EU, Ursula von der Leyen: climate, innovation and democracy are our mission

• Ukraine, von der Leyen warns Moscow: change attitude

• Covid, von der Leyen: "Discuss vaccination obligation in the EU"

• Von der Leyen: "Collective action is the only real response to the pandemic"

Share

December 19, 2021 "Thanks to European solidarity and Italy's ability to manage the pandemic effectively,

than at any other time since the beginning of this century." And Italy is an "industrial power and a strong democracy at the heart of the European project". 

This was stated by the president of the European Commission,

, during her lecture on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Catholic University of Milan which inaugurates the 2021-2022 academic year.

The president of the EU Commission took the floor at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Milan, starting: "Today we are gathered to celebrate the first century of the Catholic University and the beginning of the one hundred and first academic year. Since December 1921, Cattolica has formed generations of Italian leaders. The post-war generation, who wrote the Italian constitution and rebuilt the country. And then the next generation of leaders - figures who made Italy an industrial power and a strong democracy at the heart of the European project . Among them there is also my predecessor to the presidency of the European Commission, Romano Prodi - who is here today with us ", said von der Leyen.

"Professor, what an honor, thank you for being here", he added, addressing Prodi, who at the beginning of the speech had already greeted, in addition to the rector and Monsignor Delpini, the minister Mariastella Gelmini, Mario Monti and the parliamentarians present. Von der Leyen then addressed the university students directly.

"What is our mission for these Twenties and for the following decades? I would like to answer with three words:

", the president of the European Commission told the students." You know perfectly well what kind of future we have to build, if we want to reverse the current trend, "he said about climate change." Our economy will be circular. The energy that will heat and cool our homes will be produced from renewable sources. The cars we drive will be electric or powered by clean hydrogen. In fact, most of us won't even need a car to get to work, because everyone will have access to cleaner alternatives, "he stressed.

" Today, thanks to

, we have the funds to accelerate the transition to a sustainable economy that you young people rightly ask ", continued the president of the European Commission." NextGenerationEu is helping Italians to renovate their homes and thus reduce energy consumption and bills. The plan will invest in high speed, thus allowing you, the off-site student, to get home faster and without polluting. We have launched a wave of clean investments never seen in European history "." But in addition to investments, the transition to a more sustainable economy needs new ideas and new lifestyles - said Von der Leyen -. The European Green Deal must become a concrete and tangible reality in the life of all of us.But it is we who must enrich it with a cultural and emotional dimension "

"The second mission of our Union is

. Italy has always been a country of innovators and creative minds. Here in Italy, Next GenerationEu will support talented young people who do not have the means to pay for university, both with scholarships and tripling the capacity of university residences. The plan will help universities to recruit young researchers. And will fund new doctoral programs designed to create the skills that businesses need. More than 15% of the recovery plan of the 'Italy -

- will be devoted to education and research. And every euro we invest in education and research is a well-spent euro, "he said.

"The third mission I would like to talk about concerns the revitalization of our

in this digital and globalized era. Today democracy faces new challenges. Much of the public debate takes place on

privately controlled

. The opponents of democracy. they use modern technologies to manipulate the democratic debate through systematic disinformation. They try to muddy the waters to the point that truth and facts become impossible to distinguish from lies and untruths. And this erodes and undermines the trust of citizens, "said von der. Leyen.

"Our mission is to protect and expand our democracy. The Europe I want must protect people from illicit online content and disinformation by making social media platforms

. The Europe I want must protect from 'Hate speech and hate crime, by integrating the list of crimes into our treaties. And it must protect our democracy from any kind of regression, protecting the

in the Union "he concluded .