David SASSOLI, EP President, delivers a speech by video conference at the innaugural session of the Italian Government National consultation to discuss a new strategy for economic recovery, in Brussels.

Speech by David SASSOLI, EP President at the innaugural session of the Italian Government National consultation to discuss a new strategy for economic recovery: video conference

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David SASSOLI, EP President Thank you. Thank you President. Greeting. I thank the Italian Government for this invitation which I have accepted with great pleasure greeting all those connected with us.

David SASSOLI, EP President It is important that national governments at this time focus on the strategies to be adopted to make concrete the instruments that the Union has already made available or intends to develop.

David SASSOLI, EP President In Europe, there is great confidence in the Italian government in the national community that has shown in this difficult time great courage of solidarity discipline.

David SASSOLI, EP President In Brussels, the first phase of the pandemic prompted us to reflect on the need for a different Europe, we knew immediately that we were entering a new phase and the choices were very different from the past.

David SASSOLI, EP President Citizens day after day could understand that we were not in front of the usual Europe seen often far from real life. The Union has produced a change of historic scope in just a few weeks as you President said earlier and not grasping it would be a serious political mistake.

David SASSOLI, EP President True there are still issues to clarify negotiations to be completed will not miss even harsh contrasts but a breakthrough has been accomplished.

David SASSOLI, EP President I call on everyone to consider the European Central Bank's purchasing programme as part of the same European response the suspension of the Stability and Growth Pact of the derogation from State aid. The ESM credit line without too much conditionality the doubling of the Union budget and its financing with common instruments the introduction into the provision of resources of the principle of greater need suppression as you know of state funding in cohesion funds.

David SASSOLI, EP President We are not only faced with emergency measures, the coordinates of the policies that have governed Europe over the last 20 years have changed. The neoliberal canons that had driven the Union into the difficulties and imbalances we have experienced have been deemed unfit to face the new phase, and this is the political node that needs grab and from which we have to start again.

David SASSOLI, EP President We must now all commit ourselves to setting a solid foundation for the new course and to show that after the austerity that has generated inequality, there can be a stronger Europe that is close to the citizens capable of playing a role such as global actor.

David SASSOLI, EP President All this without Italy will not be possible this leap of quality will not be achieved and from this results a great responsibility and no less great than the opportunities offered to all our countries. The leader's lesson tells us that there is no politics there is no sovereignty that there is no national identity without the European horizon. Current difficulties can only be addressed and overcome with common policies.

David SASSOLI, EP President What a future it can be. On the other hand, without a European vision for the countries facing this crisis, it is clear to everyone by now that no one can cope alone that the first and most important national interest is that of cohesion European of its unity of its solidarity.

David SASSOLI, EP President The European Parliament immediately asked the Union for an ambitious response and I thank the President of The Hague, Commissioner Gentiloni, for listening to Parliament's voice, it is useful to listen to Parliament because Parliaments represent citizens.

David SASSOLI, EP President During these difficult months the European Parliament has continued to exercise its function in a different way in the interest of our public views. We are co-legislators budgetary authority political address body. We certainly do not want to give up our prerogatives even at this stage as you know a difficult phase of negotiations. We're not going to discount.

David SASSOLI, EP President For us, the Commission proposal is the minimum basis for compromise and we will not accept any backward steps on this. We know we can count on the commitment of the Italian government.

David SASSOLI, EP President The proposal for recovery fond radically changes the dynamics between national governments and Brussels. If the Commission was earlier to indicate to governments how to use the funds today, the terms of the mechanism have reversed, the governments will indicate the reforms they intend to promote.

David SASSOLI, EP President This is a profound change which shows how the Union has learned lessons from past mistakes.

David SASSOLI, EP President Governments are now being called upon to greater accountability and to show their ability to plan spending. For many countries this means initiating reforms and using resources and not sending them back as has often happened to many countries in the past.

David SASSOLI, EP President This is why we need a change of gears in the relationship between the Regions and the Central Government. In Italy, for example, there is a need for infrastructure.

David SASSOLI, EP President A less railway road in the Mezzogiorno and certainly a detriment to the citizens of those regions, but it is also a detriment to all European citizens and businesses. That's why a new look is imposed on everyone.

David SASSOLI, EP President I remember that the funds that will come into the national coffers will be public and the loss or waste of this money will not be eligible. Spending capacity will have to significantly increase countries that have difficulty in ordinary design will have to rapidly change many of their procedures.

David SASSOLI, EP President However, the public address of resources on the basis of European priorities will be crucial. As the European Commission has indicated, Parliament has also reaffirmed because the public will have to be the protagonist of the reconstruction. This is also the right time to reaffirm a renewed public role in economic and industrial policy.

David SASSOLI, EP President It is not a question of recovering models of the past, but of affirming a function of defending the weakest of our weakest areas and aligning national programmes with European objectives.

David SASSOLI, EP President For this you need consistency transparency pragmatism. It is naturally up to the Italian government along with the institutional social economic actors. These days are very important to decide which path to take and what reforms to insist on.

David SASSOLI, EP President For my part just some food for thought. The first challenge as dear President recalled that of the adequacy of a reflection on the adequacy of our health care systems we will never stop remembering and thanking health personnel for the extraordinary contribution he has provided.

David SASSOLI, EP President In this emergency, however, we understood the importance of preserving and strengthening our European social model, which also ensures everyone has access to health services.

David SASSOLI, EP President Today there is discussion in Europe on the need for better coordination in the management of health emergencies and greater self-sufficiency in the field of medical equipment and research.

David SASSOLI, EP President Many productions have to come back to us and after the mad cow developed an integrated European animal health policy; it would be absurd if we were not able to have common standards of management and intervention on human health.

David SASSOLI, EP President I believe that at national level we must also start a plan to reform the health system so as to make it more robust efficient and homogeneous accessible in different territories, we need to think about a better cooperation between the State and the Regions. I remember that many dysfunctions and controversies were not only in Italy but also occurred in other countries.

David SASSOLI, EP President For this reason, the European Union has made available an EMS funding line to cover direct or indirect health expenditure.

David SASSOLI, EP President I do not want to enter into the debate concerning the choices that the government will make because my opinion is known.

David SASSOLI, EP President Regardless of the instrument that will be used that of health, it is a public good that deserves investment and which significantly affects not only the GDP of our countries but also the welfare of the standards on the well-being of our societies.

David SASSOLI, EP President The recovery plan was rightly named Next Generation EU is called that because it will serve to invest on the next generations we undue Remo future generations and we must feel the responsibility to pay them back in prosperity development growth.

David SASSOLI, EP President So a lot will need to be focused on young people will serve, for example. Investment on common goods education training. We have to be able to give everyone the same opportunities. This is why it is enough to use Series A and Series B schools in Europe because we understand that the difficulties of many European students to access distance teaching for example due to lack of tools Technological is the litmus test of heavy backwardness.

David SASSOLI, EP President Access to technology must be considered a new human and social right for no one to stay behind or be discriminated against.

David SASSOLI, EP President Young but also women many affected by this crisis. The data tells us we could go back this we don't have to allow it is to them that we have to look at when we talk about plans to revive the economy in the knowledge that female unemployment is not only a cause of social inequality but also a resounding squandering of the potential of enrichment resources for our societies.

David SASSOLI, EP President But what will be our vision of the future. The choice of the Union is a new development model based on the green economy sustainability and digital transition.

David SASSOLI, EP President We want to become a leader in combating climate change and therefore it is absolutely necessary for national revival plans to be well aligned with this goal. These objectives will not achieve Brussels without the Member States without the commitment of national governments and national parliaments. Environmental sustainability and social sustainability run hand in hand.

David SASSOLI, EP President In Europe, too, we have touched on how aggressive fiscal practices in some countries are taking resources away from other countries and it is right to remedy them. Chancellor Merkel has spoken about this recently, and I have expressed the support of the European Parliament.

David SASSOLI, EP President To be able to identify how to outline common tax standards to demand behaviour different from others. However, you must also prove that you have the cards in good standing. Italy needs to think a little more about a strategy of combating evasion that takes away from its citizens every year according to Istat about €100 billion.

David SASSOLI, EP President I believe that the time has come, because in this period the vast majority of citizens who do their duty have realised the importance of the public services of essential services that are also made available to those who do not contribute. This is an anti-social phenomenon, but also an obstacle to the international credibility of our countries.

David SASSOLI, EP President The crisis has also shown that opening up our countries to other economies is an indispensable phenomenon.

David SASSOLI, EP President This, as you know, also poses risks in terms of the strategic autonomy of the integrity of the internal market. At European level, a reflection is taking place on the idea of a balance between defence of competition and the possibility of enabling the formation of industrial champions capable of competing to equal arms with their extra European competitors.

David SASSOLI, EP President . We need to increase Europe's competition capabilities to guarantee our national systems and this challenge is also a great opportunity for Italy.

David SASSOLI, EP President Dear President Conte, we must, of course, quickly. Hurry but well all indicators tell us that the crisis will hit hard. Structural reforms are needed for direct support to people.

David SASSOLI, EP President Yesterday Spain announced the minimum income vital to support the right to life of its poorest citizens.

David SASSOLI, EP President Simplify and ensure efficiency in the public and private act promptly. Of course it serves foresight. This is what European citizens are asking us.

David SASSOLI, EP President The Union is indicating the port to be reached. European governments set course and hold their hand firmly on the rudder.

David SASSOLI, EP President We must build together a new personality of our continent and do it as Herman Hesse invited pushing deeper into the roots without shaking the branches. I thank you and of course wish you.

David SASSOLI, EP President Good luck. Buon lavoro.

Speech by David SASSOLI, EP President at the innaugural session of the Italian Government National consultation to discuss a new strategy for economic recovery: video conference

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