🧭 Ursula von der Leyen at World Economic Forum Davos 2025, a straightforward special address: “The first quarter of the century has come to an end. And it has brought about a sea-change in global affairs. To sustain our growth in the next quarter of the century, Europe must shift gears”

–         Next week, will present the roadmap for the next 5 years, based on Mario Draghi’s report on European Competitiveness
–         Three foundations:
📈 Capital Markets Union: fragmentation prevents the European companies tapping into EUR 1.4 trillion European household savings to raise funding
📊Single market/ease of doing business: too many local legislations, a company cannot deal with 27 different legislations in the EU; introducing “the 28th regime” – for innovative companies, one single and simple framework across our Union – corporate law, insolvency, labor law, taxation.
⚡Energy: “this energy <from Russia> appeared cheap, but it exposed us <EU> to blackmail”; “freedom came at a price”; plan to be presented in February (“It is time to complete our Union also on energy, so that clean power can run freely across our continent, and bring prices down for all Europeans”); continue to diversify EU energy supplies, and expand clean sources of generation from renewables and, in some countries, also from nuclear; will invest in next-generation clean energy technologies, like fusion, enhanced geothermal, and solid-state batteries.
–         Trade: “Our message to the world is simple: if there are mutual benefits in sight, we are ready to engage with you. If you want to upgrade your clean-tech industries, if you want to upscale your digital infrastructure – Europe is open for business”; EU has concluded new partnerships with Switzerland, Mercosur and Mexico over the last 2 months; China: „we should also strive for mutual benefits in our conversation with China”; US: “A lot is at stake for both sides. So our first priority will be to engage early, discuss common interests, and be ready to negotiate. We will be pragmatic, but we will always stand by our principles to protect our interests and uphold our values – that is the European way”

–         Conclusion: “This is the moment to engage beyond blocs and taboos. And Europe is ready for change”
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