*[Enwl-eng] The opportunity in uncertainty

[ENWL]

This is part of a series of 6-weekly emails written by our Director telling 
stories to help you understand what the heck we're trying to do and where 
you might fit in.

Hi,

Something really caught my eye last week. It was a poll, stating that 78% of 
Germans hope the world will "significantly change" to be more sustainable 
and fair after the pandemic. The global average is even higher. [1] That is 
a whole lot of will for positive change. When you think about it, it’s 
incredible.

But it’s also a bit vague. What could that surge of fairness and 
sustainability look like in Europe? And how could we get there? I’d like to 
hear from you, Vladimir, about your hopes.

            Where do we need change in Europe?


So much lies in the balance right now:

  a.. Like trains. 2021 is the European Year of Rail. The European 
Commission wants to promote affordable high-speed rail as one part of the 
solution to climate change. [2] But that won't suit the car lobby. Or the 
plane lobby. And they will push like hell to water ambition down. Where’s 
the people power in this debate?
  b.. Like access to affordable medicines and vaccines beyond the pandemic: 
this will hit the EU agenda in April. But is anyone watching what happens 
there? How affordable will they be? How transparent will the pharma industry 
have to be about pricing?
  c.. As the economic impact of the pandemic settles in and millions more 
are affected, 2021 should really be the year to pilot a Universal Basic 
Income in Europe. [3] This is one of the tricky ones that is not really even 
on the table. It won't get there unless we demand it.
  d.. The EU-Mercosur trade deal will return to the EU agenda: can we stop 
them from fuelling the total destruction of the Amazon?
  e.. The Common Agricultural Policy is almost decided on and it has the 
potential to totally screw up the ambition of the EU Green Deal. By June, we 
will see whether Commission President Ursula von der Leyen uses her power to 
withdraw the CAP. Or not. Right now she’s not budging but people in Europe 
have the power to change this. [4]
  f.. Will more trees and food be burnt as energy sources in Europe? The 
revision of the Renewable Energy Directive will say. Who’s watching?
  g.. Migrants and refugees are still viewed as statistics. And although 
Europe has not built a wall like the one Trump wanted on the Mexican border, 
an invisible wall is there. In March, the Greek government violently pushed 
away people escaping war and poverty on their border and the European 
Commission President congratulated it. [5] It is in this context that the 
new EU Migration Pact will be agreed this year.
  h.. €750 billion in post-COVID funding will be spent in 27 EU member 
states this year. Right now our governments are busy writing their plans. 
Who will get that recovery money? Will it be used towards sustainability and 
fairness? Or to prop up industries that are not sustainable and therefore 
should have no future?
  i.. A conference on the Future of Europe this year could include a 
Citizens Assembly on climate change that could spice up democracy and 
generate some good ideas on the way forward. How much does that matter?
All the uncertainties we are facing right now can go either way. We have so 
many opportunities to nudge things in the right direction. And we are called 
upon to do that. Most of us want more fairness and more sustainability after 
the pandemic. So, let’s get cracking together.

Fill in the survey and tell us:

            What's worth fighting for?


This will take less than 2 minutes.

We'll be waiting to hear from you!

Laura Sullivan
Executive Director, WeMove Europe



References:
[1] 
https://www.ipsos.com/en/global-survey-unveils-profound-desire-change-rather-return-how-life-and-world-were-covid-19
[2] 
https://ec.europa.eu/transport/modes/rail/news/2020-12-30-year-of-rail_en
[3] https://act.wemove.eu/campaigns/basic-income-pilot
[4] https://act.wemove.eu/campaigns/withdraw-cap
[5] 
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/03/migration-eu-praises-greece-as-shield-after-turkey-opens-border



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build people power to transform Europe in the name of our community, future 
generations and the planet.

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From: Laura Sullivan - WeMove Europe
Sent: Sunday, January 31, 2021 8:17 PM
Subject: The opportunity in uncertainty

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