Strasbourg (France), Sept. 10 (LaPresse) – "Europe is in a struggle. A struggle for a united and peaceful continent. For a free and independent Europe. A struggle for our values and our democracies. A struggle for our freedom and our ability to determine our own destiny. Make no mistake: this is a struggle for our future." So said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in her State of the Union address to the European Parliament.
"I thought long and hard," she added, "about whether to begin this speech with such a stark assessment. After all, we Europeans are not used to – nor comfortable with – speaking in these terms. Because our Union is fundamentally a peace project. But the truth is, today’s world is ruthless. And we cannot ignore the difficulties Europeans face every day. They feel the ground shifting beneath their feet. They feel things getting harder even as they work harder. They feel the impact of the global crisis. The rising cost of living. They feel the pace of change shaping their lives and careers. And they are worried about the endless spiral of events they see on the news – from the devastating scenes in Gaza to the relentless Russian shelling of Ukraine."
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