MHRA chief executive June Raine released a statement defending the MHRA's approach, saying: “We have carried out a rigorous scientific assessment of all the available evidence of quality, safety and effectiveness. So take the vaccine that will hopefully protect us all from COVID-19. Few suspected at the time that this would be the start of a pandemic that a year later would still hold us in its grip. Because we want the values we cherish in the offline world also to be respected online. The EU was late to authorise Covid-19 vaccines and "still not where we want to be", European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said. If temperatures keep rising and nature keeps disappearing, we will see more natural disasters and zoonotic diseases. We do not know exactly what happened there. It will bring clarity on what accounts for sustainable, eco-friendly activities. We cannot wait for the next pandemic to start preparing. In fact, they mutually reinforce each other. We are ready to broker the same ambition at global level, at the next UN Biodiversity Summit in Kunming. Because COVID-19 is a public emergency, the EMA has accelerated the process by using an expert task force and what the organisation describes as “rapid review procedures”. Greta Thunberg's message to world leaders at #DavosAgenda, Building trust: Here’s what you need to know about The Davos Agenda 2021, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Public License, Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship. It was in stark contrast to Boris Johnson's joke-filled speech. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen made a startling speech . New alliances for new solutions. The pandemic has shown the limitations of some of our old ways of working. Fierce criticism of von der Leyen has also come from the usually pro-EU media in Germany—the very country which von der Leyen once served as defence minister. In an interview with, “The Commission was unrealistically optimistic that it would roll out the vaccines without obstacles. President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen has expressed her 'deep regret' over the debacle surrounding Article 16 of the Brexit withdrawal agreement. And that is true. And you might have seen some of them in the documentary ‘The Social Dilemma' – I can only recommend it. A hollow tree had been infested by bats. At that time, the activists warned about the business models of big tech companies and the consequences for our democracy. … This is why I believe this new form of blended partnerships should prepare and protect us against the next big risk. Speech by President von der Leyen at the Opening of the High-Level Conference 'Investing in climate action: The Make-or-Break Decade', in cooperation with the EIB 24 March 2021 Commission strengthens transparency and authorisation mechanism for exports of COVID-19 vaccines And we will reach out to our partners from around the world – from foundations to global institutions, from CEOs to NGOs, and from our oldest partners across the Atlantic to all those who want to join. Addressing the virtual Davos Agenda 2021 summit of global leaders, she warned: “We know that preparedness is everything. But I think it is learning fast”, he said. The European Union and others helped with money – large sums were invested – to build research capacities and production facilities early. We will put forward legislation to help us get there from renewables to emissions trading, from clean hydrogen to the circular economy. We all benefit from nature and we all benefit from the protection it gives us. In the COVAX vaccination alliance, the European Union, together with 186 countries, will be securing millions of doses of vaccines for low-income countries. We lose a key ally in our fight against climate change. The 'Ursula dividend' is a shot in the arm for the UK vaccine industry Those with jobs making vaccines should raise a glass to the blonde lady in Brussels as Britain ramps up domestic production Here it is: More than half of global GDP is dependent on high-functioning biodiversity and ecosystems – and it is from food to tourism, you just name it. But for this to be a success, we must also address the darker sides of the digital world. That is what we all have to learn again after four long years. Ladies and gentlemen, a year ago at Davos, we talked also intensively about digitalization. © 2019 Geert Vanden Wijngaert/Bloomberg/Getty Images. To boost the vibrant start-up scene we have in cities like Sofia and Lisbon and to become a global hub for Artificial Intelligence. They pinned their hopes on Europe. On Oct 30, the UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) also started a rolling review. And this year, the World Economic Forum is once again asking the right questions with your initiative, Klaus, ‘The Great Reset'. Unfortunately, the storming of the Capitol Hill showed us how just true that is. last week in relation to widespread criticism of how Europe has so far handled the COVID-19 vaccine roll-out. Ursula von der Leyen. This is a blueprint for cooperation in today's world. © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Copyright To nurture innovative ecosystems, for example where universities, companies, innovators can access data and cooperate. And yet, the dangers that social media poses to our democracy were also already discussed in Davos. And he was to be proven right. We have agreed a greenhouse gas emission reduction target of at least 55% by 2030. At its most basic, this means that what is illegal offline should be illegal online too. But we must nurture our democracy every day, and defend our institutions against the corrosive power of hate speech, of disinformation, fake news and incitement to violence. The event is hosted by Evelyn REGNER (S&D, AT). But it's approval of the vaccine in early December prompted criticisms, including claims that the UK was not using all available data before making its decision to authorise the vaccine. Rule of law. “When Europe really needed to be there … And we do know just how tragic the repercussions were across Africa and the world. The first ever European Climate Law will hopefully soon come into force. There, a young boy playing next to a tree some years ago, is thought to have been the first victim of one of the worst outbreaks of Ebola. Here are 10 actions we can take to change course. Copyright Giving it the ability to take swift action in emergency decisions, perhaps via a special standing committee, would mean the EMA can then keep the power and stability of a tanker but also have the dynamic agility of a speed boat.”. This is also why early in the pandemic, the European Union, together with organizations like the World Economic Forum, or the Gates Foundation and Global Citizen organized pledging initiatives to mobilise funding for the global coronavirus response. This speech was first published on the European Commission's website. It is cohesion between regions that is the heart of European solidarity. But what we do know is that the boy became gravely ill and died a little later, as did his sister and his pregnant mother. This is a problem for the whole world.' Thank you very much, dear Klaus. 2050 is predicted to be a bleak milestone for the ocean - but it's not too late to avert disaster. Because the European Union had already proven that it is able to set standards that are respected around the world, such as with our General Data Protection Regulation – the GDPR. We are always quick to say: Democracy and values, they are part of our DNA. Furthermore, according to reports in the German newspaper. The public's safety has always been at the forefront of our minds—safety is our watchword.”, On Feb 14, the EU made further announcements on its approvals for vaccines adapted to combat new variants of SARS-CoV-2. Epidemiologist Ricardo Mexia, president of the National Association of Public Health Doctors in Portugal, is reluctant to criticise the Commission. President von der Leyen and Professor Schwab spoke on the second day of Davos Agenda week. And climate activist Greta Thunberg was also on top of a guest list full of stars. Second, it would secure long-term and predictable funding for this task, rather than reallocating resources every time. And maybe we also took for granted that the doses ordered would actually arrive The European Commission president was eventually seated on a sofa during the meeting at a summit where one of the topics was women's rights. Almost three quarters of the Earth's surface have been altered and we see the changes in our everyday lives: Less wilderness and wildlife, increasing temperatures and extreme weather. To understand why, I want you to accompany me to a remote village in Guinea, just for a minute. And we have dedicated 37% of NextGenerationEU – that is our EUR 750 billion Recovery Plan –, 37% dedicated to the European Green Deal. The challenges to our democracy, the pandemic, climate change – in his inauguration speech President Joe Biden so aptly spoke of a Cascade of Crises. We know that preparedness is everything. To create a truly global common good. Ursula von der Leyen was speechless after being left without a chair during a meeting with Turkey's leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan. From South Korea to Japan, from South Africa to China – economic powerhouses around the world now share our ambition. Ladies and gentlemen, from the protection of our democracy to the protection of our nature: Europe has everything to win from this new form of international and sectoral cooperation. And we know that in a pandemic there is no time to lose. As European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen head to Turkey on Tuesday for an official visit to improve bilateral ties after tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean, an EU official said the visit will provide a framework for the future. Today, a year later, we are worrying about whether democracy itself might have been permanently damaged in the last four years. This is why we will propose to strengthen due diligence for companies. But it has also created new ones, in record time. And this is why I strongly support a growing culture of sustainable corporate governance. President von der Leyen spoke with Professor Schwab. With the world continuing to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, and the full scale of the economic damage is still unknown, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen used her first State of the… Learning from the COVID-19 crisis In summary, the UK got there first, placing an order in May, 2020, for 100 million doses. In the last 100 years, more than 90 percent of crop varieties have disappeared from farmers’ fields, and all of the world’s 17 main fishing grounds are now being fished at or above their sustainable limits. So Europe stands ready. World Economic Forum articles may be republished in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Public License, and in accordance with our Terms of Use. Our European Union green bond standard, for example, and taxonomy will lead the way. Not everyone, however, shares these views. Because we cannot accept that decisions, that have a far-reaching impact on our democracy, are taken by computer programmes alone. Ursula von der Leyen, some in Germany claim, is responsible for the vaccine fiasco (Image: GETTY) The Luxembourg politician said "not repeating that in 2019 was a … The animals had been pushed towards the village, because 80% of forests in the region had been destroyed. How does the World Economic Forum encourage biological diversity? Speech by President von der Leyen at the UN High-Level Event on Financing for Development in the Era of COVID-19 and Beyond Brussels, 28 May 2020 We want it clearly laid down that internet companies take responsibility for the manner in which they disseminate, promote and remove content. It also made sure the contracts had clear delivery dates. We know how important this is for investors, who are looking for truly sustainable projects. That it is not a sign of weakness, to reach out and help each other, but a signal of strength. The European Union cannot succeed without regions and cities. This spirit of cooperation is the only mind-set which can help us tackle our challenges. The Lancet Regional Health – Western Pacific, Advancing women in science, medicine and global health, Severe mental illness: reassessing COVID-19 vaccine priorities, We use cookies to help provide and enhance our service and tailor content and ads. So the warning signs were already there in Davos. And to those who prefer the business case. And this is why Europe will soon present a legal framework for the restoration of healthy ecosystems. To update your cookie settings, please visit the, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(21)00428-1, von der Leyen admits to COVID-19 vaccine failures, View Large And I must say, I am delighted that the U.S. has now re-joined the Paris Agreement, in one of President Biden's first acts in office. I am confident President Ursula von der Leyen will build an even stronger partnership with our Committee as it is the one million regional and local elected politicians who are Europe's safety net, who are key actors in managing the pandemic and who will be crucial actors in fostering our recovery. And if we do not urgently act to protect our nature, the next pandemic will be around the corner. And we want the platforms to be transparent about how their algorithms work. Dear friends, this is one of the priorities of the European Green Deal I presented to you indeed in Davos last year. In a world where polarizing opinions are the loudest, it is a short step from crude conspiracy theories to the death of a police officer. The Alliance includes businesses, governments, civil society, indigenous people and communities, and international organizations. These trends have reduced diversity in our diets, which is directly linked to diseases or health risk factors, such as diabetes, obesity and malnutrition.One initiative which is bringing a renewed focus on biological diversity is the Tropical Forest Alliance. We need this new public-private approach to detect earlier, develop together and manufacture faster at scale. I remember sitting in a basement restaurant of my hotel with, among others, the business journalist Rana Foroohar and the former Google developer Tristan Harris. This is not just true for pandemics or health. And a year ago, my bilateral talks revolved primarily around the question: Would, for example, the U.S. government impose punitive tariffs on European carmakers? And we were worried about the stability of our global alliances. Black Women Died From Coronavirus At Far Higher Rates Than White Men: Study; After the Capitol Riot, Democrats Are Torn Over Working With the G.O.P. A body of rules based on our values: Human rights and pluralism, inclusion and the protection of privacy. On Dec 8, German MEP Peter Liese went a step further, saying a “few weeks of thorough examination by the EMA is better than a hasty emergency marketing authorisation of a vaccine”. This is why the Commission launched the Digital Services Act and the Digital Markets Act in December. No private company or public authority can do it alone. They must honour their obligations. READ MORE: Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine nearly 95% effective in trials It is not important what country ends up with the first approved vaccine, what matters is that the world has a safe vaccine and that the most vulnerable receive it first, she says. 4 people per 100 000 have. In a speech to the European Parliament in Brussels , the head of the European Commission outlined a recovery package to help Member States get back on their feet. And indeed, it is worth looking back. But at that time, other news very quietly were coming to us from China and they were barely noticed by most of us. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen was speechless after being left without a chair during a meeting with Turkey's leader. There needs to be a framework of laws for such far-reaching decisions. Ladies and gentlemen, there is no better place than the World Economic Forum to find out about the major trends in our society. This new programme, it will be proactive. President von der Leyen was appointed by national leaders and elected by the European Parliament after she presented her Political Guidelines. By using our website you consent to all cookies in accordance with our updated Cookie Notice. No matter how tempting it may have been for Twitter to switch off President Trump's account, such serious interference with freedom of expression should not be based on company rules alone. We have spoken a lot about the links between biodiversity loss and COVID-19. I want to invite our friends in the United States to join our initiatives. And I thank you very much for your attention! US, WASHINGTON (ORDO NEWS) — European Commission chief von der Leyen has compared the fight over the covid-19 vaccine to the Cold War space race – hours after the EU turned to Russia for help with vaccinations. And third, it would bring together cutting-edge tech-companies, blue-chip manufacturers, as well as regulators such as the European Medicines Agency or the European Commission. The EU even threatened to stop the flow of vaccine from Ireland to Northern Ireland, although this proposal was swiftly withdrawn after provoking outrage not just in London and Belfast, but also in Dublin. “We were late in granting authorisation. She spoke about issues from climate change to big tech and the impact of COVID-19. It is local and regional authorities that are bringing the EU through the COVID-19 pandemic. This global public-private partnership is working on removing deforestation from four global commodity supply chains – palm oil, beef, soy, and pulp and paper. David SASSOLI, EP President, and Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, open the event marking the International Women’s day during an inter-parliamentary meeting organised by the Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM), in collaboration with the Directorate for Relations with National Parliaments. In a State of the Union address on September 16, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen advised EU members to form a more powerful health union that promotes closer cooperation as humans worldwide “are still suffering” from the novel coronavirus. The only race is against the virus and against time,” von der Leyen writes. These guidelines were inspired by her discussions with the parliament’s political groups, as well as by the European Council’s strategic agenda for 2019-2024. On Jan 29, 2021, the EU began trying to gain greater control over access to the vaccine. I hope to be able to continue this discussion with you soon! And indeed, we face an outstanding set of challenges. Presidents Michel and von der Leyen’s official visit to Ankara: main takeaways European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met with Turkish President Erdoğan in Ankara on 6 April in the highest level attempt there has been in the last five years to relaunch EU-Turkey relations. It is true for all major societal challenges. But it also means business. “The EU is doing its best in a difficult situation. But we can meet them – if we work together. Together, we could create a digital economy rulebook that is valid worldwide: It goes from data protection and privacy to the security of critical infrastructure. What normally takes five to ten years, to develop a vaccine, was achieved in ten months. Europe is determined to contribute to this global common good. When we lose forests, we do not ‘just' lose green space or natural habitat. European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, gave a special address to Davos Agenda Week. And yet, there were signs in Davos last January. Now Europe expects to approve the Russian Sputnik V vaccine as soon as possible. And it will be fully dedicated to discovering and preparing for known and emerging pathogens, and then developing and manufacturing vaccines at scale to respond to them. So I think we all have to play our role in this game. One year on, this has not lost any of its urgency. European Commission president Ursula Von der Leyen announced plans for a “bio-defence preparedness programme,” part of a new European Health Emergency Response Authority, in a speech on Tuesday. This will have to be like COP21 was for climate. For example, Klaus, when we meet hopefully in person, at the special annual meeting in Singapore in May. Europe invested billions to help develop the world‘s first COVID-19 vaccines. So this new programme will be permanent. On 16 th September 2020, European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, delivered her first State of the Union (SOTEU) speech, setting the tone for the rest of her five-year term.With a wide-ranging set of actions, she proclaimed the Commission’s intent to seize the moment, use the money available, and increase its powers to help “build the world we want to live in.” And how fake news, driven by algorithms, spread six times faster than real news. “We are all learning as we go here”, he said. It announced that EU-based manufacturing plants, such as the Pfizer production plant in Puurs, Belgium, would now have to request authorisation to be able to export the vaccine. “I hope now that someone will now look at streamlining approvals within the EMA. It is why we will protect at least 30% of land and sea here in Europe.