PES President Sergei Stanishev said:
“From the Green Deal and the Just Transition, to an unemployment insurance mechanism and the Child Guarantee, policies at the centre of the PES campaign for the European elections are now flagship measures for the Commission. Decent minimum wages, the Action plan to implement the European Pillar of Social Rights, the Gender Equality Strategy, Youth Employment Support, the Youth Guarantee and a digital tax, these are all socialist and democratic initiatives. Progressives can be proud of what we have achieved.
“Thanks to the good work of socialist and democratic Commissioners, we are seeing good progress in these and other areas. But the Commission President should know that the PES family is remaining vigilant to ensure this progressive agenda is delivered in full.
“Now more than ever, as Europe recovers from the COVID-19 crisis, we must focus on our vision for the future of Europe. COVID-19 should not be an excuse for less Europe, less ambitious policies and less activity on the world stage. It should not mean more austerity. On the contrary – Europe should be an example for the world on solidarity, sustainability, fairness and multilateralism.”
Thanks to socialists and democrats, key measures outlined today – Support to mitigate Unemployment Risks in an Emergency (SURE), the European Green Deal, the Just Transition Fund, the minimum wage framework and many more – are being progressed by the Commission.
Alongside these measures, the progressive family continues its push for full respect for the Rule of Law, strong own resources and a proper Health Union for Europe. Progressives are acting to present the New Pact on Migration and Asylum and we remain committed to an EU based on multilateralism and solidarity.
Addressing the European Parliament, President von der Leyen today said the Commission would take several measures which progressive have long been calling for, including increasing the EU’s climate ambitions to ensure we meet the Paris goals, progress on the Economic and Monetary Union, support for the digital transition, advancing the historic negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia, progress on digital and carbon taxes, the fight against discrimination and more.
The PES family is closely following the implementation of all these measures, and will we keep up the pressure to prevent any U-turn towards the austerity and inflexibility our societies experienced after the last economic crisis. We remain convinced that investment in the future is key: we will safeguard the proper implementation of the Child Guarantee, Youth Unemployment Support and the European Green Deal – measures to guarantee a future based on equality and a safer and cleaner environment.
The PES commends the hard work and dedication of progressives in the European Commission College: Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans, High Representative Josep Borrell, Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič, Commissioner Helena Dalli, Commissioner Elisa Ferreira, Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni, Commissioner Ylva Johansson, Commissioner Nicolas Schmit, and Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen.
