President von der Leyen Outlines EU Budget As Marshall Plan For Recovery

President Ursula von der Leyen gave a speech at the European Parliament plenary session on the EU’s coordinated action to fight the coronavirus pandemic and its consequences. 

The President honored the memory of the tens of thousands of Europeans who have lost their lives. President von der Leyen expressed “a heartfelt apology” to Italy on behalf of Europe for not being at the country’s side from the very beginning of the crisis. 

However, the many examples of European cooperation of the past weeks – with doctors, medical equipment, and patients moved across borders – have shown that “Europe has now become the world’s beating heart of solidarity.” 

Reviewing the unprecedented measures taken by the EU to protect people’s livelihoods, the President highlighted that “Europe has done more in the last four weeks than it did in the first four years of the last crisis.” 

Looking ahead, President von der Leyen said that it was the moment “to put behind us the old divisions, disputes and recriminations. The moment to be ready for that new world. To use all the power of our common spirit and the strength of our shared purpose.”

Full Content: European Commission

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