The European People’s Party (EPP) warmly welcomes the endorsement of the European Pillar of Social Rights by the European Union heads of state and government at the Social Summit for Fair Jobs and Growth today in Gothenburg, Sweden. With this occasion, EPP President Joseph Daul, made the following statement: “I am delighted that today we have taken a major step to reinforce a Social Europe that helps and protects our citizens. We have heard a lot of empty talk from the Socialists about social rights but it took an EPP Commission President, Jean-Claude Juncker, and an EPP Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility, Marianne Thyssen, to strengthen and make Social Europe a reality. It is thanks to the EPP leadership in the EU institutions that the EU leaders are gathering for a Social Summit for the first time in 20 years. I am proud EPP is at the forefront of delivering concrete results for its citizens and I congratulate President Juncker and Commissioner Thyssen for mobilising EU leaders to officially commit to the European Pillar of Social Rights. People’s security has always been at the heart of EPP policies. Social Market Economy is driving EPP actions and policies every day. We are aware that while the EU has the highest levels of social protection in the world, not all our citizens feel the benefits of our high standards and social security. And as the world is constantly changing, EPP wants to ensure that no one is left behind. We want policies that will give every child equal education opportunities; every woman and man the possibility to combine work and family; every pensioner financial security; and every unemployed citizen the possibility to retrain for a new job. A lot remains to be done but with the commitment of our leaders to the European Pillar of Social Rights we are on course to prepare current and future generations for the labour markets of tomorrow, and ensure every family can have a high-quality living standard.”


Read more

For more information contact:

 

Alexandra Henman

Deputy Spokesperson

+32 471 90 76 84

alh@epp.eu

 

Angelos Athanasopoulos

National and Regional Press Director

+32 471 90 76 35

aa@epp.eu