Ladies and gentlemen!
Thank you to the Commission for presenting this comprehensive strategy. I believe it is extremely important, in these uncertain and turbulent times, to view our European household as a whole. The economy, society, employers, workers, children, young people, older people all of these are pieces of a single puzzle, and a stable structure cannot be built if even one of them is failing.
It is good that the ambitious plan to boost our continent’s competitiveness and innovation has been complemented by a social agenda. Is it equally ambitious? I am certainly glad that needs and objectives have been described comprehensively. However, we must say plainly: what we need now are the resources to act.
Where is the money to fight poverty? Will the new European Social Fund in the form proposed by the European Commission, with 14% earmarked for social objectives in the National Recovery and Resilience Plans live up to the ambitions set out in the strategy?
During the April plenary session, the European Parliament adopted a clear position on this matter. The European Social Fund as a separate programme, with a budget of €124 billion. Flexible enough to respond comprehensively to the challenges and problems facing local communities.
Supporting good-quality jobs, building affordable housing, and investing in the future of children and young people this is what citizens expect from us. Let us not fail them.