects. On 16 th September 2020, European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, delivered her first State of the Union (SOTEU) speech, setting the tone for the rest of her five-year term.With a wide-ranging set of actions, she proclaimed the Commission’s intent to seize the moment, use the money available, and increase its powers to help “build the world we want to live in.” Because the world pooled its resources, scientists shared their expertise and different manufacturers worked together. 4 people per 100 000 have. Europe has set out to become the first continent to reach climate neutrality by 2050. And third, it would bring together cutting-edge tech-companies, blue-chip manufacturers, as well as regulators such as the European Medicines Agency or the European Commission. But for this to be a success, we must also address the darker sides of the digital world. For example, Klaus, when we meet hopefully in person, at the special annual meeting in Singapore in May. The public's safety has always been at the forefront of our minds—safety is our watchword.”, On Feb 14, the EU made further announcements on its approvals for vaccines adapted to combat new variants of SARS-CoV-2. This global public-private partnership is working on removing deforestation from four global commodity supply chains – palm oil, beef, soy, and pulp and paper. On Jan 29, 2021, the EU began trying to gain greater control over access to the vaccine. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen made a startling speech last week in relation to widespread criticism of how Europe has so far handled the COVID-19 vaccine roll-out. Few suspected at the time that this would be the start of a pandemic that a year later would still hold us in its grip. Ellen 't Hoen, is a lawyer and public health advocate at research group Medicines, Laws and Policy, and is former policy director for Médecins sans Frontières’ Campaign for Access to Essential Medicines. … Together, we could create a digital economy rulebook that is valid worldwide: It goes from data protection and privacy to the security of critical infrastructure. How does the World Economic Forum encourage biological diversity? They pinned their hopes on Europe. New alliances for new solutions. We use cookies to improve your experience on our website. It is in this spirit that Europe will propose to create a bio-defence preparedness programme. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen made a startling speech . Furthermore, according to reports in the German newspaper. The EU signed a deal for 300 million doses of the vaccine, but not until August, 2020. So I think we all have to play our role in this game. She spoke about issues from climate change to big tech and the impact of COVID-19. Now Europe expects to approve the Russian Sputnik V vaccine as soon as possible. One year on, this has not lost any of its urgency. So this new programme will be permanent. And we want the platforms to be transparent about how their algorithms work. The European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen wants to cut at least 55 percent of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 - saying the Green Deal is a "cultural project" that goes beyond simply cutting emissions. That is what we all have to learn again after four long years. The European Commission president was eventually seated on a sofa during the meeting at a summit where one of the topics was women's rights. “We are all learning as we go here”, he said. The EU even threatened to stop the flow of vaccine from Ireland to Northern Ireland, although this proposal was swiftly withdrawn after provoking outrage not just in London and Belfast, but also in Dublin. To see how policymakers look at the future. We cannot wait for the next pandemic to start preparing. With the world continuing to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, and the full scale of the economic damage is still unknown, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen used her first State of the… They must honour their obligations. “I hope now that someone will now look at streamlining approvals within the EMA. But at that time, other news very quietly were coming to us from China and they were barely noticed by most of us. At its most basic, this means that what is illegal offline should be illegal online too. And these developments are different sides of the same coin. This will have to be like COP21 was for climate. So that the 2020s can finally be Europe's Digital Decade. In a speech on Wednesday, the former EU Brexit negotiator appeared to make a veiled swipe at Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Here are 10 actions we can take to change course. It was in stark contrast to Boris Johnson's joke-filled speech. We know that preparedness is everything. But it has also created new ones, in record time. It will bring clarity on what accounts for sustainable, eco-friendly activities. Rule of law. To boost the vibrant start-up scene we have in cities like Sofia and Lisbon and to become a global hub for Artificial Intelligence. This means that the COVID-19 vaccines’ effects must first be tested in a laboratory, first on animals, then on human volunteers. But what we do know is that the boy became gravely ill and died a little later, as did his sister and his pregnant mother. Thank you very much, dear Klaus. A body of rules based on our values: Human rights and pluralism, inclusion and the protection of privacy. But it also means business. On Dec 8, German MEP Peter Liese went a step further, saying a “few weeks of thorough examination by the EMA is better than a hasty emergency marketing authorisation of a vaccine”. There, a young boy playing next to a tree some years ago, is thought to have been the first victim of one of the worst outbreaks of Ebola. And they described how the economic laws of social media are eating away at the fabric of our society. It is the engagement by regional and local politicians that will deliver the more ambitious targets for climate change announced yesterday. And we have also stepped up our own ambition and action. Ms Von der Leyen insisted that the EU was working with the UK in the fight against Covid-19 and rejected the idea the pair were in a race to protect their own populations. I hope to be able to continue this discussion with you soon! There needs to be a framework of laws for such far-reaching decisions. Ursula von der Leyen. The Alliance includes businesses, governments, civil society, indigenous people and communities, and international organizations. The world is at a critical junction where humility, collaboration and institutional reform can ensure true, sustainable global cooperation. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen was speechless after being left without a chair during a meeting with Turkey's leader. David SASSOLI, EP President, and Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, open the event marking the International Women’s day during an inter-parliamentary meeting organised by the Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM), in collaboration with the Directorate for Relations with National Parliaments. By using our website you consent to all cookies in accordance with our updated Cookie Notice. Ursula von der Leyen, President, European Commission. The EMA assesses all vaccines using the same standards as for all medicines. It also made sure the contracts had clear delivery dates. And indeed, it is worth looking back. To be updated on what is keeping up at night entrepreneurs and philanthropists, or managers and the NGO community. This is why we will set up a vaccine export transparency mechanism. Because the European Union had already proven that it is able to set standards that are respected around the world, such as with our General Data Protection Regulation – the GDPR. We know how important this is for investors, who are looking for truly sustainable projects. “We were late in granting authorisation. This spirit of cooperation is the only mind-set which can help us tackle our challenges. The event is hosted by Evelyn REGNER (S&D, AT). Speech by President von der Leyen at the UN High-Level Event on Financing for Development in the Era of COVID-19 and Beyond Brussels, 28 May 2020 But we must nurture our democracy every day, and defend our institutions against the corrosive power of hate speech, of disinformation, fake news and incitement to violence. It is why we will protect at least 30% of land and sea here in Europe. And we have seen the momentum that this has generated. The 'Ursula dividend' is a shot in the arm for the UK vaccine industry Those with jobs making vaccines should raise a glass to the blonde lady in Brussels as Britain ramps up domestic production Here it is: More than half of global GDP is dependent on high-functioning biodiversity and ecosystems – and it is from food to tourism, you just name it. Ladies and gentlemen, there is no better place than the World Economic Forum to find out about the major trends in our society. Now we must move to action. The European Union cannot succeed without regions and cities. But it's approval of the vaccine in early December prompted criticisms, including claims that the UK was not using all available data before making its decision to authorise the vaccine. And he was to be proven right. We need this new public-private approach to detect earlier, develop together and manufacture faster at scale. It announced that EU-based manufacturing plants, such as the Pfizer production plant in Puurs, Belgium, would now have to request authorisation to be able to export the vaccine. This is why I believe this new form of blended partnerships should prepare and protect us against the next big risk. The EU “means business”, Ursula von der Leyen has said, as the bloc doubled down on plans for tighter monitoring of vaccine exports to countries outside of the union, such as the UK. European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, gave a special address to Davos Agenda Week. President von der Leyen spoke with Professor Schwab. Ursula von der Leyen was speechless after being left without a chair during a meeting with Turkey's leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan. This is a problem for the whole world.' And this is why Europe will soon present a legal framework for the restoration of healthy ecosystems. We all benefit from nature and we all benefit from the protection it gives us. Speech by President von der Leyen at the Opening of the High-Level Conference 'Investing in climate action: The Make-or-Break Decade', in cooperation with the EIB 24 March 2021 Commission strengthens transparency and authorisation mechanism for exports of COVID-19 vaccines US, WASHINGTON (ORDO NEWS) — European Commission chief von der Leyen has compared the fight over the covid-19 vaccine to the Cold War space race – hours after the EU turned to Russia for help with vaccinations. The European Commission will before the end of September adopt its first annual Rule of Law report covering all EU countries. We need to bring together the innovation and the capability of the private sector, and the long-term vision and predictability and the funding of the public sector. Ursula Gertrud von der Leyen (German: [ˈʊʁzula fɔn dəɐ̯ ˈlaɪən] (); née Albrecht; born 8 October 1958) is a German politician and physician who has been President of the European Commission since 1 December 2019.. Giving it the ability to take swift action in emergency decisions, perhaps via a special standing committee, would mean the EMA can then keep the power and stability of a tanker but also have the dynamic agility of a speed boat.”. This is not just true for pandemics or health. The pandemic has shown the limitations of some of our old ways of working. Learning from the COVID-19 crisis Today, a year later, we are worrying about whether democracy itself might have been permanently damaged in the last four years. What normally takes five to ten years, to develop a vaccine, was achieved in ten months. We must learn from this crisis. We are ready to broker the same ambition at global level, at the next UN Biodiversity Summit in Kunming. We have seen that nature destruction can have the same impact for a company as major oil spills while, for example, fashion companies who use recycled material already have an additional selling point for their environmentally conscious customers. And yet, there were signs in Davos last January. “We were late in granting authorisation. EU's von der Leyen says COVID-19 vaccinations in EU to start on Dec. 27, 28, 29 ... European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivers a speech during a … No private company or public authority can do it alone. We have to change the way we live and do business, to be able to keep what we value and hold dear. And indeed, my speech focused on the European Green Deal and of course Digitalisation. We are always quick to say: Democracy and values, they are part of our DNA. And we will reach out to our partners from around the world – from foundations to global institutions, from CEOs to NGOs, and from our oldest partners across the Atlantic to all those who want to join. On Dec 2, former EMA head Guido Rasi, declared the UK Government had not delivered a “robust review of all available data”. This is a blueprint for cooperation in today's world. Breaking News. In a State of the Union address on September 16, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen advised EU members to form a more powerful health union that promotes closer cooperation as humans worldwide “are still suffering” from the novel coronavirus. Because we need a Paris-style agreement for biodiversity. Copyright The COVID-19 crisis should be seen as an opportunity for the European Union to rebuild its economy as “modern, clean and healthy”, believes Ursula von der Leyen. 2050 is predicted to be a bleak milestone for the ocean - but it's not too late to avert disaster. The animals had been pushed towards the village, because 80% of forests in the region had been destroyed. I remember sitting in a basement restaurant of my hotel with, among others, the business journalist Rana Foroohar and the former Google developer Tristan Harris. And it will be fully dedicated to discovering and preparing for known and emerging pathogens, and then developing and manufacturing vaccines at scale to respond to them. Fierce criticism of von der Leyen has also come from the usually pro-EU media in Germany—the very country which von der Leyen once served as defence minister. This speech was first published on the European Commission's website. In a world where polarizing opinions are the loudest, it is a short step from crude conspiracy theories to the death of a police officer. So the warning signs were already there in Davos. Europe invested billions to help develop the world‘s first COVID-19 vaccines. And yet, the dangers that social media poses to our democracy were also already discussed in Davos. If temperatures keep rising and nature keeps disappearing, we will see more natural disasters and zoonotic diseases. Copyright In the COVAX vaccination alliance, the European Union, together with 186 countries, will be securing millions of doses of vaccines for low-income countries. But public funding alone will not be enough. We do not know exactly what happened there. These trends have reduced diversity in our diets, which is directly linked to diseases or health risk factors, such as diabetes, obesity and malnutrition.One initiative which is bringing a renewed focus on biological diversity is the Tropical Forest Alliance. This is why we will propose to strengthen due diligence for companies. © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Ursula von der Leyen, some in Germany claim, is responsible for the vaccine fiasco (Image: GETTY) The Luxembourg politician said "not repeating that in 2019 was a … The business model of online platforms has an impact – and not only on free and fair competition, but also on our democracies, our security and on the quality of our information. This is our new rulebook for our digital market. The Lancet Regional Health – Western Pacific, Advancing women in science, medicine and global health, Severe mental illness: reassessing COVID-19 vaccine priorities, We use cookies to help provide and enhance our service and tailor content and ads. To update your cookie settings, please visit the, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(21)00428-1, von der Leyen admits to COVID-19 vaccine failures, View Large We have agreed a greenhouse gas emission reduction target of at least 55% by 2030. MHRA chief executive June Raine released a statement defending the MHRA's approach, saying: “We have carried out a rigorous scientific assessment of all the available evidence of quality, safety and effectiveness.