S&D Group president Gianni Pittella gave a courageous speech for a new direction for Europe whilst addressing Commission president Juncker in plenary ahead of the vote on the new Commission today.
"We need a social pact for Europe and to engage in a pact with European citizens".
Read the full text of the speech
Dear Mr. President,
Today the worst enemy for Europe is not populism, but it's us, it's the inaction and the lack of bravery of the ruling class.
The times of watered-down compromises are gone.
The contribution of our group will be this one: to press you, to raise the bar higher and higher. We'll be the critic soul of the majority.
This is what the Commission needs. This is how we behaved in the negotiations of these last weeks.
If we weren't there, if for instance Franz Timmermans didn't become vice-president in charge of sustainable development, this Commission would be weaker.
Today you said some very important things.
You talked about a political contract with us.
We proposed to you an agreement with the citizens because we care about their lives and not about abstract politics.
In your speech, today, there were significant steps towards this direction.
You talked about medecines, one of the most important products for the lives of the Europeans. You brought the authority on medecines under the responsibility of the Commissioner for Industry and Internal Market.
But what do medecines and health have to do with internal market?
Today you announced that medecines and pharmaceutical products will once again be a matter under the authority of the Commissioner for Health. We don't want to say that this was our own success, but this was our political battle and we are proud of it.
Also on the TTIP you moved some steps forward, setting some limits to the use of arbitration clauses, but this is not enough. We stand up for international trade, but we are not willing to call into question our model of society.
There are two points that will be crucial for the European pact that we are signing today.
The first one is the investment plan.
We won't accept underhand agreements between the member states and we won't accept a simple cosmetic operation. On the investments we play the match for the credibility of this Commission and probably the future of the European project, and you are aware of this. We back you, and for this you need us. But we need you, too. We need you to not let the Parliament be marginalised in the elaboration of the plan.
Together we must challenge the most recalcitrant member states. I propose you three moves:
1. Let's bestow a part of the assets of the European Financial Stability Facility to the EIB, strengthening its capital.
2. Let's count the European investmens in a smart way, and I highlight European and not national, that, being European, must not be calculated in the national balance sheets.
3. Go against the grain. Focus on the culture, because growth, today, depends on the creativity. Look at the results of the Nobel prize, last week, look at how many Europeans have been awarded it. Let's quintuple the investments on the cultural programs. We can do this. This way we'll give the Europeans the best Nobel prize, the one for the growth!
And this would also be a way to delete the shadow that is a burden on the Commission, the idea that culture and education are secondary matters, to sacrifice in the name of political barters with the weaker governments.
The second European pillar is the social Europe.
Growth is not a fetish. Investments and growth must be at the service of solidarity.
Once again we are talking about the lives of the people.
We don't want a war between European workers.
We want the Posting of Workers Directive to be revised. On this you have committed, but we want more.
We must operate to support women, especially the single women that work.
You did your best to guarantee feminine representation at the Commission. We didn't succeed.
We must take concrete measures.
In this legislature we have to approve the maternity leave directive that was guiltily buried by the Council.
Your speech was also enhanced by a precise canvas on the foreign policy.
On this too we notice with pleasure a change of pace and a bigger ambition, that with Federica Mogherini we can finally nurture.
And we know how necessary it will be today, with all these terrible emergencies that the African continent is living.
Mr. President, Commissioners, you have a titanic assignment.
We ask you to be brave.
Go on without any fear.
Do not stop.
And if you do, don't worry, we'll push you to move on and we'll give you the courage you don't have.
Good luck.
