Following the meeting yesterday in Paris between the heads of state and government of France, Italy, Germany and Spain, the president of the Socialists and Democrats Group in the European parliament, Gianni Pittella, commented on the option of a multi-speed Europe:
 
"We firmly believe the European Union's integration path should be about progress together on one single track. Nobody should be intentionally left behind and nobody should envisage a Europe with different tracks to create a first-class Europe opposed to a second-class Union. But at the same time, nobody should have the right to veto the intentions expressed by some member states to reinforce their co-operation. As the treaties clearly state, a multi-speed Europe in some fields is actually already a fact and it can be further developed as an option as long as it remains open to other member states who might be willing to join, based on the same criteria, even at a later stage.

"In this context, we consider it crucial to strengthen co-operation, starting by establishing a real European finance minister, along with real financial tools such as Eurobonds and an appropriate fiscal capacity to boost investments and growth-oriented policies. Including a social pillar should also be a top priority, as well as a united European fight against tax avoidance and tax evasion.

"In other words, defence should not be the only field where eventually member states invest more in co-operation.

"However, such forms of co-operation must not endanger the key policies of the EU, including cohesion policy."