Countries and businesses need to closely collaborate in facing the challenges of today and tomorrow – that was Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s message during her speech at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos this week.
At this year’s gathering, the WEF’s “Global Risks Report” has been one of the major points of debate. The top concern singled out in this year’s report was dis- and misinformation.
“These risks are serious because they limit our ability to tackle the big global challenges, we are facing”, President von der Leyen warned in her speech. From climate change to geopolitical action, and the rapid development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) – “None of these challenges respect borders”, as the President pointed out.
In highlighting the importance of solutions to these challenges, President von der Leyen emphasised the need for businesses and governments to work together. After all, they share a common interest in “creating prosperity, wealth and security for people, creating a stable environment to unlock innovation and investment, and creating equal opportunity and freedom”, the President underlined.
2024 – a critical juncture
President von der Leyen drew attention to the critical juncture at which the world currently finds itself. In 2024, half of the global population will be able to vote in elections, including 450 million people in the European elections in June.
Democracy and freedom do not come risk-free, President von der Leyen cautioned. Ukraine has lived this experience when Russia responded to the Ukrainian desire for freedom and democracy with its brutal war of aggression. And Ukraine is not only fighting their freedom, their democracy, their future, but also for Europe. “The hearts of millions of Ukrainians were filled with joy and hope when we announced the opening of accession negotiations”, the President reminded this week.
Her speech highlighted how close cooperation between the European Union and businesses in the wake of the Russian aggression allowed us to counter Russia’s attempts to weaponise energy supply and accelerate the clean energy transition. “That is why the European Green Deal puts such strong emphasis not just on reducing emissions but also on a strong, competitive European presence in the new clean energy economy,” the President underlined.
Responding to the Global Risks Report’s main concerns, the President also highlighted the Union’s efforts in countering dis- and misinformation. The Digital Services Act defines the responsibilities of large internet platforms, recruiting them in the fight against misuse and abuse of their platforms.
Leading the world in Artificial Intelligence
The President also elaborated on the challenges and the opportunities that the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) presents.
Europe is ideally placed to become the leader in AI advancements. With nearly 200,000 software engineers with expertise on AI and large stores of data in various languages with which to train AI models, the EU can provide innovators with key resources.
Simultaneously, it is the EU’s ambition to innovate responsibly. The EU’s AI Act will set the guardrails for what AI can and cannot do. By regulating high-risk uses like real-time facial recognition, it builds trust. In return, businesses receive the necessary space for innovation. This is the worldwide first time that rules for AI are set out. As such, the EU is leading the way on how to deal with this new and revolutionary technology.
Reinforcing bilateral ties in the world
In Davos, President von der Leyen took the opportunity to meet several world leaders in order to advance the EU’s partnerships in the world.
She met the President of the Swiss Confederation, Viola Amherd, with whom she took stock of EU-Swiss negotiations on our future relation. She also met the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, to discuss Ukraine’s accession; and with the President of Israel, Isaac Herzog, she discussed the conflict in Gaza and the need to improve humanitarian access on the ground.
Amongst others, President von der Leyen also met US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, to reinforce EU-US cooperation on current geopolitical matters from Ukraine to Gaza. And she met Chinese Premier Li Qiang, the President discussed trade and commercial matters, as well as the potential for cooperation on climate and people-to-people exchanges.
