Strasbourg, 15 September 2021
“Check against delivery”
The original version of the speech is available here.
STRENGTHENING THE SOUL OF OUR UNION
Introduction
Mr President,
Honourable Members,
Many are the people who feel their lives have been on pause while the world has been on fast forward.
The speed of events and the enormity of the challenges are sometimes difficult to grasp.
This has also been a time of soul-searching. From people reassessing their own lives to wider debates on sharing vaccines and on shared values.
But as I look back on this past year, if I look at the state of the Union today, I see a strong soul in everything that we do.
It was Robert Schuman who said: Europe needs a soul, an ideal, and the political will to serve this ideal.
Europe has brought those words to life in the last twelve months.
In the biggest global health crisis for a century, we chose to go it together so that every part of Europe got the same access to a life-saving vaccine.
In the deepest global economic crisis for decades, we chose to go it together with NextGenerationEU.
And in the gravest planetary crisis of all time, again we chose to go it together with the European Green Deal.
We did that together as Commission, as Parliament, as 27 Member States. As one Europe. And we can be proud of it.
But corona times are not over.
There is still much grief in our society as the pandemic lingers. There are hearts we can never mend, life stories we can never finish and time we can never give back to our young. We face new and enduring challenges in a world recovering – and fracturing – unevenly.
So there is no question: the next year will be yet another test of character.
But I believe that it is when you are tested that your spirit – your soul – truly shines through.
As I look across our Union, I know that Europe will pass that test.
And what gives me that confidence is the inspiration we can draw from Europe’s young people.
Because our youth put meaning into empathy and solidarity.
They believe we have a responsibility towards the planet.
And while they are anxious about the future, they are determined to make it better.
Our Union will be stronger if it is more like our next generation: reflective, determined and caring. Grounded in values and bold in action.
This spirit will be more important than ever over the next twelve months. This is the message in the Letter of Intent I sent this morning to President Sassoli and Prime Minister Janša to outline our priorities for the year ahead.