Thank you, Marieke and Florika, for the kind introduction and for moderating this event. I am very pleased about the close cooperation we have with the Committee of the Regions on this important topic. It is a privilege to join this Platform early in my mandate. This meeting is crucially dedicated to the zero pollution theme.

Clean air, water, and soil matter to us as citizens, parents, and grandparents. But they also matter to businesses. Our farming community is an obvious example. Without clean water and fertile soil, sustainable food production is impossible. Clean resources are crucial for other businesses too.

From my perspective, the zero pollution objective presents challenges but also opportunities. While pollution in our air, water, and soil adversely affects health, the environment, and the economy, innovative solutions offer a path to cleaner, circular growth and enhanced competitiveness in Europe. By uniting public authorities, businesses, and civil society, we can collectively address these issues and seize the benefits of a zero-pollution future.