The Presidents of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, the European Council, Charles Michel, and the European Parliament, David Sassoli, looked resolutely to the future with twenty-seven Member States of the European Union, on Friday 31 January, promising "a new dawn" on the eve of Brexit (see other news).
After meeting symbolically the day before at Jean Monnet's house near Paris to reflect on the future of the EU, the three presidents reiterated the importance for Europeans to remain united in facing current challenges such as the transition to a digital and low-carbon economy and Europe's place in the world.
"What dominates is the importance of looking at the future of the European project", Mr Michel told the press. We are neither pessimistic nor optimistic, "we are determined," Ms von der Leyen added, quoting Jean Monnet. In her view, strength cannot come from "splendid isolation" - referring to a policy put in place in the United Kingdom in the 19th century - but only from “unity” of the Twenty-Seven. On digitalisation, for example, she considered that the Union should be in the forefront in upholding its values while keeping its market open.
"No single country can, alone, contain the spread of climate change, find solutions for the digital future or make its voice heard in the growing cacophony of the world" the three presidents said in a joint statement issued on Friday.
"This is what Europe is all about", Mr Sassoli said, convinced that the importance of the Union also stems from the fact that many critics, inside and outside the EU, want to divide Member States among themselves.
This determination to write a new page in the European project when, for the first time, a Member State leaves the EU will have to be translated quickly during the negotiations on the Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027. Perhaps as early as the first post-Brexit EU summit which, on Thursday 20 February, will focus on the EU budget after 2020 (see EUROPE 12412/17).
The three leaders also mentioned the Conference on the Future of Europe, which could start its work on 9 May, Europe Day. They stressed the importance of listening to the citizens, but did not say how the citizens' proposals will be taken into account at the end of the work. (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)