Address by the Vice-President of the European Commission, Mr. Margaritis Schinas

A year ago, the Empress Theophano Prize was awarded to Daniel Barenboim. Barenboim’s orchestra – now, more necessary than ever – brings together musicians from Israel, Palestine and many other countries in the Middle East. Musicians get to perform the same musical composition. They acquire a common goal, and to achieve it, they overcome deep-rooted stereotypes. They understand that what unites them is more substantial than what divides them. And they realise that dialogue can achieve much more than parallel monologues.

 

So last year, we honoured the effort for interpersonal multilateralism and building bridges between people. This year, we honour the effort for international multilateralism and bridges between states, embodied by the mission and tireless work of the United Nations.

 

The award, thus, goes to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, and my friend, António Guterres. Miguel Ángel Moratinos, the High Representative for the UN Alliance of Civilisations, also a dear friend, is here with us today to receive it.

 

Today, almost 80 years after its creation, the world is better thanks to the UN. Lives have been saved. Lives have been protected. Lives have gained better prospects. And of course, the work of the UN is not only about extreme and borderline cases where human life is at stake. Through international law, it regulates dozens of aspects of everyday life, where the presence of the UN may be silent, but its absence would be deafening.

 

This is not accidental. It is the result of the methodical work of the UN over the years and the establishment of an effective network of institutions, bodies, committees and missions. Beyond the imposing conference rooms in New York and Geneva, the heart of the UN beats in the field, from Haiti to Côte d’Ivoire, from Sudan to Syria.

 

With reason and ambition, the UN is building a better world. A world, though, that is far from being perfect. And the UN is facing this reality with courage and transparency as it steps up its efforts.

 

The UN was born amidst the ruins of the Second World War, amidst the ashes of the Holocaust. The aim was to ensure that ‘Never Again’  would not just be a slogan – but an incentive to work hard for peace, security and respect for human rights.

 

The progress the international community has made since is profoundly important. But in recent weeks, we are all unfortunately realising how fragile it can be.

 

We must allow no regression. No backsliding. We must stand against everything and everyone that may attempt to take us back to the darkest moments in the history of humanity.

 

The vandalising of the Holocaust memorial mural here in Thessaloniki a few days ago was a disgrace. Black paint was sprayed on the Stars of David on the lapels of the three children depicted on the wall. They may have erased them from the picture, but we will not allow them to be erased from our collective memory.

 

Zero tolerance for antisemitism. Zero tolerance for intolerance.

 

And as a son of high school professors, I found the recent, divisive announcement by the Association of Secondary Education Workers deeply upsetting.  Unfortunately, some seem to ignore the nucleus of the educational process: promoting the values of objectivity, humanity and dialogue as an antidote to intolerance and terrorism.

 

These values have always been the essence of the United Nations and the organisation has the duty to preserve them amid today’s highly complex circumstances.

 

It is our duty, it is a duty for the UN, the EU and all those who continue to stand for a rules-based global order – to work together on the basis of these common values to find real solutions to the major challenges of our time.

 

Europe shares the vision of peaceful resolution of disputes and stands by the UN.

 

We are not blinded by illusions – we know that multilateralism is being tested. Especially in the face of the polycrisis of our time – environmental, economic, humanitarian – we see some states pursuing protectionist policies for domestic consumption and short-term electoral gains.  Resting in the language of competition, confrontation and nationalism.

 

However, especially in the face of such crises, multilateralism is more important than ever.

 

In Europe, we are aware of this responsibility and serve it with conviction and consistency. We do not only remember it when it is convenient. We do not exit from international agreements overnight. We are not interested in playing geopolitical games or operating transactionally. We do not seek to benefit from chaos, nor do we seek to establish an alternative global order on our own terms.

 

As the number of players in the international arena are increasing, and their motivations diversify, our commitment to a rules-based order must not weaken – but grow stronger.

 

For Europe, multilateralism is an existential issue: it is its foundation and primary mission. We remain allies and partners with the UN in a spirit of complementarity and mutual reinforcement. 34 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, Europe stands on the right side of history.

 

This has become even more obvious in recent years. Europe’s era as a regulatory, economic, commercial giant and geopolitical dwarf on the international scene belongs to the past. Recent events have been crucial to this shift. They served as catalysts for Europe’s geopolitical awakening.

 

During the pandemic, the European Union did not only ensure vaccination supplies for its Member States – it also provided more than 200 million vaccine doses to low- and middle-income countries, in cooperation with the UN system.

 

Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, we have provided support to Ukraine from the very beginning – humanitarian, financial, material and military.  We imposed sanctions on Russia. And we welcomed 4 million Ukrainian refugees in the EU.

 

In the Western Balkans, some build mosques, others buy football teams. We are interested in fostering sustainable conditions of prosperity for their people. This is why we have invested in projects worth almost EUR 30 billion – which we, as European Commission, proposed to strengthen further with a new EUR 6 billion Growth Plan.

 

And we remain at the forefront of the fight against the climate crisis, so that Europe becomes the first climate-neutral continent. The European Green Deal provides EUR 3 trillion for a green and just transition, turning the Paris Agreement into concrete actions.

 

The alignment of the European Union and the United Nations has been constantly demonstrated in practice. UN values are Europe’s values.

 

Dear friends,

 

Tonight, when we leave the Rotunda, we will cross the Egnatia Odos (Via Egnatia), a road designed in the 2th century BC by Egnatios to unite Rome with Hellespontos, the Dardanelles. On this road, the Byzantines travelled to the West and the Romans to the East. A Byzantine princess may have passed from this very same road to start her new life in the Roman Empire and to become the Empress Theophano that we honour today. Egnatia Odos was crossed by thousands of Jews under persecution, but also by uprooted refugees from Pontos, Thrace, Eastern Romylia, Istanbul and Asia Minor.

 

The history of this road reflects the history of Europe. When George Steiner tried to identify the components of Europe, he reflected on its cartography. On its streets, which bear the names of its most emblematic personalities, without the need of numbers to be delineated. And on the human, walkable and accessible sense of scale that they project.

 

Europe is a place of remembrance, but also a place that has been, continues to be, and will be moulded by human hands, by the determination and inventiveness of its people. A place that embraces locals and welcomes travelers and newcomers. A place that bridges cultures and soothes differences. A place that does not promise a dream to the few, but guarantees a way of life for the many. A way of life defined by values, rather than on material terms.

 

These values are not imposed arbitrarily. They did not arise in 1957 with the establishment of the EEC, nor in 1993 with the establishment of the Union. They are intertwined with the continent of Europe, thanks to its dual legacy of the Classical and the Byzantine/Christian tradition. A tradition that bestows upon us today a legacy of secular humanism, one that empowers us to face the future with reason and empathy.

 

Tonight from Thessaloniki – a place that has, over the centuries, looked after those who were being persecuted, those who suffered, and brought together people seemingly diametrically different – we honour the United Nations’ effort to turn this humanist heritage into a reality. We trust that it will continue to defend peace and security with the same courage and fervor. With Europe as a co-author, partner and promoter of these efforts.