As Greens, we have always pushed for building a more sustainable and fair future, built on the values of solidarity and democracy. The global health pandemic is a crisis that we must face together, but we believe we cannot simply go back to “business-as-usual” as we begin to rebuild our societies and our economies. We have experienced first hand, and on a global scale, the shortcomings and failures of our old systems. We must learn from these experiences and rebuild things, better.

Europe Day has traditionally been an opportunity to look back at Europe’s achievements in terms of peace and prosperity. This year it is impossible to celebrate the fact that the European Union has been a war-free land for almost 75 years in the same way as we have done before. However, we can still look back at the words of the Schuman Declaration, one of the founding fathers of the EU, which gave birth to the Europe we now celebrate every year on 9 May.

We encourage all European citizens to closely follow advice from public health experts. 

We also want to express our gratitude to all workers from the health, medical and care sector, as well as to all workers that are ensuring that life can continue as smoothly as possible given the unique circumstances. 

The 27th February 2020 marks the sixth time that World NGO Day is celebrated globally. This day is dedicated to those in our society who carry out the invaluable work that governments neglect or ignore. It is about celebrating those, who relentlessly and tirelessly work for the ones in need, for those whose voices are rarely heard, for a sustainable future in harmony with nature, for inclusive societies, for holding governments accountable and for the respect of inalienable human rights and democracy.

Tonight, finally, the first reactor of the Fessenheim nuclear power plant will be shut down for good. French, German, Swiss, Luxembourgish and European ecologists are delighted with this event after 43 years of struggle.