Csaba Sógor (PPE). – Madam President, increased inequality bears direct social costs: it reduces access to labour markets, decreases social mobility, hinders social inclusion and cohesion, and limits the self-fulfilling potential of individuals. It also undermines economic development. It also hampers productivity, especially if those with low incomes suffer poor health or if they do not have adequate access to education.

Worryingly, inequality has been on the rise recently. This is why it is so important that we deal with all factors determining it, such as the changes in the global economy, regional variations in competitiveness or the lack of structural reforms. Devising a cure to such problems also demands that we correctly identify where responsibilities lie, what are the measures Member States are responsible for and best placed to take, which are the areas where the EU can give effective support, how we avoid moral hazard, and how we avoid discouraging individual self-reliance.

Even though it does not always succeed in this task, the report has the merit of listing a great number of sectors where it is imperative to act in order to reduce inequality. Key among these, in my opinion, is education. If we want to lay the groundwork for more equal societies and economic success, the first thing we should do is to guarantee well-funded public education and lifelong learning systems.