Inaugural speech

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European Parliament Vice President Younous Omarjee,

Minister of State for EU Affairs, Thomas Byrne,

Commissioner Hadja Lahbib,

Your Excellencies,

Presidents of the National Economic and Social Councils,

Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends,

I stand before you today both proud and with humility.

Proud, because you have given me the honour of presiding over the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC). I am convinced that it is this European body with its three Groups and the grassroots organisations that they represent, that will help re-build optimism and trust in our societies.    

But I also stand before you with humility.

You have seen the video. Fifty years ago, I never would have imagined being the recipient of such an honour. That small field in the video, that is the piece of land that I literally toiled in sweat. That field, is what kept my family fed and is where I am rooted. It has been quite a journey and the people dearest to me who shared that journey are here with us today…

So yes, I know where I am coming from and I know where I want to go.

I stand before you a man of strong convictions, passionate about equality, justice and social inclusion. Determined to defend the fragile flower of European democracy. That democracy does need defending, now more than ever, with increasing threats to the rule of law, fundamental rights and a shrinking space for civil society.

We are living through extraordinary times of geopolitical upheaval, global insecurities and planetary crises. With only five years remaining until the deadline of 2030 to deliver on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which were intended to re-shape the map of what the world should look like by 2030.

Unimaginably, war is again scarring the European continent. A war of aggression by Russia against Ukraine, that every EU institution and body must play its part in opposing. At the same time as resolutely supporting the Ukrainian people.

Consequently, I am pleased to announce that already next week, I will be travelling to the three Baltic States, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, to demonstrate our support and commitment to the people of these three front-line countries.

I will meet with government officials and most importantly, with civil society representatives, during what is undoubtedly a difficult and worrying time for them. I hope to carry the message that we, civil society, will always work together to protect democracy, our European rights and values!

Turning to Gaza. After two years of immense suffering and loss of life in both Israel and Gaza, potentially, there is now the possibility of a new chapter of peace and reconstruction, that I very much welcome. However, this new chapter should only come about with the support of and actions by the EU, alongside international partners, agencies and civil society.

Against this background of global instability, it is easy to understand why our peace project - the EU - has had to respond with agility and place an emphasis on also being a defence project. The old Europe we knew has gone. It has given way to a new reality, a new Europe.

A line from a poem by William Butler Yeats springs to mind: "All changed, changed utterly, A terrible beauty is born".

Gone are the old norms. In this new EU, we must be prepared, resilient and self-reliant. We need a strong European economy supporting SMEs, critical technologies, favouring long-term investment, entrepreneurship and competitiveness.

We need decent, quality and skilled jobs for workers, a Europe that delivers a just digital and green transition, with human-centred artificial intelligence at the workplace.

And we need inclusive societies that fight for equality and social justice, respecting the values and standards of the European Pillar of Social Rights.

With so many problems and instabilities plaguing Europe, it is imperative that the EU embraces change. And the EESC must play its part in shaping that change and in building this new Europe! Today more than ever, we civil society, must demonstrate to all Europeans why the EU is valuable and sound the alarm where necessary.

Ladies and gentlemen, friends,

In drawing up my work programme I have been inspired by Jean Monnet, who said that "We don't unite States, we unite people". These views were echoed by my compatriot, John Hume, who sat for many years as an MEP in this House.

Taking inspiration from these great Europeans, during my mandate I will prioritise a people-centred work programme. Where our Committee becomes a catalyst of civil society participation.

All my life, civil society has been in my heart.

Now, I want to put civil society at the heart of Europe!

And my vision is of an EU of opportunities, security and resilience, that together we can help to deliver.

Let me briefly tell you what I want to do, with a work programme built on three pillars:

1. A Union of opportunities;
2. A Union of security; and
3. A Union of resilience.

The first pillar is a Union of Opportunities, which has at its centre the eradication of poverty.

For me, poverty is not an abstract concept. Nor is it inevitable. I am fortunate to be among the minority who have overcome poverty during their lifetime. And I fully share the views of another Irish writer, Oscar Wilde, who wisely wrote: "The proper aim, is to try and reconstruct society on such a basis that poverty will be impossible".

I can assure you that over the next 2 and a half years, this Committee will very work hard to defend those who have no voice! We will strive to combat social exclusion and to maximise opportunities for the homeless, the marginalised and persons with disabilities.

We will also seek to improve opportunities for young people. I ask you: have we forgotten that they exist? I was involved in youth work for many years and I know that it is essential to generate and maintain the trust of European youth, if we are to deliver sustainable solutions to our challenges over the next 30 years. This has been a difficult decade for young people. And so we must improve their structured participation in EU policy-making, as well as explore how to protect the emotional health of both young people and children.

Moving on to my second pillar, a Union of security.

This pillar is built around defending civic space, democracy and media freedom. All of which require constant protection. It will focus attention on the need for the EESC and the EU, to invest in proactive strategies to better manage crises. To engage in civil preparedness, through holistic approaches and direct cooperation with civil society.

This pillar will also seek to re-affirm the Committee's solidarity with civil society outside the EU. It highlights the need for more foresight in the Committee's activities and draws attention to threats to European internal security.   

The third and final pillar of my work programme will focus on a Union of resilience.

This pillar links the concept of resilience with the three dimensions of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. Balancing competitiveness and economic growth with social fairness, sustainability and resource management.

The pillar demonstrates the need for integrated, long-term strategies that benefit the entire European population. Consequently, over the next 2 and a half years, we will focus our work on sustainable agri-food systems, food security and viable rural communities. As well as on maintaining the Blue Deal as a strategic priority for the Committee and helping sustain the EU's ambitions on climate change and biodiversity loss.

Dear friends,

If we are to deliver on this ambitious work programme, then we must work together within the Committee as one. European civil society is composed of Members from the three EESC Groups: the Employers’, Workers’ and the Civil Society Organisations’ Groups. Civil society, working closely at all levels, is the best vehicle to unite people and the EU!

Consequently, my Presidency will be one of synergies, solidarity and alliances. I as a President, will need you.

Firstly, I will work closely and collegially with the EESC vice-presidents, the Group, Section and CCMI Presidents, other key office-holders within our Committee and all other Members. We will build on the achievements of previous Presidents, several of whom are here today and I salute the important work you did for the EESC and civil society at large.

We will also rely on the knowledge, professionalism and dedication of all EESC staff, under the guidance of our Secretary General. Finally, I will be assisted by my team, working under the experience of my head of Cabinet

Secondly, we have a responsibility to closely engage with and remain relevant to, wider European civil society. To help achieve this, I will directly involve the EESC’s Liaison Group with European civil society organisations and networks, in the implementation of the work programme. And I very much look forward to working closely with the new co-chair of the Liaison Group.

I will also seek to establish alliances with non-EU civil society, in the EU neighbourhood area and beyond.

Thirdly, during this mandate we will work hand-in-hand with the other European institutions and EU bodies. Notably, the European Parliament, European Commission, our sister body the European Committee of the Regions, as well as with EU Member States and National Economic and Social Councils. I already began this work by meeting with the President of the European Council this morning, to talk about solutions to the European housing crisis. Our collaboration will continue in the weeks and months ahead on this and other topics of importance to citizens, including the young.

In so doing, we will jointly strengthen the democratic legitimacy of the EU. Indeed, I have already scheduled a visit to the European Parliament in Strasbourg next month, with a view to deepening and broadening our working relations.

Ladies and gentlemen,

I will bring my speech to a close by stating the obvious: you cannot participate fully in society if you are poor, disadvantaged or excluded. Nor can you fully participate if there is a shrinking civic space, if your security is under threat, nor if our societies and economies are not resilient. That is why tackling poverty must be at the heart of our actions.

My Presidency is a call to arms. It is our job, your job to bridge the gap between the national and European levels.  I want every single person in the EU to feel included. I want them to take advantage of the opportunities that the EU provides. The EU needs to be promoted. And I want them to use us, the EESC, to make sure their voice is heard in Europe.

But my Presidency is also a call to arms to you, as individual Members. Why are you here? What new ideas can we develop and promote together, to make life easier for the people that we jointly represent across the EU? And remember, you have the rare privilege to represent them here at the Committee.

Tá ’fhios agam cén fáth a bhfuil mé anseo. Tá mé anseo mar teastaíonn uaim labhairt ar son daoine gan ghuth. Na daoine sin atá bocht, imeallaithe agus soghonta. Tá guth láidir tuillte acu.

Geallaim gur mise a bheidh sa ghuth sin.

ENGLISH TRANSLATION:

I know why I am here. I am here because I want to speak on behalf of people who do not have a voice. Those who are poor, marginalised and vulnerable. They deserve a strong voice.

I promise to be that voice.

And standing before you today, I turn my thoughts to all those for whom I worked that field fifty years ago. My mother, my father, my brother and sister and all the neighbours who helped us at that time. I ask you to also remember those who were dear to you.

So let us work together, to put civil society at heart of Europe!

Thank you.