Dear President,

Members of Parliament,

One of the most courageous minds of our times,

Andrei Sakharov

a man so admired by this Parliament

always spoke of his unshakeable faith

in the hidden strength of the human spirit.

Over the last six months,

Europeans have really shown

the strength of spirit.

We have seen this with the care workers,

who moved into nursing care homes

to look after the ill and the elderly.

We saw this with the doctors and nurses

who became family members

for those who were breathing their last breath.

The front line workers

who day and night

week after week

took risks so we didn't have to.

Their empathy, their courage

and their sense of duty

is an inspiration to us all.

And I would like to begin this speech

by paying tribute to them.

Their stories also reveal a lot

about the state of our world

and the state of our Union.

They show the power of humanity

and the sense of mourning

which will live long in our society.

And they expose to us

the fragility all around us.

A virus a thousand times smaller

than a grain of sand

exposed how delicate life can be.

It laid bare

the strains on our health systems

and the limits of a model

that values wealth above well-being.

It brought into sharper focus

the planetary fragility

that we see every day through melting glaciers,

burning forests

and now through global pandemics.

It changed the way

we behave and communicate,

keeping our arms at length

and our faces behind masks.

It showed us just how fragile

our community of values really is

and how quickly

it can be called into question

around the world and even here in our Union.

But people want to move out

of this corona world, out of this fragility,

out of this uncertainty.

They are ready for change

and they are ready to move on.

And this is the moment for Europe.

The moment for Europe to lead the way

from this fragility towards a new vitality.

And that is what I want to talk about today.

Honourable Members,

I say this because in the last months

we have rediscovered

the value of what we hold in common.

As individuals, we have all sacrificed

a piece of our personal liberty

for the safety of others.

And as a Union,

we all shared a part of our sovereignty

for the common good.

We turned fear

and division between Member States

into confidence in our Union.

We showed that it is possible

and what is possible when we trust each other

and trust our European institutions.

And with all of that,

we choose to not only repair

and recover for the here and now,

but to shape a better world, a better way of living

for the world of tomorrow.

This is NextGenerationEU.

This is our opportunity

to make change happen by design,

and not by disaster

or by diktat from others in the world.

To emerge stronger by creating opportunities

for the world of tomorrow

and not just building contingencies

for the world of yesterday.

We have everything we need

to make this happen.

We have shaken off the old excuses

and home comforts.

We have the vision, we have a plan,

we have the investment.

It is now time to get to work.

This morning I sent a Letter of Intent

to President Sassoli and Chancellor Merkel,

on behalf of the German Presidency,

outlining the Commission's plan

for the year ahead.

I will not present every initiative today

but I want to touch on

what our Union must focus on

in the next twelve months.

Honourable Members,

The people of Europe are still suffering.

It is a period of profound anxiety

for millions who are concerned

about the health of their families,

the future of their jobs

or simply getting through

until the end of the month.

The pandemic, and the uncertainty

that goes with it, is not over.

And the recovery is still in its early stage.

So our first priority

is to pull each other through this.

And to be there for those that need it.

And thanks to our

unique social market economy,

Europe can do just that.

It is above all a human economy

that protects us against

the great risks of life -

illness, ill-fortune,

unemployment and poverty.

It offers stability

and helps us better absorb shocks.

It creates opportunities

and prosperity by promoting innovation,

growth and fair competition.

Never before

has that enduring promise of protection,

stability and opportunity

been more important than it is today.

Allow me to explain why.

First, Europe must continue

to protect lives and livelihoods.

This is all the more important

in the middle of a pandemic

that shows no sign

of running out of steam or intensity.

We know how quickly

numbers can spiral out of control.

So we must continue

to handle this pandemic with extreme care,

responsibility and unity.

In the last six months,

our health systems and workers

have produced miracles.

Every country has worked to do its best

for its citizens.

And Europe has done more together

than ever before.

When the Member States closed borders,

we created green lanes for goods.

When more than 600,000

European citizens were stranded

all over the world,

the EU brought them back home.

When some countries introduced

export bans for critical medical goods,

we stopped that and ensured

that critical medical goods could go

where they were needed.

We worked with the European industry

to increase the production of masks,

gloves, tests and ventilators.

Our Civil Protection Mechanism ensured

that doctors from Romania

could treat patients in Italy

or that Latvia could send masks

to its Baltic neighbours.

And we achieved all that

without having full competences.

For me, it is crystal clear –

we need to build

a stronger European Health Union.

It is time to do that.

And to start making this a reality,

we must now draw the first lessons

from the health crisis.

We need to make

our new EU4Health programme future-proof.

This is why I had proposed

to increase funding

and I am grateful

that this Parliament is ready to fight

for more funding and remedy the cuts

made by the European Council.

And we need to strengthen

our crisis preparedness and management

of cross-border health issues.

As a first step,

we will propose to reinforce and empower

the European Medicines Agency and ECDC -

our centre for disease prevention

and control.

As a second step,

we will build a European BARDA -

an agency for biomedical advanced research

and development.

This new agency will support our capacity

and readiness to respond

to cross-border threats and emergencies –

whether of natural or deliberate origin.

We need strategic stockpiling

to address supply chain dependencies,

notably for pharmaceutical goods.

As a third step,

it is clearer than ever

that we must discuss

the question of health competences.

And I think this is a noble and urgent task

for the Conference on the Future of Europe.

And finally,

and because this was a global crisis,

we need to learn the global lessons.

This is why, along with Prime Minister Conte

and the Italian G20 Presidency next year,

I will convene a Global Health Summit

next year in Italy.

This will show Europeans

that our Union is there to protect them all.

And this is exactly what we have done

when it comes to workers.

When I took office,

I vowed to create an instrument

to protect workers and businesses

from external shocks.

Because I knew from my experience

as a Minister for Labour and Social Affairs

that these schemes work.

They keep people in jobs,

they keep the skills in the companies

and the SMEs in business.

These SMEs are the motor of our economy

and will be the engine of our recovery.

This is why the Commission created

the SURE programme.

And I want to thank this House

for working on it in record time.

If Europe has so far

avoided mass unemployment seen elsewhere,

it is thanks in large part to the fact

that around 40 million people

applied for short-time work schemes.

This speed and unity of purpose means

that 16 countries will soon receive

almost 90 billion euros from SURE

to support workers and companies.

From Lithuania to Spain,

it will give peace of mind

to families who need that income

to put food on the table or to pay the rent.

And it will help protect millions of jobs,

incomes and companies

right across our Union.

This is real European solidarity in action.

And it reflects the fact

that in our Union

the dignity of work must be sacred.

But the truth is that for too many people,

work no longer pays.

Dumping wages

destroys the dignity of work,

penalises the entrepreneur

who pays decent wages

and distorts fair competition

in the Single Market. And this has to stop.

This is why the Commission

will put forward a legal proposal

to support Member States to set up

a framework for minimum wages.

Everyone must have access

Everyone must have access to minimum wages

either through collective bargaining

or through statutory minimum wages.

I am a strong advocate

of collective bargaining

and the proposal will fully respect

national competencies and traditions.

We have seen in many Member States,

that introduced

collectively bargained minimum wages,

how a well-negotiated minimum wage

secures jobs and creates fairness –

both for the workers

and for the companies who really value them.

So, Honourable Members,

minimum wages work

and it is time that work paid.

The second promise

of the social market economy

is that of stability.

Assuring it was united and up to the task,

Europe provided the stability

that our economies need.

I will not forget

when the crisis hit,

the Commission immediately triggered

the general escape clause

for the very first time in our history.

We flexibilised

our European funds and State aid rules.

Authorising more than 3 trillion euro

in support to companies and industry:

from fishermen in Croatia

to farmers in Greece,

from SMEs in Italy

to freelancers in Denmark.

The European Central Bank

took decisive action

through its PEPP programme.

The Commission proposed

NextGenerationEU in record time.

It combines investment

with much needed reforms.

The Council endorsed it in record time.

This House is working

towards voting on it with maximum speed.

Honourable Members,

For the first time

and for exceptional times

Europe has put in place

its own common tools to complement

national fiscal stabilisers.

This is a remarkable moment of unity

in the European Union.

This is an achievement

that we should take collective pride in.

We made that.

And now is the time to hold our course.

We have all seen the forecasts.

We can expect our economies

to start moving again

after a twelve percent drop in GDP

in the second quarter.

But as the virus lingers

so does the uncertainty –

here in Europe and around the world.

So this is definitely not the time

to withdraw support.

Our economies need

continued policy support

and a delicate balance

will need to be struck

between providing financial support

and ensuring fiscal sustainability.

In the longer term

there is no greater way to stability

and competitiveness

than through a stronger

Economic and Monetary Union.

Confidence in the euro

has never been stronger.

The historic agreement

on NextGenerationEU

shows the political backing that it has.

We must now use this opportunity

to make structural reforms in our economies

and complete the Capital Markets Union

and the Banking Union.

Deep and liquid capital markets

are essential to give businesses access

to the finance they need.

They need it to grow and invest in recovery

and in the future.

And they are also a pre-requisite

to further strengthen

the international role of the euro.

So let's get to work

and finally complete

this generational project.

The third enduring promise

is the promise of opportunity.

The pandemic reminded us

of many things we may have forgotten

or taken for granted.

We were reminded how linked

our economies are

and how crucial a fully functioning

Single Market is to our prosperity

and the way we do things.

The Single Market is all about opportunity -

for consumers to get value for money,

for companies to sell anywhere in Europe

and for the industry

to drive its global competitiveness.

And for all of us,

it is about the opportunity

to make the most of the freedoms

we cherish as Europeans.

It gives our companies

the scale they need to prosper

and a safe haven for them

in times of trouble.

We rely on it every day

to make our lives easier –

and it is crucial for managing the crisis

and recovering our strength.

So let's give it a boost.

We must tear down the barriers

of the Single Market.

We must cut red tape.

We must step up implementation

and enforcement.

And we must restore the four freedoms –

in full and as fast as possible.

The linchpin of this

is a fully functioning Schengen area

of free movement.

We will work with Parliament

and Member States to bring this high up

on our political agenda

and we will propose

a new strategy for the future of Schengen.

Based on this strong internal market,

the European industry has long

powered our economy,

providing a stable living for millions

and creating the social hubs

around which our communities are built.

We presented our new industry strategy

in March

to ensure industry could lead

the twin green and digital transition.

The last six months

have only accelerated that transformation –

at a time when

the global competitive landscape

is fundamentally changing.

Us, too.

We have to keep up.

This is why we will update

our industry strategy

in the first half of next year

and adapt our competition framework,

which should also keep pace.

Honourable Members,

All of this will ensure

Europe gets back on its feet.

But as we pull through together,

we must also propel ourselves forward

in the world of tomorrow.

And there is no more

urgent need for acceleration

than when it comes

to the future of our fragile planet.

While much of the world's activity froze

during lockdowns and shutdowns,

the planet continued to get

dangerously hotter.

We see it all around us:

from homes evacuated

due to glacier collapse on the Mont Blanc,

to fires burning through Oregon,

to crops destroyed in Romania

by the most severe drought in decades.

But we also saw

nature coming back into our lives.

We longed for green spaces

and cleaner air for our mental health

and our physical well-being.

We know change is needed

and we also know it is possible.

The European Green Deal is our blueprint

to make that transformation.

At the heart of it

is our mission to become

the first climate-neutral continent by 2050.

But we will not get there

with the status quo.

We need to go faster and do things better.

We looked in-depth at every sector

to see how fast we could go

and how to do it

in a responsible, evidence-based way.

We held a wide public consultation

and conducted

an extensive impact assessment.

On this basis,

the European Commission is proposing

to increase the 2030 target

for emission reduction to at least fifty-five percent.

I recognise that this increase

from forty to fifty-five is too much for some,

and not enough for others.

But our impact assessment clearly shows

that our economy and industry

can manage this.

And they want it too.

Just yesterday, one hundred and seventy

business leaders and investors,

from SME's

to some of the world's biggest companies,

wrote to me calling on Europe

to set a target of at least fifty-five percent.

Our impact assessment clearly shows

that meeting this target

would put the EU firmly on track

for climate neutrality by 2050

and for meeting

our Paris Agreement obligations.

And if others follow our lead,

the world will be able to keep warming

below 1.5 degrees Celsius.

I am fully aware that many of our partners

are far away from that –

but we have to lead

and I will come back to

the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism later.

But for us,

the 2030 target is ambitious, achievable,

and beneficial for Europe.

We can do it.

We have already shown we can do it.

While emissions dropped

twenty-five percent since 1990,

our economy grew

by more than sixty percent.

The difference is

that we now have more technology,

more expertise and the investment.

And we are already embarking

towards a circular economy

with carbon neutral production.

We want to be leading in the world on that.

We have more young people pushing for change.

We have more proof

that what is good for the climate

is good for business and is good for us all.

And we have a solemn promise

to leave no one behind

in this transformation.

With our Just Transition Fund

we will support the regions that have

a bigger and more costly change to make.

We have it all.

Now it's our responsibility

to implement it all

and make it happen.

And I want you at my side

and invite you for this endeavour.

Because we only can do it together.

This is our mission on the European level,

Honourable Members!

Meeting this new target

will reduce our energy import dependency,

create millions of extra jobs

and more than halve air pollution.

To get there, we have to start now.

By next summer, we will revise

all of our climate and energy legislation

to make it “fit for 55”.

We will enhance emission trading,

boost renewable energy,

improve energy efficiency,

reform energy taxation.

But the mission of the European Green Deal

involves much more than cutting emissions.

This is important,

but it is about making systemic modernisation

across our economy, society and industry.

It is about building

a stronger world to live in.

Our current levels of consumption

of raw materials, energy, water, food

and land use is not sustainable.

We need to change how we treat nature,

how we produce and consume, live and work,

eat and heat, travel and transport.

So we will tackle everything

from hazardous chemicals

to deforestation to pollution.

This is a plan for a true recovery.

It is an investment plan for Europe.

And this is where NextGenerationEU

will make a real difference.

Firstly, thirty-seven percent

of NextGenerationEU will be spent

directly on our

European Green Deal objectives.

And I will ensure

that it also takes

green financing to the next level.

We are world leaders in green finance

and the largest issuer

of green bonds worldwide.

We are leading the way

in developing

a reliable EU Green Bond Standard.

And I can announce today

that we will set a target of thirty percent

of NextGenerationEU's 750 billion euro

to be raised through green bonds.

Secondly,

NextGenerationEU should invest

in lighthouse European projects

with the biggest impact:

hydrogen, renovation

and 1 million electric charging points.

Allow me to explain how this could work:

Two weeks ago in Sweden,

a unique fossil-free steel pilot

began test operations.

It will replace coal with hydrogen

to produce clean steel.

This shows the potential of hydrogen

to support our industry with a new,

clean, licence to operate.

I want NextGenerationEU to create

new European Hydrogen Valleys

to modernise our industries,

power our vehicles

and bring new life to rural areas.

The second example

are the buildings we live and work in.

Our buildings generate

more than forty percent

of our emissions.

They need to become less wasteful,

less expensive and more sustainable.

And we know that the construction sector

can even be turned from a carbon source

into a carbon sink,

if organic building materials like wood

and smart technologies like AI are used.

I want NextGenerationEU to kickstart

a European renovation wave

and make our Union a leader

in the circular economy.

But this is not just an environmental

or economic project:

it needs to be

a new cultural project for Europe.

Every movement has its own look

and feel.

And we need to give our systemic change

its own distinct aesthetics

to match style with sustainability.

This is why we will set up

a new European Bauhaus –

a co-creation space

where architects, artists,

students, engineers, designers

work together to make that happen.

This is NextGenerationEU.

This is shaping the world we want to live in.

A world served by an economy that cuts emissions,

boosts competitiveness,

reduces energy poverty,

creates rewarding jobs and

improves quality of life.

A world where we use digital technologies

to build a healthier, greener society.

This can only be achieved

if we all do it together

and I will insist

that recovery plans don't just bring us

out of the crisis

but also help us propel

Europe forward to the world of tomorrow.

Honourable Members of the Parliament,

Let us imagine for a moment

that this pandemic occurs

during a time without digital technology.

Quarantine spent in full isolation

cut off from family, relatives

supply problems

inability to go to work

surely this is what it must have looked like

a hundred years ago in the last pandemic.

A century on,

modern technology has enabled us

in a time of severe pandemic

for young people to pursue

their studies at home,

people to work from home,

keeping production lands open,

and distributing those products.

It allows public administration

to provide important services to citizens.

In a matter of just a few weeks,

we witnessed greater progress

on digital transformation than

over several years.

But we are coming up against the limit

of what analogue technology

will allow us to do now.

This transition has just begun.

The forthcoming decade

must be Europe's digital decade.

We need a common plan

for a digital Europe

with clearly set out targets and objectives

for 2050.

We need targets for 2030

in the field of connectivity,

digital competence skills

in public administration and other areas.

We also need clear principles -

the right to privacy,

the right to access,

freedom of expression,

the free flow of data and cybersecurity.

In order to achieve all this,

Europe must take a leadership role

or else it will be

following other who will be setting

the standards for us.

This is why quick and decisive action

is needed so badly now.

There are three areas

that we, I believe, must focus on.

First, on data.

When it comes to personalised data -

business to consumer -

Europe was too slow

and has had to follow others.

This must not happen again

with industrial data.

And I have some good news:

Europe is in the lead in this field -

we have the technology,

and we have the industry.

But this will not win us the race.

The quantity of industrial data

will multiply fourfold over the next

five years and that

will bring with it opportunities.

So now is the time to allow businesses -

start-ups, SMEs -

to fully exploit the potential.

Industrial data is invaluable

when it comes to developing new products

and new services.

However, the reality looks very different.

Eighty percent of industrial data collected

is never put to any use.

This is a huge waste.

A true data economy would be

a powerful driver for innovation, however.

This is why Europe

must secure the data

and make it widely accessible.

We need common data collection

in the field of energy

and health care, for example,

which will boost the activity of

research clusters, businesses,

research centres must be able to

access in a secure way this data

and use its potential.

This is why in the context of NextGenerationEU,

we will be establishing

a European cloud on the basis of Gaia-X.

The second area that we must focus on

is technology itself.

In particular, artificial intelligence.

Whether it's for precision farming

or precision health care,

or early diagnosis in health care,

or autonomous driving,

AI opens up whole new worlds for us -

it's truly fantastic.

But these worlds need to be regulated too.

Algorithms must not create a new black box,

and there must be clear rules

and procedures when things go wrong.

The European Commission will be

proposing a new European law

in this filed which will

tackle the issue of supervision

of personal data.

Every time we access a website

and it asks us to establish

a new digital identity

or set up a user profile,

or to register on a platform,

the fact is we simply don't know

what will happen to our data.

We must put a stop to this.

This is why the European Commission

will come forward with a

proposal for a new secure digital identity.

One that we can really trust

and citizens can use Europe-wide

for anything - whether its

renting a bicycle or paying taxes.

An identity that one has

full control over -

one can control the data that is transferred

and how it is used.

That is our idea of

a technology focused on

and for the service of people.

The third focal point

is infrastructure.

We must keep up with the racing pace

of technology.

We want

to built a Europe that is

on an equal footing

with others.

Then we simply cannot allow

forty percent of people in rural areas

to still be lagging behind

when it comes to broadband access.

Broadband connections

are the foundation

for home learning, home shopping,

home office working

and many of the services that are now being

offered online.

Without broadband, it's simply impossible

to run a business these days.

Or to expand a business.

Fast data connections are a basis,

a requirement and an opportunity

for rural areas to develop.

It is only with this technology

that rural areas will fully be able to

exploit their potential

and attract investment and populations.

The investment leap that we are going to see

through NextGenerationEU

is a one-time opportunity.

It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity

to move forward with development

in this field.

This is why we want to focus on secure

connectivity, developing 5G, 6G and fibreglass.

We need to use this opportunity

to come up with a

common approach for connectivity

and the development of

digital infrastructure in Europe.

None of this is an end in itself -

it is about Europe's digital sovereignty.

And in this context, I'm very pleased

to announce an investment of 8 billion euros

in supercomputer technology.

This will be

high-tech made in Europe.

And we wish

for European industry to be

able to develop its own driver for investment

in digital economy.

One that would allow us to

use data in a way that is

energy-efficient and secure.

All this is part of this digital Europe.

Honourable Members,

If we really press on

the accelerated pedal now,

we must ensure that Europe

retains control over its future.

We have everything we need

in order to realise this dream.

Industry is in need of a plan

and that plan is now in place.

There has never been a better time to

invest in technology

across Europe - from Sofia to Lisbon,

and across the continent we want to

open new digital clusters.

We have the idea, we have the investment power

to be truly successful

in this field.

Which is why twenty percent of

the NextGenerationEU budget will be

earmarked for digital development.

And with this, we hope

to propel Europe into the digital age

on the basis of our values,

our strengths and our ambitions.

Europe is determined to use this transition

to build the world we want

to live in.

And that, of course,

extends well beyond our external borders.

The pandemic has simultaneously shown

both the fragility of the global system

and the importance of cooperation

to tackle collective change.

In the face of the crisis,

some around the world

choose to retreat into isolation.

Others actively destabilise the system.

Europe chooses to reach out.

Our leadership is not about

self-serving propaganda.

It is not about Europe First.

It is about being the first

to seriously answer the call

when it is needed.

In the pandemic,

European planes delivering thousands

of tonnes of protective equipment

landed everywhere

from Sudan to Afghanistan,

Somalia to Venezuela.

We know none of us will be safe

until all of us are safe.

Wherever we live,

whatever we have, there must be access -

affordable and safe -

access to vaccines, treatments

and diagnostics.

At the beginning of the pandemic,

there was no funding,

no global framework

for a COVID-19 vaccine –

just the rush to be the first to get one.

This is the moment the European Union

stepped up to lead the global response.

With civil society,

with G20,

with WHO and others

we brought more than

forty countries together

to raise 16 billion euro

to finance research on vaccines,

tests and treatments for the whole world.

And this is Europe's unmatched

convening power we can be so proud of.

But it is not enough to find a vaccine.

We need to make sure that European citizens

and those around the world

have access to it.

Just this month,

the EU joined the COVAX global facility

and contributed 400 million euro

to help ensure that safe vaccines

are available not only for those

who can afford it,

but for everyone who needs it.

Because we know

Vaccine nationalism puts lives at risk.

Only vaccine cooperation saves lives.

Honourable Members, we are firm believers

in the strength and value of cooperating

in international bodies.

It is with a strong United Nations

that we can find long-term solutions

for crises like Libya or Syria.

It is with a strong World Health Organisation

that we can better prepare

and respond to global pandemics

or local outbreaks – be it Corona or Ebola.

And it is with a strong

World Trade Organisation

that we can ensure fair competition for all.

But the truth is also

that the need

to revitalise

and reform the multilateral system

has never been so urgent.

Our global system has grown

into a creeping paralysis.

Major powers are either pulling out

or they are taking the institutions hostage

for their own interests.

Neither road will lead anywhere.

Yes, we want change.

But change by design,

not by destruction

of our international system.

And this is why I want the European Union

to lead reforms of the WHO

and WTO,

so they are fit for today's world.

But we know that multilateral reforms

take time

and in the meantime the world will not stop.

Without any doubt,

here is a clear need for Europe

to take clear positions

and quick actions on global affairs.

Two days ago,

the latest EU-China leaders meeting

took place.

The relationship between

the European Union and China

is simultaneously

one of the most strategically important

and one of the most challenging we have.

From the outset

we have have said

China is a negotiating partner,

an economic competitor

and a systemic rival.

We have interests in common on issues

such as climate change,

and China has shown

it is willing to engage

through a high-level dialogue.

But we expect China

to live up to its commitments

in the Paris Agreement and lead by example.

In the economic field,

there is still hard work to do

on fair market access

for European companies, reciprocity

and overcapacity.

We continue to have an unbalanced trade

and investment partnership.

And there is no doubt

that we promote

very different systems

of governance and society.

We believe

in the universal value of democracy

and the rights of the individual.

Europe is certainly not without issues –

Think, for example,

of growing anti-semitism.

But criticism and opposition -

we discuss them here publicly

Criticism and opposition

are not only accepted

but are legally protected.

There is an open debate about all issues.

So we must call out

human rights abuses whenever

and wherever they occur –

be it on Hong Kong

or with the Uyghurs.

But what holds us back?

Why are even simple statements

on EU values delayed,

watered down or held hostage

for other motives?

When Member States say

Europe is too slow,

I say

be courageous and finally move

to qualified majority voting –

at least on human rights

and sanctions implementation.

This House has called many times

for a European Magnitsky Act –

and I can announce that

we will now come forward with a proposal.

We need to complete our toolbox.

Honourable Members, be it in Hong Kong,

Moscow or Minsk,

Europe must take a clear and swift position.

I want to say it loud and clear:

the European Union is on the side

of the people of Belarus.

We have all been moved by the immense

courage of those peacefully gathering

in Independence Square or taking part

in the fearless women's march.

The elections that brought them

into the street

were neither free nor fair.

And the brutal response

by the government ever since

has been shameful.

The people of Belarus

must be free

to decide their own future

for themselves.

They are not pieces

on someone else's chess board.

To those that advocate

closer ties with Russia,

I say that the poisoning of Alexei Navalny

with an advanced chemical agent

is not a one off.

We have seen the pattern in Georgia

and Ukraine,

Syria and Salisbury,

and in election meddling around the world.

This pattern is not changing –

and no pipeline will change that.

Turkey is and will always be

an important neighbour.

But while we are close together on the map,

the distance between us

appears to be growing.

Yes, Turkey is

in a troubled neighbourhood.

And yes, it is hosting

millions of refugees,

for which we support them

with considerable funding.

But none of this

is justification for attempts

to intimidate their neighbours.

Our Member States,

Cyprus and Greece, can always count on

Europe's full solidarity

on protecting their

legitimate sovereignty rights.

De-escalation in the Eastern Mediterranean

is in our mutual interest.

The return of exploratory vessels

to Turkish ports in the past few days

is a positive step in this direction.

This is necessary to create

the much needed space for dialogue.

Refraining from unilateral actions

and resuming talks

in good faith

is the only path forward.

The only path

to stability and lasting solutions.

Honourable Members,

As well as responding more assertively

to global events,

Europe must deepen and refine

its partnerships with its friends and allies.

And this starts with revitalising

our most enduring partnerships.

We might not always agree with

recent decisions of the White House.

But we will always cherish

the transatlantic alliance –

based on shared values and history,

and an unbreakable bond

between our people.

So whatever may happen later this year,

we are ready to build

a new transatlantic agenda.

To strengthen our bilateral partnership –

be it on trade,

tech or taxation.

And we are ready to work together

on reforming the international system

we built together,

jointly with like-minded partners.

For our own interests

and the interest of the common good.

We need new beginnings

with old friends –

on both of sides of the Atlantic

and on both sides of the Channel.

The scenes in this very room

when we held hands

and sang goodbye with Auld Lang Syne

spoke a thousand words.

They showed an affection

for the British people

that will never fade.

But with every day that passes

the chances of a timely agreement

do start to fade.

Negotiations are always difficult.

We are used to that.

And the Commission has the best

and most experienced negotiator,

Michel Barnier, to navigate us through.

But talks have not progressed

as we would have wished.

And that leaves us very little time.

As ever,

this House will be the first to know

and will have the last say.

And I can assure you we will continue

to update you thoroughly,

just as we did

with the Withdrawal Agreement.

This Withdrawal Agreement

took three years to negotiate

and we worked relentlessly on it.

Line by line,

word by word.

And together we succeeded.

The result guarantees our citizens' rights,

financial interests,

the integrity of the Single Market

and crucially the Good Friday Agreement.

And the European Union and the UK

jointly agreed it was the best

and only way

for ensuring peace on the island of Ireland.

And we will never backtrack on that.

This agreement has been ratified

by this House and the House of Commons.

It cannot be unilaterally changed,

disregarded or dis-applied.

This a matter of law,

trust and good faith.

And that is not just me saying it –

I remind you of the words

of Margaret Thatcher. I quote:

“Britain does not break Treaties.

It would be bad for Britain,

bad for relations with the rest of the world,

and bad for any future Treaty on trade”.

End of quote.

This was true then, and it is true today.

Trust is the foundation

of any strong partnership.

And Europe will always be ready to build

strong partnerships

with our closest neighbours.

That starts with the Western Balkans.

The decision six months ago

to open accession negotiations

with Albania and North Macedonia

was truly historical.

Indeed,

the future of the whole region

lies in the European Union.

We share the same history,

we share the same destiny.

The Western Balkans are part of Europe -

and not just a stopover on the Silk Road.

We will soon present

an economic recovery package

for the Western Balkans

focusing on a number

of regional investment initiatives.

And we will also be there

for the Eastern Partnership countries

and our partners in the southern neighbourhood –

to help create jobs

and kickstart their economies.

When I came into office,

I chose for the very first trip outside

the European Union,

to visit the African Union,

and it was a natural choice.

It was a natural choice

and it was a clear message,

because we are not just neighbours,

we are natural partners.

Three months later,

I returned with my entire College

to set our priorities

for our new strategy with Africa.

It is a partnership of equals,

where both sides share

opportunities and responsibilities.

Africa will be a key partner

in building the world we want to live in –

whether on climate,

digital or trade.

Honourable Members, We will continue to believe

in open and fair trade across the world.

Not as an end in itself –

but as a way to deliver prosperity at home

and promote our values and standards.

More than 600,000 jobs in Europe

are tied to trade with Japan.

And our recent agreement with Vietnam

alone helped secure historic

labour rights for millions of workers

in the country.

We will use our diplomatic strength

and economic clout

to broker agreements that

make a difference,

such as designating maritime protected areas

in the Antarctica.

This would be one of the biggest

acts of environmental protection

in history.

We will form high-ambition coalitions

on issues such as digital ethics

or fighting deforestation –

and develop partnerships with

like-minded partners –

from Asian democracies to Australia,

Africa, the Americas,

and anyone else who wants to join.

We will work for just globalisation.

But we cannot take this for granted.

We must insist on fairness

and a level playing field.

And Europe will move forward –

alone or with partners to do that.

I want to come back

to the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism.

Carbon must have its price –

because nature cannot pay this price

anymore.

This Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism

should motivate foreign producers

and EU importers

to reduce their carbon emissions,

while ensuring

that we level the playing field

in a WTO-compatible way.

The same principle applies

to digital taxation.

We will spare no effort to reach agreement

in the framework of OECD and G20.

But let there be no doubt:

should an agreement fall short

of a fair tax system

that provides long-term sustainable revenues,

Europe will come forward

with a proposal early next year.

I want Europe to be

a global advocate for that.

Honourable Members,

a vital role in the world –

it must also create

a new vitality inside.

And to move forward

we must now overcome

the differences that have held us back.

The historic agreement on NextGenerationEU

shows that it can be done.

The speed with which

we took decisions on fiscal rules,

state aid or for SURE –

all this shows it can be done.

So let's do it.

Migration

is an issue that has been discussed

long enough.

Migration has always been

a fact for Europe –

and it will always be.

Throughout centuries,

it has defined our societies,

enriched our cultures

and shaped many of our lives.

And this will always be the case.

As we all know,

the 2015 migration crisis

caused many deep divisions

between Member States –

with some of those scars still healing today.

A lot has been done since.

But a lot is still missing.

If we are all ready to make compromises –

without compromising on our principles –

we can find a solution.

Next week,

the Commission will put forward

its New Pact on Migration.

We will take a human

and humane approach, and there are principles.

Saving lives at sea is not optional.

And those countries which fulfil their legal

and moral duties

or are more exposed than others,

must be able to rely

rely on the solidarity of our whole

European Union.

We will ensure a closer link between

asylum and return.

We have to make a clear distinction

between those who have the right to stay

and those who do not.

We will take action to fight smugglers,

strengthen external borders,

deepen external partnerships

and create legal pathways.

And we will make sure

that people who have the right to stay

are integrated

and made to feel welcome.

They have a future to build –

and skills, energy and talent.

I think of Suadd,

the teenage Syrian refugee

who arrived in Europe

dreaming of being a medical doctor.

Within three years

she was awarded a prestigious scholarship

from the Royal College of Surgeons

in Ireland.

I think of the Libyan and Somalian

refugee doctors

who offered their medical skills

the moment the pandemic struck in France.

And last year I told you of the story of Muaz

whom I had the honour to meet.

He is studying physics

today in Europe.

Honourable Members,

if we think about what they have overcome

and what they have achieved,

then we simply must be able

to manage the question of migration

together.

The images of the Moria camp

are a painful reminder

of the need for Europe to come together.

Everybody has to step up here

and take responsibility –

and the Commission will do just that.

The Commission is now working on a plan

for a joint pilot

with the Greek authorities

for a new camp on Lesvos.

We can assist with asylum

and return processes

and significantly improve

the conditions for the refugees.

But I want to be clear:

if we step up,

then I expect all Member States

to step up too.

Migration is a European challenge

and all of Europe must do its part.

We must rebuild the trust amongst us

and move forward together.

And this trust is at the very heart

of our Union

and the way we do things together.

It is anchored in our founding values,

our democracies

and in our Community of Law –

as Walter Hallstein used to call it.

This is not an abstract term.

The rule of law helps protect

people from the rule of the powerful.

It is the guarantor

of our most basics

of every day rights and freedoms.

It allows us to give our opinion

and be informed by a free press.

Before the end of the month,

the Commission will adopt the first

annual rule of law report

covering all Member States.

It is a preventive tool

for early detection

of challenges and for finding solutions.

I want this to be a starting point

for Commission, Parliament and Member States

to ensure there is no backsliding.

The Commission attaches

the highest importance to the rule of law.

This is why we will ensure

that money from our budget

and NextGenerationEU

is protected against any kind of fraud,

corruption and conflict of interest.

This is non-negotiable.

But the last months have also reminded us

how fragile it can be.

We have a duty to always be vigilant

to care and nurture for the rule of law.

Breaches of the rule of law

cannot be tolerated.

I will continue to defend it

and the integrity of our

European institutions.

Be it about the primacy of European law,

the freedom of the press,

the independence of the judiciary

or the sale of golden passports.

European values are not for sale.

Honourable Members,

These values are more important than ever.

I say that because when I think

about the state of our Union,

I am reminded of the words of John Hume –

one of the great Europeans

who sadly passed away this year.

If so many people live in peace today

on the island of Ireland,

it is in large part

because of his unwavering belief

in humanity and conflict resolution.

He used to say

that conflict was about difference

and that peace

was about respect for difference.

And as he so rightly reminded this House

in 1998, and I quote:

“The European visionaries

decided that difference is not a threat,

difference is natural.

Difference is the essence of humanity”.

End of quote.

These words are just as important today

as they ever have been.

Because when I look around,

we ask ourselves,

where is the essence of humanity

when three children in Wisconsin

watch their father shot

by police while they sit in the car?

Where is the essence of humanity

when anti-semitic carnival costumes

openly parade on our streets?

Where is the essence of humanity

when every single day

Roma people are excluded from society

and others are held back simply because

of the colour of their skin

or their religious belief?

I am proud to live in Europe,

in this open society of values

and diversity.

But even here in this Union –

these stories

are a daily reality for so many people.

And this reminds us that progress on

fighting racism and hate

is fragile –

it is hard won

but very easily lost.

So now is the moment

to make change.

To build a truly anti-racist Union –

that goes from condemnation

to action.

And the Commission is putting forward

an action plan

to start making that happen.

As part of this,

we will propose to extend

the list of EU crimes

to all forms of hate crime and hate speech –

whether because of race,

religion, gender or sexuality.

Hate is hate –

and no one should have to put up with it.

We will strengthen our racial

and equality laws, where there are gaps.

We will use our budget

to address discrimination

in areas such as employment,

housing or health-care.

We will get tougher on enforcement

when implementation lags behind.

Because in this Union,

fighting racism will never be optional.

We will improve education and knowledge

on the historical,

cultural causes of racism.

We will tackle unconscious bias

that exists in people,

institutions and even in algorithms.

And we will appoint the Commission's

first-ever anti-racism coordinator

to keep this at the top of our agenda

and to work directly

with people, civil society and institutions.

Honourable Members,

I will not rest

when it comes to building

a Union of equality.

A Union

where you can be

who you are

and love who you want –

without fear

and recrimination.

Because being yourself

is not your ideology.

It's your identity.

And no one can ever

take it away.

So I want to be crystal clear –

LGBTQI-free zones

are humanity-free zones.

And they have no place in our Union.

And to make sure that we support

the whole community,

the Commission will soon put forward

a strategy to strengthen LGBTQI rights.

As part of this,

I will also push for mutual

recognition of family relations

in the EU.

If you are a parent in one country,

you are a parent in every country.

Ladies and gentlemen, Members of Parliament,

This is the world that we want to live in.

It is a world where we are united

in diversity and adversity.

A world where we work together

to overcome our differences

and where we support each other

in the difficult times.

We are talking about a world of tomorrow

that is stronger, more respectful

more healthy.

A world that we are building

to leave to our children.

While we are teaching our children

how to live, they are teaching us

what life means.

This year has shown that more than ever.

There are millions of young people

who are calling on us

to enact change for a healthier planet.

All the hundreds of thousands of children

who put up a beautiful rainbows

in their windows as a sign of solidarity

all across Europe.

There is one image, though

that has really stayed with me

over these last six months.

It is an image which shows us

the world through the eyes of our children.

That is the image of Carola and Vittoria.

Two young girls who were playing tennis

on the rooftops of Liguria in Italy

during the lockdown.

It's not just their courage and their talent

that is shown through in this image,

but it's also the lesson they can teach us.

It is a lesson to never give up

when faced with obstacles.

That you should never let conventions

hold you back, and that you should always see

that is the moment.

That is what Carola and Vittoria,

and all the young people of Europe

teach us everyday about how to live.

This is the future generation of Europeans,

NextGenerationEU.

This year Europe has taken up their example

and made a step forward together.

When we needed to find a way forward

for our future, we did not let outdated

conventions hold us back.

When we felt a fragility around us,

we seized the moment to give fresh impetus

to our Union.

When we have the opportunity to go it alone,

as we have done in the past,

we chose to use the full strength

of the twenty-seven to give all

all twenty-seven a chance for the future.

We have shown that we are in this together

and that we will overcome this together.

Ladies and gentlemen, Members of Parliament,

The future will be what we make of it.

And Europe will be what we want it to be.

We should stop trying to break it down

and instead build it up to

make it stronger,

to build the world that we want to live in.

Long live Europe!