Speech by President von der Leyen at the high-level conference on the European Pillar of Social Rights

“Check against delivery”

President Metsola,

Deputy Prime Minister Vandenbroucke,

Deputy Prime Minister Dermagne,

President Röpke, dear Oliver,

Enrico Letta,

Dear Commissioner Schmit, dear Nicolas,

Dear representatives of trade unions and business associations,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

What is it that makes Europe such a unique place to live and work in? It is not only the glory of towns like Ghent or Dinant, the genius of artists like Magritte, or the blossoming beauty of forests like the one that surrounds us. It is also our European way of life. Our fairness and our competitiveness, built on our social market economy and on decades of social dialogue. Europe is unique because of our trade unions, such as the Belgian miners who fought for health and safety at work after the tragedy of Marcinelle. Europe is unique because of enlightened entrepreneurs, such as Ernest Solvay, who already in the 19th century sponsored higher education, and granted unprecedented rights to his workers. Europe is unique because of civil society leaders like Marie Popelin, the first Belgian woman to obtain a law degree, who fought her entire life for women to be admitted to the bar.

Europe as we know it was not built in a day. We are the children of a long history of social progress, convergence, and social dialogue. And we are the children of visionary leaders who put the social dimension at the heart of our Union. Like the late Jacques Delors. And my friend Jean-Claude Juncker, who was the driving force behind the European Pillar of Social Rights. This long history continues today. Here in La Hulpe, we recommit to the foundations of the Pillar: equal opportunities for all, fair working conditions, social protection and inclusion. These are the values of our social market economy. And we must continue to bring them to life.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

At the start of this mandate, we promised to deliver on the new-born European Pillar of Social Rights. We did not know what lay ahead of us. Two crises of historic proportions. The COVID-19 health crisis and the war in Ukraine, with a 'made-in-Russia' energy crisis. They could have turned into a dramatic social crisis. But they did not. This was because of the people of Europe's great resilience but also because we put the right policies in place. From SURE, which saved millions of jobs at the height of the pandemic to NextGenerationEU and REPowerEU, which fast-tracked the recovery and the deployment of home-grown renewable energy. It is easy to forget a crisis that never was. But I have not forgotten that many predicted mass unemployment in Europe due to the lockdowns. Instead, today we have more people at work than at any other time in European history. More than 75% of Europeans are employed. Close to our goal of 78% by 2030. And how is this possible? Because we have built sound economic policies, with a strong social heart. Our Union must deliver for people and for business.

We have shown that economic growth and social growth can only go hand in hand. And social progress can only be based on economic success, if we want it to be sustainable. At the start of the mandate, we proposed new initiatives in our European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan. And in spite of all the emergencies we have dealt with, we are on track to deliver on each and every one of them by the end of the mandate. We have managed to reach: the Directive on adequate minimum wages; the Child Guarantee, so that all children in need have access to quality education and care; the Women on Boards Directive, after ten years of stalemate; The Val Duchesse declaration, to reinforce social dialogue; and the Platform Work Directive, that protects rights in the digital economy. This is the social market economy in Europe at work.

And this spirit must continue to drive us in these times of transition for our European institutions. It is vital that all parties keep engaging on how to shape the social dimension of our Union. In these two days, you have heard from Mario Draghi and Enrico Letta, on the challenges for our competitiveness and our Single Market. Their reports, together with the Declaration we are about to sign, show us the way for the future. In the five years ahead, we must confirm our Union's primacy, as the place to live and to do business with a skilled workforce, with innovative companies, with a sustainable energy mix, with rules and rights for artificial intelligence, with opportunities and protections, for people young and old. Because this is what makes our Union unique. This is what makes Europe the continent of our dreams. Business can happen anywhere in the world. Profit can be made everywhere. But where do people want to raise their children? Where there is opportunity for all. Where there is education and culture. Where people can move, study and work, across borders that no longer exist. Where voters and social partners are in the driving seat. Where you are free to shine, and everyone is protected against the great risks of life. This is our social Europe. These are the values we have inherited. And this is the Union we are building together, for the next generation.

Thank you, and long live Europe.