Thank you, president Adina-Ioana VĂLEAN, president Sabine VERHEYEN,
ladies and gentlemen, coordinators, and members of the committee's on the
industry, research, and energy and on culture and education. members of
Parliament, dear colleagues. On my way here I remember traveling on the same
road on the 20th of June 2017, then it was my hearing here, after I was
designated commissioner. Over these two years and three months we worked with
you in the spirit of cooperation compromise and the shared vision for
Europe's digital future. This is why first of all I would like to extend a
word of thanks. I'd like to thank the European Parliament and everyone with
whom we work together on dozens of digital files. These were days, not quite
overnights, but it was worth it. We've had some fruitful discussions with
many of you and I wish that this cooperation go on. I would like to extend
the word of thanks to the Bulgarian government and Prime Minister Boyko
Borissov for putting their trust in me as the Bulgarian Commissioner designate.
I would like to thank the president-elect Ursula von der Leyen for her resolve to
bring together innovation and research with education, culture, sport, and youth
and for that in trusting me with this large portfolio, it's not by chance that
I started with a digital single market. I'm happy that many of the initiatives
from my preceding portfolio can take on a new dimension now and I believe that
in the next hours within this dialogue we will identify new ideas tools and instruments
for our researchers, innovators, universities, teachers, athletes, young
people, artists... I will rely on you
to try to achieve the same goal. To create a European space of science,
education, innovation, culture, sport which will come up to the expectations of
young people and our citizens. In this spirit I will remain true to my approach: people
at the centre of policies. Making no distinction between big and small.
No one should be left behind. I would like to build on all of this with thinking out of the box.
It's a great honor to me and in sitting before you humbly today
as the candidate for the position of member of the European Commission
in charge of research, innovation, education
culture, youth, and sport. For me this means undertaking a new partnership
which I hope will be as sustainable and strong as during my previous term.
This partnership, something I want to build on as part of continuity of the commitment
entered into with you at my last hearing. Working for more inclusive Europe, not
leaving any one citizen behind, and I think, first and foremost, of millions of
young Europeans who are threatened by poverty and exclusion. The portfolio that
the president-elect has in mind for me is essentially innovative. It stretches
from basic research to the dissemination of our cultures, promoting innovation,
education, sport for all, and of course European youth. Which is our most beautiful
asset, as it incorporates such prominent programs as Horizon, Erasmus where the
youth will discover the EU. This forms a consistent whole and we need to build up
the synergies. We need to make it all work. The common denominator amongst all
these areas is that they touch on citizens in their daily lives. They embody
a Europe of talents but also a Europe of hearts. You have talents since for the first
time the policies in the knowledge triangle are all being brought together in the same
portfolio: education, research, and innovation. These are also the vital
prerequisites for growth and sustainability. They're equally vital for
the ecological, social, and economic transitions that we must bring about if
we're to rise to the challenge of climate change, technological and
demographic trends. These talents are ones you're familiar with. I'm talking
about our researchers, our teachers, our students, our business people, our innovators.
This Europe of talent forms an a harmonious whole with the Europe
of hearts. The hearts that inspire our young people, our artists, and creators in all
their diversity. Our sports people, whatever their event may be, whatever level they
play at, or our rich cultural heritage.
I would like briefly to list some of the
challenges that we all face. First of all we have to preserve Europe's position as
a world leader in science. We account for 7% of the world's population, but 20% of
research and development in the world and 1/3 of high-quality
scientific publications are brought out in Europe. More than the U.S. and China who
are catching up with us fast. It's essential that Europe preserve its
leadership because this is research which provides the raw material for
knowledge. We have an excellent example in the JRC and this challenge goes hand
in hand with the paradox, to maintain Europe's position at the crossroads of
knowledge, we must maintain our framework research program and keep
it as open and substantial as it is today. Secondly, we need to rise to the
challenge of developing our innovative firms. Europe is burgeoning with young
new firms but it's hard for them to develop. A business which is forced to
move to develop, takes innovative solutions and jobs with it, as well as
its social and economic impact. The creation of a new European innovation
Council to back up the European Institute for innovation and technology
is a response to this challenge. We must now ensure that the necessary conditions
are met for our innovation community, our startups, and our SMEs. The third challenge is
to change widening into sharing. The fragmentation in research and innovation
is a fact. With a few well-known exceptions, all too often what we're
seeing is a vicious circle of low local investment, low wages, and brain drain.
There's no easy fix, but trends are encouraging. The fragmentation is
gradually being reduced. During the Research and Innovation Days I was inspired
by what I heard from researchers involved in teaming and twining
programs. I heard them describe how these projects were breaking out of that
vicious circle. And we saw how our partners emerged from this process in a
stronger position is this win/win dynamic that I want to stimulate.
The fourth challenge is better involving citizens and regions.
There'll be no strong European Union, which our citizens can understand
and unless we can allow them to grasp what is happening, support and share our
common goals. Of course that's a challenge for the Commission. This is
a portfolio that brings us particularly close to the citizens so I do need to
redouble my efforts on that. And I would invite all you to join me at town hall
meetings, which I'll be very happy to organize in
your constituencies. My fifth challenge is part of the the same logic, backing
up the geopolitical vision of Mrs von der Leyen in the areas in my portfolio
which are close to citizens. It's equally important to look at our international
partnerships, and I think of course of the the Western Balkans, Africa and southern
shores of the Mediterranean, and the Eastern Partnership as well as Japan,
Canada, and other strategic partnerships. The sixth challenge is culture. As was
the case in 2018 the European year of heritage. European culture in all its
diversity gets to the very heart of who we are. Our culture is the soil in which
our common values grow and we place human beings at the centre by preserving
our heritage, supporting our artists creativity, and promoting technological
innovation, we will help build more united and peaceful European societies
which will be stronger in an ever more unpredictable world. The seventh
challenge is simply the challenge you face. Maintaining our proposal for a
substantial budget to cover all these fields in the next financial period.
Please realise that in me you will have a tenacious indefatigable defender.
Then another challenge is the role of women in the areas covered my
portfolio. You know how close this subject is to my heart and I would just
simply like to state that my commitment remains fully intact as we move into
this new term. Honourable members, I've committed myself to you, to placing
citizens at the heart of my political action, and to pursue clearly inclusive
policies. Before going into the details of certain elements I would like to
enter into a further commitment in front of you.
Times have changed. Some pre-existing structures need to be revisited. Our assets
must be maintained and weak points will require fresh solutions.
And so I have in mind initiatives beyond familiar territory, thinking more often
out-of-the-box, weaving close links between
institutional silos and creating our future together with all the players.
Starting by bringing together the College of Commissioners and you,
listening very carefully to all the players. In other words, I am committing
myself to bringing innovation and youth to our action, to listen and to work
together for the future.