Having been appointed as a president
of the European Commission by the European Council,
following the vote of consent by the European Parliament,
I solemnly undertake:
to respect the treaties and the Charter of
Fundamental Rights of the European Union in the fulfilment of all my duties.
As I was preparing our solemn oath to serve the European Union, over and over again came
one image to my mind.
We were not asked to place our hand on a constitution, as the leaders of other democracies do, but
as I read the words on the oath I imagined to place my hand on the treaties of the European
Union and on the Charter of Fundamental Rights.
It is a huge responsibility that we have just undertaken.
We are guardians of the treaties and we have the responsibility to give life to the treaties,
with our daily work and our daily action.
Because the treaties and the charter that we swear to respect are more than a list of
articles and commas.
They embody everything we stand for as a Union.
They tell the story of our European continent.
The story of how we went from centuries of war
to creating this unprecedented continental
democracies.
We must be proud for what is in the treaties and the charter.
The individual right to life and to liberty,
equality of women and men,
the right to fair and just working conditions,
the duty to fight for social justice,
the duty to promote peace
inside and outside our borders.
In the treaties and the charter you will find ancient wisdom
and incredible modernity.
They are the essence of centuries of philosophy and of the mistakes of our past.
Some of these rights are rooted in our traditions, others were only conquered recently after
decades of struggle.
In no other place in the world will you find such an amazing set of rights and freedoms
from gender equality to the protection of personal data.
Ladies and gentlemen of the court, today we take an oath in front of you which represents
the law and the rule of law.
Today we make an oath to respect and protect our European values.
Today we take an oath for all that we hold dearest.
And we take this oath for every European citizen,
whether they come from a small or big member state,
the West, the East, the North or the South.
Because Europe doesn't progress if we all do not progress.
If national interest are reconciled in a bigger European interest.
There is no single European Union.
If we are united we are all stronger.
Stronger on the international scene,
strongeragainst climate change,
stronger to protect the interests of our citizens.
The words that we just spoke are raising the bar very high for everyone of us.
We are determined to meet this challenge.
This Commission is taking office at a more challenging time than ever.
To guarantee that we are working in the interest of European citizens,
we want to be a more transparent and more liable Commission,
to win everyday the confidence of European citizens.
Because it is up to them what will happen to Europe.
These people are Europe's biggest hope.
Together they build the biggest riches of this continent, that we call our European home.
Dear Mr president you just outlined the big challenge that we have devoted ourselves to,
to respect the planet
and to leave to our children and grandchildren
not only a liveable but also a viable planet.
In a time of algorithms, we need to make sure that it isn't the market or the state that
decides on personal date but that it is thought from each individual.
To ensure a form of migration that is sustainable and humane
at the same time and to protect and promote our values.
Values which grew over centuries to be embedded in democracies.
Values which came from the Age of Enlightenment and Roman law and Greek philosophy.
If Europe celebrates today and pauses or mourns than our European hymn is played.
It is the Ode to Joy.
The words of Ode to Joy are slightly old but their content is timeless.
I may quote, as the ode celebrates friendship:
Who has succeeded in the great attempt, To be a friend's friend.
The Ode to Joy celebrates forgiveness and reconciliation.
Anger and revenge be forgotten, Our deadly enemy be forgiven.
Our debt registers be abolished Reconcile the entire world!
The Ode to Joy celebrates joy.
Let us promise as a Commission, one hand on the treaties
and the other on our hearts,
that we won't only give our best to fulfil our duties and
to serve Europe
but to also do this with joy.
In this sense I always say:
Es lebe Europa.
Vive l'Europe.
Long live Europe.