Nicolas Schmit, European Commissioner for Employment and Social Rights, his name is circulating as the head of the list for European socialists for the June 2024 election. He “ imagine accepting it ”, and poses the debate for 2024: “ccontinue to work on the social and economic dimension of Europe […] It is the opposite of a Europe that is withdrawing, a Europe of nationalisms. “.
He applauds the results of the temporary protection status granted to some 4.5 million people as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. A majority of women and children: “ I would say that there are certainly things that can be improved both in terms of work and the integration of children. But overall, I can conclude that it was a successful operation, thanks also to the solidarity of the Member States, but also thanks to the solidarity of citizens. » But when the Poles blocked the border with Ukraine refusing cheap competition from Ukrainian drivers, he clarified: “ the social dimension is a central element of our enlargement policy.” Must also ” solve these problems » with Poland « to show that enlargement is not another way of promoting social dumping. »
The “Employment Tinder”, set up by his commission, estimates that there will be a need for 7 million additional workers in Europe by the end of the century, due to our aging demographics. Despite the virulence of the debate on immigration, Nicolas Schmit maintains that we must “ carry out organized legal immigration “. If Europe lacks manpower “ we can try to correct and fill these deficits through organized immigration and ‘de-emotionalize’ the migration debate because immigration is also an opportunity for Europe. »