Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1245222
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 10 MAY 2020 OPINION We are at a time of temporary fragility and only a strong European Union can protect our common heritage and the economies of our member states larly affected and need concrete and determined support. Europe must be bold and do all that it takes to protect lives and liveli- hoods, particularly in the areas most affected by the crisis. Our Union must also be healthy and sustainable. One lesson to learn from this crisis is the im- portance of listening to scientific advice and taking action before it is too late. We cannot put off ad- dressing climate change and must build our recovery on the Europe- an Green Deal. And we must be closer to cit- izens, making our Union more transparent and more democratic. The Conference on the Future of Europe, which had been planned to launch yesterday and was only delayed due to the pandemic, will be essential in developing these ideas. We are at a time of temporary fragility and only a strong Europe- an Union can protect our common heritage and the economies of our member states. Earlier this week, we commemo- rated the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II. We must always remember the horrors and barbarism of war and the sacrifices made to end it. Today, we reflect on what happened next. Let us re- member the 1950s generation who believed that a better Europe and better world could be built out of the ruins of war – and then went on to build it. If we learn those les- sons, if we remain united in soli- darity and behind our values, then Europe can again emerge from cri- sis stronger than before.