S&D Group president Gianni Pittella made a strong plea in favour of social justice and respect of democracy during a special Relaunching Europe event on Friday 21 October in Bucharest.
The event gathered S&D Group vice-president Marju Lauristin, S&D Euro MP Agnes Jongerius, academics, citizens, and Romanian S&D Euro MPs including European Parliament’s vice-president Ioan Mircea Paşcu, the head of the Romanian delegation Viorica Dăncila and S&D Group vice-president Victor Boştinaru, to discuss the prospect of a new social deal for Europe. More than 500 people attended the conference.
The mayor of Bucharest Gabriela Firea and the president of the Social-Democratic Party (PSD) Liviu Dragnea were among the key speakers.
S&D Group president Gianni Pittella said:
"We, the socialists and democrats have launched a new challenge for ourselves: to change Europe in order to save it. This means changing European policies and providing concrete answers to our citizens. Europe must understand that it needs to intervene. We want to double the funds for the youth guarantee which offers young people a job, training, or education in the five months following the end of school or university. We also need strong action against tax fraud and tax evasion.
"Multinationals must pay their taxes where profits are made. I ask Jean Claude Juncker, the president of the European Commission, to stick to his commitment in this respect. We will also fight to maintain cohesion policy and to ensure funds from the Juncker investment plan reach Romania."
Referring to the technocratic government now in Romania and the forthcoming elections in December, Gianni Pittella called for the respect of democracy.
Commenting on the recent statement made by Donald Trump, the republican candidate for the White House, who said he might not accept the outcome of the US elections, Gianni Pittella warned we will not accept such a childish attitude. ‘Democracy must be accepted no matter what’.
During his stay, Gianni Pittella visited a construction site in Bucharest financed by European funds in the presence of the mayor of Bucharest Gabriela Firea. He also visited a crèche built with European money and a school which helps integrate young Roma families in one of the poorest districts of Bucharest.
Watch the wrap-up video of our Relaunching Europe event in Bucharest on 21 October 2016
