European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde has highlighted the importance of European integration in helping regional strengths succeed globally. Speaking at the Fête de la Pomme in Épreville-en-Lieuvin, France, Lagarde noted that small businesses in Normandy exported goods worth nearly 10% of the region's GDP in 2022, with the United States being their largest export destination. She emphasized that Europe provides a broad home market, protects the value of regional products, and helps regions develop new strengths through its structural funds. Normandy has been allocated over €1 billion in European funding for the period from 2021 to 2027, with projects mainly managed by the region. Lagarde also discussed the challenges facing Europe, including the need to complete the Single Market, particularly for services, and to bring wealth and growth back together. She noted that the ECB estimates that if businesses take up AI quickly, the euro area economy could be around €630 billion a year larger within a decade. The ECB will continue to play its part in keeping inflation at 2% over time and ensuring that the shocks of the last few years do not settle into lasting higher inflation. Lagarde concluded by emphasizing the importance of building on European achievements and bringing more strengths together to give businesses greater scope to invest and households greater security in a more uncertain world.