Ursula von der Leyen presented her vision for the next 5 years
Ursula von der Leyen presented her political guidelines before the European Parliament in Strasbourg last week, ahead of the election of the European Commission president.
Her key priorities for the next 5 years are clearly stated:
- Defence and security
- Sustainable prosperity and competitiveness
- Democracy and social fairness
- Leading in the world and delivering in Europe
By prioritising research and innovation in the European economy, EU research spending can be significantly boosted, leading to a stronger and more competitive European market.
At the core of this strategy is the proposal for a European Competitiveness Fund, which will be put forward in the EU’s next long-term budget. This fund, with a focus on strategic technologies like artificial intelligence, space, clean tech, and biotech, has the potential to boost European research and innovation significantly. It will prioritise cross-border projects and support Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEIs), with the goal of making the process simpler and faster.
In order to simplify bureaucracy within the Single Market and encourage both public and private investment across all sectors, as well as investing in people and their skills, Ursula von der Leyen proposed placing European start-ups and SMEs at the heart of this strategy.
The first 100 days of the new commission mandate will be key. The EC will aim to develop a new “Clean Industrial Deal” to decarbonise the economy and reduce energy costs. This initiative, with its focus on directing investments into infrastructure and industry, particularly in energy-intensive sectors, reassures that the Commission is still strongly committed to sustainability.
Ursula von der Leyen expressed her view on Europe’s future: “Europe must choose its best option: Union.”
2Zero can only support this statement, which shows the strong support from the now Commission re-elected president for public-private partnerships.