Dubravka ŠUICA, Vice President-designate for Democracy and Demography, is heard by the Committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO) in association with the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) of the European Parliament in Brussels to test his general competences, European commitment and specific expertise related to his portfolio. Statements by Pascal DURAND (RE, FR), Helmut SCHOLZ (GUE/NGL, DE), Vladimír BILČÍK (EPP, SK) and Dubravka ŠUICA, Vice-President-designate, Democracy and Demography.

Brussels

Committee on Employment and Social Affairs

Committee on Constitutional Affairs

ŠUICA, Dubravka (EPP, HR, EC)

DURAND, Pascal (S&D, FR)

hearing of Commissioners

BILČÍK, Vladimír (EPP, SK)

2019 Commissioners' hearings (T)

hearing of Dubravka ŠUICA 2019 (T)

Hearing of Hearing of Dubravka ŠUICA, Vice President-designate, Democracy and Demography: extracts from the hearing

You have to visit each Member State is the first part of our mandate. This is valid for all Commissioners, for me maybe more. Which means we will be visiting member states and we we will be talking to them and will be listening to them. Does that mean visiting National Parliaments? Of course and having conversation with parliamentarians. But we might also go out of capitals because citizens dialogues is important. In capitals or in big cities or in metropolitan areas. I think we have to go to rural areas.

SOUNDBITE (French), Pascal DURAND (RE, FR), Are you prepared to take on board the idea that an association of citizens should have the right to put forward ideas and vote rather than merely be listened to by the decision makers.

SOUNDBITE (English), Dubravka &#352;UICA, Vice-President-designate, Democracy and Demography, Are you prepared to take on board the idea that an association of citizens should have the right to put forward ideas and vote rather than merely be listened to by the decision makers.

SOUNDBITE (French), Pascal DURAND (RE, FR), The winds of change blowing through Europe. There's a theory that suggests that there needs to be a big replacement of European population if you like. What do you think about this?

SOUNDBITE (English), Dubravka &#352;UICA, Vice-President-designate, Democracy and Demography, I don't believe in this theory andI would like to say because this is really in the heart of my portfolio. Twenty years ago we lived six yes less . Ageing is a very important issue and we have to take care about this. But let's talk about that later on. I think that the birthrate is decreasing and now I have to introduce the topic of migrations you know which means illegal migration is OK without legal migrants. Our. Labour market in 2070 will miss with this with this rate barely missed twenty five percent of working people.

SOUNDBITE (German), Helmut SCHOLZ (GUE/NGL, DE), The question about the future of Europe conference. Now as representatives of the people are you going to give us an important role in setting the objectives in shaping the conference choice of methods and instrument and also inclusion of civil society? Also in conjunction with the Council and with the national parliaments? Because I think that is the key question that has to be looked at.

SOUNDBITE (English), Dubravka &#352;UICA, Vice-President-designate, Democracy and Demography, Everyone will be included I said. Listening among us is very very important. We have to listen to each other and then to see what to do with this. So national parliaments will be included of course definitely. So this is the reason I said to Mr. Bouergios, that you have to use all doors we have until now. So national parliaments of course then NGOs.

SOUNDBITE (English), Vladim&#237;r BIL&#268;&#205;K (EPP, SK), What are your thoughts about how we should engage in the member states?

SOUNDBITE (English), Dubravka &#352;UICA, Vice-President-designate, Democracy and Demography, x