1 Welcome
Ladies and gentlemen,
A very warm welcome to our press conference, at which we will present our annual accounts. Like so many events at the moment, we are holding this press conference virtually this year. The coronavirus pandemic has radically changed all of our everyday lives.
Around the world, the virus has already claimed the lives of well over two million people, with an even greater number falling seriously ill.
People are concerned for their own health and the health of those around them, especially the elderly. The pandemic is, first and foremost, a severe health crisis, which must be overcome as a matter of the utmost urgency.
At the same time, more and more people fear for their jobs, their businesses and their livelihoods. This is also borne out by the numerous letters I have received to this effect.