The EU-US partnership for building strong institutions and resilient economies

Good morning, Ladies and Gentlemen,

First of all thank you for this invitation here at the German Marshall Fund today.

This year marks the 70^th anniversary of the Marshall Plan, whose support was crucial in rebuilding post-war Europe's economy; and which laid the basis for Europe's political integration.

It still offers valuable lessons for how to deal with the economic and security challenges that we face today.