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E.U. vision unveiled in von der Leyen's address

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's inaugurual State of the E.U. speech emphasized pandemic recovery and climate change.

Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, delivers her 2020 State of the Union address
Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, delivers her 2020 State of the Union address to the European Parliament (AN/Etienne Ansotte)

BRUSSELS (AN) — European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivered an inaugurual State of the European Union speech on Wednesday that emphasized her vision for health and economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic and for battling climate change.

In a speech to a socially distanced European Parliament, von der Leyen said Europeans must protect lives and restore livelihoods despite a resurgence of COVID-19 on the continent. Europe has 2.67 million cases — less than half the U.S. infections — but almost as many deaths. Nearly 185,000 Europeans have died from the coronavirus, or 10,000 less than in the United States.

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