Lhe history of Europe has been built over crises. At each moment of truth in its contemporary history, we have responded by cooperating more closely. Through this doctrine, we have been able to resist the worst of the storm. And we have enabled our institutions to respond to the concerns of citizens by concretely changing their lives. European doctrine systematically promotes cooperation and not rivalry. It has created prosperity, established strong democracies and established robust protection of individual freedoms. In recent years, we have already been tested by the collapse of the banking sector, the sovereign debt crisis, migratory pressures, as well as by a global pandemic of unprecedented magnitude. All these crises have brought us closer together within Europe and we have emerged from them stronger.
But this unity is once again put to the test by a veritable storm in which war mingles on our doorstep, unprecedented inflation, rising electricity and energy prices, a climatic catastrophe responsible for the drying up of our rivers and the burning of our forests, food insecurity and the rapid emergence of a cost of living crisis.
Once again, Europe must react. Once again, we must work together. And once again, the European Parliament will be up to its responsibilities.
Better use of our expenses
It will be increasingly difficult to heat our homes, supply our factories with energy and fill up our vehicles. With inflation, prices soar. But it is precisely when we are under the greatest pressure that we must mobilize and be more determined than ever. It is then that the Europe of great ideas and action must converge, with speed, agility and courage. Europe must rise to the challenge. Unity is the only way forward.
Europe must engage more. This was, in May 2022, the call made to the European Parliament by the citizens at the conclusion of the Conference on the Future of Europe. On September 14, the President of the European Commission will present proposals during her annual State of the Union address.
Parliament is convinced that the key issues raised by citizens must be at the heart of these proposals.
First of all, we must achieve a global union in terms of security and defence, and imperatively improve our equipment and infrastructure. The brutal, illegal and unwarranted invasion of Ukraine has shown us how much the world has changed since February. We need to make better use of our defense spending and avoid duplication within a pan-European defense capability, in partnership and not in competition with NATO.
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