The findings of the Eurobarometer survey just lately launched by the European Union are clear: residents within the bloc consider that the principle points that must be addressed are local weather change, the COVID pandemic, well being care, the financial state of affairs and social inequality. Thus these are subjects that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will focus on in her second State of the Union handle to the European Parliament this coming Wednesday as she takes inventory of the previous yr’s achievements and broadcasts new measures.
world pandemic
There are actually sufficient COVID-19 vaccines in Europe, however – because the decline is accelerating – vaccination charges are nonetheless very low. The purpose was to make sure 70% of adults have been vaccinated, however this isn’t enough given the extremely contagious delta variant. In addition, vaccination charges in EU member states range broadly, from solely 20% in Bulgaria to almost 90% in Malta.
The European Commission must work on this within the coming months, Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides informed DW. Von der Leyen has already launched a brand new EU company, the European Health Emergency Response Authority (HERA), which can intention to higher anticipate and management future pandemics. It will search to limit the present disorganized method during which the 27 member states all apply completely different requirements and measures.
Economy
A direct results of the pandemic has been an unprecedented slowdown within the economic system, which Ursula von der Leyen plans to counter with an equally unprecedented reconstruction program. The rolling out of the €750 billion ($886 billion) restoration fund, which can be funded by joint debt for the primary time, would be the focus of EU financial coverage for the approaching few years.
With the vast majority of EU residents claiming that the pandemic has resulted in financial injury, the EU and this restoration program have excessive expectations. But it additionally carries dangers, as member states may have extra debt and inflation will rise with greater demand. The debate on the way to take care of this sharp enhance in debt has already begun in all member states.
Climate change
The fee desires a considerable portion of the restoration fund to go in direction of “green” investments. The concept is that the EU’s “Green Deal” will flip Europe into the primary climate-neutral continent with out vital CO2 emissions by 2050. Ursula von der Leyen has been in a position to push by means of on this bold purpose. Now, the duty is to implement the transition to renewable vitality, electromobility and fashionable digital jobs with a complete raft of legal guidelines and measures. It continues to be unclear to what extent every member state must lower dangerous gases and the way the targets can be achieved.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. (AP)
Solidarity
Divisive forces are on the rise throughout the European Union. More and extra, the Polish and Hungarian governments are opposing the efforts of the Commission and the European Court of Justice to stop the erosion of the rule of legislation of their international locations.
It doesn’t seem that every one member states have the identical notion of European values ​​and basic rights. This is especially evident within the growing homosexuality insurance policies of Poland, Hungary and another new member states.
The query of EU solidarity with respect to migration additionally stays unresolved. Across the bloc, societies are deeply divided over the way to take care of migrants and asylum seekers, a rising variety of whom are prone to come from Afghanistan sooner or later.
The fee has deserted all hope of a supply mechanism and is as a substitute focusing extra on sealing exterior borders and stopping immigration. It stays to be seen what new proposals Ursula von der Leyen can provide on this regard, however at the least she’s going to have the ability to seek advice from the “Conference on the Future of Europe”, which is already underway with the participation of peculiar residents. has been and is able to current its leads to the spring of 2022.
once more from above
Comparing this September with the problems mentioned in Ursula von der Leyen’s first State of the Union speech final yr, it appears they’re virtually the identical and the issues are simply as large. But the fee’s chair will attempt to current the steps which have now been taken to determine a local weather coverage, create a restoration fund, and promote the digitization of the economic system as a path to a greater future.
His speech on the European Parliament on Wednesday morning can be adopted by a wide-ranging debate, with the beginning of political periods in each Strasbourg and Brussels after the summer time break. However, there can be no actual progress on laws till elections are over in Germany, the bloc’s largest member state, and a workable coalition authorities is in place.
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
