DAILY NEWS
Brussels, 05 February 2025
Commission announces actions for safe and sustainable e-commerce imports
The Commission is taking action to tackle risks stemming from low-value imports sold via non-EU online retailers and marketplaces hosting non-EU traders.
These actions are part of the Communication on E-Commerce, ‘A Comprehensive EU Toolbox for Safe and Sustainable E-commerce', which the Commission is proposing today. The Commission encourages actions, among others, in the areas of customs and trade, such as launching customs controls, consumer protection and the Digital Services and Digital Markets Acts.
Last year, around 4.6 billion low-value consignments, i.e. goods with a value not exceeding €150, entered the EU market equalling to 12 million parcels per day. This is twice as many as in 2023 and three times as many as in 2022, and many of these goods have found to be non-compliant with European legislation. This exponential growth is raising numerous concerns. Mainly, there are more and more harmful products entering the EU. More so, European sellers, who respect our high product standards, are at risk of being harmed by unfair practices and the sale of counterfeit goods through online marketplaces. Finally, the large number of packages being shipped and transported has a negative environmental and climate footprint.
In Europe, consumers should enjoy the full potential of e-commerce and have access to convenient, affordable, safe and high-quality products online. Equally so, European businesses should benefit from a level playing field in the Single Market.
In the Communication, the Commission sets out all the tools the EU already has at its disposal and highlights initiatives that are currently discussed by the co-legislators. In addition, it proposes new joint actions to address concerns arising from the surge of unsafe, counterfeit and otherwise non-compliant or illicit products entering the market:
The Commission calls on Member States to come together to play a strong role as Team Europe to improve the effectiveness of actions taken by national authorities and the Commission.
The Consumer Protection Cooperation (CPC) Network of national consumer authorities and the Commission also informed Shein about the launch of a coordinated action.
Next Steps
The Commission calls on the cooperation with Member States, the co-legislators and all stakeholders, to put in place the measures outlined in the Communication.
Within a year, the Commission will assess the effect of the announced actions and publish a report on the findings of the increased controls.
In light of the results and in consultation with the relevant authorities of the Member States and stakeholders, the Commission will consider whether existing frameworks and enforcement activities are sufficient and adequate. If not, further actions and proposals will be considered to strengthen the implementation and enforcement of EU rules.
Background
E-commerce brings many benefits to consumers, businesses – including SMEs – and the EU economy as a whole, with around 70% of Europeans regularly buying products online. However, it also poses certain challenges. This is particularly true when it comes to the import of e-commerce goods that are sold and delivered directly to EU consumers via online retailers and marketplaces.
Customs authorities are facing an increasing workload, and risks are emerging relating to product safety and compliance, illicit goods, sustainability, and unfair competition for responsible businesses. For example, around half of the fake products seized at EU borders that infringed the intellectual property rights of SMEs were purchased online.
For More Information
Communication on a Comprehensive EU Toolbox for Safe and Sustainable E-commerce
Questions and Answers
Factsheet on the Communication
Safety Gate: the EU rapid alert system for dangerous non-food products
Quote(s)
The rise in e-commerce imports to the EU market has brought with it many challenges. The EU is ready to address these challenges, coming together as Team Europe to make sure citizens and businesses can continue to enjoy the many benefits of online shopping, while minimising the risks of dangerous products that threaten the health and safety of consumers. We want to see a competitive e-commerce sector that keeps consumers safe, offers convenient products, and is respectful of the environment.
Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy
E-commerce has revolutionised shopping. Three out of four Europeans shop online regularly. Yet the surge of imported goods can pose threats to the rights of European consumers and their safety. Now is the time for Team Europe to come together to address these threats and protect European consumers. We have a duty to ensure that goods entering our market are safe and that all traders respect consumers’ rights. The Commission will use all the tools in its power to fully support and coordinate the enforcement of our laws.
Michael McGrath, Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection
As e-commerce is booming, we must step up efforts to prevent non-compliant products from entering the EU market and to ensure fair competition for both European and third-country operators. Our customs authorities are the first set of eyes at the border so we must equip them with the appropriate instruments to strengthen our enforcement capacities, in close cooperation with other authorities instrumental to checking goods entering the EU market. The ambitious Customs Union Reform tabled by the Commission in May 2023 is foreseen to remove duty relief for low value parcels as well as enhance control through a proposed EU Customs Authority and an EU Customs Data Hub. This would be a true game-change to level the playing field for e-commerce players.
Maroš Šefčovič, Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security; Interinstitutional Relations and Transparency
The Commission and High Representative Kaja Kallas welcome a major step towards holding Russia accountable for its war of aggression against Ukraine*
Today, senior legal experts of the European Commission, the European External Action Service, the Council of Europe, Ukraine and 37 States laid down the legal foundations for the establishment of a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine. The participants also set out the key elements of the “Schuman draft Statute”, the core legal text that will govern the functioning of the Special Tribunal.
President Ursula von der Leyen said: "When Russia chose to roll its tanks over Ukraine's borders, breaking the UN Charter, it committed one of the gravest violations: the Crime of Aggression. Now, justice is coming. Justice for Ukraine. We have laid down the legal foundations for a Special Tribunal. There can also be no justice without compensation. Russia must be held accountable for its aggression – and it must pay. We made a first step towards a Claims Commission with the participation of the EU. This new body will determine claims recorded in the Register of Damage.”
Once operational, the Tribunal will have the power to hold to account Russian political and military leaders, who bear the greatest responsibility for the crime of aggression. Today's meeting is a breakthrough in a continuing process towards ensuring accountability for the crime of aggression against Ukraine, as well as for upholding the international criminal justice system.
Today, the European Commission also adopted a Recommendation to the Council to participate in the formal negotiations to set up an International Claims Commission for Ukraine. The Claims Commission will be the body responsible to review, assess and decide eligible claims recorded in the Register of Damage and determine the amount of compensation due in each case. The establishment of the Claims Commission will be a crucial step towards the compensation of victims of the war.
The Claims Commission will build on the work of the Register of Damage, which serves as a record of damages, loss or injury caused by the aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine.
Next steps
The Special Tribunal will be established by an agreement between the Government of Ukraine and the Council of Europe. It will derive its jurisdiction from Ukraine. The Council of Europe will be in charge of the procedure for adoption of the draft legal instruments necessary for the establishment of the Special Tribunal and subsequent signature.
For the Claims Commission, the first round of negotiations for the international instrument will start towards the end of March 2025.
Once the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine is established, Ukrainian national authorities will be able to refer ongoing domestic investigations and prosecutions related to the crime of aggression to the Prosecutor of the Special Tribunal, as well as to transmit relevant information and evidence gathered in the context of the work carried out within the International Centre for the Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression (ICPA).
The establishment of the Tribunal within the Council of Europe's institutional framework, as well as the presence of international judges and relevant applicable international law, will ensure that criminal proceedings are conducted in respect of the highest procedural safeguards and applicable international human rights law.
Timeline
Holding Russia accountable - European Commission
* Updated on 4 February 2025 at 19:30 CET.
When Russia chose to roll its tanks over Ukraine’s borders, breaking the UN Charter, it committed one of the gravest violations: the Crime of Aggression. Now, justice is coming. Justice for Ukraine. We have laid down the legal foundations for a Special Tribunal. There can also be no justice without compensation. Russia must be held accountable for its aggression – and it must pay. We made a first step towards a Claims Commission with the participation of the EU. This new body will determine claims recorded in the Register of Damage.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission
Today we have taken an important step towards establishing a Special Tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine. There is broad international support for this and a broad international commitment to accountability. Unpunished crimes only encourage new atrocities. This is a signal to the world that no one from Russia’s leadership is untouchable.
Kaja Kallas, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission
During the last three years, we have witnessed the atrocities committed by Russia against the Ukrainian people. Let me be clear, these crimes will be met with full accountability. Today is a historic step to bring justice to an unjust war, delivering on our promise for unwavering support to Ukraine and its people. I thank all Core Group participants for their unrelenting commitment to justice, and I look forward to the swift establishment of these crucial mechanisms.
Statement by Commissioner Roswall on the state of water in the EU
Ladies and gentlemen,
I am very happy to be here today to present to you the state of our waters in the European Union. As you know, water is very high on the Commission's agenda. We need water to sustain life, to produce food, to do business. But 100 years from now, our picture of the world will be different because of increasing droughts, floods, desertification, and their devastating impact.
Already today in Spain, 74% of the country is at risk of desertification. Already today, 78% of European citizens say they feel the impact of environmental change in their daily lives. Already now, 800 million people around the world lack access to safe water. So it is a truly global challenge. Water is important for all of us, as human beings. But it is also important for our farmers and companies. They need clean water for their production and processes.
According to the ECB, 75% of corporate loans in the euro area are linked to an ecosystem service. Many of these relate to water. For too long, we have considered water as an endless resource. We need to change that mindset. We need to think in terms of water circularity and water efficiency.
Because, on the one hand, water is under immense stress due to mismanagement, pollution and climate change. And on the other hand, water plays an increasingly important role for our security, preparedness and competitiveness. To bring all the pieces of that puzzle together, we are preparing a Water Resilience Strategy for later this spring. Today's work is part of the preparation of that Strategy. As a politician and policy maker, I always want our policy to be evidence-based. We need to base ourselves on facts and figures before taking action.
So today's reports are important. I will not go into the details here regarding these rather detailed and technical reports. But the findings will feed into our Strategy. And very importantly, they will be a basis for a dialogue with Member States.
So, what are we presenting today? The package consists of three implementation reports: the Water Framework Directive, the Floods Directive and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Based on assessments from the Member States, we provide a snapshot of fresh waters, marine management and flood preparedness.
Allow me to present some of the main take-aways. First, the overall findings are clear. Our waters are polluted, our water supply is under threat and we are not reducing enough the risk of serious floods. Less than 40% of EU surface water bodies achieve good ecological status, with healthy ecosystems being home to many species and with water able to regenerate itself. And only a quarter achieve good chemical status, meaning that the relevant thresholds of hazardous substances are not exceeded. Many Member States recognise that this is a big problem. Some progress has been made over the last years, but there is still a lot of work to do.
Second, the pollution of both fresh and marine waters remains a significant challenge. It is especially critical to invest in measures that reduce nutrient pollution from agriculture and urban wastewater, as well as chemical pollution. On the upside, plastic waste on beaches has been reduced by almost 30% in Europe – so our policy is delivering.
Third, more efforts are needed to better manage flood risks. Floods are becoming more frequent, more intense, and more deadly. No part of Europe is spared. Investing in flood prevention and early warning systems is key to achieve this.
Fourth, there is a lot of EU water legislation in place, but its implementation is lagging. To close that gap, I will launch structured dialogues with every EU country to create the political momentum for meaningful change. Water is not just a pressing issue in Europe but also a global challenge, so we also need to take this work forward with international partners.
Fifth, Member States need to increase investment. A staggering 86% of River Basin Management Plans highlight funding shortfalls as a major obstacle. The issue of funding is an important angle that I want to focus on in the Water Resilience Strategy.
Let me also say a word on the methodology – as mentioned, Member States report their data to us, but the approach varies between Member States. Also, not all Member States sent in their reports in time to be covered by all parts of this reporting exercise.
This means that we can of course draw some general conclusions with regard to the EU level, but findings from individual Member States are not always entirely comparable. Each Member State needs to be looked at in its own context. For your detailed questions about individual Member States, our experts are in the room. They will take your questions in the technical briefing after this press conference.
So, what is the way forward? First, as part of the package, the Commission has made several recommendations to support Member States in their work. Encouraging greater water efficiency, water reuse and circularity are key to restore the water cycle.
Second, based on the reports I want to start a dialogue with Member States. The idea here is not to point fingers at anyone. I see this as a starting point to collectively manage to turn around today's challenging situation.
Third, I am very keen to engage with all stakeholders. That is also why we are launching a call for evidence on water today. I want to take on board the valuable insights from Europeans across all countries and all sectors as we develop the EU Water Resilience Strategy. Europeans need water, so everybody has a stake in this.
Fourth, today's insights will shape the upcoming Water Resilience Strategy. The overall goal of the strategy is clear: From land to sea, our water cycle is broken. So this needs to be fixed. There is an urgent need for an integrated approach to water management – from source to sea.
Finally, water cuts across many policy areas. I will work very closely with my colleagues in the Commission on this matter. Water is linked to competitiveness, agriculture and food, to oceans and fisheries, to crisis prevention and climate adaptation – and many other areas.
In conclusion, the call for action is clear. Over 75% of EU citizens wants the EU to act on water, according to the May 2024 Eurobarometer. We need to do more to ensure the security of our water supply. Because citizens need clean water. Farmers and businesses need a stable water supply. We need to protect our fresh and marine waters and reduce flood risks. Because the cost of inaction is too high, knowing that the situation will become worse.
It is time to change our mindset. We can no longer take water for granted. We have to work together to build a water-resilient Europe by 2050.
Thank you.
Speech by President von der Leyen at the EU Ambassadors Conference 2025
Dear HR/VP, my dearest Kaja,
Secretary-General,
Ambassadors,
Allow me to start with a very warm welcome and thanks to each and every one of you for your service to Europe. Many of you have supported and informed me on missions – we went on different missions and many familiar faces are here. And I must say, the quality and the knowledge that you have at your disposal at all times makes me really proud. It is a great privilege to represent Europe with such an outstanding diplomatic corps. And of course I want to extend congratulations to you, our new Secretary-General. Dear Belén, I very much look forward to working with you and you can count on the Commission's full support. Thank you very much for hosting me here today. In these turbulent times, we will need to rely on all of our strength and forces to help us chart the way forward and to keep up the good spirit and the energy that we have spread all over the world. And my dear Kaja, I am so glad to have you as HR/VP now, I am very much looking forward to working with you – for the next five years my dear.
Dear Ambassadors,
This year, I would like to depart from the normal convention for an Ambassadors' Conference speech. I will not dwell on our achievements – including yours as Ambassadors – that have transformed Europe into a geopolitical Union in the last five years. I will resist the usual temptation of namechecking as many places as possible. And I can already admit that I will not strike the perfect balance between regions, policies and multilateral institutions. No, this time I want to reflect the urgent need to understand the changing state of the world. But crucially also the more direct, more focused foreign policy that Europe will need in the years to come in this new world.
Unpicking where Europe stands – how it can navigate and project strength in a harsher world – starts with the need to deal with the world as we find it. The need to build a European foreign policy for the people of Europe. I was in Davos a couple of weeks ago. It is true to say that the conversations are not always a bellwether for the true direction of global affairs. After all, it is a place where leaders have been coming for the last three decades to speak of the virtues and – less often – the risks of the rise of hyper-globalisation. And in many ways, that is still relevant. Because the truth is that the world – and Europe – is more connected than ever.
Since the turn of the century, the volume of global trade has doubled – even if trade within regional blocs is now expanding faster than trade between them. And we are now more connected in other ways – from our highly integrated supply chains to immediate capital flows or digital communications. But this time round in Davos there was a stark – and sometimes even dark – change in tone. And it chimes with many of the messages I have been reading in your cables from around the world.
The view of a world trending towards ever-more-cooperation and hyper-globalisation has become outdated. At least that is the feeling that people – and certainly many electorates – around the world have been making clear. And it is more than an abstract feeling. Great fears are back. From the fear of climate change, to Artificial Intelligence, to that of migration or simply of being left behind. And this also permeates into global affairs. Countries are weaponising their sources of strength against each other. And we are now well into an era of hyper-competitive and hyper-transactional geopolitics. And that inevitably affects every single one of our relationships. This is a world where we can no longer take much for granted – including the rules and norms that were built over the past 70 years. A world in which major powers try to eke out any possible advantage using whatever tool works best – whether it be economic, technological or security tools. Sometimes all three at the same time. A world in which there is now a concerted attempt to build spheres of influence – and even grab land – much like in the 19th century or at the height of the Cold War. A world in which new authoritarian powers are clubbing together with a rogue Russia – ready to pounce on any division or weaknesses in alliances. A world in which emerging powers have become disillusioned with the way the international system works – and are increasingly looking for alternatives. In most cases, they will work with whoever puts the best offer on the table.
Some in Europe may not like this harsher, more transactional reality. But, dear Ambassadors, as I said at the start: Europe must deal with the world as we find it. And I am convinced that in this hot-headed world, Europe's best approach is to remain level-headed. It must make decisions not out of emotion or nostalgia for a world that once was. But rather out of calculated judgement about what is in our own interest in the world as it is today. Because foreign policy and diplomacy are not an end in themselves. We all know it. It is a way to deliver stability, security and prosperity for our citizens – and for our partners. That makes it all the more important that we stay true to who we are and what we believe in. The belief that every country must be free to choose its own destiny in a democratic way. That borders cannot be changed by force. That the UN Charter remains at the heart of our engagement. Our values do not change. They are enshrined in the marble and history of our declarations of rights, of our declarations of independence, of our Treaties. They are the living heritage of our tumultuous history. And they help to make us a reliable and strong partner.
But to advance these values, we need to change the way we act. We need to be bold. We need to be agile. We need to engage. We might have to engage in tough negotiations, even with long-time partners. And we might also have to work with countries that are not like-minded but do share some of our interests. Because the basic principle of diplomacy in this new world is to keep our eyes on the goal. That means, finding common ground with partners to our mutual benefit – and accepting that on occasion we will have to agree to disagree.
This will be all the more important as the world becomes more dangerous and as economic competition speeds up. There is already a race on: from chips to AI, from lithium to quantum, from clean tech to space. An arms race. And new races will continue to speed up – on everything from the information space to the maritime routes or an advanced military equipment. We must do our homework here in Europe to keep up – whether by stepping up on defence investment – and this was yesterday, at the European Council, the top topic – or making our economy more competitive.
This is what our Competitiveness Compass is all about: being more competitive, making our own homework, that is necessary, strengthening our strength, closing the innovation gap. Setting out a joint roadmap for decarbonisation and competitiveness. Reducing our dependencies and increasing our resilience and economic security. This is crucial. Because only with strong foundations can we project our power. We know that there will be an increased use of threats and of economic coercion tools such as sanctions, export controls, and tariffs. We have seen this again in the last few days and how quickly things can escalate. I want to be clear: Europe will safeguard its economic and national security. But it is also important that we strike the right balance. One that places emphasis on the positive tools of economic statecraft – such as trade, investment, innovation and production. We want to avoid a global race to the bottom that is in no one's interests. That has to be our primary focus – even as we prepare for all possible scenarios. We want to focus on strengthening the economic ties that deliver for Europeans. Those that help to create jobs, bring down prices and strengthen our security.
And that is of course the case when it comes to the United States, a country with which we have the strongest of ties. The transatlantic partnership has been the cornerstone of peace and prosperity for the best part of the century. We share many of the same preoccupations – whether on regional stability or the global economy. No other economies in the world are as integrated in such an advanced way, as the European Union and the United States. Together, the EU and the US represent almost 30% of global trade in goods and services. And more than 40% of global GDP. European companies in the US employ 3.5 million Americans. And another million American jobs depend directly on trade with Europe. The whole trade volume between us is USD 1.5 trillion. The point is that a lot is at stake for both sides. There are jobs, businesses, industries here and in the US that rely on the transatlantic partnership. So we want to make it work. And not only because of our historic ties but because it is simply smart business.
So our first priority is now to work on the many areas where our interests converge. And there is still scope to do so much more – from critical supply chains to emerging technologies. We will be ready for tough negotiations where needed and to find solutions where possible to work out any grievances and to set the foundations for a stronger partnership. We will be open and pragmatic in how to achieve that. But we will make it equally clear that we will always protect our own interests – however and whenever that is needed. This will always be the European way.
The message that we need to pass to our partners around the world is: where it makes sense for Europe, Europe can make it work. If there are mutual benefits in sight, we are ready to engage with you. And a deal with us, comes with no hidden strings attached. Because our interests are transparent. If a partner country wants to invest in clean energy, like clean hydrogen infrastructure or in raw materials – we are ready to help, also because it will help us ensure our own energy security and independence and diversify our own value chains.
This is why we will continue to invest in Global Gateway. And this is why we are strengthening our trading partnerships. It is no coincidence that, in just two months, since the beginning of my second mandate, we have concluded new partnerships with Mercosur, Mexico and Switzerland, and restarted negotiations with Malaysia. Again, let me make the point that fair and free trade is not an end in itself. It is a means to deliver benefits, first and foremost for our Europeans. This is also why we are deepening our partnerships right across the Mediterranean region, for example with the multi-billion-euro partnership signed with Jordan last week. This will help develop local industries and tackle shared partnerships on both sides of the Mediterranean. Later this month we will travel for the first ever College visit to India to deepen our partnership right across the board. In March, we will have a Summit with South Africa, where we hope to discuss the first in a new kind of clean trade and investment partnerships. And we will have landmark events with partners in the African Union, Central Asia and far beyond. In times of rising tensions and barriers, countries are looking for opportunities to grow. In many cases they are looking for reliable partners to help fill a gap that may have opened up. And Europe is ready to do just that.
This global engagement is more important than ever in today's world. So we need to be ready to work with all major players. This will be an intense year in our relationship with China,
as we mark half a century of diplomatic relations. You have heard me say many times that our relationship with China is one of the most intricate and important anywhere in the world. And how we manage it will be a determining factor for our future economic prosperity and national security. China is a vital trading partner – accounting for around 9% of our goods exports and more than 20% of our goods imports. And most of that trade is mutually beneficial. But we have seen growing imbalances and risks which come with doing business with China. We need to rebalance this relationship and ensure that our trade and investment relations makes sense for Europe, both for its economy and its security. So we will keep de-risking our economic relationship – as we have been doing in recent years. But there is also room to engage constructively with China – and find solutions in our mutual interest. And I think we can find agreements that could even expand our trade and investment ties. It is a fine line that we need to walk. But it can lead us to a fairer and more balanced relationship with one of the world's economic giants. And that can make sense for Europe.
This new approach is about securing Europe's future security and prosperity. But this will only be effective if we stick to our enduring principles, which brings me to one of my central points for today. The war in Ukraine remains the most central and consequential crisis for Europe's future. Russia's full-scale war will soon enter its fourth year. Putin is trying harder than ever to win this war on the ground. His goal remains Ukraine's capitulation. And then we know what could happen next. Because it has already happened before. He would move on to the next target – just like he did after 2008 and 2014. It is not only the destiny of Ukraine that is at stake. It is Europe's destiny.
It is our first priority that we empower Ukraine's resistance. So far, our Union and Member States have supported Ukraine to the tune of EUR 134 billion. That is more than anybody else. Thanks to the Ukraine Facility and the G7 loan, we have closed Ukraine's budgetary gap for the entire year of 2025. In parallel, we must speed up the immediate delivery of weapons and ammunition. And this will be at the heart of our work in the coming weeks. No one wants peace more than the people of Ukraine. But there is only one path to the just and lasting peace they are longing for. And this runs through military and financial strength for Ukraine.
At the same time, this is also the moment for maximum pressure on Russia. Its economy is struggling with high inflation and interest rates. Our 16th sanctions package is on its way. The phase-out of Russian fossil fuels must continue. And it is incredibly important that Member States extended the freeze of Russian assets. Now we can continue to put our minds to work on the most creative use of these assets to support Ukraine's fight for freedom. We must show to the Kremlin that the longer the war, the higher the price for Russia. Ukraine needs peace through strength. The people of Ukraine have resisted for so long because they want to be free, and they want to be part of our Union. This is their aspiration, rightly so. And no one can take this away from them. It is a matter of justice. But it is also a matter of security, stability and prosperity. This is a core interest for Ukraine and for all of Europe. And we will make it happen. And this is not only about Ukraine. In a world where size and weight matter, and where small countries can be blackmailed more easily, it is in our shared interest to unite the European family. So at the start of this new mandate, I want to be very clear. 2025 must be a year of progress for all those countries that are on their merits-based path to joining our Union. Completing our Union is in our core interest. And it will be a core priority in the five years ahead of us.
My message today is that Europe is ready to play its part across the world. I believe that Europe must play its role to the fullest – for example in the Middle East. Hope – albeit fragile – has started to return. And Israelis, Palestinians and people across the region deserve for that hope to lead to stability, peace and prosperity and the two-state solution. There is a lot that Europe can do. Just last week, Member States agreed to lift some of our sanctions on Syria and restart our monitoring mission at the Rafah border crossing. We are the leading donor to the Syrian, Lebanese and Palestinian people, and we have already increased our humanitarian aid across the region. We are now ready to step up our engagement and look into reconstruction needs. The future of this region is being rewritten today. And it is in Europe's core interest to shape it, together with our partners. So we must be there. On the ground.
And Europe is ready to play its part across all global challenges. To uphold the objectives of the Paris Agreement and support Brazil in achieving a successful COP30 in Belém. To stand by the World Health Organisation in preventing new pandemics. And to provide humanitarian aid to those in need.
We are lucky that we can count on all of you to deliver on that, together with us. And I look so much forward to working with you again and to continue working with you. But allow me to finish with a message for you and especially young diplomats from the European Diplomatic Academy who are here with my dear friend Federica Mogherini.
My dear Ambassadors but also young diplomats, you will hear many times this week that the world is a more dangerous place than it ever has been. That threats come in different forms and from many different directions. And that is true. But far too much talk about today's world is fatalistic. That we will have to endure history from the sidelines. But my dear young diplomats, ask all the Ambassadors here in the room: Much of the world sees Europe as stronger than we do. And Europe has much more agency in this world than we sometimes think. If we stay united, we are the ones – you are the ones – who can create the conditions for a more prosperous and secure future.
To draw on the work of the late Swedish academic Hans Rosling, we should resist the temptation to hope naively without reason. But also resist the temptation to fear without reason. Instead, we need a clear and reasonable idea of the world as it really is – and understand what we can do within. So, do not think in terms of pessimism – or even optimism. Think in terms of the possible. And that is exactly what Europe will do.
Thank you very much and long live Europe.
CALENDAR
Calendrier du lundi 03 février au dimanche 09 février
Monday 03 February
Mr Costas Kadis receives Ms Agnès Pannier-Runacher, Minister for the Ecological Transition, Biodiversity, Forests, Sea and Fisheries of France; receives representatives of the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition (DSCC).
Tuesday 04 February
Mr Costas Kadis participates in the European Parliament Meeting, ‘Normandy: a key region for EU's challenges in the fisheries sector', hosted by MEP Stéphanie Yon- Courtin; delivers a speech via video recorded message to the 2nd annual European Blue Economy Conference; delivers a speech via video recorded message to the second edition of the European Maritime Transport Environmental Report (EMTER) 2025; receives representatives of Europêche Tuna Group; receives Mr Karmenu Vella, former Commissioner of Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries.
Wednesday 05 February
Mr Costas Kadis receives Mr Olivier Poivre d'Arvor, French Ambassador for the Poles and Oceans and Special Envoy of President Macron for the Third United Nations Ocean Conference; receives Mr. Hervé Morin of France, President of the Normandy Region; participates on the European Parliament Meeting ‘The SEArica Intergroup Launch Conference' (2025-2029).
Friday 07 February
Mr Costas Kadis in Gdynia, Poland; visits the National Marine Fisheries Research Institute.
Saturday 08 February
Mr Costas Kadis in Gdynia, Poland; visits the port of Gdynia; visits the Cold Store, Deep Sea Fishing Port.
The European Commission is committed to personal data protection. Any personal data is processed in line with Regulation (EC) 2018/1725. All personal information processed by the Directorate-General for Communication / European Commission Representations is treated accordingly. If you do not work for a media organisation, you are welcome to contact the EU through Europe Direct in writing or by calling 00 800 6 7 8 9 10 11.