First of all, I would like to thank Gavi for their work to promote health in the world, and to thank Gates Foundation for being co-host of this event today.
It is with great pleasure and a true sense of commitment that I am here today. A commitment to demonstrate the European Union’s role as a reliable partner to global health. Common goods demand common action. A commitment to health as a fundamental right. Leaving no one behind. Standing up for more social justice. More global stability. A commitment to effective international cooperation and multilateralism between international organizations, governments, donors, private sector and civil society. And a commitment to science and research as the only way to save millions of lives threatened by deadly diseases, endangered by obscurantism, negationism and populism.
A healthier world is a safer world. A more equitable world is a more peaceful world. Investing into vaccines is one of the best investments in global peace we can make. Now is the time to expand our network of partners and donors. Because in health no one is safe until everyone is safe.
This is why Gavi is pivotal in today’s circumstances. For preventing new diseases, for strengthening health systems, for reinforcing social cohesion and political stability around the world.
Through Gavi, the European Union has helped immunize over one billion children and prevented more than 17 million future deaths. That’s multilateralism in action, a force for good in the world.
Through Gavi, Team Europe is pledging over €2 billion between the European Union and member states combined. And our commitment will continue. We can go further. Gavi can always count on the European Union. For stability, peace, multilateralism and health security, making the next generation the most protected ever.
Thanks to all of you, Gavi is one of the great success stories of our time. The world needs more such success stories, not less. The world needs more empathy and solidarity, not less.
Today’s summit sends this strong message to the world: together, we make the difference in people’s lives. As co-host of this Summit, I laud your strong commitment to this global cause. It is also the European Union’s cause.
Thank you.
| Visit the website |