Following today's hearing in the European Parliament, the European Socialists and Democrats are set to give their green light to Marianne Thyssen, commissioner-designate for employment, social affairs, skills and labour mobility. They warned however that their actual assessment of her job will be based on the results achieved in tackling unemployment and social dumping.
 
S&D vice-president Maria João Rodrigues MEP said:
 
"Europe today is coping with a serious crisis: low growth, stagnation and even the risk of deflation. We cannot keep losing jobs, including skilled jobs.
 
"Unemployment is too high, as well as the poverty rate.
 
"The next EU Commission will be judged on its capacity to cut unemployment and poverty and on the concrete actions they put forward to tackle job insecurity and social dumping.
 
"Ms Thyssen was not clear enough which strong measures – both legislative and financial – she plans to propose to really deliver on these goals. The S&Ds will keep the next Commission under pressure on this."
 
S&D spokesperson on employment and social affairs, Jutta Steinruck MEP, said:
 
"Overall, commissioner-designate Marianne Thyssen proved herself a competent candidate. She seemed aware that the EU must urgently take action, notably in the fight against unemployment, and especially on tackling youth unemployment. This is one of the main challenges we are facing right now.
 
"However, I would have liked Ms Thyssen to be clearer and more specific on how she will address some issues at the core of our agenda, like the posting of workers, the fight against social dumping, reducing poverty and monitoring the implementation of the Youth Guarantee.
 
"Her statement on the Posting of Workers Directive was particularly disappointing. It offered less than Mr Juncker promised during his plenary speech. Analysing, evaluating and then eventually a revision will take too much time. We know the problems – we are facing them right now. We have to fight social dumping immediately."

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