Antwerp, a dynamic port city: between commerce and history
Located in northern Belgium, Antwerp is a dynamic port city that has played a major role in European trade for centuries. Its rich history and strategic geographical position make it a must-see for history and culture lovers.
Antwerp’s history dates back to Roman times, when the city was an important trading center. During the Middle Ages, it became the main trading port in Western Europe, attracting merchants from all over the world. The city enjoyed a period of prosperity in the 16th century, when it was the economic and cultural capital of the Spanish Netherlands.
The port of Antwerp played a crucial role in the development of the city. With its position on the Scheldt estuary, it was the departure point for merchant ships heading to Northern and Eastern Europe. Today, the Port of Antwerp is one of the largest ports in the world, with significant maritime traffic and modern facilities.
In addition to its economic importance, Antwerp is also a city rich in history and culture. The historic center of Antwerp is a true architectural gem, with buildings dating from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Notre-Dame Cathedral, with its impressive spire, is a remarkable example of Gothic architecture. The Vieux Port district is also a place not to be missed, with its cobbled streets and historic houses.
Antwerp is also known for its art. In the 16th century, the town was an important center of Flemish painting, with famous artists such as Rubens and Van Dyck. The Royal Museum of Fine Arts houses an exceptional collection of Flemish paintings, ranging from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. Art lovers can also visit Rubens House, the former residence of the famous painter.
In addition to its historical and artistic heritage, Antwerp is a dynamic and modern city. The city is known for its fashion and design, with many internationally renowned designers having their studios in Antwerp. The Fashion District is a favorite spot for shopping enthusiasts, with designer boutiques and luxury stores.
Antwerp is also a culturally vibrant city. Throughout the year, the city hosts numerous events and festivals, such as the Antwerp Fashion Festival and the Jazz Festival. The people of Antwerp are also known for their friendliness and joie de vivre, which makes the city a pleasant place to visit.
In conclusion, Antwerp is a dynamic port city that combines commerce and history. Its rich past makes it a fascinating place for history lovers, while its modernity and cultural life make it an attractive destination for travelers. Whether you’re interested in architecture, art, fashion or just exploring a vibrant city, Antwerp has a lot to offer.
A new report by UNAMA’s Human Rights Service has documented over 1,600 cases of human rights violations including torture, committed by the de facto authorities across the country during the arrest and detention of individuals from 1 January 2022 to 31 July this year.
Commenting on the findings, UN rights chief Volker Türk described as “harrowing” the personal accounts of beatings, electric shocks, water torture and numerous other forms of cruel and degrading treatment, along with threats made against individuals and their families.
“Torture is forbidden in all circumstances,” he insisted.
According to the report, violations of due process guarantees, including denial of access to lawyers, have become the “norm” in the country.
Mr. Türk urged the Taliban to halt the abuses and hold perpetrators accountable.
Afghanistan remains bound as a State Party by numerous international human rights treaties. UNAMA is mandated by the UN Security Council to support their implementation.
Through his Spokesperson, Mr. Guterres reiterated his call for full-fledged access for aid workers to people in need.
In a statement referring to the situation between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Mr. Guterres said that he was “extremely concerned” over the use of military force in the region and reports of casualties, including among the civilian population.
According to the latest media reports, a cessation of hostilities in the region was announced on Wednesday.
Conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the region has persisted for more than three decades, but a ceasefire was agreed almost three years ago following six weeks of fighting, by the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia, leading to the deployment of several thousand Russian peacekeepers.
The UN chief urged “in the strongest terms” for de-escalation and “stricter” observance of the 2020 ceasefire and principles of international humanitarian law.
Just last month, UN humanitarians and partners briefed the Security Council on the need for unimpeded passage of aid in the region through the Lachin Corridor. The key route reportedly reopened last week.
Mr. Guterres said that he regretted that the latest “worrying developments” followed the delivery of “much-needed humanitarian assistance” to the local population on 18 September.
The UN rights chief Volker Türk also said on Tuesday that he was worried about “the impact of renewed use of armed force on civilians”. He insisted that it was “absolutely critical” that Azerbaijan and Armenia return to the peace process and work on an agreement “grounded in human rights”.
UN launches star-studded road safety campaign
Coming soon to a billboard near you: a new global UN road safety campaign launched on Wednesday to help prevent road traffic crashes, which kill 1.35 million people each year.
Crashes are the leading cause of death for people aged five to 29 around the world and developing countries account for a staggering 93 per cent of the victims.
According to the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), the most vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists, and the poor are disproportionately affected.
The UN chief’s Special Envoy for Road Safety, Jean Todt, said that road safety was “not high enough” on the political agenda in most countries.
To raise awareness of the issue, the new UN campaign mobilizes celebrities ranging from pop star Kylie Minogue to football icon Ousmane Dembélé who are encouraging road users to adopt safe practices. The billboards will go on display in some 1,000 cities worldwide.
TORINO, Italy (September 19, 2023) — Bitter Winter, a magazine of the Center for Studies on New Religions (CESNUR), has been following the Japanese government’s unusual and intrusive investigation of a minority religion, which began after the July 2022 assassination of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
Today, Bitter Winter starts publishing a booklet that explains why the Japanese government has no legal basis to file for dissolution of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, formerly known as the Unification Church. The series will continue through September 23.
“We regard what is happening in Japan as the worst current religious liberty crisis in a democratic country,” said Dr. Massimo Introvigne, an Italian sociologist who serves as editor-in-chief of Bitter Winter, a magazine on religious liberty and human rights published by CESNUR.“It is severely tarnishing the international image of Japan, a country I deeply respect.”
International lawyer Tatsuki Nakayama, who specializes in legal integrity issues, says in his booklet that Japan’s government, led by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, is not following the 1951 Religious Corporations Act, but appears to be practicing politics.
The government’s efforts to “torture the members of the Family Federation without killing them, so to speak, is a major religious persecution that violates the freedom of religion under the Constitution,” Mr. Nakayama wrote in Dear Prime Minister Fumio Kishida: No Justification for the Government to Request Dissolution of the Family Federation, released in September.
Mr. Nakayama said the strict, legal reasons for dissolution of a religious corporation include: proof that it is “obviously” antisocial and commits criminal acts under the Penal Code. There must be criminal activities organized by the leadership that are “malicious” and “continuous.”
The Family Federation has done none of these things, Mr. Nakayama wrote. First, the Family Federation leadership has never engaged in any criminal behaviors. (Individual believers’ actions cannot be used to dissolve an entire religious organization.)
Second, many years ago, some individuals used undue pressure to persuade people to make large donations to the Family Federation for spiritual benefit. However, this was dealt with in 2009 when the Family Federation issued a Declaration of Compliance to fully reform its fundraising activities. Since 2009, there have been only four donation-complaint cases that went to court (three were settled and one went to judgment), and in the last seven years, there has not been a single case brought to court against the Family Federation.
No “dissolution” for other religious groups that committed crimes
Mr. Nakayama’s research shows that at least eight other religious organizations—in which leaders and followers raped, beat, and even murdered believers—were not dissolved by the Japanese government or the court. Except for one group that disbanded due to bankruptcy, these religious groups still exist.
“Compared with eight other religious corporations, the Family Federation is not ‘malicious’ enough for the government to request an order for its dissolution,” Mr. Nakayama wrote.
Founded in 2018, Bitter Winter has emerged as a major source of information about global religious liberty issues, and is one of the most quoted in the U.S. Department of State’s yearly reports on freedom of religion. “We normally contrast how democratic countries protect freedom of religion as opposed to how non-democratic regimes such as China and Russia persecute believers,” Dr. Introvigne said. “Unfortunately, the witch hunt against the Family Federation is already allowing Chinese and Russian propaganda to claim that repressing religious minorities stigmatized as ‘cults’ is also practiced in a democratic country such as Japan.”
As part of his booklet, Mr. Nakayama explains how he came to be involved in the Family Federation case as a third-party participant. In essence, he was asked to observe because there was so much government, media, and public “hate speech” against the Family Federation, it could not easily find sufficient legal defense.
Mr. Nakayama said he took the case with some hesitation—he would never defend a “clear” criminal organization. But he has found, through his interactions with Family Federation leaders and members, that they have been grossly mischaracterized, and “it doesn’t make sense that it continues to be called an antisocial organization in the media.”
Other independent investigators have written that the accusatory focus on the Family Federation in Japan is misdirected. (See CAP-LC links below.)
The Family Federation, which has flourished in Japan for 60 years and currently has 600,000 members, was founded by Rev. Sun Myung Moon and Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon. Both were supportive of Prime Minister Abe and his grandfather, former Japanese Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi, due to their shared anticommunist worldviews.
The Family Federation had nothing to do with the shocking assassination of Prime Minister Abe, and its millions of members worldwide mourned him. However, when a police leak to media said purported assassin Tetsuya Yamagami said he shot Mr. Abe because he had a “grudge” against the Family Federation over his mother’s donations, this set off a media assault on the Family Federation. Leftist lawyers and the Japan Communist Party still appear frequently in the media to criticize the Family Federation and call for its dissolution.
As a result, the assassin Yamagami has been turned into the victim and the Family Federation turned into the villain, Dr. Introvigne has written.
On July 3, 2023, Dr. Introvigne and other prominent human rights leaders, Mr. Willy Fautré, Hon. Ján Figel, and Dr. Aaron Rhodes, published “Why Japan Should Guarantee Religious Liberty to the Unification Church/Family Federation: A Letter to the Government.” They called for an end to what increasingly appears as a witch hunt against a minority religion:
Before the July 3 letter was published, it was sent privately to Japan’s Prime Minister Kishida, the Japanese foreign minister, and the minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. The letter opens with general comments about protecting Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) for minority religions. It then addresses the current persecution of the Family Federation in Japan, the abusive history of “deprogramming” in Japan, and the Japanese media’s and government’s ill-advised use of “apostates” to denigrate the religion.
The letter concludes with a plea not to ignore the vital importance of FoRB to a free democracy and why government “liquidation” of Family Federation would expose Japan to international condemnation and encourage similar attacks on religion in non-democratic countries.
Paris-based Coordination of Associations and Individuals for Freedom of Conscience (CAP-LC) published its September 2022 complaint and supplemental statement to the United Nations Human Rights Committee about how the human rights and religious freedoms of believers in the Family Federation of Japan were being “seriously, systematically, and blatantly violated” by the government and media:
Protests erupted throughout the country on Saturday marking the one-year anniversary of the 22-year-old Iranian woman’s death after she was detained by Iran’s morality police for allegedly not wearing her headscarf properly.
Iranian authorities briefly detained Ms. Amini’s father on Saturday and beefed-up security nationwide to deter protesters from taking to the streets.
“Iranian authorities must end their crackdown against those who participated in the protests against Jina Mahsa Amini’s death and deliver justice and accountability for grave violations committed during the 2022 protests,” the UN experts said.
Her death sparked nationwide demonstrations and unrest, and authorities responded with a brutal crackdown, reportedly arresting thousands and executing at least seven people in connection with the protests.
Family persecuted
In the lead up to the anniversary of Ms. Amini’s death, the UN experts received reports that authorities had detained the young woman’s father and warned him against marking the first anniversary of his daughter’s death before releasing him.
The experts said security forces surrounded her family home on 16 September, preventing family members from leaving to attend a graveside memorial event.
“Iran must account for the death of Jina Mahsa Amini in police custody last year and end its crackdown on protests sparked by her demise,” the experts said. “After months of brutally repressing demonstrations over the course of the past year, authorities have imposed restrictions and threatened reprisals against public commemorations”, they said.
Activists fight for freedom
According to the Human Rights Council-appointed experts, A 28-year-old man was shot by security forces on 16 September near the city of Saqqez, in Iran’s western Kurdish region near the cemetery where Ms. Amini is buried. His condition remains critical.
Iranian State media also announced the arrest of more than 260 individuals across the country over the weekend in connection with the protests.
According to the independent experts, Iranian authorities have put new laws and practices in place to repress women and girls.
But they have failed to conduct an independent, impartial, and transparent investigation into the death and have consistently denied any misconduct or wrongdoing.
Ongoing clampdown
“We remain concerned and alarmed by the ongoing policies and practices in Iran which amount to total impunity for grave crimes committed under international law in the year that followed Jina Mahsa Amini’s death,” the experts said.
The experts expressed concern that family members of individuals who were executed in connection with the protests were either summoned to court or detained by authorities for seeking justice. They also noted a “concerning pattern” of mistreatment of human rights defenders, journalists, lawyers in custody.
“The Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran could have learned important lessons from the tragic death of Jina Mahsa Amini. But its response to the demonstrations that have led to the deaths of hundreds of protestors since September 2022 shows that authorities have chosen not to,” the UN experts said.
UN experts are not UN staff and are independent from any government or organisation. They serve in their individual capacity and receive no salary for their work.
In war-torn Sudan, more than 1,200 children under five have died in camps in the space of four months from a combination of measles and malnutrition, UN humanitarians said on Tuesday.
That’s the message from UN human rights chief Volker Türk, who called for strong leadership and political will from States to heed the call of people of African descent for accountability and redress.
His comments followed the release of a new UN report which sets out a series of concrete steps for governments to make reparations from former colonists, a reality.
The proposed measures, which must be guided by people of African descent themselves, include public apology, education and awareness raising, restitution and compensation.
Up to 30 million people were violently uprooted from Africa for enslavement over the course of four centuries. After slavery ended, policies such as segregation and apartheid perpetuated racial discrimination.
Mr. Türk stressed that reparatory justice was “not just about addressing the wrongful acts of the past” but also about building societies that are truly inclusive, equal and free from racism.
Libya: Derna a ‘sad snapshot’ of the state of our world: UN chief
The thousands of people killed, injured or displaced by the floods in Derna, Libya, were “victims many times over” of conflict and climate change, UN Secretary-General António Guterres told world leaders gathered at the UN in New York on Tuesday.
Derna is a “sad snapshot of the state of our world”, Mr. Guterres said at the UN General Assembly, as humanitarians in Libya continue to assess needs in the wake of the disaster.
“The situation on the ground is catastrophic. I have been a humanitarian worker for over 19 years and this is one of the worst disasters that I have witnessed. The level of destruction is unfathomable”, said UN refugee agency (UNHCR) Assistant Chief of Mission, Rana Ksaifi, speaking to reporters, from Benghazi:
He said an estimated 30,000 people have been displaced in Derna alone. Christopher Laker, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative in the country, said that 97 per cent of some neighbourhoods had been “washed away” as dams collapsed.
He highlighted the urgent need for maintenance of Libya’s water reservoirs and dams and said that UNDP teams would be supporting the authorities with infrastructure assessments.
Sudan: Children dying amid healthcare system collapse
In Sudan, more than 1,200 children under five have died in camps in the space of four months from a combination of measles and malnutrition, UN humanitarians said on Tuesday.
The children were refugees living in nine camps in Sudan’s White Nile state, according to UNCHR and the World Health Organization (WHO).
The refugee agency said that over 3,100 suspected measles cases and more than 500 suspected cholera cases were reported in the same period in the country, along with outbreaks of dengue and malaria.
Here’s UNHCR’s Chief of Public Health, Dr. Allen Maina:
“The situation has brought healthcare in the country to its knees, despite heroic efforts of local clinics and aid agencies to continue to provide much-needed health services.”
WHO said that 3.4 million children in the country were acutely malnourished, while up to 80 per cent of hospitals in conflict-affected states are out of action.
With the lack of access to treatment, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warned that “many thousands of newborns” may die in Sudan by the end of the year.
Meanwhile, the UN’s 2023 Sudan Humanitarian Response Plan launched in May remains only 30 per cent funded.
Brussels, a destination for everyone: Family activities and parks to discover
Brussels, capital of Belgium, is an ideal destination for families looking for adventure and discovery. With its numerous parks and activities suitable for young and old, the city offers a multitude of opportunities for family fun.
One of the most popular places for families in Brussels is the Mini-Europe park. Located at the foot of the Atomium, this miniature theme park offers a unique experience by allowing visitors to discover the main monuments of Europe on a reduced scale. Children will be amazed by the faithful reproduction of the Eiffel Tower, the Colosseum and the Tower of Pisa. In addition, Mini-Europe also offers interactive activities and games to entertain the youngest.
Another must-see place for families is the Museum of Natural Sciences. This museum houses an impressive collection of fossils, skeletons and stuffed animals. Children will be able to marvel at the dinosaur skeletons and discover the different animal species that inhabit our planet. Temporary exhibitions are also organized regularly, offering new discoveries with each visit.
For a fun and educational experience, the Children’s Museum is an ideal choice. This interactive museum offers exhibitions suitable for children aged 2 to 12, allowing them to discover different themes such as space, nature and the human body in a fun and sensory way. Children will be able to manipulate, touch and experiment to learn while having fun.
To enjoy moments of relaxation outdoors, Brussels parks offer numerous possibilities. The Brussels Park, located in the heart of the city, is an ideal place for a family stroll. Its vast green spaces, ponds and children’s games make it an ideal place for picnics and moments of relaxation. In addition, the park regularly organizes events and shows to entertain young and old.
The Parc du Cinquantenaire is another must-see place in Brussels. With its vast lawns, imposing monuments and majestic triumphal arch, this park offers an ideal setting for a family stroll. Children can play in the playgrounds, while adults can enjoy a moment of tranquility while contemplating the magnificent landscapes offered by the park.
Finally, for nature lovers, the Bois de la Cambre is a destination not to be missed. Located on the outskirts of the city, this vast wooded park offers many opportunities for family walks. Children can play in the playgrounds or ride bikes, while parents can enjoy the calm and natural beauty of the park.
Brussels is therefore an ideal destination for families looking for entertaining activities and moments of relaxation in the open air. With its parks and museums suitable for children, the city offers a multitude of possibilities to satisfy everyone’s desires. Whether for a day of discovery or a longer stay, Brussels will delight young and old and offer them unforgettable memories.
Conference at the European Parliament about the persecution of Christians in Sub-Saharan Africa (Credit: MEP Bert-Jan Ruissen)
Presecuted christians – MEP Bert-Jan Ruissen held a conference and exhibition at the European Parliament on September 18th, to raise awareness about the persecution of Christians worldwide. He emphasized the need for the EU to take stronger action against violations of freedom of religion, particularly in Africa, where thousands of lives are lost due to this silence. The exhibition displayed harrowing photos of Christian persecution, and van Ruissen stressed that the EU must uphold its moral duty to protect freedom of religion effectively. Other speakers highlighted the importance of international engagement in addressing this issue and promoting fundamental freedoms for all.
Article published by Willy Fautre and the Newsdesk.
A conference and an exhibition held by MEP Bert-Jan Ruissen in the European Parliament denounces the silence and the impunity surrounding the suffering of Christians around the world
Conference at the European Parliament about the persecution of Christians in Sub-Saharan Africa (Credit: MEP Bert-Jan Ruissen)
The EU must take stronger action against the blatant violations of freedom of religion, which mostly affect Christians worldwide. This silence costs thousands of lives every year, especially in Africa. This deadly silence must be broken, MEP Bert-Jan Ruissen advocated on Monday 18 September at a conference and opening of an exhibition in the European Parliament.
Exhibition at the European Parliament about the persecution of Christians in Sub-Saharan Africa (Credit: MEP Bert-Jan Ruissen)
MEP Bert-Jan Ruisen
The event attended by over a hundred people was followed by the visit of an exhibition in the heart of the European Parliament, organized together with Open Doors and SDOK (Foundation of the Underground Church). It showed shocking photos of victims of Christian persecution: among others, a photo of a Chinese believer who was hung by the police with his legs from a horizontal pole, now adorns the heart of the European Parliament.
Bert-Jan Ruissen:
“Freedom of religion is a universal human right. The EU claims to be a community of values but is now too often silent on serious violations. The thousands of victims and families must be able to rely on EU action. As an economic power bloc, we must hold all countries accountable that all believers are free to practice their religion.”
Ruissen pointed out that 10 years ago now, the EU adopted directives to protect freedom of religion.
“These directives are too much on paper and too little in practice. The EU has a moral duty to credibly protect this freedom.”
Anastasia Hartman, advocacy officer at Open Doors in Brussels:
“As we want to strengthen sub-Saharan Christians, we also want them to become part of a solution to the complex regional crisis. Enforcing freedom of belief should be high on the agenda, because when both Christians and non-Christians see their fundamental freedoms protected, they can become a blessing for the whole community.”
Bonus for killing a pastor
Nigerian student Ishaku Dawa recounted the horrors of the Islamist terrorist organisation Boko Haram: “In my region, 30 pastors have already been killed. Pastors are outlaws: the death of a pastor brings a bounty of the equivalent of 2,500 euros. One victim I knew personally “, the VU Amsterdam student said. “Think of the kidnapped schoolgirls in 2014: they were targeted because they came from a Christian school.”
Also speaking at the conference was Illia Djadi, Open Doors’ Senior Analyst on freedom of faith in Sub-Saharan Africa. He called for more international engagement.
“An EU policy that promotes freedom of religion is not only about individual freedoms but also helps fight injustice, actively supports threatened communities and is a foundation on which people can flourish. I hope this exhibition helps to remind us of the need and importance of this commitment.”
Thank you, President Shafik for that kind introduction.
Good afternoon everyone.
Let me say how honoured I am to be here, to be invited to one of the greatest universities in the world, to speak to you about leadership. About how the world needs Europe and the United States to keep stepping up. About how leadership is about people – about you – more than it is about institutions. And about how the geo-political realities we now face mean we are being called upon to plot a path to a future that is more uncertain than it was a few years ago.
I am the youngest ever President of the European Parliament. I am part of the generation, who were sitting on my parents lap as the Berlin Wall came down, who watched Tiananmen Square on grainy TV screens, who just remember the collapse of the USSR and unbridled joy of millions of Europeans finally free after half a century to determine their own destinies – who reaped all the benefits of the victory of liberal democracy in a new world.
In Europe and the US, mine is the last generation who remembers a world when liberal democracy was not a given. We believed that our way won – and that our victory would last forever. We believed that our way would define the new world order. When the world’s blocs were dismantled, we believed that democracy, freedom, rule of law, cooperation would herald a new age of global trade, of individual rights and liberties.
We believed we could outrun and outgrow any threats to our way of life. Perhaps we grew a little too complacent, a little too comfortable.
Last year we understood, in the most brutal of manners, just how painfully true that was. When Russian tanks rolled into sovereign independent Ukraine, looting, raping, murdering. The world changed. Forever.
We understood on that fateful day that we must lead in this new world. The United States and Europe have many faults, many things that need improving, but despite everything they stand as enduring symbol of our way of life – as a bastion of liberty and freedom, and if we do not fulfil our inherited duty to lead, then someone else, with a very different valueset to ours will.
That’s a responsibility that weighs heavily. We have and we must continue to take the decisions that necessary. Difficult decisions. Decisions like opening our doors and our markets to countries like Ukraine and Moldova or countries in the Western Balkans. Decisions like supplying weapons to Ukraine.
A little over twenty years ago, there was a huge discussion in Europe on whether ten countries should join the European Union. I was still a student, studying the ins and outs of politics, but with an ironclad belief in the transformational powers of Europe. It was never about creating everyone in the same likeness. Rather it was a core belief that in unity, even and especially in all our diversity, there is strength. It was about our security, about opportunity and the comfort of belonging. To us, it meant everything.
That is the spirit that drives our outlook today. Even with all our imperfections, there are still so many people around the world who live under the yoke of oppression for whom the European Union has not lost its shine. For whom the United States will always be a natural ally.
The geopolitical sands are shifting. We have Putin’s tanks on independent and sovereign Ukraine; Lukashenko persecuting, imprisoning, torturing people for their democratic beliefs; China that has risen with a value system that is different to ours; India on the rise; Afghanistan collapsing back into disarray; Iran stirring up the Middle East and propping up Russia; East and Central Africa at boiling point; and South America facing new and old economic challenges.
The EU and the US are two of the strongest economic blocs on the planet. Our transatlantic relationship is a vital artery of the global economy. But our true strength lies in something far deeper than that. We share a dream. We share values.
The world cannot thrive on imbalances. We need to build a global democratic alliance of trusted partners and friends.
The same responsibility that we felt and delivered when we were called upon to stand with Ukraine. We matched our rhetoric, with action, with real and tangible support. Together we enacted hard-hitting sanctions that have decreased Russia’s oil and gas revenues by almost 50%. And it is still decreasing. We have shown that we can react and adapt under an immense amount of pressure. That our way of life and our way of doing things does work, that our values matter, that it is worth it.
These relationships and principles have stood the test of time, only if we continue to work together, to lead together, if we are to beat the tests of today. Too many of our people are still struggling to make ends meet, too many women still face the thickest of glass ceilings, too many of our young people still face a completely uncertain future. Climate change continues to have devastating impacts on lives, livelihoods and our environment. The digital revolution is developing faster than we are able to regulate it responsibly. We must continue to keep our people’s concerns at the centre of all our actions.
Our next steps will be defined on how able we are to remain competitive. How can we create jobs and futures with dignity. How can we push back against inflation wiping value of assets without making it impossible for young people to buy a home. How can we ensure that the digital transition makes it easier for our companies to innovate. One where sure, you might fail. But one that then also makes it easier for you to get back up again.
In the European Union, we have started putting the building blocks in place. Take for example our Chips Act, our Digital Services and Digital Markets Acts. We are now working on the world’s first comprehensive, pro-innovation Artificial Intelligence Act. In all these ground breaking pieces of legislation, we managed to find a balance between innovation and business to flourish, keeping people safe online and setting standards that the rest of the world will inevitably follow.
It has not been easy. The European Union, unlike the United States, is composed of twenty-seven sovereign countries, each with different regulatory frameworks, constitutions, languages and interests that do not always necessarily align. But it is precisely within this melting point of ideas, that we can find the best solutions that work for all.
Of course, investment requires funding – public funding. How do we grow our economies – and pay back our debts – how do we ensure that we have the ability and liquidity to fund the solutions that are demanded of us? The answer is real, sustainable, economic growth.
I have always seen the green transition as an integral part of that sustainable growth strategy. It is not just an obligation, but an investment in our economies too. But in order for it to work, it needs to place the human at its centre. It needs to be human-centric, it must provide real incentives and safety nets for industry and it must be ambitious enough to address the very real climate emergency we are in. It must meet the targets of the Paris Agreement. But it must also work for people.
When it comes to addressing climate change, we need to move away from a binary way of thinking. We can be the most climate ambitious continents and at the same time aim to be the most competitive, innovative and business friendly ones too. But the only way to do that…is to keep speaking to people – and more than speak – to listen. This is how we avoid people from retreating to the political fringes, which offer up easy answers to very difficult questions. It is up to us to be the drivers of a clean-tech revolution and I am convinced that we can do this in a way that leaves no one behind.
In fact, in the European Union we have already made significant headway. We have implemented a vast reform of our Emissions Trading System, which is a market-based solution incentivising companies to limit their emissions by putting a price on carbon. We also established a carbon border tax to create a level-playing field for our companies and agreed to establish a Social Climate Fund that will aid both companies and households limit their emissions.
These efforts are already bearing fruit. Since last year, we have had good increases of solar power and wind power instalments in Europe – 47% solar and 30% wind, to be exact. Despite problems with supply chains after a devastating pandemic and challenging economic conditions, Europe is well on the way to achieving climate neutrality by 2050.
Allow me a moment on defence.
The concept of security, if we have learned something over the past year and a half, necessitates a new perception. It is no longer just about conventional means of warfare. Putin has weaponised information, energy, food, even people, in an attempt to crush Ukrainian resistance and to weaken the West’s support. The time is now for the European Union and NATO to reinforce the pillars of their cooperation. It is about supporting peace, real peace with liberty. It is about protecting our people. It is about defending our values.
One appeal to you. I came here today to invite you to lead. To feel that sense of urgency. Rabbi Jonathan Sacks once wrote “Not all of us have power. But we all have influence, whether we seek it or not… There is quiet leadership of influence that seeks no power, but changes lives. In tough times we need it more than ever.”
The world needs what you, students have to offer. Your knowledge, your skill, your drive, your grit, your leadership. You will need to be prepared to encounter, like I did, a couple of cynics along the way. But every generation has been underestimated until it has proven itself in front of the world.
Whether it is in politics, in the medical field, in science, in tech, in academia, I wholeheartedly believe in your endless potential to help make our world a little bit better, a little bit safer and a little bit more equal. To bring our world a little closer to how it ought to be.
Friends, it is now our time for leadership and we cannot be found wanting.
