During the plenary session (13-16 September 2021) in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Ursula VON DER LEYEN delivers the State of the European Union (SOTEU 2021) to the MEPs. Answer by Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the European Commission. She insures that many urgent files are on the table, such as climate change, which will find answers with the fit for 55 package. NextGenerationEU will enable member states to do more investments and to trigger the economy. The Commission will also guarantee the respect of Rule of Law and the first sanctions, the first written notifications will be sent out soon. This transcription speech is the result of an automatic process. Check against delivery.

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

state of the Union

VON DER LEYEN, Ursula (DE, EC)

state of the European Union 2021 (T)

State of the European Union 2021 debate: Answer by Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the European Commission

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/17843638/I210726Chapters%5BSD-EN%5D.srt

Title: State of the European Union 2021 debate: Answer by Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the European Commission

SOUNDBITE (German), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC Vice president, ladies and gentlemen, members, thank you for such a diverse and lively debate. And first of all, let me make it clear, some have said that we're getting close to half time in our mandate. No, the Commission has been in this office for 20 months. We've got two thirds to go. And every month and every day, every hour will be made use of to move Europe forwards.

SOUNDBITE (German), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC This debate has shown and it's impressive, that a large majority is there with the willingness to implement, and that is the task that we need to overcome. We have many legislative files on the table and we need to make sure that we make progress. I know that the legislation will be changed when it emerges from negotiations, but the tasks are so urgent that we can't just leave them to lie.

SOUNDBITE (German), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC Now, if you think about the fight against climate change, we know we don't have much time. And that's why it's so important for us to offer our response and our obligation to combat climate change. I know it's a massive task. The package is there, but it's also a big opportunity to bring influence to bear for improvement, because we all feel that we can't continue in this way, robbing nature. So let's tackle this task with energy and the European passion that I know you have. Our single market is recovering well because for the very first time in such a harsh crisis, we have managed to create unity in the union.

SOUNDBITE (German), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC All levels are cooperating towards the same goal. We have no intergovernmental agreement this time. We managed with Next-Generation E.U. to get everyone unified behind one single goal, to invest, to stop this threatening crisis and to use investment to accelerate recovery and on purpose. We called it next generation E.U. because the philosophy is that with this money and this is quite right, because we don't want to hamper the economy and create unemployment. No, on the contrary, we want we want investment to trigger the economy. So with that money, we need to make sure it's invested in such a way that it's the next generation that benefits youth. And that's the big subject fight against climate change.

SOUNDBITE (German), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC Now, when I look at where we stand now, we have a record speed with this program and we see that 18 member states have now completed their negotiations and the program is running to have not yet submitted. What's important for us is that two principles be fulfilled in this program. First of all, investments. Yes, but hand in hand with reforms.

SOUNDBITE (German), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC And in conjunction with the important issue of rule of law, I have heard many good points, many justified requirements, and there was one person who asked a question. Unfortunately, that person is not here to hear the answer, but I'll still give the answer. What do we want to do with rule of law? Well, we it's very simple. It's very clear. These principles are in the treaties of the European Union and in the Charter of Fundamental Rights. That is where you can find the answers. And the Commission is the guardian of these treaties. We've got the Article seven procedure, the violation of the treaty proceedings, which can lead to sanctions. And we have made use of that possibility and then the reports on the rule of law and the conditionality mechanism. I can confirm that when we talk about protecting our budget, we will do whatever we can, whatever is within our power to do so. And I can announce that in the coming weeks, the first written notifications will be sent out.

SOUNDBITE (German), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC The same person who asked the question also asked where is the basis and the rules for NextGenerationEU are also clearly laid out in legislation. So apart from investment, we've got these forms, the country specific recommendations and those recommendations need to be implemented in the reform mechanism. And if the independence of justice in the country, specific recommendations are contained within them, we need to see the reforms that make that possible. And until we've got that, we cannot exclude. And if in those country specific recommendations as a call to fight against corruption, then we attempted we would take steps in. We want to see those steps in the national recovery plans. Otherwise we cannot agree to those recovery plans. That's the phase we're in at the moment.

SOUNDBITE (German), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC And members of Parliament, I know that we have many more issues on the agenda. That was my short answer. Thank you for being here. Thank you for your energy and the willingness to implement that I've been able to feel today. These are all issues that are essential for the future of Europe and for young people. And I know that you will join in our struggle to improve the future of Europe for young people. Thank you.