home » media centre » press releases

Europe must prioritise jobs and social inclusion

Issued : Tuesday 9 February, 2010

Labour MEP for Dublin, Proinsias De Rossa, speaking in Strasbourg today said, “I welcome the decision by the European parliament today to vote for the new Commission. It is already seven months since the European elections and with so many serious crises to deal with, all the institutions of the Union need to get down to business right away.

“The European Parliament is a unique co-legislator which necessitates the support of key pro-European political groups to get legislation through. In gaining the support of the Socialists and Democrats Group for his Commission, President Barrosso has undertaken to work closely with all these pro-European Groups. In order to maintain that support on an issue by issue basis he must work with us to find the social and economic balance which we will insist upon.

“In particular I welcome his undertaking to involve the Parliament in the social impact assessment of Commission proposals. This is a key element of the new Lisbon Treaty which he had initially threatened to confine to the Commission itself.

“In the interests of the citizens of Europe, the Member State governments and the Commission must now work closely with the parliament to produce an effective economic, social, and environmental strategy for the next 10 years, with particular emphasis on job creation and social inclusion. Without such a European strategy Europe will drift into disunity to the disadvantage in particular of the unemployed and the socially excluded, but inevitably to the disadvantage of all Europe's people.”