Live Replay of the debate on the election of the President of the European Commission: statement by Ursula von der LEYEN and MEPs debate during the plenary session inStrasbourg (15-18/07/2019)

debate

plenary session

appointment of the President of the European Commission (T)

2019 European elections (T)

VON DER LEYEN, Ursula (DE, EC)

Election of the President of the European Commission: answer by Ursula von der LEYEN, candidate for President of the Commission (10:20-10:27)

Ursula von der LEYEN, candidate for President of the Commission: Thank you. President. be quite honest with you having listened to the last speaker that provides further proof. Have just important how important is that we continue to work closely with our British colleagues in the future. But I think Mr. Farage, we can probably do that what you've got to say here. And that's what I find beautiful about Europe.

Ursula von der LEYEN, candidate for President of the Commission: Here in our Europe countries come together they come together on a voluntary basis. Nobody has forced them to come together. All our countries know that strength is in unity by working together we can defend the values which are close to all of our hearts and which brought us together.

Ursula von der LEYEN, candidate for President of the Commission: The great challenges facing us in the world are so enormous that none of us alone can face up to them. Only by working together by cooperating can we develop the strength the soft power which is uniquely European and which is at the very heart of our European values that that's the source of our strength.

Ursula von der LEYEN, candidate for President of the Commission: That's why it's possible for us to talk about an optimistic future. This is why it's so important that we deploy our strength to guarantee a better future for our children. Let me now pick up on some of the subjects referred to the social market economy.

Ursula von der LEYEN, candidate for President of the Commission: This is one of the great characteristics that you connect unique characteristics with the European Union. This powerful link between a strong economy and our other values everybody knows however that in this economy everybody has to work hard and we have to ensure the fruits of our hard work be given back to the people.

Ursula von der LEYEN, candidate for President of the Commission: That's the key idea of the social market economy the social pillar of the social market economy is something which is supported by the commission the parliament and the council. There's a clear commitment to continue to support this system.

Ursula von der LEYEN, candidate for President of the Commission: We have to work with determination to defend that obviously win when we're still far from perfect but we are determined to identify shortcomings in the social pillar so as to correct them and that must be one of our overarching priorities. We've heard as well about sustainability directives here once again. These are light motives and are policy making sustainability objectives.

Ursula von der LEYEN, candidate for President of the Commission: Surely it's something which all of us must support. I think it must be clear to everybody now that the clock is ticking. Time is running out. Our planet needs help urgently. We our whole life and society is built on natural resources which are under threat. We have to ensure that we can deal with these resources in a sustainable protective way.

Ursula von der LEYEN, candidate for President of the Commission: This is why it's so important that we all recognize the value of sustainability objectives and we should all do our utmost to pursue them. As far as the progressive approach is concerned the two step approach is concerned we have to ensure those two steps being rolled out in parallel. This is why recently I've said that we have to start by tackling this in the European Parliament.

Ursula von der LEYEN, candidate for President of the Commission: However we all know that we need major players in the world if we are to move forward with these objectives. This is why it's important that the European Union can and must take a leadership role. That's the only way to bring about change. The Paris climate agreement represented a unique coming together of the powerful in the world.

Ursula von der LEYEN, candidate for President of the Commission: Let us continue to draw on the spirit of Paris the ideas of Paris to try to defend our future. The second enormous challenge facing us is digitalisation. Here once again we have to stand united on the one hand we need to be able to draw on those people in society who are able to thrive with digital. The new digital world to promote our economy at the same time we have to ensure that the digital economy be protected with ethical rules concerning artificial intelligence cyberspace.

Ursula von der LEYEN, candidate for President of the Commission: We have to ensure that we have robust measures so as to ensure that that protects everybody. And we as Europeans have to become major players in the cyber world. We know there are many risks in the cyber world major risks for our economy or indeed major risks for our society.

Ursula von der LEYEN, candidate for President of the Commission: Here once again none of us states alone are able to face up to those challenges only by working together can we succeed in laying the foundations of a secure future without which our people deserve the human dimension of digitalization must be the primary objective our economy.

Ursula von der LEYEN, candidate for President of the Commission: We have to protect our people. Somebody who works must be given protection. And we now have to find ways of ensuring that the values which have always protected workers in the existing economy be transferred to the digital economy. How can we defend platform workers cloud economy workers.

Ursula von der LEYEN, candidate for President of the Commission: We have to ensure that we can transfer that protection for the benefit of all of our citizens. Ladies and gentlemen listen to all the speakers very clearly. When I heard Mr. Meuthen speaking I must say I was quite relieved to hear that you won't be voting for me since everything you said goes contrary to my deepest values.