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José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission
In June, leaders from all four corners of the globe must prove that we can provide future generations with a
more equitable, more prosperous and greener world for all.
The recent economic downturn has left much of the world struggling to return to growth. We must seize
this opportunity to forge a new path to better growth, since growth based on intense resource use and high
consumption simply will not work any more.
The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) must be a turning point. In the
twenty-first century, our common duty as leaders, businesses and citizens is to redefine growth in line with
the needs of the world today, namely poverty eradication, food security, emissions reductions and using the
planet’s resources efficiently.
I am confident that Rio+20 will produce clear targets, tangible outcomes and effective actions that
will demonstrate a common commitment to a new, sustainable economic model based on a balanced
integration of economic, social and environmental objectives.
Rio+20 will be a once-in-a-generation opportunity to act to build a better future. The European Union
will come to the conference with a level of ambition in line with scope of the challenges and a steadfast
determination to make it a success.
José Manuel Barroso
President of the European Commission