Addressing the second working session of the 14th meeting of the non-executive European Union Presidents of the Arraiolos Group, entitled ‘The Future of Europe’, President of Malta Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca said that “we need a Europe that is proactive; that connects with the daily challenges of its people; that understands the aspirations of its citizens; that must not rest until all inequalities are addressed; that reaches out to all its corners; a Europe with no borders and walls, that bridges over from one country to another; a united Europe that is a leader on the world stage, that is truly not only concerned, but actually acts about all that is happening within, around and across it.”
“We cannot continue to afford to be complacent about the huge disparities that still dominate our peoples”
President Coleiro Preca said that poverty is still a huge concern, as over 100 million Europeans are poor. Huge gender gaps still persist, with women in leadership positions, “be it political or economic, still drastically lagging behind.” The gender pay-gap, which currently stands at 16.2%, also reflects gender inequality.
“Solidarity and social justice are the key fundamental pillars on which our policies must rest” President Coleiro Preca stated, whilst drawing attention to inequalities that continue to emerge or persist in our midst such as the digital divide, with recent indicators showing that “50% of Europeans are offline, with a clear geographical divide between north and south.”
“Europe’s future lies in a green socio-economic milieu”
The President said that the green transition is vital to conserve natural resources and combat climate change. President Coleiro Preca said that a just transition to a greener Europe needs to be ensured, and that this transition requires political regulation coupled with investment in training and lifelong learning, adding that it also needs to be ensured that everyone has access to benefits of a green economy and policies.
“We must ensure that in the process, we do not create another divide – a green divide. Our policies must be founded on responsible consumption, in particular with an emphasis on reduced consumption” the President stated.
“Europe can make globalisation work for its people”
The President stated that she dreams “that Europe will again be a front-runner on the global stage”, and called for a remodelling of the European approach towards Africa, saying that “we have been too slow to act, and fragmented in our actions.”
The President said that Africa is a continent of opportunity, adding that it can be the land of economic growth for Europe, “and an opportunity of sustainable investment and partnerships, where the young people of Africa can guarantee for themselves a dignified future.”
On concluding, President Coleiro Preca appealed to the other Presidents, especially in view of the upcoming European Parliament elections, to act fast, “so as to ensure that the future we dream of will not be derailed by populist in-roads into our European values.” The President also reiterated her convinction “that, united, we can be successful.”
President Coleiro Preca also addressed a concluding press conference together with the Presidents of Latvia, Greece and Portugal at the end of the Arraiolos meeting.