Five years ago, Raffaele Fitto was in a similar position to that of the current representatives of the European Parliament. During his hearing, he shared his political journey, underlining his commitment to a stronger and more cohesive Europe. Fitto expressed his honour at receiving the nomination from his government and made it clear that he was not there to represent a single party or member state, but to serve the common interest of the European Union.
In his speech, Fitto said that he will always act in the interest of the Union and its citizens. He highlighted that, for the first time, an Executive Vice-President has been given a specific mandate for cohesion, underlining the importance of this policy in his mandate.
Cohesion policy is essential for European integration and plays a key role in reducing inequalities between regions. Citizens must be at the heart of this initiative. Fitto also mentioned the demographic challenge that Europe must face together, promising to work with the new commissioner on housing issues.
The Commissioner-designate argued that open and constructive dialogue is crucial, despite political differences. He said that cultural diversity is an asset for Europe and that everyone has a responsibility to work for the well-being of European citizens. Furthermore, Fitto stressed the importance of cohesion policy in achieving the European Union’s climate objectives. He proposed simplifying the policy, making it more flexible and transparent, given that it represents about one third of the Union’s multiannual budget. Fitto outlined three key points for an effective cohesion policy:
With a mandate that promises to be full of challenges, Raffaele Fitto aims to use his experience to strengthen ties between European regions and promote inclusive policies. His cohesion-focused approach could mark a significant step towards a more integrated and resilient Europe. It will be interesting to see how these initiatives translate into concrete actions in the coming years.
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