On 1st October, Nicolas SCHMIT, from Luxembourg, Commissioner-designate for Jobs, is heard by the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) in association with the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) of the European Parliament in Brussels to test his general competences, European commitment and specific expertise related to his portfolio. On this occasion, Nicolas SCHMIT has the opportunity to make an opening statement. The following transcription is the result of an automatic process. Check Against delivery.

Brussels

Committee on Employment and Social Affairs

SCHMIT, Nicolas (LU, EC)

Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs

hearing

hearing of Commissioners

2019 Commissioners' hearings (T)

hearing of Nicolas SCHMIT 2019 (T)

Hearing of Nicolas SCHMIT, Commissioner-designate, Jobs: Opening statement by Nicolas SCHMIT

Nicolas SCHMIT, Commissioner-designate, Jobs: Madam Chair, Members of Parliament. It's a great honour for me to be here before you for this hearing. The task and mission given to me if confirmed will give me an opportunity to work together with yo. My track record in politics and professional life shows my commitment to the European project. I've had the honour of participating in some of the key moments of Europe's construction and it's allowed Europe to regenerate and to allow successive generations of young people to enjoy peace and prosperity.

Nicolas SCHMIT, Commissioner-designate, Jobs: Europe is first and foremost founded on values, fundamental rights which are embedded in our daily lives. We are determined just as it says in the treaty's preamble to promote economic and social progress of our peoples. And it's the social market economy within a competitive environment as described in Article 3 that I am committed to. The European model and its strength is all about reconciling economic and social dimensions with out forgetting the environmental dimension.

Nicolas SCHMIT, Commissioner-designate, Jobs: I would like to refer to Jacques Delors 2016 statement when he said that if we have cohesion and without sacrifice we cannot support the needs of European citizens. No chance whatsoever. So today more than ever before we need to get citizens' trust, earn citizens' trust and confidence. The social dimension is an embodiment of a Europe that protects and it's an essential part of the puzzle. And I hereby make a formal commitment to listen, to promote dialogue and allow me to switch to English Commissioner.

Nicolas SCHMIT, Commissioner-designate, Jobs: I will pursue two main goals: fight firstly to boost employment, to promote a well skilled workforce responsive to the digital and climate transition ahead of us. Secondly together with jobs I will put at the centre of my priorities social rights for all and social inclusion. I will pursue high standards on the European labour market as we need to achieve upward convergence in our living and working conditions. I will promote a European labour market that guarantees access and good opportunities for everybody and particularly for persons with disabilities, migrants, Roma communities and the most deprived.

Nicolas SCHMIT, Commissioner-designate, Jobs: I will do my utmost to fight poverty, to break the poverty cycle affecting children and to improve the support to youth. I will work to promote a fairer Europe in a sustainable economy social rights have a central place. Together with executive vice-president-designate Valdis Dombrovskis I will ensure the mainstreaming of and strengthening the social dimension based on the European pillar of social rights. I will work closely and regularly with the European Parliament, the Member States, social partners and all stakeholders to pursue a fairer more social and inclusive Europe.

Nicolas SCHMIT, Commissioner-designate, Jobs: The European pillar of social rights is a joint political commitment of the three institutions. In close cooperation with Parliament, I will develop an action plan to implement the pillar both at the Union level and in each member state, building on the achievements made under the commission of President Juncker and on the political guidelines of President elect von der Leyen. Two hundred and forty one million people are currently in employment in the EU. A record high. Young unemployment rate in the EU continues to decline although not all not in all member states and not in all regions.

Nicolas SCHMIT, Commissioner-designate, Jobs: Not everybody benefits from this positive development. We must ensure that work pays and that it provides a decent living. I will put forward a legal instrument to ensure that every worker in our union has a fair minimum wage. It is not about setting one single EU wage level and I will pay particular attention to social models of different member states. Jointly we need to act on equality of opportunity. We need to ensure that men and women feel confident about their future, the future of their families and the future of their children. To address these challenges I will reinforce the Youth Guarantee and will lead the work to develop a European child guarantee.

Nicolas SCHMIT, Commissioner-designate, Jobs: Gender balance and gender equality are central to my vision on jobs and social rights. I will closely with the new Commission for Equality to close the gender pay and pension gap proposed binding pay transparency measures and fully implement the work life balance directive for the benefit of both women and men. Many of our citizens are preoccupied by the deepening inequalities adequate social protection and pension systems and inclusive labour market with fair wages and supporting active ageing career transitions and investing in social services will be important to fight poverty and to ensure social inclusion.

Nicolas SCHMIT, Commissioner-designate, Jobs: Here the social economy can play an important role particularly in local communities by generating social return. One of the areas I personally care much about is health and safety at work. It is not acceptable that in 2019 people in Europe are still at risk at their workplace. I will promote the adoption of further measures against catching no genius in the workplace. The changing world of work requires new reflections on occupational health and safety.

Nicolas SCHMIT, Commissioner-designate, Jobs: Commissioner for jobs also means commissioner for free movement of workers. This is not only a fundamental part of the internal market but it is also considered by EU citizens as one of the EU's most important achievements. However, recent years have shown us that labour mobility also bears a number of challenges with social dumping or brain drain. But we should indeed resist and attempt to limit the opportunity for EU citizens to move freely within the EU. We should rather tackle the underlying issues.

Nicolas SCHMIT, Commissioner-designate, Jobs: Here the newly created European labour authority can play an important role ensuring cooperation between national authorities namely carrying out joint inspections. From the discussion in this committee last week I know that the practical set up of the European labour authority is an important issue for many of you. I assure you that it will be rapidly put into place and provided with the adequate means to fulfil its tasks.

Nicolas SCHMIT, Commissioner-designate, Jobs: The union is challenged in a globalized world by big transformations economic technological environmental and demographic. People need to be accompanied in the upcoming transitions enabling them to keep their steel skills updated as the economy evolves. This requires investment as well as a coherent skills policy with improved tools to accompany all career transitions at all ages. I will explore the idea of individual learning accounts for people of working age.

Nicolas SCHMIT, Commissioner-designate, Jobs: Our labour markets will be changing due to automation digitalisation and artificial intelligence. We have to engage decisively to mitigate the risks shapes the transitions and seise the opportunities. It is crucial to ensure trust in the digital future. Therefore we need to address the labour conditions of platform workers and actively address new forms of precariousness. We all remember the financial crisis and the effects eternal citizens and businesses. We need to be ready to meet future downturns and ensure that the union is prepared to react in a socially responsible manner to future shocks.

Nicolas SCHMIT, Commissioner-designate, Jobs: The resilience of the Economic and Monetary Union depends on stabilization functions. A future European unemployment benefits reinsurance scheme requires a careful design to ensure rapid responses to shocks while preserving adequate unemployment protection. Social and environmental sustainability are two faces of the same coin. Decent Work, quality education, reduce poverty and inequality need to be at the centre of a European semester that is refocus on the Sustainable Development Goals.

Nicolas SCHMIT, Commissioner-designate, Jobs: Our international actions need to support a decent work agenda for all. I will work with my colleagues to ensure that international labour standards are put at the core of our trade agreements and in our multilateral work. Investment in people needs to be recognized as an investment in a better future. The European Social Fund plus is the union's prime instrument. It is a tool to support the implementation of the principles of the pillar by providing resources.

Nicolas SCHMIT, Commissioner-designate, Jobs: The transition towards a carbon neutral economy will not be social by default. We have to ensure nobody no region no country is left behind. To achieve this objective the ESF plus the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund, Invest EU and a new just Transition Fund need to be robust enough. A strong social Europe needs social legislation which is up to date properly implemented and enforced. It requires social to remain at the core of economic policy coordination under the European Semester and more efficient and simpler use of the European funds and the permanent and constructive dialogue with social partners and the civil society.

Nicolas SCHMIT, Commissioner-designate, Jobs: Social dialogue should be promoted along at all levels as the union's social dialogue can only work when built on strong autonomous national social partners. Likewise collective bargaining should also be supported as it constitutes an important feature of our social market economy. As commissioner I will fully engage in a dialogue both with the European Parliament and the Council but also with national parliaments and national social partners. This way we can develop balanced, effective and proportionate initiatives which are in full respect of subsidiarity.

Nicolas SCHMIT, Commissioner-designate, Jobs: More than ever facts need to drive our discussion. My work will be based on thorough analyses and impact assessment of our initiatives, drawing on inspiration also beyond the European Union from our partners in the G7 and the G20 and working with international organizations like the ILO and the OSCE.

Nicolas SCHMIT, Commissioner-designate, Jobs: Madam President, Madam Chair, Colleagues, the Commission president has given us a clear message and a clear task and objective. A union that can achieve more. This morning I have come to you with an ambitious program. Yet my list is not complete. In a changing world we need to adapt. And so I will listen to your comments your ideas your objections and I can assure you that over the next few years I will be committed to close cooperation with this house.

Nicolas SCHMIT, Commissioner-designate, Jobs: We must work together if we wish to earn the trust of workers, families and citizens and to reinforce their trust in us and the institutions. Europe is by far the best place in the world to live and work. And it's my objective to make a contribution to keeping it that way. We together are strong enough to shape our future. Thank you very much for your attention.