The new Commission, headed by Ursula von der Leyen, took office on 1st December 2019 and the first 100 days were marked by the presentation of initiatives in important areas such as climate and digital technology. But the Commission will have to turn its agenda upside down a bit by accelerating work on migration management and continuing to work on all fronts to stem the spread of the Covid-19 epidemic.
On the migration crisis, “we are going to try to put in place a common roadmap”, said Ursula von der Leyen on Monday 9 March, who insisted on the fact that it was a question of relaunching the dialogue with Turkey (see other news). She also confirmed that the Commission will present the “new Pact for Asylum and Migration just after Easter”.
The Commission is working with Member States on coronavirus. “We are exploring all possibilities for flexibility in the Stability and Growth Pact”, the Commission President said. The Commission is also exploring the possibilities for State aid “in exceptional circumstances”. We also need to ensure close cooperation of our response and actions at all levels, she added.
Urgent to conclude the MFF. “Without a new budget, we will not be able to respond adequately” to the various crises, she warned. She also called on EU Member States to agree as soon as possible on the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2021-2027. “We lack the flexibility to act” in times of crisis, she said.
Ursula von der Leyen noted that “the question is no longer whether there will be a European Green Deal or whether the EU will become climate neutral, but rather how we will proceed and how far the transition should go”.
“We are ready to negotiate a new, comprehensive and ambitious partnership with the United Kingdom”, recalled Mrs von der Leyen.
After 100 days in the digital field, “we have set the course we want to take for citizens, businesses and governments”, the President said, citing work on 5G (security risks), artificial intelligence and data.
The industrial strategy will be presented on Tuesday 10 March. The Commission will also propose an action plan for the circular economy and the ‘farm to fork’ strategy. She reiterated the Commission's continued commitment to open accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia and referred to the new partnership with Africa (see other news).
“We have used the first 100 days to set a direction”, said the Commission President. Link: https://bit.ly/2VWqpmV (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)