VP Suica delivers a keynote speech at Dubrovnik Forum 2024
Honourable Guests,
Speakers,
Dear ladies and gentlemen,
It gives me great pleasure to address this 17th edition of the Dubrovnik Forum.
In the current geopolitical context, the need to safely navigate choppy waters is never far from our mind.
Including in Brussels where our leaders met on Thursday and Friday in the European Council.
Dubrovnik was a beacon of light during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.
Dubrovnik had a reputation for diplomatic finesse.
For courtesy.
For the powers of persuasion.
A commitment to compromise, dialogue and reason has characterised Dubrovnik diplomacy for hundreds of years.
This can inspire us as we steer our way through the three broad geopolitical trends that our European Union faces!
First, a significant shift from an era of cooperation and integration to one of competition and friction.
Second, a growing global fragmentation and polarisation.
Third, an acceleration of global transitions, particularly climate, new technologies and demographic change.
The backdrop to these trends - from Ukraine to the Caucasus, from the Middle East to the Horn of Africa, the Sahel and beyond - is an arc of instability on our doorstep.
We must remember that unity remains our strongest asset.
European Security is a top priority.
Supporting Ukraine to prevail is a top priority.
Building a resilient and integrated European security is a generational challenge.
Second, we need to keep on building our resilience and capacity to act alone.
Security, as we all know, starts at home.
Third, the EU should remain engaged and increase efforts to contribute to global security and stability. We need to keep recalibrating our relations with China, offer solutions to tackle mounting tensions in the Middle East and flashpoints in Africa. We must invest more in the battle of offers with the ‘global south'. And supporting meaningful reforms of the international system is a major priority.
The European Union has no interest in global polarisation. We have a major strategic interest in facilitating de-escalation. This is the role of diplomacy and the deep responsibility of diplomats!
The EU-US partnership remains fundamental for the stability, security and prosperity of the transatlantic area, and to harness the benefits of trade.
The European Union's open trade approach ensures that we are ready to capitalize on the opportunities that lie ahead!
Over the next 5 years, almost 90% of global GDP growth is forecast to come from outside the European Union.
At the same time, we must protect and indeed deepen the Single Market.
Of course, our economic security is also linked to our ability to tackle the period of transition that I already mentioned.
We are all familiar with the climate and technology transitions.
And we are becoming more familiar with the third major transition that is demographic change.
Currently, we are in a position where we are not yet responding to a fully-fledged demographic crisis.
We have a small window of opportunity to act fast!
Demographic change is increasingly recognised as a fundamental aspect of our policy frameworks.
It features prominently in the recent European Semester Package and the report by Enrico Letta on the future of the internal market.
Addressing demographic change supports our ambitions to achieve economic sustainability and remain competitive.
It affects various areas from fiscal sustainability and public expenditure on pensions and healthcare to labour shortages, long-term care, skills, and lifelong learning. As well as our territorial disparities.
It affects our very democracy!
Because the quality of democracy must be preserved as the electorate will skew towards older generations.
This is an age respected for wisdom and experience.
But it is also the generation that might feel left behind if services continue to be depleted.
This affects our ability to show that democracy truly delivers for people, in the face of the empty promises of autocracy!
I know how important this is for citizens, as I have engaged with them at every opportunity, most notably through the Conference on the Future of Europe and our new generation of European Citizen Panels.
And we must continue to engage with citizens on our key priorities.
Including on enlargement!
The path of enlargement must also include our unwavering support for Ukraine. In the face of unprecedented challenges, Ukraine has shown remarkable resilience and determination.
Its aspirations to join the European Union are not just about geopolitics - they are about embracing the values of democracy, freedom, and the rule of law that define our Union.
Ukraine's progress on necessary reforms, despite the ongoing conflict, is commendable and deserving of our support and recognition.
As we consider the future of our Union, we must be ready to provide Ukraine with a clear and merit-based path to membership, ensuring that its people can look forward to a secure and prosperous future within the European family.
This is why we are very happy of the recent successes – earlier this week we have opened accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova!
The European Union remains the Western Balkan's closest partner and main investor. We are committed to the Western Balkans because the future of our partners in the region is within the European Union.
The 6 billion euros Reform and Growth Facility entered into force on 25 May. To receive funding, our Western Balkan partners will have to implement far-reaching fundamental and socio-economic reforms that are set out in their Reform Agendas.
As we set out to grow and enlarge our Union we need to ensure support for societies and democratic systems that can deliver prosperity and security also for our future Member States.
And as I speak about the future of our European Union, I will conclude with a few words on artificial intelligence and the UN Summit of the Future.
There is no doubt that Artificial Intelligence is impacting, in a profound way, diplomacy in the European Union and globally.
Artificial intelligence is changing human knowledge, perception and reality.
And by extension our security and place in the world.
We should ensure that Artificial intelligence works for our democracy.
The European Union provides the world's first comprehensive plan to regulate artificial intelligence.
The world needs a trustworthy and ethical Artificial intelligence.
This will no doubt form part of the discussions at the UN Summit of the Future on 22-23 September.
The European Union is playing a leading role in its preparation, pushing for a more, inclusive, equitable multilateral system that can address current challenges.
This summit will be a moment of truth for the international community to show that the international rule-based order can be reformed, while maintaining its strength and integrity.
It will require every tool available to make this happen.
Because democracy is about having an open discussion.
It is about both agreement and disagreement.
About debate and consensus.
Fundamentally, it is about trust.
And based on that trust, democracy is about delivering for our citizens.
Delivering a safe and prosperous European Union for all generations.
Including those yet to be born!
I said earlier that a commitment to compromise, dialogue and reason has characterised Dubrovnik diplomacy for hundreds of years.
We must make full use of these skills in the coming weeks, months and years to ensure a strong European Union, both at home and abroad, that leaves no one and nowhere behind!
Thank you
| Zařazeno | po 01.07.2024 14:07:00 |
|---|---|
| Zdroj | Evropská komise en |
| Originál | ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/api/documents?reference=SPEECH/24/3587&language=en |
| lang | en |
| guid | /SPEECH/24/3587/ |
