Speaking at the World Economic Forum, the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said that the geopolitical shocks must «serve as an opportunity for Europe», writes the BBC. She said the «seismic change» the world is going through represents a chance to build «a new form of European independence». According to her, this need is not a new one, nor «a reaction to recent events», but has been «a structural imperative for much longer». «If this change is permanent, then Europe must also change permanently,» she added. «It is time to seize this opportunity and build a new independent Europe.» She also said that the European Union chooses «fair trade instead of tariffs, partnership instead of isolation and sustainability instead of exploitation». What else he said at Davos: The good news is that we acted immediately. Whether we're talking about energy or raw materials, defense or digital – we're moving fast. But the truth is that we will only be able to capitalize on this opportunity if we recognize that this change is permanent. Of course, nostalgia is part of the human story. But nostalgia will not bring back the old order. And stalling – hoping that things will soon return to the way they were – will not solve the structural dependencies we have. That is why I say: if this change is permanent, then Europe must change permanently. It is time to seize this opportunity and build a new independent Europe.
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