Dear Søren Gade,
Dear Brigitte Klinstkov Jerkel,
Ministers,
Commissioners,
Members of Parliaments,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,
It is a pleasure to address the COSAC plenary meeting in the beautiful city of Copenhagen. Let me start by thanking you all for your commitment to parliamentary democracy. As representatives of our citizens – from national to European level, the work you do is vital. And meetings like this one are so important, to discuss our common challenges, like the security and prosperity of our Continent. Challenges that we will overcome together.
I will start with security. As we know, the threat to Europe is much closer than the frontline in Ukraine. Underwater cables in the Baltic have been sabotaged. Europes airspace has been violated by Russian fighter jets. And near where you are, flights at Copenhagen Airport were grounded by drones. Just one of an increasing number of examples. None of which are accidents. They are deliberate attempts to intimidate European citizens and undermine our resolve on Ukraine. But they will not succeed.
Together, Europe is responding with speed and ambition. We are making significant progress in building a true Defence Union. And we are investing massively in our defence industry. With 800 billion euro mobilised – the largest defence investment in the history of our Union. And this is possible because leaders across Europe understand the urgency and gravity of the threats to our security. For example, under the leadership of Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Denmark has sent fighter jets and other vital equipment to Ukraine. And Denmark is fully signed up to Europes Defence Readiness Roadmap 2030. We can also see this drive across Europe in the solidarity you are building. From the Baltics to the Mediterranean, your parliaments are collaborating on issues from security to energy. Because you know that by working together, we are stronger together.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The world has also become much more confrontational on the economic front. Some of our competitors are ready to utilise any means to gain an advantage. Europe has everything it takes to thrive. But we need to remove the main obstacles holding our companies and investors back. So let me focus on some of the key challenges. One of the biggest barriers to our competitiveness remain high energy prices. We know they are driven up by our dependence on imported fossil fuels, while it is nuclear and renewables that bring prices down. Because they are cheaper, and they are homegrown, they strengthen our energy independence and create good jobs here in Europe. So clean energy is not the problem — it is the solution. But for families and industries across Europe to feel that benefit, we must also build the infrastructure to match our ambition. Solar, wind and geothermal are growing faster than ever. But we need systems that can capture power when it is abundant, and store it for when it is needed. That is why Europe is investing not only in the new low-carbon generation, but in the grids and storage that make them reliable for all. As the Draghi report outlined, competitiveness depends on investment and scale, here in Europe. Last month the European Council has discussed how to address other hurdles to growth. Like the need for innovation – that is why we are launching Choose Europe and the Scale-up Fund. The lack of deep and liquid capital markets – that is why we are advancing the Savings and Investment Union. Or take the gap in the adoption of artificial intelligence – that is why we will deliver our AI First Strategy. And if you take the fragmentation in our Single Market — that is why we propose a 28th legal regime for innovative companies. All this is vital and urgent!
And this is what unites us. Because we all want to live in a safe, prosperous and secure Europe. And to pass this reality on to our children and grandchildren. The vital work you do to make that happen is for the citizens of today, and tomorrow. I wish you a very successful meeting.
Long live Europe!
