But sometimes you just have to listen carefully. Now we must move to action. Rule of law. Because we cannot accept that decisions, that have a far-reaching impact on our democracy, are taken by computer programmes alone. We have to change the way we live and do business, to be able to keep what we value and hold dear. Europe is determined to contribute to this global common good. The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone and not the World Economic Forum. That it is not a sign of weakness, to reach out and help each other, but a signal of strength. European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, gave a special address to Davos Agenda Week. “We are all learning as we go here”, he said. We use cookies to improve your experience on our website. These trends have reduced diversity in our diets, which is directly linked to diseases or health risk factors, such as diabetes, obesity and malnutrition.One initiative which is bringing a renewed focus on biological diversity is the Tropical Forest Alliance. For example, Klaus, when we meet hopefully in person, at the special annual meeting in Singapore in May. And we were worried about the stability of our global alliances. To update your cookie settings, please visit the, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(21)00428-1, von der Leyen admits to COVID-19 vaccine failures, View Large European Commission President Ursula … It is true for all major societal challenges. European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, gave a special address to Davos Agenda Week. We will put forward legislation to help us get there from renewables to emissions trading, from clean hydrogen to the circular economy. We need to bring together the innovation and the capability of the private sector, and the long-term vision and predictability and the funding of the public sector. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen quoted Shakespeare, poet TS Eliot and a lyric by The Beatles. No matter how tempting it may have been for Twitter to switch off President Trump's account, such serious interference with freedom of expression should not be based on company rules alone. Ladies and gentlemen, a year ago at Davos, we talked also intensively about digitalization. But public funding alone will not be enough. Ladies and gentlemen, from the protection of our democracy to the protection of our nature: Europe has everything to win from this new form of international and sectoral cooperation. And how fake news, driven by algorithms, spread six times faster than real news. Von der Leyen's first annual speech launches the autumn political semester in the EU, in which she is expected to address the Covid-19 pandemic, migration and key foreign political issues. So the warning signs were already there in Davos. We have seen that nature destruction can have the same impact for a company as major oil spills while, for example, fashion companies who use recycled material already have an additional selling point for their environmentally conscious customers. In a speech to the European Parliament in Brussels , the head of the European Commission outlined a recovery package to help Member States get back on their feet. And we have dedicated 37% of NextGenerationEU – that is our EUR 750 billion Recovery Plan –, 37% dedicated to the European Green Deal. Ursula von der Leyen, some in Germany claim, is responsible for the vaccine fiasco (Image: GETTY) The Luxembourg politician said "not repeating that in 2019 was a … But what we do know is that the boy became gravely ill and died a little later, as did his sister and his pregnant mother. We have agreed a greenhouse gas emission reduction target of at least 55% by 2030. This global public-private partnership is working on removing deforestation from four global commodity supply chains – palm oil, beef, soy, and pulp and paper. On Oct 30, the UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) also started a rolling review. This is a blueprint for cooperation in today's world. From South Korea to Japan, from South Africa to China – economic powerhouses around the world now share our ambition. At that time, the activists warned about the business models of big tech companies and the consequences for our democracy. President von der Leyen was appointed by national leaders and elected by the European Parliament after she presented her Political Guidelines. The event is hosted by Evelyn REGNER (S&D, AT). If temperatures keep rising and nature keeps disappearing, we will see more natural disasters and zoonotic diseases. The first ever European Climate Law will hopefully soon come into force. Our European Union green bond standard, for example, and taxonomy will lead the way. And if we do not urgently act to protect our nature, the next pandemic will be around the corner. We want it clearly laid down that internet companies take responsibility for the manner in which they disseminate, promote and remove content. Ursula von der Leyen was speechless after being left without a chair during a meeting with Turkey's leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Together, we could create a digital economy rulebook that is valid worldwide: It goes from data protection and privacy to the security of critical infrastructure. The European Union will dedicate 20% of NextGenerationEU to digital projects. READ MORE: Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine nearly 95% effective in trials It is not important what country ends up with the first approved vaccine, what matters is that the world has a safe vaccine and that the most vulnerable receive it first, she says. There needs to be a framework of laws for such far-reaching decisions. David SASSOLI, EP President, and Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, open the event marking the International Women’s day during an inter-parliamentary meeting organised by the Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM), in collaboration with the Directorate for Relations with National Parliaments. And we have seen the momentum that this has generated. MHRA chief executive June Raine released a statement defending the MHRA's approach, saying: “We have carried out a rigorous scientific assessment of all the available evidence of quality, safety and effectiveness. But I think it is learning fast”, he said. Companies, who get ahead of the game now, will have a big advantage. Because COVID-19 is a public emergency, the EMA has accelerated the process by using an expert task force and what the organisation describes as “rapid review procedures”. “I hope now that someone will now look at streamlining approvals within the EMA. We lose a key ally in our fight against climate change. But it also means business. In fact, they mutually reinforce each other. This will be a public-private partnership – and it will sit within our new European Health Emergency Response Authority, or in short HERA. Ursula Gertrud von der Leyen (German: [ˈʊʁzula fɔn dəɐ̯ ˈlaɪən] (); née Albrecht; born 8 October 1958) is a German politician and physician who has been President of the European Commission since 1 December 2019.. © 2019 Thierry Monasse/Getty Images. The only race is against the virus and against time,” von der Leyen writes. This is not just true for pandemics or health. The EU even threatened to stop the flow of vaccine from Ireland to Northern Ireland, although this proposal was swiftly withdrawn after provoking outrage not just in London and Belfast, but also in Dublin. And this is why Europe will soon present a legal framework for the restoration of healthy ecosystems. Addressing the virtual Davos Agenda 2021 summit of global leaders, she warned: “We know that preparedness is everything. To see how policymakers look at the future. At its most basic, this means that what is illegal offline should be illegal online too. To nurture innovative ecosystems, for example where universities, companies, innovators can access data and cooperate. And images, like we saw a few weeks ago when an angry mob stormed the Capitol, were beyond my imagination. Richard Hatchett, for example, the former White House pandemic advisor, he was a lone voice when he said: ‘This is not a Chinese problem. But we must nurture our democracy every day, and defend our institutions against the corrosive power of hate speech, of disinformation, fake news and incitement to violence. Because we need a Paris-style agreement for biodiversity. To be updated on what is keeping up at night entrepreneurs and philanthropists, or managers and the NGO community. It was in stark contrast to Boris Johnson's joke-filled speech. This is also why early in the pandemic, the European Union, together with organizations like the World Economic Forum, or the Gates Foundation and Global Citizen organized pledging initiatives to mobilise funding for the global coronavirus response. Breaking News. The European Union cannot succeed without regions and cities. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for inviting me again. It is why we will protect at least 30% of land and sea here in Europe. But we can meet them – if we work together. This is why I believe this new form of blended partnerships should prepare and protect us against the next big risk. On Dec 8, German MEP Peter Liese went a step further, saying a “few weeks of thorough examination by the EMA is better than a hasty emergency marketing authorisation of a vaccine”. This will have to be like COP21 was for climate. Now Europe expects to approve the Russian Sputnik V vaccine as soon as possible. I hope to be able to continue this discussion with you soon! © 2019 Geert Vanden Wijngaert/Bloomberg/Getty Images. The public's safety has always been at the forefront of our minds—safety is our watchword.”, On Feb 14, the EU made further announcements on its approvals for vaccines adapted to combat new variants of SARS-CoV-2. And this year, the World Economic Forum is once again asking the right questions with your initiative, Klaus, ‘The Great Reset'. This is why the Commission launched the Digital Services Act and the Digital Markets Act in December. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen excoriated EU member countries for failing to coordinate their initial response to the coronavirus outbreak, especially with regard to sharing medical supplies. Because the European Union had already proven that it is able to set standards that are respected around the world, such as with our General Data Protection Regulation – the GDPR. But at that time, other news very quietly were coming to us from China and they were barely noticed by most of us. And indeed, it is worth looking back. And these developments are different sides of the same coin. We were too optimistic about mass production. European media quickly slammed the Commission for threatening the Northern Ireland peace process. last week in relation to widespread criticism of how Europe has so far handled the COVID-19 vaccine roll-out. This means that the COVID-19 vaccines’ effects must first be tested in a laboratory, first on animals, then on human volunteers. In an interview with, “The Commission was unrealistically optimistic that it would roll out the vaccines without obstacles. I want to invite our friends in the United States to join our initiatives. That is what we all have to learn again after four long years. © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. We all benefit from nature and we all benefit from the protection it gives us. We are ready to broker the same ambition at global level, at the next UN Biodiversity Summit in Kunming. Speech by President von der Leyen at the Opening of the High-Level Conference 'Investing in climate action: The Make-or-Break Decade', in cooperation with the EIB 24 March 2021 Commission strengthens transparency and authorisation mechanism for exports of COVID-19 vaccines And we do know just how tragic the repercussions were across Africa and the world. The EU signed a deal for 300 million doses of the vaccine, but not until August, 2020. Furthermore, according to reports in the German newspaper. Like for so many of us, the storming of the Capitol came as a shock to me. If you rush approval and then it turns out that there are problems with the vaccine, then this would ruin vaccine confidence not just for COVID-19, but for other diseases such as measles”, he added. Today, a year later, we are worrying about whether democracy itself might have been permanently damaged in the last four years. One year on, this has not lost any of its urgency. Ursula von der Leyen. It is the engagement by regional and local politicians that will deliver the more ambitious targets for climate change announced yesterday. And that is true. To understand why, I want you to accompany me to a remote village in Guinea, just for a minute. We have spoken a lot about the links between biodiversity loss and COVID-19. Unfortunately, the storming of the Capitol Hill showed us how just true that is. So Europe stands ready. No private company or public authority can do it alone. How does the World Economic Forum encourage biological diversity? Dear friends, this is one of the priorities of the European Green Deal I presented to you indeed in Davos last year. It will bring clarity on what accounts for sustainable, eco-friendly activities. The COVID-19 crisis should be seen as an opportunity for the European Union to rebuild its economy as “modern, clean and healthy”, believes Ursula von der Leyen. The challenges to our democracy, the pandemic, climate change – in his inauguration speech President Joe Biden so aptly spoke of a Cascade of Crises. In the COVAX vaccination alliance, the European Union, together with 186 countries, will be securing millions of doses of vaccines for low-income countries. When we lose forests, we do not ‘just' lose green space or natural habitat. And maybe we also took for granted that the doses ordered would actually arrive The business model of online platforms has an impact – and not only on free and fair competition, but also on our democracies, our security and on the quality of our information. … I am confident President Ursula von der Leyen will build an even stronger partnership with our Committee as it is the one million regional and local elected politicians who are Europe's safety net, who are key actors in managing the pandemic and who will be crucial actors in fostering our recovery. President von der Leyen spoke with Professor Schwab. The EU was late to authorise Covid-19 vaccines and "still not where we want to be", European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said. Few suspected at the time that this would be the start of a pandemic that a year later would still hold us in its grip. Greta Thunberg's message to world leaders at #DavosAgenda, Building trust: Here’s what you need to know about The Davos Agenda 2021, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Public License, Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship. This speech was first published on the European Commission's website. Speech by President von der Leyen at the UN High-Level Event on Financing for Development in the Era of COVID-19 and Beyond Brussels, 28 May 2020 And indeed, my speech focused on the European Green Deal and of course Digitalisation. She spoke about issues from climate change to big tech and the impact of COVID-19. In the last 100 years, more than 90 percent of crop varieties have disappeared from farmers’ fields, and all of the world’s 17 main fishing grounds are now being fished at or above their sustainable limits. She spoke about issues from climate change to big tech and the impact of COVID-19. European Commission president Ursula Von der Leyen announced plans for a “bio-defence preparedness programme,” part of a new European Health Emergency Response Authority, in a speech on Tuesday. And you might have seen some of them in the documentary ‘The Social Dilemma' – I can only recommend it. 4 people per 100 000 have. Because we want the values we cherish in the offline world also to be respected online. 2050 is predicted to be a bleak milestone for the ocean - but it's not too late to avert disaster. This new programme, it will be proactive. And now, the companies must deliver. “We were late in granting authorisation. The pandemic has shown the limitations of some of our old ways of working. We cannot wait for the next pandemic to start preparing. And we want the platforms to be transparent about how their algorithms work. To create a truly global common good. So this new programme will be permanent. Europe invested billions to help develop the world‘s first COVID-19 vaccines. In a speech on Wednesday, the former EU Brexit negotiator appeared to make a veiled swipe at Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. A body of rules based on our values: Human rights and pluralism, inclusion and the protection of privacy. The EMA assesses all vaccines using the same standards as for all medicines. We must learn from this crisis. Ladies and gentlemen, there is no better place than the World Economic Forum to find out about the major trends in our society. US, WASHINGTON (ORDO NEWS) — European Commission chief von der Leyen has compared the fight over the covid-19 vaccine to the Cold War space race – hours after the EU turned to Russia for help with vaccinations. When I was with you in Davos a year ago, Donald Trump's visit was at the centre of attention. Because the world pooled its resources, scientists shared their expertise and different manufacturers worked together. And I thank you very much for your attention! Thank you very much, dear Klaus. Black Women Died From Coronavirus At Far Higher Rates Than White Men: Study; After the Capitol Riot, Democrats Are Torn Over Working With the G.O.P. This is a problem for the whole world.' World Economic Forum articles may be republished in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Public License, and in accordance with our Terms of Use. This is our new rulebook for our digital market. We do not know exactly what happened there. And indeed, we face an outstanding set of challenges. It is local and regional authorities that are bringing the EU through the COVID-19 pandemic. The European Commission will before the end of September adopt its first annual Rule of Law report covering all EU countries. “We were late in granting authorisation. And this is why I strongly support a growing culture of sustainable corporate governance. And in the latest World Economic Forum Global Risk Report, the top five global risks are all related to the environment. Almost three quarters of the Earth's surface have been altered and we see the changes in our everyday lives: Less wilderness and wildlife, increasing temperatures and extreme weather. And to those who prefer the business case. It also made sure the contracts had clear delivery dates. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen made a startling speech . President von der Leyen and Professor Schwab spoke on the second day of Davos Agenda week. The European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen wants to cut at least 55 percent of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 - saying the Green Deal is a "cultural project" that goes beyond simply cutting emissions. But for this to be a success, we must also address the darker sides of the digital world. But it has also created new ones, in record time. We all have a responsibility – and we must all do our fair share. New alliances for new solutions. We are always quick to say: Democracy and values, they are part of our DNA. I remember sitting in a basement restaurant of my hotel with, among others, the business journalist Rana Foroohar and the former Google developer Tristan Harris. And it will be fully dedicated to discovering and preparing for known and emerging pathogens, and then developing and manufacturing vaccines at scale to respond to them. And yet, the dangers that social media poses to our democracy were also already discussed in Davos. President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen has expressed her 'deep regret' over the debacle surrounding Article 16 of the Brexit withdrawal agreement. On 16 th September 2020, European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, delivered her first State of the Union (SOTEU) speech, setting the tone for the rest of her five-year term.With a wide-ranging set of actions, she proclaimed the Commission’s intent to seize the moment, use the money available, and increase its powers to help “build the world we want to live in.” And we will reach out to our partners from around the world – from foundations to global institutions, from CEOs to NGOs, and from our oldest partners across the Atlantic to all those who want to join. The European Commission president was eventually seated on a sofa during the meeting at a summit where one of the topics was women's rights. Von der Leyen pledged to ensure that EU funds are spent with the rule of law guaranteed. This is why we will propose to strengthen due diligence for companies. Europe has set out to become the first continent to reach climate neutrality by 2050. We were too optimistic about mass production. That is why we need to contain this immense power of the big digital companies. The 'Ursula dividend' is a shot in the arm for the UK vaccine industry Those with jobs making vaccines should raise a glass to the blonde lady in Brussels as Britain ramps up domestic production They pinned their hopes on Europe. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen was speechless after being left without a chair during a meeting with Turkey's leader. We know how important this is for investors, who are looking for truly sustainable projects. As European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen head to Turkey on Tuesday for an official visit to improve bilateral ties after tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean, an EU official said the visit will provide a framework for the future. There, a young boy playing next to a tree some years ago, is thought to have been the first victim of one of the worst outbreaks of Ebola. And yet, there were signs in Davos last January. It announced that EU-based manufacturing plants, such as the Pfizer production plant in Puurs, Belgium, would now have to request authorisation to be able to export the vaccine. A hollow tree had been infested by bats. On Dec 2, former EMA head Guido Rasi, declared the UK Government had not delivered a “robust review of all available data”. To boost the vibrant start-up scene we have in cities like Sofia and Lisbon and to become a global hub for Artificial Intelligence. In a State of the Union address on September 16, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen advised EU members to form a more powerful health union that promotes closer cooperation as humans worldwide “are still suffering” from the novel coronavirus. A key explanation for the gap between the EU and UK vaccine roll-outs is down to the British–Swedish company, AstraZeneca, and the controversial vaccine procurement contacts. Here are 10 actions we can take to change course. With the world continuing to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, and the full scale of the economic damage is still unknown, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen used her first State of the… So that the 2020s can finally be Europe's Digital Decade. This is why we will set up a vaccine export transparency mechanism. What normally takes five to ten years, to develop a vaccine, was achieved in ten months. Copyright Presidents Michel and von der Leyen’s official visit to Ankara: main takeaways European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met with Turkish President Erdoğan in Ankara on 6 April in the highest level attempt there has been in the last five years to relaunch EU-Turkey relations. The Lancet Regional Health – Western Pacific, Advancing women in science, medicine and global health, Severe mental illness: reassessing COVID-19 vaccine priorities, We use cookies to help provide and enhance our service and tailor content and ads. The world is at a critical junction where humility, collaboration and institutional reform can ensure true, sustainable global cooperation. “The EU is doing its best in a difficult situation. A weekly update of what’s on the Global Agenda. Image. We need this new public-private approach to detect earlier, develop together and manufacture faster at scale. The animals had been pushed towards the village, because 80% of forests in the region had been destroyed. And they described how the economic laws of social media are eating away at the fabric of our society. And a year ago, my bilateral talks revolved primarily around the question: Would, for example, the U.S. government impose punitive tariffs on European carmakers? Here it is: More than half of global GDP is dependent on high-functioning biodiversity and ecosystems – and it is from food to tourism, you just name it. Giving it the ability to take swift action in emergency decisions, perhaps via a special standing committee, would mean the EMA can then keep the power and stability of a tanker but also have the dynamic agility of a speed boat.”. Epidemiologist Ricardo Mexia, president of the National Association of Public Health Doctors in Portugal, is reluctant to criticise the Commission. In a world where polarizing opinions are the loudest, it is a short step from crude conspiracy theories to the death of a police officer. These guidelines were inspired by her discussions with the parliament’s political groups, as well as by the European Council’s strategic agenda for 2019-2024. Ms Von der Leyen insisted that the EU was working with the UK in the fight against Covid-19 and rejected the idea the pair were in a race to protect their own populations. And we will put forward legislation to ensure that the EU market does not drive deforestation on the other side of the world. This spirit of cooperation is the only mind-set which can help us tackle our challenges. But it's approval of the vaccine in early December prompted criticisms, including claims that the UK was not using all available data before making its decision to authorise the vaccine. And climate activist Greta Thunberg was also on top of a guest list full of stars. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen made a startling speech last week in relation to widespread criticism of how Europe has so far handled the COVID-19 vaccine roll-out. They must honour their obligations. Second, it would secure long-term and predictable funding for this task, rather than reallocating resources every time. And third, it would bring together cutting-edge tech-companies, blue-chip manufacturers, as well as regulators such as the European Medicines Agency or the European Commission. Copyright The point is that it is only by working together – across borders and across sectors – that we can tackle our global challenges. On Jan 29, 2021, the EU began trying to gain greater control over access to the vaccine. EU's von der Leyen says COVID-19 vaccinations in EU to start on Dec. 27, 28, 29 ... European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivers a speech during a … Enquire to become a member or partner of the Forum and help stop deforestation linked to supply chains. In summary, the UK got there first, placing an order in May, 2020, for 100 million doses. So take the vaccine that will hopefully protect us all from COVID-19. So I think we all have to play our role in this game. And we know that in a pandemic there is no time to lose. The EU “means business”, Ursula von der Leyen has said, as the bloc doubled down on plans for tighter monitoring of vaccine exports to countries outside of the union, such as the UK. Ellen 't Hoen, is a lawyer and public health advocate at research group Medicines, Laws and Policy, and is former policy director for Médecins sans Frontières’ Campaign for Access to Essential Medicines. Ursula von der Leyen, President, European Commission. Fierce criticism of von der Leyen has also come from the usually pro-EU media in Germany—the very country which von der Leyen once served as defence minister. It is in this spirit that Europe will propose to create a bio-defence preparedness programme. This is what we will work for – and I know I can count on you and the World Economic Forum to help us build it. We know that preparedness is everything. The European Union and others helped with money – large sums were invested – to build research capacities and production facilities early. And I must say, I am delighted that the U.S. has now re-joined the Paris Agreement, in one of President Biden's first acts in office. Speaking to. And he was to be proven right. It is cohesion between regions that is the heart of European solidarity. And we have also stepped up our own ambition and action. The Alliance includes businesses, governments, civil society, indigenous people and communities, and international organizations. By using our website you consent to all cookies in accordance with our updated Cookie Notice. Learning from the COVID-19 crisis The pandemic has massively accelerated the process. “When Europe really needed to be there … Not everyone, however, shares these views.