Speech by Ambassador Thomas Gnocchi at the Europe Day reception Hong Kong 2023

Honourable Chief Executive John LEE,

Mr Pan Yundong, Deputy Commissioner of the Foreign Ministry Office in Hong Kong,

Secretary Hui,

Secretary Yau,

Dear EU Consuls General and members of the consular corps,

Distinguished guests,

Dear friends of Europe,

The last time we came together in person to celebrate Europe Day in Hong Kong was 4 years ago. So it is my pleasure to welcome you all tonight as we commemorate the Declaration by the then French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman on the 9th of May 1950 that kick-started the European project.

Seventy-three years later, Europe is stronger and more united than ever.

This year we celebrate a number of other important anniversaries relating to Europe, including:

• the 30 years of the establishment of the EU Office in Hong Kong,
• 60 years of the Élysée treaty marking the reconciliation between France and Germany,
• 50 years of the first enlargement when two of our current member states, Ireland and Denmark, joined,
• 30 years of the establishment of the European single market, and
• 10 years from the latest enlargement when Croatia joined the Union.

This year is also the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of human rights, something that should be commemorated the world over later this year.

So the European project is very much a work in progress that has turned our Union into the world's largest trading power, the largest donor in the world and a relentless defender of human rights, the rule of law and democracy. These are achievements we can be proud of.

After the horrors of World War II, Europeans learnt that forging a common future was the only way to prevent wars from raging across the continent again. Europe is now encountering the shadows of a past we thought we had long left behind with the people across Europe facing the impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

After the outbreak of the war, the EU and its Member States acted decisively and in unity. We have made available around 67 billion euros or 580 billion Hong Kong dollars in support for Ukraine and its people. We stand together in supporting our Ukrainian friends and I’m very pleased that members of the Ukrainian community in Hong Kong are able to join us this evening.

Despite these challenges, the EU economy grew by 3.5% last year. This is more than many other advanced economies. Our GDP is expected to continue to grow this year and our work to make the continent climate neutral by 2050 is on track.

There are other signs that our strong and rapid response is working: today, European gas benchmark prices have fallen below their pre-war levels and inflation is expected to go down to 3% next year.

Similarly, I am happy that Hong Kong’s economy – after COVID – is doing well again with economic growth in 2023 forecast to be at least 3.5%.

There is a very strong European Union presence in Hong Kong. European companies form the largest non-Chinese business community in the city, with more than 1 600 companies across many different sectors. The EU is also the third largest trading partner of Hong Kong. Beyond business, Europeans are present in all walks of life in Hong Kong from academia, to the arts, civil society and of course as master chefs in many restaurants in the city.

A prosperous Hong Kong that respects the rule of law, democratic processes and its international commitments is also in the interest of the EU. The EU has on occasions raised concerns about political developments in Hong Kong. But we have done so always with the best interests of Hong Kong and Hongkongers at heart. In this regard I would also like to reaffirm our full commitment to the principle of one country two systems.

As we celebrate 30 years of the European Union Office to Hong Kong and Macao, we have had fruitful exchanges throughout the years with the government and we would like to have more of these conversations, covering a wide range of issues of mutual interest and of concern. One notable area is climate and green issues. As the EU’s policy agenda focuses on making the European continent climate neutral by 2050, we believe that there is ample room for us to tackle this shared problem. We have also had very good cooperation in other areas including combating human trafficking, taxation and on the mutual recognition of vaccination certificates to name just a few.

In closing I want to take thank the EU Consulates General and our sponsors, in particular our platinum sponsors Mercedes and Moët Hennessy Diageo Hong Kong and Château Minuty, for generously supporting this event. Many thanks also to the French Consulate General for providing the Europe in a Comic Strip exhibition through which you can learn about the EU in a fun and entertaining way.

I would also like to thank the great team in the EU Office not only for putting together the event this evening but also for the hard work they do throughout the year in furthering EU-Hong Kong relations.

On behalf of my colleagues in the EU Office and of my wife Catherine thank you for celebrating Europe Day with us.

I wish you all a very pleasant evening.

Now please join me for a toast:

To all Europeans on the occasion of Europe Day and to the people of the People’s Republic of China and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Happy Europe Day!