Speech of the Employers' Group president, Sandra Parthie, at the inaugural ceremony of the new 2025-2027 mandate

President,
Dear colleagues,

My warmest congratulations, Séamus, on your election as President and to Alena and Maria as Vice-Presidents. I wish you all the best for your mandate.

Thank you Seamus for the presentation of your programme —reaffirming the central role of civil society in Europe’s future and reminding us of the role of the Committee: namely to strengthen citizens’ trust in democracy, in Europe, and in one another. Such trust is never given; it must be earned — through unity of purpose, tangible results, and genuine inclusion of diverse perspectives.

At the same time there is still much more to do to make the EESC THE voice of civil society for the EU institutions. We are meeting here in parallel to the leaders in the European Council, should we not be meeting with them?

We expect from you, President, a strong and targeted campaign of engagement with the other EU institutions to ensure they understand that the EESC is the institutional home of organised civil society. That its role must not be diluted or displaced and that we can play our full role in shaping policies and contributing the voice of civic society best by being consulted before initiatives are adopted by the Commission - not out of institutional pride, but because the quality of European democracy depends on it.

The Employers’ Group fully shares your call for collegiality. The EESC fulfils its mission only when it speaks with one voice — Achieving this balance is essential

We stand ready to work constructively together with you as president and with colleagues from all Groups provided our views are reflected in your work.

President, you have rightly placed opportunity at the heart of your vision. Being able to use opportunities means agency and dignity — and it arises where enterprise, innovation, and work can flourish.

Economic vitality remains the strongest shield against poverty; employment is the most successful form of social policy. Only a competitive Europe can truly afford to care properly.

I want to recall the reports by Draghi and Letta and especially how fixing the Single Market is arguably our most effective tool for delivering growth and competitiveness, and creating jobs.

Competitiveness is not an end, but the foundation of prosperity and social progress. A genuine Union of Opportunities must also be a Union for Entrepreneurs — one that enables SMEs to transform ideas into jobs and innovation into inclusion.

Enterprises, small, medium and large ones, sustain the very fabric of our societies; and must be given the space to flourish, not be bound by red tape. Only then will they be able to design, produce, and master the skills and technologies that will secure our future

President, you have invited us to work together. The Employers’ Group is ready to do so — with unity, pragmatism, and shared purpose to turn Europe into a place of opportunities — a Europe that leads rather than follows.