Activities of Philippe BOULLAND
Plenary speeches (786)
Posting of workers in the framework of the provision of services (debate)
Common European sales law (A7-0301/2013 - Klaus-Heiner Lehne, Luigi Berlinguer)
Manufacture, presentation and sale of tobacco and related products (A7-0276/2013 - Linda McAvan)
Sexual exploitation and prostitution and its impact on gender equality (A7-0071/2014 - Mary Honeyball)
SOLVIT (A7-0059/2014 - Morten Løkkegaard)
European Investigation Order (A7-0477/2013 - Nuno Melo)
Visa requirements for third-countries nationals (A7-0104/2014 - Tanja Fajon)
EU-Indonesia voluntary partnership agreement on forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber products to the EU (A7-0043/2014 - Yannick Jadot)
Control of persons at external borders (A7-0082/2014 - Tanja Fajon)
Third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas when crossing the external borders of Member States and those whose nationals are exempt from that requirement (A7-0373/2013 - Mariya Gabriel)
Situation in Ukraine (RCB7-0219/2014, B7-0219/2014, B7-0220/2014, B7-0221/2014, B7-0222/2014, B7-0223/2014, B7-0224/2014)
Situation in Iraq (RCB7-0188/2014, B7-0188/2014, B7-0189/2014, B7-0190/2014, B7-0191/2014, B7-0192/2014, B7-0193/2014)
Use of armed drones (RCB7-0201/2014, B7-0201/2014, B7-0202/2014, B7-0203/2014, B7-0204/2014, B7-0205/2014, B7-0206/2014)
Fundamental rights in the European Union (2012) (A7-0051/2014 - Louis Michel)
European Arrest Warrant (A7-0039/2014 - Sarah Ludford)
EU-Indonesia voluntary partnership agreement on forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber products to the EU (B7-0187/2014)
Situation in Venezuela (RCB7-0207/2014, B7-0207/2014, B7-0212/2014, B7-0215/2014, B7-0216/2014, B7-0217/2014, B7-0218/2014)
Future of EU visa policy (B7-0194/2014)
Specific actions in the Common Fisheries Policy for developing the role of women (A7-0070/2014 - Dolores García-Hierro Caraballo, Raül Romeva i Rueda)
Private copying levies (A7-0114/2014 - Françoise Castex)
Implementation of the Youth Guarantee (debate)
Single market governance (A7-0066/2014 - Sergio Gaetano Cofferati)
Cohesion Policy (A7-0081/2014 - Vilja Savisaar-Toomast)
Optimising the potential of outermost regions (A7-0121/2014 - Younous Omarjee)
Evaluation of the Union's finances (A7-0068/2014 - Michael Theurer)
Deployment of the interoperable EU-wide eCall (A7-0482/2013 - Philippe De Backer)
EC-Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama Political dialogue and cooperation agreement, with the exception of Article 49(3) thereof (A7-0463/2013 - José Ignacio Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra)
EC-Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama Political dialogue and cooperation agreement, as regards Article 49(3) thereof (A7-0119/2014 - Renate Weber)
Guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States (A7-0470/2013 - Pervenche Berès)
Common system of value added tax (A7-0090/2014 - Ivo Strejček)
Amendment of decision 2009/831/EC as regards its period of application (A7-0113/2014 - Danuta Maria Hübner)
Amendment to Decision[nbsp ]2004/162/EC with regard to its implementation in Mayotte from 1[nbsp ]January[nbsp ]2014 (A7-0144/2014 - Danuta Maria Hübner)
EC-Indonesia framework agreement on comprehensive partnership and cooperation, with the exception of matters related to readmission (A7-0093/2014 - Ana Gomes)
EC-Indonesia framework agreement on comprehensive partnership and cooperation, with the exception of matters related to readmission (A7-0134/2014 - Ana Gomes)
EC-Indonesia framework agreement on comprehensive partnership and cooperation, as regards matters related to readmission (A7-0115/2014 - Ana Gomes)
EU-Turkey agreement on the readmission of persons residing without authorisation (A7-0097/2014 - Renate Sommer)
Recommendation for a decision - Extending Rule 147 of Parliament's Rules of Procedure until the end of the eighth parliamentary term
Amendment of Rules 166 (final vote) and 195(3) (voting in committee) of Parliament's Rules of Procedure (A7-0035/2014 - Carlo Casini)
Single European railway area (A7-0037/2014 - Saïd El Khadraoui)
Domestic passenger transport services by rail (A7-0034/2014 - Mathieu Grosch)
Interoperability of the rail system (A7-0033/2014 - Izaskun Bilbao Barandica)
Railway safety (A7-0015/2014 - Michael Cramer)
European Union Agency for Railways (A7-0016/2014 - Roberts Zīle)
Normalisation of the accounts of railway undertakings (A7-0472/2013 - Jaromír Kohlíček)
Occurrence reporting in civil aviation (A7-0317/2013 - Christine De Veyrac)
Deployment of the eCall in-vehicle system (A7-0106/2014 - Olga Sehnalová)
Insurance mediation (A7-0085/2014 - Werner Langen)
Third programme for the Union's action if the field of health (2014-2020) (A7-0224/2012 - Françoise Grossetête)
Trans-European telecommunications networks (A7-0272/2013 - Evžen Tošenovský)
Accessibility of public sector bodies' websites (A7-0460/2013 - Jorgo Chatzimarkakis)
Long-term financing of the European economy (A7-0065/2014 - Wolf Klinz)
Promoting development through responsible business practices (A7-0132/2014 - Judith Sargentini)
European Semester for economic policy coordination: annual growth survey 2014 - European Semester for economic policy coordination: employment and social aspects - Single market governance (debate)
Request for the waiver of the parliamentary immunity of Tadeusz Cymański (A7-0099/2014 - Dimitar Stoyanov)
Member States experiencing or threatened with serious difficulties with respect to their financial stability (A7-0046/2014 - Maria do Céu Patrão Neves)
Adapting legal acts providing for the use of the regulatory procedure with scrutiny (Articles 290 and 291 TFEU) (A7-0011/2014 - József Szájer)
Adapting legal acts in the area of Justice providing for the use of the regulatory procedure with scrutiny (Article 290 TFEU) (A7-0480/2013 - József Szájer)
Adapting legal acts providing for the use of the regulatory procedure with scrutiny (Article 290 TFEU) (A7-0010/2014 - József Szájer)
Appointment of a member of the Court of Auditors - Oskar HERICS (AT) (A7-0128/2014 - Inés Ayala Sender)
Amendment of Rule 136 of the Rules of Procedure on the attendance of Members at sittings (A7-0038/2014 - Gerald Häfner)
2020 target to reduce CO2 emissions from new passenger cars (A7-0151/2013 - Thomas Ulmer)
Community trade mark (A7-0031/2014 - Cecilia Wikström)
Freezing and confiscation of proceeds of crime (A7-0178/2013 - Monica Luisa Macovei)
Laws of the Member States relating to trade marks (A7-0032/2014 - Cecilia Wikström)
European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation and Training (Europol) (A7-0096/2014 - Agustín Díaz de Mera García Consuegra)
Conditions of entry and residence[nbsp ]of third-country nationals (A7-0377/2013 - Cecilia Wikström)
European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps (A7-0158/2013 - Michèle Striffler)
Fund for European aid to the most deprived (A7-0183/2013 - Emer Costello)
Biocidal products (A7-0354/2013 - Matthias Groote)
Combating violence against women (A7-0075/2014 - Antonyia Parvanova)
Delegation of legislative powers and the Commission's exercise of implementing powers (A7-0435/2013 - József Szájer)
European Semester for economic policy coordination: annual growth survey 2014 (A7-0084/2014 - Philippe De Backer)
European Semester for economic policy coordination: employment and social aspects (A7-0091/2014 - Sergio Gutiérrez Prieto)
Plant breeding (A7-0044/2014 - Marit Paulsen)
Compensation and assistance to passengers in the event of denied boarding and of cancellation or long delay of flights (A7-0020/2014 - Georges Bach)
A 2030 framework for climate and energy policies (A7-0047/2014 - Anne Delvaux, Konrad Szymański)
Undocumented women migrants in the European Union (A7-0001/2014 - Norica Nicolai)
Imports of Atlantic bigeye tuna (A7-0475/2013 - Raül Romeva i Rueda)
EU-Gabon protocol setting out fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for in the Fisheries Partnership Agreement (A7-0049/2014 - João Ferreira)
Relations between the EU on the one hand, and Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark on the other (A7-0054/2014 - Ricardo Cortés Lastra)
Insurance of natural and man-made disasters (A7-0005/2014 - Sampo Terho)
Appointment of the Vice-Chair of the Supervisory Board of the European Central Bank (A7-0086/2014 - Sharon Bowles)
Agreement between the European Union and the Swiss Confederation concerning cooperation on the application of their competition laws (A7-0060/2014 - George Sabin Cutaş)
EU cooperation agreements on competition policy enforcement – the way forward (B7-0088/2014)
Authorising Member States to ratify, in the interests of the European Union, the Arms Trade Treaty (A7-0041/2014 - David Martin)
Arms Trade Treaty (B7-0075/2014)
Protection against dumped and subsidised imports from countries not members of the EU (A7-0053/2014 - Christofer Fjellner)
Compliance with the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy (A7-0468/2013 - Isabelle Thomas)
Equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres (A7-0255/2012 - Zuzana Roithová) - Explosives for civil uses (A7-0256/2012 - Zuzana Roithová) - Non-automatic weighing instruments (A7-0257/2012 - Zuzana Roithová) - Electromagnetic compatibility (A7-0258/2012 - Zuzana Roithová) - Electrical equipment designed for use within certain voltage limits (A7-0259/2012 - Zuzana Roithová) - Lifts and safety components for lifts (A7-0260/2012 - Zuzana Roithová) - Simple pressure vessels (A7-0261/2012 - Zuzana Roithová) - Measuring instruments (A7-0376/2012 - Zuzana Roithová)
Insolvency proceedings (A7-0481/2013 - Klaus-Heiner Lehne)
Inclusion of Greenland in implementing the Kimberley Process certification scheme (A7-0467/2013 - Vital Moreira)
Participation of Greenland in the Kimberley Process certification scheme (A7-0466/2013 - Vital Moreira)
Migration to Union-wide credit transfers and direct debits (A7-0036/2014 - Sharon Bowles)
Cape Town Agreement of 2012 on the Implementation of the provisions of the 1993 Protocol relating to the Torremolinos International Convention of 1977 for the Safety of Fishing Vessels (A7-0040/2014 - Werner Kuhn)
29th annual report on monitoring the application of EU law (2011) (A7-0055/2014 - Eva Lichtenberger)
Request for the defence of parliamentary immunity of Lara Comi (A7-0067/2014 - Bernhard Rapkay)
Request for waiver of the parliamentary immunity of Zbigniew Ziobro (A7-0045/2014 - Cecilia Wikström)
Promoting free movement by simplifying the acceptance of certain public documents (A7-0017/2014 - Bernhard Rapkay)
Copyright and related rights and multi-territorial licensing of rights in musical works for online uses (A7-0281/2013 - Marielle Gallo)
Criminal sanctions for insider dealing and market manipulation (A7-0344/2012 - Arlene McCarthy)
Investment projects in energy infrastructure (A7-0323/2013 - Adina-Ioana Vălean)
Appointment of a member of the Court of Auditors (Klaus-Heiner LEHNE - DE) (A7-0050/2014 - Inés Ayala Sender)
Court of Auditors (A7-0014/2014 - Inés Ayala Sender)
EU regulatory fitness and subsidiarity and proportionality - better lawmaking (A7-0056/2014 - Sajjad Karim)
Homophobia and discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity (A7-0009/2014 - Ulrike Lunacek)
Implementation of Unfair Commercial Practices Directive (A7-0474/2013 - Robert Rochefort)
EU justice scoreboard (A7-0442/2013 - Tadeusz Zwiefka)
Local and regional consequences of the development of smart grids (A7-0019/2014 - Elisabeth Schroedter)
Small agricultural holdings (A7-0029/2014 - Czesław Adam Siekierski)
Integrated parcel delivery market for the growth of e-commerce (A7-0024/2014 - Pablo Arias Echeverría)
Steel industry in Europe (A7-0028/2014 - András Gyürk)
Appointment of a Member of the Executive Board of the European Central Bank (Sabine Lautenschläger) (A7-0023/2014 - Sharon Bowles)
Authorising France to apply a reduced rate of certain indirect taxes on ‘traditional’ rum produced in Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique and Réunion (A7-0013/2014 - Danuta Maria Hübner)
Amendment of Parliament 's Rules of Procedure on the waiver and the defence of parliamentary immunity (A7-0012/2014 - Anneli Jäätteenmäki)
Placing on the market, for cultivation, of a genetically modified maize product (B7-0007/2014)ЍЍ
Respect for the fundamental right of free movement in the EU (RCB7-0016/2014, B7-0016/2014, B7-0023/2014, B7-0024/2014, B7-0025/2014, B7-0026/2014, B7-0027/2014)
EU citizenship for sale (RCB7-0015/2014, B7-0015/2014, B7-0017/2014, B7-0028/2014, B7-0029/2014, B7-0030/2014, B7-0031/2014)
2013 progress report on Serbia (B7-0006/2014)
European integration process of Kosovo (B7-0004/2014)
2012 progress report on Iceland and post-election perspectives (B7-0005/2014)
Situation in South Sudan (RCB7-0018/2014, B7-0018/2014, B7-0019/2014, B7-0020/2014, B7-0021/2014, B7-0022/2014, B7-0032/2014)
EU homelessness strategy (RCB7-0008/2014, B7-0008/2014, B7-0009/2014, B7-0010/2014, B7-0011/2014, B7-0012/2014)
Request for the defence of the parliamentary immunity of Lara Comi (A7-0469/2013 - Eva Lichtenberger)
Smart specialisation: networking excellence for a sound Cohesion Policy (A7-0462/2013 - Hermann Winkler)
Rules on voting and contents of reports in the consent procedure (A7-0412/2013 - Rafał Trzaskowski)
CO2 emissions from new light commercial vehicles (A7-0168/2013 - Holger Krahmer)
Consumer programme 2014-2020 (A7-0214/2012 - Robert Rochefort)
Community tariff quotas for high-quality beef, and for pigmeat, poultrymeat, wheat and meslin, and brans, sharps and other residues (A7-0212/2012 - Vital Moreira)
Imports of olive oil and other agricultural products from Turkey (A7-0209/2012 - Vital Moreira)
Geographical indications of aromatised wine products (A7-0158/2012 - Paolo Bartolozzi)
Carbon capture and storage technology (A7-0430/2013 - Chris Davies)
eHealth Action Plan 2012-2020 (A7-0443/2013 - Pilar Ayuso)
Food crisis, fraud in the food chain and the control thereof (A7-0434/2013 - Esther de Lange)
Effective labour inspections as a strategy to improve working conditions (A7-0458/2013 - Jutta Steinruck)
Financial participation of employees in companies' proceeds (A7-0465/2013 - Phil Bennion)
Social protection for all, including self-employed workers (A7-0459/2013 - Vilija Blinkevičiūtė)
New Cohesion Policy programming period (A7-0007/2014 - Derek Vaughan)
Plastic waste in the environment (A7-0453/2013 - Vittorio Prodi)
Regional branding (A7-0456/2013 - Eric Andrieu)
Court of Justice of the European Union: number of judges at the General Court (A7-0252/2013 - Alexandra Thein)
Amending certain Directives as regards the French outermost regions and Mayotte in particular (A7-0405/2013 - David Casa)
Amending Council Directive 2010/18/EU by reason of the change of status of Mayotte (A7-0414/2013 - Pervenche Berès)
Eco-innovation - jobs and growth through environmental policy (A7-0333/2013 - Karin Kadenbach)
Payment accounts (A7-0398/2013 - Jürgen Klute)
Maritime spatial planning and integrated coastal management (A7-0379/2013 - Gesine Meissner)
Amending certain Directives in the fields of environment, agriculture, social policy and public health by reason of the change of status of Mayotte (A7-0399/2013 - Matthias Groote)
Union action for the 'European Capitals of Culture' for the years 2020 to 2033 (A7-0226/2013 - Marco Scurria)
Amending certain regulations in the field of fisheries and animal health by reason of the change of status of Mayotte (A7-0425/2013 - João Ferreira)
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) amending Annexes I, II and IV of Regulation (EU) No 978/2012 applying a scheme of generalised tariff preferences (B7-0547/2013)
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No …/... of 28.8.2013 establishing Annex III to Regulation (EU) No 978/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council applying a scheme of generalised tariff preferences (B7-0546/2013)
Progress made in the implementation of national Roma integration strategies (B7-0555/2013)
Outcome of the Vilnius Summit and the future of the Eastern Partnership, in particular as regards Ukraine (RCB7-0557/2013, B7-0557/2013, B7-0558/2013, B7-0559/2013, B7-0564/2013, B7-0567/2013, B7-0568/2013, B7-0569/2013)
2013 progress report on Albania (B7-0556/2013)
Preparations for the European Council meeting (19 - 20 December 2013) (B7-0560/2013, B7-0565/2013, B7-0566/2013, B7-0584/2013)
Constitutional problems of a multitier governance in the EU (A7-0372/2013 - Roberto Gualtieri, Rafał Trzaskowski)
Relations between the European Parliament and the institutions representing the national governments (A7-0336/2013 - Alain Lamassoure)
Green infrastructure policy (B7-0549/2013)
Call for a measurable and tangible commitment against tax evasion and tax avoidance in the EU (B7-0550/2013, B7-0551/2013, B7-0552/2013)
ILO Convention concerning decent work for domestic workers (A7-0394/2013 - Inês Cristina Zuber)
EU-Armenia agreement on the general principles for Armenia 's participation in Union programmes (A7-0406/2013 - Tomasz Piotr Poręba)
EU-France agreement concerning the application to the collectivity of Saint-Barthélemy of Union legislation on taxation (A7-0404/2013 - Sławomir Nitras)
EU donor coordination on development aid (A7-0393/2013 - Gay Mitchell)
Appointment of a member of the Court of Auditors (Phil Wynn Owen - UK) (A7-0438/2013 - Inés Ayala Sender)
Appointment of a member of the Court of Auditors (Alex Brenninkmeijer - NL) (A7-0433/2013 - Inés Ayala Sender)
Appointment of a member of the Court of Auditors (Henri Grethen - LU) (A7-0439/2013 - Inés Ayala Sender)
Appointment of a member of the Court of Auditors (Nikolaos Milionis - EL) (A7-0436/2013 - Inés Ayala Sender)
Appointment of a member of the Court of Auditors (Danièle Lamarque - FR) (A7-0437/2013 - Inés Ayala Sender)
Appointment of the Chair of the Supervisory Board of the European Central Bank (A7-0452/2013 - Sharon Bowles)
Common rules and procedures for the implementation of the Union's instruments for external action (A7-0447/2013 - Elmar Brok)
Instrument for stability (A7-0451/2013 - Reinhard Bütikofer)
European neighbourhood instrument (A7-0449/2013 - Eduard Kukan)
Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (A7-0445/2013 - Libor Rouček)
Partnership instrument for cooperation with third countries (A7-0446/2013 - Antonio López-Istúriz White)
Financing instrument for the promotion of democracy and human rights worldwide (A7-0448/2013 - Alexander Graf Lambsdorff)
Establishing a financing instrument for development cooperation (A7-0450/2013 - Thijs Berman)
European Globalisation Adjustment Fund 2014-2020 (A7-0005/2013 - Marian Harkin)
Mandatory automatic exchange of information in the field of taxation (A7-0376/2013 - George Sabin Cutaş)
System for registration of carriers of radioactive materials (A7-0385/2013 - Béla Kovács)
Human rights in the world 2012 and EU policy on the matter (A7-0418/2013 - Eduard Kukan)
Annual report on EU competition policy (A7-0357/2013 - Ramon Tremosa i Balcells)
Milk production in mountain areas, disadvantaged areas and outermost regions (A7-0383/2013 - Herbert Dorfmann)
Resilience and disaster risk reduction in developing countries (A7-0375/2013 - Gay Mitchell)
Women with disabilities (A7-0329/2013 - Angelika Werthmann)
Justice Programme 2014-2020 (A7-0396/2013 - Luigi Berlinguer, Philip Claeys)
Rights and Citizenship Programme 2014-2020 (A7-0397/2013 - Kinga Göncz)
Autonomous trade preferences for Moldova (A7-0422/2013 - Iuliu Winkler)
EU-Morocco Fisheries Partnership Agreement: protocol setting out fishing opportunities and financial contributions (A7-0417/2013 - Carmen Fraga Estévez)
ILO Convention concerning safety in the use of chemicals at work (A7-0400/2013 - Jutta Steinruck)
Illicit manufacturing of and trafficking in firearms, their parts and components and ammunition (A7-0359/2013 - Véronique Mathieu Houillon)
EU-China Agreement relating to the modification of concessions in the schedules of Bulgaria and Romania in the course of their accession to the EU (A7-0332/2013 - Helmut Scholz)
Importation of beef from animals not treated with certain growth-promoting hormones and increased duties applied by the United States to certain products of the European Union (A7-0427/2013 - Vital Moreira)
EU-Côte d’Ivoire Fisheries Partnership Agreement: protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and financial contribution (A7-0416/2013 - Jean Louis Cottigny)
Imports of certain fishery products into the Canary Islands from 2014 to 2020 (A7-0415/2013 - Gabriel Mato Adrover)
Mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund - application EGF/2013/001 FI/Nokia from Finland (A7-0411/2013 - Juan Andrés Naranjo Escobar)
Mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund - application EGF/2013/003 DE/First Solar from Germany (A7-0408/2013 - Nadezhda Neynsky)
Mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (application EGF/2012/011 DL/Vestas - Denmark) (A7-0410/2013 - Jan Kozłowski)
Negotiations for an EU-Canada strategic partnership agreement (A7-0407/2013 - Elisabeth Jeggle)
Recovery and resolution framework for non-bank institutions (A7-0343/2013 - Kay Swinburne)
EU space industrial policy (A7-0338/2013 - Angelika Niebler)
Cloud computing (A7-0353/2013 - Pilar del Castillo Vera)
Evaluation report regarding BEREC (A7-0378/2013 - Salvador Sedó i Alabart)
Common Fisheries Policy (A7-0409/2013 - Ulrike Rodust)
Common organisation of the markets in fishery and aquaculture products (A7-0413/2013 - Struan Stevenson)
North-East Atlantic: deep-sea stocks and fishing in international waters (A7-0395/2013 - Kriton Arsenis)
Civil protection mechanism (A7-0003/2013 - Elisabetta Gardini)
Credit agreements relating to residential property (A7-0202/2012 - Antolín Sánchez Presedo)
Imports of rice from Bangladesh (A7-0304/2013 - Paul Murphy)
Timing of auctions of greenhouse gas allowances (A7-0046/2013 - Matthias Groote)
Defining criteria determining when recovered paper ceases to be waste pursuant to Article 6 (1) of Directive 2008/98/EC on waste
Gender aspects of the European framework of national Roma inclusion strategies (A7-0349/2013 - Lívia Járóka)
Development and 'state building' in South Sudan (A7-0380/2013 - Véronique De Keyser)
CARS 2020: towards a strong, competitive and sustainable European car industry (A7-0391/2013 - Franck Proust)
Sexual and reproductive health and rights (A7-0426/2013 - Edite Estrela)
Volunteering and voluntary activity in Europe (A7-0348/2013 - Marco Scurria)
Horizon 2020 - framework programme for research and innovation (2014-2020) (A7-0427/2012 - Teresa Riera Madurell)
Rules for the participation and dissemination in Horizon 2020 (A7-0428/2012 - Christian Ehler)
Strategic innovation agenda of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (A7-0422/2012 - Marisa Matias)
European Institute of Innovation and Technology (A7-0403/2012 - Philippe Lamberts)
Competitiveness of enterprises and small and medium-sized enterprises (2014 - 2020) (A7-0420/2012 - Jürgen Creutzmann)
Specific programme implementing Horizon 2020 (A7-0002/2013 - Maria Da Graça Carvalho)
European statistics (A7-0436/2012 - Liem Hoang Ngoc)
Programme for social change and innovation (A7-0241/2012 - Jutta Steinruck)
Programme for the environment and climate action (LIFE) (A7-0294/2012 - Jutta Haug)
Action programme for taxation (A7-0399/2012 - Theodor Dumitru Stolojan)
Action programme for customs (A7-0026/2013 - Raffaele Baldassarre)
Insurance and reinsurance (Solvency II) (A7-0352/2013 - Sharon Bowles)
Entrepreneurship 2020 action plan - Reigniting the entrepreneurial spirit in Europe (B7-0466/2013)
Implementation of the Common Security and Defence Policy (A7-0360/2013 - Maria Eleni Koppa)
European defence technological and industrial base (A7-0358/2013 - Michael Gahler)
Strengthening the social dimension of EMU (B7-0496/2013)
2014 budgetary procedure: joint text
Mobilisation of the Flexibility Instrument - financing of the Cypriot Structural Funds programmes (A7-0388/2013 - Jean-Luc Dehaene)
Draft amending budget No 9/2013: Mobilisation of the EU Solidarity Fund for Romania (Drought and forest fires in 2012) and for Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic (Flooding in May and June 2013). (A7-0390/2013 - Giovanni La Via)
Mobilisation of the EU Solidarity Fund - Drought and forest fires in Romania and floods in Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic (A7-0369/2013 - José Manuel Fernandes)
Mobilisation of the Flexibility Instrument to complement the financing in the general budget of the EU for 2013 towards the financing of the European Social Fund to increase allocations to France, Italy and Spain (A7-0370/2013 - Reimer Böge)
European satellite navigation systems (A7-0321/2013 - Marian-Jean Marinescu)
Macro-financial assistance to Jordan (A7-0335/2013 - Vital Moreira)
EU-Russia agreement on drug precursors (A7-0342/2013 - Franck Proust)
Third States and organisations with which Europol shall conclude agreements (A7-0351/2013 - Philip Claeys)
Legal framework for a European Research Infrastructures Consortium (A7-0331/2013 - Amalia Sartori)
Common provisions on European funds (A7-0274/2013 - Lambert van Nistelrooij, Constanze Angela Krehl)
European Social Fund (A7-0250/2012 - Elisabeth Morin-Chartier)
European Regional Development Fund and the 'investment for growth and jobs' goal (A7-0268/2013 - Jan Olbrycht)
European Regional Development Fund and the 'European territorial cooperation' goal (A7-0280/2013 - Riikka Pakarinen)
Cohesion Fund (A7-0270/2013 - Victor Boştinaru)
European grouping of territorial cooperation (A7-0309/2013 - Joachim Zeller)
Gender balance among non-executive directors of companies listed on stock exchanges (A7-0340/2013 - Evelyn Regner, Rodi Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou)
Financing, management and monitoring of the CAP (A7-0363/2013 - Giovanni La Via)
European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (A7-0361/2013 - Luis Manuel Capoulas Santos)
Common organisation of the markets in agricultural products (A7-0366/2013 - Michel Dantin)
Direct payments to farmers under support schemes within the framework of the CAP (A7-0362/2013 - Luis Manuel Capoulas Santos)
Transitional provisions on support for rural development (A7-0326/2013 - Albert Deß)
Provisions relating to financial management for certain Member States experiencing or threatened with serious difficulties with respect to their financial stability and to the decommitment rules for certain Member States (A7-0312/2013 - Oldřich Vlasák)
Financial allocation for certain Member States from the European Social Fund (A7-0381/2013 - Jan Olbrycht)
EC-Kiribati fisheries partnership agreement (A7-0345/2013 - Isabella Lövin)
Location of the seats of the European Union's institutions (A7-0350/2013 - Ashley Fox, Gerald Häfner)
Programme for social change and innovation (debate)
Multiannual financial framework 2014-2020 (A7-0389/2013 - Jean-Luc Dehaene, Ivailo Kalfin)
Interinstitutional agreement on budgetary discipline, on cooperation in budgetary matters and on sound financial management (A7-0337/2013 - Rafał Trzaskowski)
Draft amending budget No 7/2013 - Strengthening the European Social Fund (ESF) to address youth unemployment, poverty and social exclusion in France, Italy and Spain (A7-0367/2013 - Giovanni La Via)
Draft amending budget No 8/2013 (DAB 2 bis) - Reinforcement of payments by MFF heading and shortage of payment appropriations in the 2013 budget (A7-0371/2013 - Giovanni La Via)
European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (application EGF/2013/004 ES/Comunidad Valenciana building materials from Spain) (A7-0341/2013 - Andrej Plenković)
Government procurement agreement (A7-0339/2013 - Helmut Scholz)
Erasmus for all programme (A7-0405/2012 - Doris Pack)
Creative Europe programme (A7-0011/2013 - Silvia Costa)
Europe for Citizens programme (A7-0424/2012 - Hannu Takkula)
Connecting Europe Facility (A7-0021/2013 - Adina-Ioana Vălean, Dominique Riquet, Inés Ayala Sender)
Trans-European transport network (A7-0012/2013 - Georgios Koumoutsakos, Ismail Ertug)
Agricultural and fishery statistics (A7-0148/2013 - Paolo De Castro)
Protection and use of transboundary watercourses and international lakes (A7-0356/2013 - Matthias Groote)
Supplementary research programme for the ITER project (2014-2018) (A7-0211/2013 - Vladimír Remek)
Nuclear safety cooperation instrument (A7-0327/2012 - Holger Krahmer)
Nuclear decommissioning assistance programmes in Bulgaria, Lithuania and Slovakia (A7-0119/2013 - Giles Chichester)
Location of the seats of the European Union's institutions (debate)
Location of the seats of the European Union's institutions (debate)
Activities of the European Ombudsman in 2012 (A7-0257/2013 - Nikolaos Salavrakos)
Third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas when crossing EU external borders (A7-0139/2013 - Agustín Díaz de Mera García Consuegra)
European Banking Authority and prudential supervision of credit institutions (A7-0393/2012 - Sven Giegold)
Specific tasks for the European Central Bank concerning policies relating to the prudential supervision of credit institutions (A7-0392/2012 - Marianne Thyssen)
Access to genetic resources and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from their utilization in the Union (A7-0263/2013 - Sandrine Bélier)
Micro-generation (B7-0388/2013)
Equal pay for male and female workers (B7-0387/2013)
EU cybersecurity strategy: an open, safe and secure cyberspace (B7-0386/2013)
Digital agenda for growth, mobility and employment (B7-0385/2013)
Situation in Syria (RCB7-0413/2013, B7-0413/2013, B7-0423/2013, B7-0424/2013, B7-0425/2013, B7-0426/2013, B7-0427/2013, B7-0428/2013)
Situation in Egypt (RCB7-0411/2013, B7-0411/2013, B7-0412/2013, B7-0414/2013, B7-0415/2013, B7-0417/2013, B7-0420/2013)
Maritime dimension of the common security and defence policy (A7-0220/2013 - Ana Gomes)
EU's military structures: state of play and future prospects (A7-0205/2013 - Marietta Giannakou)
EU policy towards Belarus (A7-0261/2013 - Justas Vincas Paleckis)
Pressure exercised by Russia on countries of the Eastern Partnership (in the context of the upcoming Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius) (RCB7-0389/2013, B7-0389/2013, B7-0393/2013, B7-0394/2013, B7-0395/2013, B7-0396/2013, B7-0397/2013)
EU internal security strategy (B7-0377/2013)
EU internal security strategy (B7-0377/2013)
EU internal security strategy (B7-0377/2013)
European cultural and creative sectors as sources of economic growth and jobs (A7-0248/2013 - Marie-Thérèse Sanchez-Schmid)
Endangered European languages and linguistic diversity (A7-0239/2013 - François Alfonsi)
Parliament's rights in the appointment procedure of future executive directors of the European Environment Agency (A7-0264/2013 - Matthias Groote)
Draft amending budget No 2/2013 - Increase in forecasts concerning other revenue stemming from fines and penalties - Increase in payment appropriations (A7-0287/2013 - Giovanni La Via)
Draft amending budget No 3/2013 - Surplus resulting from the implementation of the budget year 2012 (A7-0284/2013 - Giovanni La Via)
Draft amending budget No 4/2013 - Staff of the European GNSS Agency - Staff of the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) - Staff of the Court of Justice of the European Union (Rule 138) (vote) (A7-0285/2013 - Giovanni La Via, Derek Vaughan)
Mobilisation of the EU Solidarity Fund: flooding in Slovenia, Croatia and Austria in autumn 2012 (A7-0283/2013 - José Manuel Fernandes)
Draft amending budget No 5/2013 - Mobilisation of the Solidarity Fund following flooding in Slovenia, Croatia and Austria in 2012 (A7-0286/2013 - Giovanni La Via)
Fuel quality directive and renewable energy directive (A7-0279/2013 - Corinne Lepage)
Measures for the recovery of European eel stocks (A7-0242/2013 - Isabella Lövin)
Union Customs Code (A7-0006/2013 - Constance Le Grip)
Collection of accountancy data on the incomes and business operation of agricultural holdings (A7-0179/2012 - Giancarlo Scottà)
EU-Cape Verde agreement on facilitating the issue of short-stay visas to citizens of the Republic of Cape Verde and of the EU (A7-0266/2013 - Mariya Gabriel)
EU-Cape Verde agreement on the readmission of persons residing without authorisation (A7-0267/2013 - Mariya Gabriel)
Implementation of the EU youth strategy 2010-2012 (A7-0238/2013 - Georgios Papanikolaou)
Tackling youth unemployment: possible ways out (A7-0275/2013 - Joanna Katarzyna Skrzydlewska)
Internal market for services (A7-0273/2013 - Anna Maria Corazza Bildt)
Negotiations for an EU-Malaysia partnership and cooperation agreement (A7-0235/2013 - Emilio Menéndez del Valle)
Amendment of Council Regulation (EC) No 850/98 concerning the conservation of fishery resources through technical measures for the protection of juveniles of marine organisms (A7-0256/2013 - Rareş-Lucian Niculescu)
Property consequences of registered partnerships (A7-0254/2013 - Alexandra Thein)
Matrimonial property regimes (A7-0253/2013 - Alexandra Thein)
European transport-technology strategy for Europe's future sustainable mobility (A7-0241/2013 - Michael Cramer)
Right of access to a lawyer in criminal proceedings and right to communicate upon arrest (A7-0228/2013 - Elena Oana Antonescu)
Credit agreements relating to residential property (A7-0202/2012 - Antolín Sánchez Presedo)
Insider dealing and market manipulation (market abuse) (A7-0347/2012 - Arlene McCarthy)
Amendment of Council Regulation (EC) No 2187/2005 for the conservation of fishery through technical measures in the Baltic Sea, the Belts and the Sound (A7-0259/2013 - Marek Józef Gróbarczyk)
Making the internal energy market work (A7-0262/2013 - Jerzy Buzek)
Implementation and impact of the energy efficiency measures under the cohesion policy (A7-0271/2013 - Mojca Kleva Kekuš)
A strategy for fisheries in the Adriatic and Ionian seas (A7-0234/2013 - Guido Milana)
More efficient and cost-effective interpretation in the European Parliament (A7-0233/2013 - Esther de Lange)
Online gambling in the internal market (A7-0218/2013 - Ashley Fox)
Impact of the crisis on access to care for vulnerable groups (debate)
Further macro-financial assistance for Georgia (A7-0244/2013 - Vital Moreira)
Attacks against information systems (A7-0224/2013 - Monika Hohlmeier)
US NSA surveillance programme, surveillance bodies in various Member States and impact on EU citizens' privacy (RCB7-0336/2013, B7-0336/2013, B7-0337/2013, B7-0338/2013, B7-0341/2013, B7-0342/2013, B7-0343/2013)
Practical arrangements for the holding of the European elections in 2014 (A7-0219/2013 - Andrew Duff)
Arms exports: implementation of Council Common Position 2008/944/CFSP (RCB7-0258/2013, B7-0258/2013, RCB7-0260/2013, B7-0260/2013, B7-0262/2013, B7-0263/2013, B7-0264/2013, B7-0267/2013)
Opening of negotiations on a plurilateral agreement on services (B7-0314/2013, B7-0317/2013)
Increase in Norwegian duties on agricultural products (B7-0327/2013)
Completing the digital single market (B7-0331/2013)
Impact of the crisis on access to care for vulnerable groups (A7-0221/2013 - Jean Lambert)
Connected TV (A7-0212/2013 - Petra Kammerevert)
Draft amending budget No 1/2013 - Expenditure related to the accession of Croatia to the EU (A7-0246/2013 - Giovanni La Via)
Proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council amending the Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 on budgetary discipline and sound financial management as regards the multiannual financial framework, to take account of the expenditure requirements resulting from the accession of Croatia to the European Union (A7-0247/2013 - Reimer Böge)
Preparation of the Commission Work Programme 2014 (B7-0315/2013, B7-0316/2013, B7-0325/2013, B7-0326/2013, B7-0328/2013, B7-0329/2013)
Situation in Egypt (RCB7-0362/2013, B7-0362/2013, B7-0363/2013, B7-0364/2013, B7-0365/2013, B7-0366/2013, B7-0367/2013)
Review of the Irish Presidency, including the MFF agreement (B7-0332/2013, RCB7-0334/2013, B7-0334/2013, B7-0335/2013, B7-0339/2013, B7-0340/2013)
Wheeled vehicules (Amendment of Decision 97/836/EC ('revised 1958 Agreement')) (A7-0192/2013 - Vital Moreira)
Wheeled vehicules (Amendment of Council Decision 2000/125/EC ('parallel agreement')) (A7-0194/2013 - Vital Moreira)
Mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund: application EGF/2013/000 TA 2013 - technical assistance at the initiative of the Commission (A7-0243/2013 - Alda Sousa)
Investigations conducted by the European Anti Fraud Office (OLAF) (A7-0225/2013 - Ingeborg Gräßle)
Laws, regulations and administrative provisions relating to undertakings for collective investment in transferable securities (A7-0125/2013 - Sven Giegold)
Serious cross-border threats to health (A7-0337/2012 - Gilles Pargneaux)
Implementing enhanced cooperation in the area of financial transaction tax (A7-0230/2013 - Anni Podimata)
Adoption by Latvia of the euro on 1 January 2014 (A7-0237/2013 - Burkhard Balz)
Situation of fundamental rights: standards and practices in Hungary (A7-0229/2013 - Rui Tavares)
Recent floods in Europe (RCB7-0319/2013, B7-0319/2013, B7-0320/2013, B7-0321/2013, B7-0322/2013, B7-0323/2013, B7-0324/2013)
Reforming the structure of the EU banking sector (A7-0231/2013 - Arlene McCarthy)
Protection of the EU's financial interests - fight against fraud (A7-0197/2013 - Derek Vaughan)
Integrated internal control framework (A7-0189/2013 - Andrea Češková)
Staff Regulations of officials and Conditions of employment of other servants of the EU (A7-0156/2012 - Dagmar Roth-Behrendt)
Vienna Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage (A7-0198/2013 - Alajos Mészáros)
Application of Article 93 of the EC Treaty (A7-0180/2013 - Sirpa Pietikäinen)
External aviation policy (A7-0172/2013 - Marian-Jean Marinescu)
Member States' export credit agencies (A7-0193/2013 - Yannick Jadot)
Statute for a European Foundation (A7-0223/2013 - Evelyn Regner)
Port State control (A7-0394/2012 - Brian Simpson)
Registration documents for vehicles (A7-0199/2013 - Vilja Savisaar-Toomast)
Inspection of the roadworthiness of commercial vehicles (A7-0207/2013 - Olga Sehnalová)
Roadworthiness tests for motor vehicles and their trailers (A7-0210/2013 - Werner Kuhn)
Priority substances in the field of water policy (A7-0397/2012 - Richard Seeber)
Certain categories of horizontal State aid and public passenger transport services by rail and by road (A7-0179/2013 - Herbert Dorfmann)
Blue growth - enhancing sustainable growth in the marine, maritime transport and tourism sectors (A7-0209/2013 - Spyros Danellis)
Contribution of cooperatives to overcoming the crisis (A7-0222/2013 - Patrizia Toia)
A bioeconomy for Europe (A7-0201/2013 - Paolo Bartolozzi)
Stepping-stone Economic Partnership Agreement between the EC and Central Africa (A7-0190/2013 - David Martin)
Second amendment to the Cotonou Agreement of 23 June 2000 (A7-0110/2013 - Michael Cashman)
Freedom of press and media in the world (A7-0176/2013 - Marietje Schaake)
Re-use of public sector information (A7-0404/2012 - Ivailo Kalfin)
Financial services: Lack of progress in Council and Commission's delay in the adoption of certain proposals (B7-0304/2013)
Situation in Turkey (RCB7-0305/2013, B7-0305/2013, B7-0306/2013, B7-0307/2013, B7-0308/2013, B7-0309/2013, B7-0310/2013, B7-0311/2013)
2013 review of the organisation and functioning of the EEAS (A7-0147/2013 - Elmar Brok, Roberto Gualtieri)
Promotion and protection of freedom of religion or belief (A7-0203/2013 - Laima Liucija Andrikienė)
A broader Transatlantic partnership (A7-0173/2013 - Francisco José Millán Mon)
Reconstruction and democratisation of Mali (B7-0254/2013)
Partnership and cooperation agreement with Afghanistan (RCB7-0274/2013, B7-0274/2013, B7-0281/2013, B7-0282/2013, B7-0283/2013, B7-0284/2013, B7-0285/2013)
Millennium development goals (A7-0165/2013 - Filip Kaczmarek)
Appointment of a member of the European Commission - Neven Mimica
Numerical strength of the standing committees (B7-0268/2013)
Appointment of a member of the Court of Auditors - Neven Mates (A7-0182/2013 - Inés Ayala Sender)
Appointment of a member of the Court of Auditors - George Pufan (A7-0181/2013 - Inés Ayala Sender)
Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (A7-0144/2013 - Raül Romeva i Rueda)
Application for international protection lodged in a Member State by a third-country national or a stateless person (recast version) (A7-0216/2013 - Cecilia Wikström)
Granting and withdrawing international protection (recast) (A7-0217/2013 - Sylvie Guillaume)
Fund for European aid to the most deprived (A7-0183/2013 - Emer Costello)
Establishment of 'Eurodac' for the comparison of fingerprints (A7-0432/2012 - Monica Luisa Macovei)
Temporary reintroduction of border control at internal borders (A7-0200/2012 - Renate Weber)
Establishment of an evaluation mechanism to verify application of the Schengen acquis (A7-0215/2013 - Carlos Coelho)
Financial statements and related reports of certain types of undertakings (A7-0278/2012 - Klaus-Heiner Lehne)
Transparency requirements in relation to information about issuers whose securities are admitted to trading on a regulated market (A7-0292/2012 - Arlene McCarthy)
Adjustment rate to direct payments provided for in Regulation (EC) No 73/2009 in respect of calendar year 2013 (A7-0186/2013 - Luis Manuel Capoulas Santos)
Amendment of Schengen border code and Convention implementing the Schengen Agreement (A7-0206/2013 - Georgios Papanikolaou)
Draft decision of the European Council establishing the composition of the European Parliament (A7-0213/2013 - Rafał Trzaskowski, Roberto Gualtieri)
Social investment for growth and cohesion (B7-0255/2013)
Regional policy as a part of wider State support schemes (A7-0204/2013 - Oldřich Vlasák)
Annual report on competition policy (A7-0143/2013 - Antolín Sánchez Presedo)
Preparations for the European Council meeting (27-28 June 2013) - Democratic decision making in the future EMU (B7-0271/2013, B7-0272/2013, B7-0277/2013)
Deadlock on the revision of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 (RCB7-0256/2013, B7-0256/2013, B7-0257/2013, B7-0259/2013, B7-0261/2013, B7-0265/2013, B7-0266/2013)
Long-term plan for cod stocks and the fisheries exploiting those stocks - 1 (A7-0141/2013 - Diane Dodds)
A new agenda for European consumer policy (A7-0163/2013 - Vicente Miguel Garcés Ramón)
Legal aid in cross-border civil and commercial disputes (A7-0161/2013 - Tadeusz Zwiefka)
Customs enforcement of intellectual property rights (A7-0185/2013 - Jürgen Creutzmann)
Food intended for infants and young children and food for special medical purposes (A7-0191/2013 - Frédérique Ries)
Health and safety requirements regarding the exposure of workers to the risks arising from physical agents (electromagnetic fields) (A7-0009/2013 - Elisabeth Morin-Chartier)
Long-term plan for cod stocks and the fisheries exploiting those stocks - 2 (A7-0146/2013 - Diane Dodds)
Organised crime, corruption and money laundering (A7-0175/2013 - Salvatore Iacolino)
Social housing in the European Union (A7-0155/2013 - Karima Delli)
Educational and occupational mobility of women (A7-0164/2013 - Licia Ronzulli)
Electronic toll service and vignette system on light private vehicles (A7-0142/2013 - Jim Higgins)
Community Customs Code as regards the date of its application (A7-0170/2013 - Constance Le Grip)
Reinstatement of Myanmar/Burma's access to generalised tariff preferences (A7-0122/2013 - David Martin)
Financial responsibility linked to investor-state dispute settlement tribunals established by international agreements to which the EU is party (A7-0124/2013 - Paweł Zalewski)
Non-commercial movement of pet animals (A7-0371/2012 - Horst Schnellhardt)
Animal health requirements governing trade in dogs, cats and ferrets (A7-0366/2012 - Horst Schnellhardt)
Future legislative proposals on EMU (B7-0250/2013)
Situation of Syrian refugees in neighbouring countries (B7-0199/2013, B7-0200/2013, B7-0222/2013, B7-0226/2013, B7-0227/2013, B7-0228/2013, RCB7-0199/2013)
Asset recovery to Arab Spring countries in transition (RCB7-0188/2013, B7-0188/2013, B7-0189/2013, B7-0191/2013, B7-0192/2013, B7-0193/2013, B7-0194/2013)
2012 progress report on Bosnia and Herzegovina (B7-0161/2013)
2012 progress report on the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (B7-0186/2013)
EU trade and investment agreement negotiations with the US (B7-0187/2013, B7-0195/2013)
Myanmar/Burma's access to generalised tariff preferences (B7-0198/2013)
A macro-regional strategy for the Alps (B7-0190/2013, B7-0190/2013, B7-0196/2013, B7-0197/2013, B7-0229/2013)
Labour conditions and health and safety standards following the recent factory fires and building collapse in Bangladesh (RCB7-0223/2013, B7-0223/2013, B7-0224/2013, B7-0225/2013, B7-0230/2013, B7-0231/2013, B7-0232/2013)
Fight against tax fraud, tax evasion and tax havens (A7-0162/2013 - Mojca Kleva Kekuš)
Annual tax report: how to free the EU potential for economic growth (A7-0154/2013 - Ildikó Gáll-Pelcz)
Draft protocol on the application of the Charter of fundamental rights of the European Union to the Czech Republic (consent) (A7-0282/2012 - Andrew Duff)
Draft protocol on the application of the Charter of fundamental rights of the European Union to the Czech Republic (consultation) (A7-0174/2013 - Andrew Duff)
Mutual recognition of protection measures in civil matters (A7-0126/2013 - Antonio López-Istúriz White, Antonyia Parvanova)
EU-Canada Agreement on customs cooperation with respect to matters related to supply chain security (A7-0152/2013 - Peter Šťastný)
Pyrotechnic articles (A7-0375/2012 - Zuzana Roithová)
Implementation of the audiovisual media services directive (A7-0055/2013 - Piotr Borys)
EU-Sri Lanka Agreement on certain aspects of air services (A7-0169/2013 - Petri Sarvamaa)
Enhanced cooperation between the European Union and the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation (A7-0157/2013 - Jaromír Kohlíček)
Amendment of Regulation (EEC/Euratom) No 354/83, as regards the deposit of the historical archives of the institutions at the European University Institute in Florence (A7-0156/2013 - Doris Pack)
Period for the eighth election of representatives to the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage (A7-0138/2013 - Carlo Casini)
Takeover bids (A7-0089/2013 - Klaus-Heiner Lehne)
Regional strategies for industrial areas in the European Union (A7-0145/2013 - Jens Geier)
Offshore oil and gas prospection, exploration and production activities (A7-0121/2013 - Ivo Belet)
Renewable energy in the European internal energy market (A7-0135/2013 - Herbert Reul)
Women's rights in the Balkan accession countries (A7-0136/2013 - Marije Cornelissen)
Adequate, safe and sustainable pensions (A7-0137/2013 - Ria Oomen-Ruijten)
One year of European Citizens' Initiative in practice: evaluating experience and tackling obstacles (debate)
Amendment of the EC-Ukraine Agreement on the facilitation of the issuance of visas (A7-0059/2013 - Claude Moraes)
EU-Moldova Agreement on the facilitation of the issuance of visas (A7-0128/2013 - Marian-Jean Marinescu)
Impact of the financial and economic crisis on human rights (A7-0057/2013 - Inese Vaidere)
Ship recycling (A7-0132/2013 - Carl Schlyter)
2012 comprehensive monitoring report on Croatia (B7-0160/2013)
2012 progress report on Turkey (B7-0162/2013)
2012 progress report on Montenegro (B7-0087/2013)
2012 progress report on Serbia (B7-0090/2013)
European integration process of Kosovo (B7-0089/2013)
2011 discharge: Section III, Commission (A7-0116/2013 - Jens Geier)
Court of Auditors' special reports in the context of the 2011 Commission discharge (A7-0096/2013 - Jens Geier)
2011 discharge: EU general budget, European Parliament (A7-0063/2013 - Eva Ortiz Vilella)
2011 discharge: 8th, 9th and 10th European Development Funds (EDF) (A7-0062/2013 - Søren Bo Søndergaard)
2011 discharge: European Council and Council (A7-0061/2013 - Andrea Češková)
2011 discharge: Court of Justice (A7-0090/2013 - Ryszard Czarnecki)
2011 discharge: Court of Auditors (A7-0092/2013 - Ryszard Czarnecki)
2011 discharge: European Economic and Social Committee (A7-0076/2013 - Andrea Češková)
2011 discharge: Committee of the Regions (A7-0093/2013 - Andrea Češková)
2011 discharge: European Ombudsman (A7-0094/2013 - Andrea Češková)
2011 discharge: European Data Protection Supervisor (A7-0095/2013 - Andrea Češková)
2011 discharge: European External Action Service (A7-0099/2013 - Ryszard Czarnecki)
2011 discharge: performance, financial management and control of EU agencies (A7-0118/2013 - Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy)
2011 discharge: European Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (A7-0068/2013 - Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy)
2011 discharge: Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (A7-0066/2013 - Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy)
2011 discharge: Translation Centre for the Bodies of the European Union (A7-0069/2013 - Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy)
2011 discharge: European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop) (A7-0073/2013 - Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy)
2011 discharge: European Police College (A7-0064/2013 - Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy)
2011 discharge: European Banking Authority (A7-0113/2013 - Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy)
2011 discharge: European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (A7-0082/2013 - Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy)
2011 discharge: European Chemicals Agency (A7-0097/2013 - Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy)
2011 discharge: European Environment Agency (A7-0070/2013 - Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy)
2011 discharge: European Fisheries Control Agency (A7-0109/2013 - Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy)
2011 discharge: European Food Safety Agency (A7-0074/2013 - Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy)
2011 discharge - European Institute for Gender Equality (A7-0081/2013 - Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy)
2011 discharge: European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (A7-0114/2013 - Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy)
2011 discharge: European Institute of Innovation and Technology (A7-0108/2013 - Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy)
2011 discharge: European Medicines Agency (A7-0098/2013 - Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy)
2011 discharge: European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (A7-0071/2013 - Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy)
2011 discharge: European Agency for Maritime Safety (A7-0078/2013 - Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy)
2011 discharge: European Network and Information Security Agency (A7-0100/2013 - Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy)
Estimates of revenue and expenditure for 2014 - Section I - Parliament (A7-0112/2013 - Monika Hohlmeier)
Financial assistance for Member States whose currency is not the euro (A7-0129/2013 - Danuta Maria Hübner)
European Central Bank annual report (2011) (A7-0031/2013 - Marisa Matias)
2011 discharge: European Railway Agency (A7-0103/2013 - Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy)
2011 discharge: European Securities and Markets Authority (A7-0115/2013 - Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy)
2011 discharge: European Training Foundation (A7-0080/2013 - Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy)
2011 discharge: European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (A7-0085/2013 - Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy)
2011 discharge: Euratom Supply Agency (A7-0104/2013 - Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy)
2011 discharge: European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (A7-0067/2013 - Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy)
2011 discharge: Eurojust (A7-0072/2013 - Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy)
Common system of value added tax as regards the treatment of vouchers (A7-0058/2013 - Ildikó Gáll-Pelcz)
2011 discharge: Europol (A7-0083/2013 - Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy)
2011 discharge: European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (A7-0102/2013 - Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy)
2011 discharge: European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders (Frontex) (A7-0079/2013 - Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy)
2011 discharge: European GNSS Agency (A7-0065/2013 - Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy)
2011 discharge: Artemis Joint Undertaking (A7-0087/2013 - Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy)
2011 discharge: Clean Sky Joint Undertaking (A7-0086/2013 - Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy)
2011 discharge: ENIAC Joint Undertaking (A7-0105/2013 - Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy)
2011 discharge: Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (A7-0084/2013 - Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy)
2011 discharge: Initiative on Innovative Medicines Joint Undertaking (A7-0088/2013 - Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy)
2011 discharge: Joint Undertaking for ITER and the development of fusion energy (A7-0077/2013 - Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy)
2011 discharge: SESAR Joint Undertaking (A7-0101/2013 - Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy)
International recovery of child support and other forms of family maintenance (A7-0091/2013 - Antonio López-Istúriz White)
European Network and Information Security Agency (ENISA) (A7-0056/2013 - Giles Chichester)
Incidental catches of cetaceans (A7-0042/2013 - Raül Romeva i Rueda)
Fishing opportunities and financial contribution provided for by the EU-Mauritius Fisheries Partnership Agreement (A7-0127/2013 - Antolín Sánchez Presedo)
European Globalisation Adjustment Fund: application EGF/2012/023 IT/Antonio Merloni SpA (A7-0111/2013 - Frédéric Daerden)
European Globalisation Adjustment Fund: application EGF/2011/016 IT/Agile (A7-0133/2013 - Angelika Werthmann)
European Globalisation Adjustment Fund: application EGF/2011/010 AT/Austria Tabak (A7-0134/2013 - Frédéric Daerden)
EU/ACP countries' Economic Partnership Agreements: exclusion of certain countries from trade preferences (A7-0123/2013 - David Martin)
Timing of auctions of greenhouse gas allowances (A7-0046/2013 - Matthias Groote)
Scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading (A7-0060/2013 - Peter Liese)
Credit institutions and prudential supervision (A7-0170/2012 - Othmar Karas)
Prudential requirements for credit institutions and investment firms (A7-0171/2012 - Othmar Karas)
Groundhandling services at European Union airports (A7-0364/2012 - Artur Zasada)
Technical and control measures in the Skagerrak (A7-0051/2013 - Werner Kuhn)
Equal treatment between men and women in the access to and supply of goods and services (A7-0044/2013 - Zita Gurmai)
Advancing development through trade (A7-0054/2013 - Alf Svensson)
Trade and investment-driven growth for developing countries (A7-0053/2013 - Tokia Saïfi)
Situation of women in North Africa (A7-0047/2013 - Silvia Costa)
Motion for a resolution - European Council conclusions of 7-8 February concerning the Multiannual Financial Framework
System of national and regional accounts (A7-0076/2012 - Sharon Bowles)
Flag State responsibilities for the enforcement of Council Directive 2009/13/EC implementing the Agreement concluded by the European Community Shipowners’ Associations and the European Transport Workers’ Federation on the Maritime Labour Convention (A7-0037/2013 - Pervenche Berès)
Guidelines for the 2014 budget - Section III (A7-0043/2013 - Anne E. Jensen)
Composition of the European Parliament with a view to the 2014 elections (A7-0041/2013 - Rafał Trzaskowski, Roberto Gualtieri)
Definition, description, presentation, labelling and protection of geographical indications of spirit drinks
Decision on the opening of, and mandate for, interinstitutional negotiations on direct payments to farmers under support schemes within the framework of the CAP - 2011/0280(COD) (B7-0079/2013)
Decision on the opening of, and mandate for, interinstitutional negotiations on common organisation of the markets in agricultural products (Single CMO Regulation) - 2011/0281(COD) (B7-0080/2013)
Decision on the opening of, and mandate for, interinstitutional negotiations on support for rural development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) - 2011/0282(COD) (B7-0081/2013)
Decision on the opening of, and mandate for, interinstitutional negotiations on financing, management and monitoring of the CAP - 2011/0288(COD) (B7-0082/2013)
Energy roadmap 2050 (A7-0035/2013 - Niki Tzavela)
Risk and safety assessments of nuclear power plants in the European Union ("stress tests") (B7-0086/2013)
Strengthening the fight against racism, xenophobia and hate crime (B7-0121/2013, B7-0122/2013, B7-0123/2013, B7-0124/2013, B7-0125/2013)
Protection of public health from endocrine disrupters (A7-0027/2013 - Åsa Westlund)
Integration of migrants, its effects on the labour market and the external dimension of social security coordination (A7-0040/2013 - Nadja Hirsch)
Asbestos-related occupational health threats and prospects for abolishing all existing asbestos (A7-0025/2013 - Stephen Hughes)
Statute for a European mutual society (A7-0018/2013 - Luigi Berlinguer)
Situation in Egypt
Nuclear threats and human rights in North Korea (B7-0132/2013, B7-0134/2013, B7-0135/2013, B7-0136/2013, B7-0137/2013, B7-0138/2013)
EU-China relations (A7-0434/2012 - Bastiaan Belder)
Match-fixing and corruption in sport (B7-0130/2013, B7-0131/2013, B7-0139/2013, B7-0140/2013, B7-0141/2013)
Global cotton value chain (B7-0092/2013)
Trans-European energy infrastructure guidelines (A7-0036/2013 - António Fernando Correia de Campos)
European Ombudsman special report (Vienna airport) (A7-0022/2013 - Margrete Auken)
Accounting rules and action plans on greenhouse gas emissions and removals resulting from activities related to land use (A7-0317/2012 - Kriton Arsenis)
Mechanism for monitoring and reporting greenhouse gas emissions and other information relevant to climate change (A7-0191/2012 - Bas Eickhout)
Online consumer dispute resolution (A7-0236/2012 - Róża Gräfin von Thun und Hohenstein)
Association of the overseas countries and territories with the European Union (A7-0052/2013 - Patrice Tirolien)
Radioactive substances in water intended for human consumption (A7-0033/2013 - Michèle Rivasi)
Economic and budgetary surveillance of Member States with serious difficulties with respect to their financial stability in the euro area (A7-0172/2012 - Jean-Paul Gauzès)
Monitoring and assessing draft budgetary plans and ensuring the correction of excessive deficit of the Member States in the euro area (A7-0173/2012 - Elisa Ferreira)
European venture capital funds (A7-0193/2012 - Philippe Lamberts)
European social entrepreneurship funds (A7-0194/2012 - Sophie Auconie)
Impact of the economic crisis on gender equality and women's rights (A7-0048/2013 - Elisabeth Morin-Chartier)
Eliminating gender stereotypes in the EU (A7-0401/2012 - Kartika Tamara Liotard)
Improving the delivery of benefits from EU environment measures (A7-0028/2013 - Oreste Rossi)
Corporate social responsibility: accountable, transparent and responsible business behaviour and sustainable growth (A7-0017/2013 - Raffaele Baldassarre)
Corporate social responsibility: promoting society's interests and a route to sustainable and inclusive recovery (A7-0023/2013 - Richard Howitt)
Common fisheries policy (A7-0008/2013 - Ulrike Rodust)
Sound level of motor vehicles (A7-0435/2012 - Miroslav Ouzký)
Specific measures for agriculture in the outermost regions of the Union (A7-0321/2011 - Gabriel Mato Adrover)
Corporate social responsibility: accountable, transparent and responsible business behaviour and sustainable growth - Corporate social responsibility: promoting society's interests and a route to sustainable and inclusive recovery (debate)
Recent casualties in textile factory fires, notably in Bangladesh (B7-0004/2013, B7-0004/2013, B7-0005/2013, B7-0010/2013, B7-0020/2013, B7-0021/2013, B7-0022/2013)
Regulation on mandatory marking of origin for certain products imported from third countries (B7-0013/2013, B7-0013/2013, B7-0014/2013, B7-0015/2013, B7-0016/2013)
Sustainable exploitation of fishery resources in the Mediterranean Sea (A7-0180/2012 - Anna Rosbach)
Credit rating agencies (A7-0221/2012 - Leonardo Domenici)
Multi-annual plan for cod stocks in the Baltic Sea (A7-0395/2012 - Jarosław Leszek Wałęsa)
Conservation of fishery resources (A7-0342/2012 - Pat the Cope Gallagher)
Youth guarantee (B7-0007/2013)
Role of territorial development in cohesion policy (A7-0421/2012 - Derek Vaughan)
Information and consultation of workers, anticipation and management of restructuring (A7-0390/2012 - Alejandro Cercas)
EU strategy for the Horn of Africa (A7-0408/2012 - Charles Tannock)
Information and consultation of workers, anticipation and management of restructuring (debate)
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Activities of the Committee on Petitions (2011) (debate)
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European Year of Citizens (2013) (debate)
Future of EU development policy - 2015 - European Year for Development (debate)
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Measures in relation to countries allowing non-sustainable fishing for the purpose of the conservation of fish stocks - Common organisation of the markets in fishery and aquaculture products - Conservation and sustainable exploitation of fisheries resources - Reform of the common fisheries policy (debate)
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2013 budget - mandate for trialogue (debate)
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EU citizenship report 2010 (debate)
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Employment and social aspects in the Annual Growth Survey 2012 - Contribution to the Annual Growth Survey 2012 - Guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States (debate)
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European platform against poverty and social exclusion (debate)
Ombudsman's annual report 2010 (debate)
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Activities of the Committee on Petitions 2010 (debate)
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Misleading business directories (debate)
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EU-US air transport agreement - EU-Canada air transport agreement - EU-Vietnam air services agreement (debate)
Respect of national wage and retirement-setting mechanisms (debate)
Shadow reports (7)
REPORT on promoting development through responsible business practices, including the role of extractive industries in developing countries PDF (223 KB) DOC (107 KB)
REPORT on effective labour inspections as a strategy to improve working conditions in Europe PDF (226 KB) DOC (115 KB)
REPORT on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Year of Development (2015) PDF (276 KB) DOC (425 KB)
REPORT on local authorities and civil society: Europe’s engagement in support of sustainable development PDF (186 KB) DOC (90 KB)
REPORT on Corporate Social Responsibility: promoting society’s interests and a route to sustainable and inclusive recovery PDF (386 KB) DOC (266 KB)
REPORT on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on a European Union Programme for Social Change and Innovation PDF (859 KB) DOC (1 MB)
REPORT on the EU Citizenship Report 2010: Dismantling the obstacles to EU citizens’ rights PDF (316 KB) DOC (219 KB)
Opinions (6)
OPINION on reindustrialising Europe to promote competitiveness and sustainability
OPINION on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps
OPINION on the proposal for a Council decision on the association of the overseas countries and territories with the European Union (‘Overseas Association Decision’)
OPINION on the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2013 – all sections
OPINION on the mandate for the trilogue on the 2013 Draft Budget
OPINION on a 14th company law directive on the cross-border transfer of company seats
Shadow opinions (16)
OPINION on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Directives 78/660/EEC and 83/349/EEC as regards disclosure of non-financial and diversity information by certain large companies and groups
OPINION on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Directives 78/660/EEC and 83/349/EEC as regards disclosure of non-financial and diversity information by certain large companies and groups
OPINION on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the access of third-country goods and services to the Union’s internal market in public procurement and procedures supporting negotiations on access of Union goods and services to the public procurement markets of third countries
OPINION on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on in vitro diagnostic medical devices
OPINION on corruption in the public and private sectors: the impact on human rights in third countries
OPINION on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on medical devices, and amending Directive 2001/83/EC, Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 and Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009
OPINION on Innovating for Sustainable Growth: A Bioeconomy for Europe
OPINION on the draft Council decision on the conclusion of the Protocol agreed between the European Union and the Republic of Madagascar setting out fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for in the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the two parties currently in force
OPINION on the Recommendation to the Council on the UN principle of the ‘Responsibility to Protect’ (R2P)
OPINION on the impact of the financial and economic crisis on human rights
OPINION on Corporate Social Responsibility: accountable, transparent and responsible business behaviour and sustainable growth
OPINION on the EU 2011 Report on Policy Coherence for Development
OPINION on the proposal for a Council decision on the conclusion of the Trade Agreement between the European Union and Colombia and Peru
OPINION on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a Partnership Instrument for cooperation with third countries
OPINION on the European Semester for economic policy coordination
OPINION with recommendations to the Commission on insolvency proceedings in the context of EU company law
Written declarations (1)
Amendments (1110)
Amendment 19 #
2013/2186(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas various complaints have been received with regard to the exercise of the right to vote in European and municipal elections, and also with regard to disenfranchisement in relation to national elections after a period of time spent abroad;(Does not affect English version.)
Amendment 42 #
2013/2186(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Regrets that the options for redress open to parents and children in the event of separation or divorce are not the same in each Member State, with the result that hundreds of parents in Europe have contacted the Committee on Petitions to urge it to be more active in this area despite its only having very limited competence;
Amendment 48 #
2013/2186(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Welcomes the fact that, by November 2013, three very different European citizens’ initiatives (ECIs) had met the required threshold; looks forward to organising hearings with the organisers of successful ECIs; and would like to see them organised before the European elections;
Amendment 50 #
2013/2186(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Calls on all those Member States which do not as yet have a national ombudsman, at present Italy and Germany, to meet the expectations of all EU citizens by appointing one;
Amendment 83 #
2013/2186(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Calls on Member States to set up as quickly as possible in each Member State a one-stop-shop to coordinate projects with a cross-border impact, with particular reference to projects that have an environmental impact such as wind farms where on occasion no consultation is held with residents on both sides of the border nor is there any impact study;
Amendment 86 #
2013/2186(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Calls on the European Commission to publish and distribute an explanation of citizens’ rights before and after the Lisbon Treaty so as to restore citizens’ trust;
Amendment 87 #
2013/2186(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)
Paragraph 14 b (new)
14b. Proposes that a European Citizenship Day be introduced in each Member State with the aim of disseminating information on that day about Europe;
Amendment 88 #
2013/2186(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 c (new)
Paragraph 14 c (new)
14c. Regrets that the European Year of Citizenship in 2013 had such a poor media profile;
Amendment 4 #
2013/2177(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas constant restructuring in the sector, reflecting in part a management focus on profit at the expense of investment and wages, reducedas a result of the economic crisis and a decline in demand at a time of fierce global competition from developing countries, led to a reduction in the workforce from 1 million in 1970 to 369 000 in 2012, with a devastatamaging impact on employment levels across whole regions;
Amendment 35 #
2013/2177(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Calls for State aid rules to be revised to support R&D and further training, reduce costs, promote productive investment, employment and training, to encourage the involvement of employees’ representatives in management and decision-making and to introduce the option of public takeovers in crisis situations;
Amendment 58 #
2013/2177(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Stresses the importance of EU support for sustaining European industries in competition with third countries and for training and employment in industrial transition processes; calls for such support to be kept in place and for its use to be monitored;
Amendment 11 #
2013/2176(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas it takes between 13 days (UK) and 40 days (Malta) to set up a business in Europe;2the time it takes to set up a business in Europe varies between 13 and 40 days; __________________ 2 .http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/IC.RE G.DURS.
Amendment 36 #
2013/2176(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Notes that global trends have created competitive pressures as well as opportunities for businesses; stresses the need for Member States to create the right regulatory and fiscal framework to help businesses create jobs;
Amendment 38 #
2013/2176(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Believes that in order to create a hospitable environment for job creation, Member States must, with support from the EU institutions, address the following factors: skills, entrepreneurship, demograpput in place the reforms needed to promote better matching of skills, entrepreneurship, a better fiscal incentive policy and recognition for training courses and apprenticeshicps, market access, finance and the labour marketto mainstream the principles of CSR, to facilitate market access and to make the labour market accessible to all, non- graduates as well as graduates;
Amendment 50 #
2013/2176(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Considers that active policies to promote training courses, continuing education, school-business partnerships, and apprenticeships could permit better matching of skills to those sought by businesses;
Amendment 51 #
2013/2176(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Notes the trend towards more skill- intensive jobs, with almost 90 % of jobs expected to be created or become vacant by 2020 requiring medium or high qualifications; notes also that the European trade policy pursued over the last few years has led Europe to specialise in services and advanced technology at the expense of the industrial and agricultural sectors which provide less qualified jobs;
Amendment 69 #
2013/2176(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Stresses the major supporting and advisory role which has devolved on banks, and the adverse effects of the recent economic crisis on borrowing conditions and risks covered for new entrepreneurs;
Amendment 96 #
2013/2176(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Believes Member States should be encouraged to promote the retention of older workers on the labour market by encouraging the extension of working lives, promoting the training within businesses of younger by senior workers, developing flexible labour markets and valuing experience;
Amendment 105 #
2013/2176(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Stresses that the opportunities afforded by the single market must be used to inject new life into Europe’s economies by opening up borders and creating new business opportunities, particularly by means of reciprocal access to public procurement contracts;
Amendment 121 #
2013/2176(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Stresses the importance of creating easily accessible microcredit agencies in all regions;
Amendment 141 #
2013/2176(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Strongly believes that businesses can only create jobs if the right conditions exist, including access to a qualified workforce, availability of flexible contractual arrangements, tax incentives, the introduction of CSR and keeping administrative burdens to a minimum;
Amendment 219 #
2013/2176(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)
Paragraph 27 a (new)
27a. Regrets, too, the excessive red tape under the REACH regulation, which has excluded some innovative European SMEs from European contracts which are open to international competition;
Amendment 236 #
2013/2176(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Calls on MEPs to make full use of the Impact Assessment and European Added Value Directorate, for example in the area of CSR, in order to scrutinise the cost to SMEs of proposals on draft policy;
Amendment 244 #
2013/2176(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Calls on the Commission to address the negative effects that the accumulation of legislation has on businesses, particularly with regard to the aspects of lack of knowledge and overall perception of EU legislation, especially in the area of employment and health and safety legislation; calls therefore on the Commission to improve the flow of information to SMEs, particularly on the positive aspects of introducing CSR;
Amendment 254 #
2013/2176(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. Calls on the Member States to support self-employment, especially among young people, by creating an environment that will encourage entrepreneurs to grow and create new jobs, particularly by establishing information centres, evenly distributed over the regions and providing both tax administration information and opportunities for microcredit;
Amendment 267 #
2013/2176(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
Paragraph 34
34. Calls on the Commission and the co- legislators, in the context of the Posting of Workers Directive, to ensure that any measures adopted are proportionate and to limit the burdens on businesses seeking to benefit from the freedom to provide services, while bearing in mind the risk of social dumping;
Amendment 3 #
2013/2169(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Notes with concern that claims for basic economic, social and cultural rights are oftenin certain cases met with severe repression, resulting in many victims of torture being amongst the poorest in society; notes also that violence against women and children is significantly influenced by their socio- economic marginalisation, including in developing countries; calls, therefore, for new preventive strategies to address the relationship between economic, social and cultural rights and violence;
Amendment 4 #
2013/2169(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Notes the EU’s vital position on the world stage in combating torture, in close cooperation with the UN; underlines the fact that strengthening the principle of zero tolerance for torture remains at the core of EU policies and strategies in promoting human rights and fundamental freedoms, both outside and inside the EU; regrets the fact that not all Member States fully comply with Council Regulation (EC) No1236/2005 and that some EU-based compancompanies based in industrialised countries may have illegally sold to third countries policing and security devices that can be used to torture;
Amendment 7 #
2013/2169(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Points out that women and children, especially girls, are the most vulnerable people subjected to acts of torture and ill- treatment; stresses, therefore, the importance of a gender-sensitive interpretation of torture and the need to pay particular attention to issues such as rape in detention, violence against pregnant women and the denial of access to reproductive righthealth services;
Amendment 8 #
2013/2154(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Calls for a special focus on all cross- border labour law and social rights (unemployment benefits, recognition of diplomas, etc.) issues, paying particular attention to pensions;
Amendment 25 #
2013/2154(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Takes the view that the home pages of all of the European institutions' websites should include a link to the SOLVIT site;
Amendment 26 #
2013/2154(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7b. Calls on the Commission to set up an EU-wide SOLVIT awareness-raising campaign alongside the European Year of Citizens and the 2014 European election campaign;
Amendment 27 #
2013/2154(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 c (new)
Paragraph 7 c (new)
7c. Calls for the SOLVIT site to be made more user-friendly for the visually impaired.
Amendment 10 #
2013/2135(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Urges the Commission and the Member States to phase out all subsidies and state aid for fossil fuels and nuclear energy and to finalise the internal electricity market in a manner that benefits renewable energy;
Amendment 1 #
2013/2126(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 a (new)
Citation 6 a (new)
- having regard to the EITI international transparency standard, which requires governments to publish details of their revenue from natural resources;
Amendment 2 #
2013/2126(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 7 a (new)
Citation 7 a (new)
- having regard to the G20 final declaration published on 6 September 2013, in which the world's leaders express support for the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI);
Amendment 4 #
2013/2126(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas Africa has some of the world's largest mineral reserves, and whereas the profits from the mining of Africa's mineral resources should be used to meet the MDGs, eradicate poverty and achieve rapid and broad-based socioeconomic development and growth; whereas, however, African countries still need to develop and implement coherent strategies to turn exploitation of natural resources into a motor for economic development and diversification of their economies;
Amendment 5 #
2013/2126(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas, if the revenues they generate are managed properly and transparently, natural resources can be significant drivers of economic growth and social development;
Amendment 6 #
2013/2126(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas the benefits of mining for local populations often fail to materialise or are cancelled out blocal or national authorities can use more effective governance and greater transparency to enhance the benefits of mining for local populations, thereby also neutralising any negative social and environmental impacts;
Amendment 8 #
2013/2126(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
Ea. having regard to the important role played by environmental and social impact assessments in protecting the rights of indigenous peoples in mining areas;
Amendment 10 #
2013/2126(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
Fa. whereas the extractive industries foster the development of high- technology, innovative sectors and offer solutions in the areas of resource and energy efficiency, ecodesign, performance enhancement, recycling and the circular economy which can benefit both developing and developed countries;
Amendment 12 #
2013/2126(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas there are reports of human rights abuses are common within the extractive industry and, includeing child labour, sexual violence, the disappearance of people, violation of the right to a cleanthe deliberate damaging of the environment, loss of land and livelihoods without negotiation and without adequate compensation, forced resettlement and the destruction of ritually or culturally significant sites;
Amendment 18 #
2013/2126(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital M
Recital M
M. whereas most African countries have in the past two decades carried out far- reachingessential economic, trade and investment liberalisation; which has increased the structural vulnerabilities of the mineral- producing countries; whereas today, instead of economic diversification, they have on average less diversified economies that are more concentrated, for instance, in low value-added mineral andereas today all efforts should be focused on bringing about greater economic diversification, in other words reducing dependency on the extractive industries or agricultural exports, both of which are both extremely sensitive to external price shocks;
Amendment 22 #
2013/2126(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital N
Recital N
N. whereas export taxes are widely used, are not prohibited by WTO agreements, generate revenue and can play a key role in developing competitive industries in commodity-dependent developing countries; whereas however,employed, although many regional trade agreements and the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) pursued by the EU forbid their use;
Amendment 23 #
2013/2126(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital R
Recital R
R. whereas although welcome, voluntary efforts by companies to avoid sourcing conflict minerals have not always been effective;
Amendment 25 #
2013/2126(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes with concern that non-sustainable mining can have huge negative environmental and social impacts, especially in Africa;
Amendment 26 #
2013/2126(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Stresses that the global commodity price boom, fuelled by demand from emerging economies, offers a great opportunity for resource-rich developing countries, especially in Africa, to raise revenue and channel it into development, in the interest of their peoples; supports national policies aiming at this; points out that legislative and regulatory reforms are often crucial and stresses that the necessary policy space should not be restricted bypolitical margin for manoeuvre needed to take social development into account in future trade and investment agreements is available;
Amendment 28 #
2013/2126(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Urges the EUDraws attention to the EU's efforts to support further institutional development and capacity building within host governments so as to establish the necessary institutional and legal framework to manage and allocate revenues from extractive industries (EI) in a transparent and effective manner; draws attention, further, to the partnerships developed between the EU and the African Development Bank; in particular, urges the EU to increase itscontinue providing assistance for the development of legislation and taxation policy so as to maximise the local and national benefits of EI development, resulting in the creation of local employment, living wages for employees and their families and increased linkages between small and medium-sized enterprises and the supply chain associated with EI development;
Amendment 29 #
2013/2126(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Stresses, in line with the principle of ownership, that local communities should participate in the planning and development ofbe informed about natural resources projects, which should be evaluated in terms of local supply chains and employment of the local community;
Amendment 34 #
2013/2126(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Notes with concern that according to John Ruggie, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights, about two-thirds of corporate human rights abuses come from the oil, gas and mining sectors; stresses that EU Member States and the international community have a duty under international and European human rights law to ensure that those companies operating within their jurisdiction are not causing or contributing to human rights abuses, directly or indirectly, through their business activities;
Amendment 37 #
2013/2126(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Emphasises the role played by the World Bank Group in developing responsible business practices; draws attention to the need to improve the way knowledge about the establishment of institutions which place greater emphasis on integrity is shared and applied and to make information and resources available to ordinary people, so that their governments are forced to be more effective and to take greater account of their needs;
Amendment 75 #
2013/2126(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 – point h
Paragraph 35 – point h
Amendment 7 #
2013/2112(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas there is a growing need for labour inspection in connection with the posting of workers around Europe;
Amendment 10 #
2013/2112(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)
Recital A b (new)
Ab. whereas labour inspections should also be carried out in partnership with businesses;
Amendment 12 #
2013/2112(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A c (new)
Recital A c (new)
Ac. whereas labour inspections should be stepped up at SMEs and small construction sites;
Amendment 20 #
2013/2112(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas illicitly employed workers suffer from secondary negative consequences such as the lack of access to information, occupational health services, training, the psychological constraints of having an accident or being caught, which in return affects the productivity of companies and the economy as a whole;
Amendment 53 #
2013/2112(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Considers that labour inspection can be effective only if the relevant authorities are adequately funded and have enough staff; voices its concern at the understaffing of Member States’ inspection authorities and the lack of further training, in particular on Europe-wide issues;
Amendment 55 #
2013/2112(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Points to the need for uniform training for labour inspectors and others in this field, with a view to tightening up enforcement of EU labour law;
Amendment 79 #
2013/2112(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Encourages the Member States to introduce a ‘social label’ to encourage companies to maintain higher labour standards, which could in the long run reduce the need for labour inspections and allow inspection resources to be targeted at sensitive areas;
Amendment 84 #
2013/2112(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Highlights the problematic nature of labour inspection in respect of migrant and posted workers from both EU and third countries, particularly in relation to the role and remit of national inspectorates; points out that national-level electronic systems, such as Belgium’s LIMOSA system for the compulsory advance registration of foreign workers by employers, substantially facilitate the task of labour inspection;
Amendment 89 #
2013/2112(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Points out that there is an important role to be played by the social partners, and particularly by workers’ representatives, in ensuring that the existing rules are observed; calls on the Member States to institute the formal involvement of the social partners in labour inspection;
Amendment 108 #
2013/2112(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Deplores the marked rise in the incidence of bogus self-employment, particularly in the construction sector, including under worker posting arrangements; calls on Member States to introduce appropriate inspection measures to combat bogus self- employment, for example by laying down criteria to determine what constitutes employment;
Amendment 123 #
2013/2112(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Considers that national programmes for the further training of labour inspectors should include specific modules on undeclared work and on related topics such as migration and human trafficking and the posting of workers, as well as language modules;
Amendment 136 #
2013/2112(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Highlights attention to the problem of implementing workplace health and safety rules in the case of employees doing undeclared work; stresses that the right to health and safety protection in the workplace applies irrespective of the employee’s or self-employed person’s status and that improved implementation of the existing rules will give substance to that right; suggests that Member States look into the possibility of introducing compulsory medicals for all workers, conducted free of charge once a year or once per contract, in order to give them basic protection;
Amendment 160 #
2013/2112(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Calls on the Commission to set up a European platform for labour inspectors, focusing on undeclared work, inside the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Eurofound), as an additional task for that agency, with a view to facilitating exchanges of experience and best practice by supplying objective, reliable and comparable data that are updated on a regular basis and to improving cross-border cooperation aimed, in particular, at identifying and supervising ‘letter-box’ service firms;
Amendment 181 #
2013/2112(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Points out that the right of national inspection authorities to carry out inspections within non-national companies has hitherto been severely restricted; calls for A1 posting certificates to be entered in an EU-wide register in order to facilitate the control at national level of employment relationships among posted workers on a multilingual basis;
Amendment 182 #
2013/2112(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23a. Points out, in connection with the directive on the enforcement of the directive on the posting of workers, that documents must be translated, irrespective of their length, where this is called for during an inspection;
Amendment 187 #
2013/2112(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Highlights the lack of emphasis, in existing social security and employment directives, on improved implementation and on the role of labour inspectorates; considers that the existing directives need to be thoroughly reviewed and revised where necessary and that the role of labour inspectorates needs to be taken account in social security and employment related matters in such a way as to afford effective protection and to promote the voluntary introduction of higher labour standards by companies through the establishment of a system of free-of-charge ‘social labels’ that are recognised at national or EU level;
Amendment 207 #
2013/2112(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Calls on the Commission, without prejudice to the principle of subsidiarity, to propose a directive underpinning the role of labour inspectors and laying down European labour-inspection standards and uniform training requirements in this area;
Amendment 22 #
2013/2075(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Highlights the importance of revitalising Europe’s industrial sectors by means of investment in modernising production tools and implementing a competition policy which will enable industrial groups on a global scale to emerge;
Amendment 25 #
2013/2075(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Underlines the importance which should be given to taking social and environmental criteria into consideration in public procurement procedures;
Amendment 26 #
2013/2075(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 c (new)
Paragraph 2 c (new)
2c. Is convinced that a social convergence policy can be implemented in close coherence with robust economic and competition policies;
Amendment 2 #
2013/2074(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Stresses that systemic corruption in the public and private sectors weakens state institutions and impairs governments’ ability to fulfil their human rights obligations, particularly with regard to the economic and social rights of the most vulnerable and marginalised;
Amendment 4 #
2013/2074(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Notes that the fight against corruption in the public and private sectors can also have an influence on political stability; stresses that the fight against corruption requires access to education for all so that public or private sector posts can be filled fairly;
Amendment 5 #
2013/2074(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 c (new)
Paragraph 1 c (new)
1c. Points out that the real obstacles to the fight against corruption are both the interests of the politico-administrative hierarchy and the fatalism and ignorance of its victims, which are often sustained by a culture of fear;
Amendment 6 #
2013/2074(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 d (new)
Paragraph 1 d (new)
1d. Emphasises that the fight against corruption is impossible without free and easy access to justice for all citizens;
Amendment 10 #
2013/2074(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 c (new)
Paragraph 2 c (new)
2c. Stresses that development aid can help support the fight against corruption by encouraging change, ensuring the transparency of aid flows, promoting political dialogue on governance issues and backing efforts by partner countries to tackle corruption; emphasises the importance of the International Aid Transparency Initiative (IATI), which is the international standard on the publication of aid flows;
Amendment 16 #
2013/2074(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. Draws attention to the existence of a handbook based on the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions, which allows companies to take effective internal control, ethical and compliance measures in order to prevent and detect cross- border corruption;
Amendment 18 #
2013/2074(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 d (new)
Paragraph 3 d (new)
3d. Suggests that particular efforts be made with the help of existing specialised international bodies to step up the fight against corruption in emerging and developing countries in order to introduce the reforms required to prevent and detect corruption in close cooperation with those States;
Amendment 18 #
2013/2073(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses that special attention should be paid to vulnerable groups at high risk of social exclusion, including young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEETs), and disadvantaged youthithout any training, unemployed youth, disadvantaged youth and school dropouts;
Amendment 31 #
2013/2073(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Stresses the need to combat early school leaving through dialogue between the education sector and public and private employment services, through better links between initial and further vocational training, and through the introduction of dual education systems, and by strengthening partnerships between businesses and schools so that training courses can meet labour market needs better;
Amendment 38 #
2013/2073(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Welcomes the Commission’s proposals for a Quality Framework on Paid Traineeships and an Alliance for Apprenticeships, aimed at promoting high- quality traineeships across the EU; reiterates the importance of encouraging corporate social responsibility (CRE) in order to promote apprenticeships, notably through older people acting as mentors to young people in businesses; calls on the Member States to urgently implement the Youth Guarantee in order to combat youth unemployment, drawing on the EUR 6 billion in EU funds available for the Youth Employment Initiative, in particular by supporting youth entrepreneurship through micro-finance; calls on the Commission to give practical support to Member States implementing the Youth Guarantee;
Amendment 38 #
2013/2045(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas young people are particularly disadvantaged during economic crises, more so than most groups; whereas for many young people current unemployment can be expected toand in many cases a period of unemployment turns into long-term unemployment, which brings risks of social exclusion; whereas this has alarming consequences for young individuals, lowering their self-esteem, leaving their ambitions unrealised, and delaying their assumption ofpossibility of leading an independent adult life, including starting a family, and consequently also for society, negatively impacting on the social, economic and demographic situation in Europe;
Amendment 61 #
2013/2045(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas SMEs, which are a driving force for economic growth and job creation and for achieving the goals of the Europe 2020 Strategy, have had to shed more than 3.5 million jobs, as a result of the economic crisis, or relocate their activities in order to remain competitive at international level, with workplace closures affecting all workers, including the young;
Amendment 67 #
2013/2045(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas the economic crisis which began in 2008 has negatively affected both demand and supply on the labour market, thus dramatically increasing uncertainty over job prospects and making it essential for all unemployed people to be better informed about employment prospectsimperative to adapt school courses and vocational training to the new requirements of the labour market and to make it easier for unemployed people to get back into work by setting up a one- stop system linking all the social services involved in their efforts to find a job;
Amendment 95 #
2013/2045(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Stresses that the policy measures implemented by Member States need to be diversified and should tackle all potential obstacles in young people’s pathway to sustainable employment, paying particular attention to vulnerable groups that are more likely to suffer from multiple disadvantagesto boost youth employment need to be diversified, to enable young people to obtain long- term employment, by creating opportunities for voluntary work, paid internships and activities in the public interest, thereby enabling young people to engage in socially useful activities which can be recognised as a form of professional experience and thus make it easier for them to get back into work;
Amendment 143 #
2013/2045(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Recognises the particularly difficult situation in certain regions where the level of unemployment among young people is above 25 %; welcomes the fact that EU support for youth employment will be further boosted through the proposed EU Youth Employment Initiative, with abut fears that the budget of EUR 6 billion fover the seven- year period 2014-2020 is inadequate;
Amendment 19 #
2013/2041(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Calls on Member States to provide more efficient education, with a focus on active citizenship, transversal, entrepreneurial (with particular reference to corporate social responsibility - CSR) and STEM- related skills, digital literacy and foreign languages skills, to tackle mismatches between skills and labour market demand;
Amendment 26 #
2013/2041(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Calls on Member States to safeguard an inclusive and integrated education system with a lifelong learning approach, providing equal access to all at all levels and offering tailor-made arrangements to meet the different needs of students, especially those from vulnerable social groups, such as Roma, migrants and disabled personstepping up the development of business-school partnerships with a view to ensuring that education and training are tailored more closely to labour market needs;
Amendment 42 #
2013/2041(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Considers that Member States should reduce drop-out rates by launching specific early childhood education, development and care programmes, providing extra-curricular activities and engaging parent geared to labour market needs and providing mentoring to disadvantaged students throughout their studies, helping them access the Erasmus programme and internships;
Amendment 60 #
2013/2041(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Calls on Member States to facilitate transition between the different educational and training pathways, assist transition between education, professional training and employment, provide paid traineeships, work-based learning, apprenticeships and dual learning models and recognize competences based on non- formal and informal learning;
Amendment 4 #
2013/2026(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 7
Citation 7
having regard to the Commission Green Paper of 10 November 2010 on ‘EU development policy in support of inclusive growth and sustainable development: Communication of 13 October 2011 entitled ‘Increasing the impact of EU dDevelopment pPolicy’: An agenda for change' (COM(20101)062937 final),
Amendment 5 #
2013/2026(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 7 a (new)
Citation 7 a (new)
– having regard to the Commission communication of 27 February 2013 entitled ‘A decent life for all: Ending poverty and giving the world a sustainable future’ (COM(2013)92 final),
Amendment 6 #
2013/2026(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 7 b (new)
Citation 7 b (new)
– having regard to the Declaration on ‘Urbanisation Challenges and Poverty Reduction in ACP States’ adopted in Nairobi, Kenya, in 2009,
Amendment 7 #
2013/2026(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 8 a (new)
Citation 8 a (new)
– having regard to the Declaration ‘Making Slums History: a worldwide challenge for 2020’ adopted at the international conference held in Rabat, Morocco, from 26 to 28 November 2012,
Amendment 8 #
2013/2026(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 8 b (new)
Citation 8 b (new)
– having regard to the Declaration on ‘Sustainable Urbanisation as Response to Urban Poverty Eradication’ adopted at the 2nd Tripartite ACP/European Commission/UN-Habitat Conference held in Kigali, Rwanda, from 3 to 6 September 2013,
Amendment 13 #
2013/2026(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas property rights can be defined as the rules that regulate the terms by which individual stakeholders, communities, public and private actors acquire and maintain access to tangible and intangible assetsuse and dispose of property collectively or individually through formalcommon law or customary provisions;
Amendment 18 #
2013/2026(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas efforts to achieve MDG7 (Target 11), which is aimed aTarget 7D of the Millennium Development Goals, namely ‘to achieve by 2020 a significant improvement ing the lives of 100 million slum inhabitants by 2020, is drastically behat least one hundred million slum dwellers’ – and indeed more than twice this target – has already been attained schedule;and whereas the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) estimates that as many as one billion peopleproportion of people in the developing world liveing in slums, and it is thought that an estimated three billion people will reside in slums by 2050 fell from 39% in 2000 to 33% in 2010; whereas nonetheless, despite the progress made, the number of slum-dwellers continues to grow in most developing countries;
Amendment 23 #
2013/2026(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas land governance issues are correlated with the key challenges of the 21st century -, namely food security, energy scarcity, water shortages, urban and population growth, environmental degradation, climate change, natural disasters and state fragility – can all be correlated with land governance issuesconflict resolution, reinforcing the need to prioritise comprehensive land reform;
Amendment 34 #
2013/2026(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 1
Subheading 1
Property rights and wealth creationto eradicate poverty and promote sustainable development
Amendment 36 #
2013/2026(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Considers recognised and registered property rights to be a catalyst for economic growth, enhancing productivity and investment through access to capital and low-cost credit by using land as collateral, and boosting commercial values through adequate registration of land holdings and SMEsbut can also promote social cohesion and peace;
Amendment 46 #
2013/2026(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Strongly condemns the practice of land grabbing, which, in particular, illegally dispossesses the rural poor of land without adequate compensation; highlights the fact that 203 million hectares worldwide have been part of large-scale land deals of this kind between 2000 and 20103; __________________ 3 http://www.landmatrix.org/get-the- idea/global-map-investments.
Amendment 57 #
2013/2026(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 2
Subheading 2
Steps to formalsecured property rights and sustainable land governance in the developing world
Amendment 67 #
2013/2026(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Emphasises that land tenure reform should begin with accurate land data collection and with systematic titling by means of cadastral mapping using low-cost technologies; congratulates Rwanda on the progress it has made with regard to land data, which has made it possible to register all land in the country within a remarkably short period;
Amendment 74 #
2013/2026(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Calls for the EU to promotehelp developing countries to implement their land reforms in developing countries, withorder, in particular, to promote the participation of all stakeholders, and in concert with awareness programs, so that the rights of all parties involved, especially the poor and vulnerable, are fully respected;
Amendment 76 #
2013/2026(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Calls for the EU to promote land reform in developing countries, with the participation of all stakeholders, and in concert with awareness programs, so that the rights of all parties involved, especially the poor and vulnerable, are fully respected; cites the example of Madagascar and local land offices, where simple local initiatives have greatly facilitated the registration of land titles;
Amendment 90 #
2013/2026(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
Amendment 3 #
2013/2020(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 1 a (new)
Citation 1 a (new)
Amendment 4 #
2013/2020(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 1 b (new)
Citation 1 b (new)
- having regard to the Cotonou Agreement of 23 June 2000, revised on 22 June 2010,
Amendment 22 #
2013/2020(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the Sahel is one of the poorest regions of the world, which confronts grave problems regarding human rights, the rule of law, security and armed conflict, as well as economic and social development, and whereas the extreme poverty in the region is reflected in the UN Human Development Index for 2012, ranking Niger (186th), Chad (184th), Burkina Faso (183rd) and Mali (182nd) among the six least developed countries in the world;
Amendment 24 #
2013/2020(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas establishing democracy, peace and good governance is a crucial challenge for the Sahel states, whereas these states must embark on the process of promoting human rights and fundamental freedoms, eradicating discrimination against women and minorities and promoting education and ethnic reconciliation;
Amendment 25 #
2013/2020(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the scope of this resolution encompasses the countries identified by the EU Sahel Strategy, specifically Mauritania, Mali, Niger, and relevant parts of Burkina Faso and Chad; whereas the broader geographic and ecological definition of the Sahel also remains crucial with regard to the region’s shared human rights challenges; whereas this report will also discuss thesecurity and human rights situation in Western Sahara and the Tindouf campsissues in the countries neighbouring the Sahel which have a direct impact on the current situation in the Sahel, such as Western Sahara and the Tindouf camps in Algeria, Libya and the consequences of the Libyan conflict, Nigeria and the presence of terrorist groups such as Boko Haram, and terrorist groups and drug trafficking in West Africa;
Amendment 29 #
2013/2020(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas the Sahel states are rich in natural resources, particularly oil, gold and uranium, but whereas the income from the extraction of these resources is not fed back into the local economy to enable these states to develop;
Amendment 30 #
2013/2020(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B b (new)
Recital B b (new)
Ba. whereas part of these countries’ populations do not have access to care and suffer from numerous endemic diseases such as cholera, meningitis, measles and HIV/AIDS; whereas the death toll from HIV/AIDS is high, with 11 000 dying every year in Chad, 7 100 in Burkina Faso, 4 400 in Mali and 4 300 in Niger;
Amendment 31 #
2013/2020(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B c (new)
Recital B c (new)
Bc. whereas civil wars and ethnic conflicts are leading to population movements and the establishment of refugee camps such as those in Mentao (Burkina Faso), Mangaize (Niger), M’Bera (Mauritania) and Breijing (Chad); whereas living conditions and hygiene in these camps are deplorable;
Amendment 32 #
2013/2020(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas the extreme poverty in the region is reflected in the UN Human Development Index for 2012, ranking Niger (186th), Chad (184th), Burkina Faso (183rd) and Mali (182nd) among the six least developed countries in the world; whereas the maternal mortality rate in Mali, estimated to be 1 100 deaths per 100 000 live births, is the highest in the world according to UN data; whereas the UN Human Development Report 2013 singles out Niger and Mali as having particularly high under-five child mortality rates, rising above 200 deaths per 1 000 live births where mothers are lacking any education; whereas the World Bank estimate of the primary school enrolment rates for Niger and Mali are among the worst in the world, at 62 and 63 % respectively; whereas the European Commission estimates that, in all, 10.3 million people are at risk of hunger in the Sahel region in 2013, among them 4.2 million are Malians;
Amendment 34 #
2013/2020(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas the European Commission estimates that, in all, 10.3 million people are suffering from hunger in the Sahel region in 2013, of whom 4.2 million are Malians; whereas according to the AGIR- Sahel programme, 18 million people are affected by hunger in the Sahel and West Africa, one million of whom are children; whereas the European Union must continue its efforts to improve the resilience of these countries; whereas the humanitarian aid provided by the European Union for the Sahel totals EUR 650 million;
Amendment 36 #
2013/2020(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas Tuareg resentments in northern Mali were exploited by extremist groups who in early 2012 allied with, and subsequently displaced, the secular National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) in their rebellion; whereas these groups, in particular Ansar Dine, Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and the Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO), further benefited from the instability arising from the subsequent coup in Bamako; whereas the systematic violations of human rights in the north, combined with the impending existential threat to the Malian state itself, precipitated the armed intervenational interventions to help shore up democracy, restore the rule of law and improve the situation of by French forces to halt the atrocities and human rights violations committed by the terrorist groups, restore democracy and the authority of the Malian state and re-establish respect for human rights;
Amendment 44 #
2013/2020(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D b (new)
Recital D b (new)
Dc. whereas the intervention of NATO forces in Libya in 2011 brought into circulation more than 20 million weapons which have ended up in the hands of Tuaregs or mercenaries who have joined terrorist groups; whereas the head of the MNLA, Mohamed Ag Najim, is a former colonel in the Libyan army;
Amendment 47 #
2013/2020(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas the EU has recently paid increased attention to the Sahel, as evidenced by the adoption of the EU Sahel Strategy for Security and Development in the Sahel in 2011, the launching of EU Capacity Building (EUCAP Sahel) and the EUTM Mali mission, and the nomination of an EUSR for the Sahel; whereas the mandate of the new EUSR, adopted on 18 March 2013, includes a strong human rights component;
Amendment 55 #
2013/2020(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
Fa. whereas the Sahel countries are parties to the Cotonou Agreement, and whereas partnership with the European Union is based on development aid, good governance, promotion of human rights and humanitarian aid;
Amendment 67 #
2013/2020(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas a ceasefire in Western Sahara between the Moroccan Government and the Polisario Front has been in place since 1991; whereas the UN considers Western Sahara a non-self-governing territory; whereas no country recognises Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara; whereas the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic is currently recognised by the AU and over 45 UN states, but not by the UN collectively or by any EU Member State; whereas the UN and EU do not explicitly consider Morocco to be an occupying power; whereas a referendum on the status of Western Sahara, first agreed on principle in 1988, has still not taken place; whereas the Kingdom of Morocco proposed a draft autonomous status for the Southern Provinces in 2007;
Amendment 74 #
2013/2020(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas the refugee camps near Tindouf in Algeria, having first been established thirty-seven years ago, remain the second longest-operating in the world; whereas a political stalemate precludes any realistic, in spite of the discussions between the various parties there is still no prospect of their dissolution, or the resettlement or repatriation of their inhabitants, in the near future;
Amendment 83 #
2013/2020(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital J
Recital J
J. whereas the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) is the only UN mission not to include a human rights dimension in its mandate, and offers no mechanism for alleged human rights violations to be reported; whereas the UN Security Council rejected the proposal to include human rights in MINURSO’s mandate its Resolution 2099 (2013) of 25 April 2013; whereas both the Moroccan Government and the Polisario Front have been accused of human rights violations;
Amendment 88 #
2013/2020(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Notes that the situation of human rights in the Sahel has acquired greater international prominence as a result of the armed conflict in Mali and the intervenational response to by the French army supported by the international community; acknowledges that this conflict has created specific problems in that country, as well as exacerbating fundamental underlyingstructural challenges already present in Mali and elsewhere in the region; stresses, however, that the immediate concerns in Mali should not deflect attention from the chronic and pervasive problems that seriously impact on human rights in the rest of the Sahel, in particular, slavery and human trafficking, jihadi extremism and radicalisation, fragile governance and institutional corruption, and systemic and debilitating poverty, child soldiers and discrimination against women;
Amendment 109 #
2013/2020(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Emphasises that women have borne the brunt of the violence against civilians in Mali; specifically condemns as a war crime the use of abduction and rape, rape, gang rape, forced marriages, and the humiliation of women belonging to a different ethnic group (Bella) as weapons of war; expects the EU and other international partners of Mali to cooperate closely with the Malian authorities to implement the commitments inherent in the UN Security Council Resolutions 1325 and 1820 and in the EU Comprehensive Approach;
Amendment 114 #
2013/2020(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Abhors the grave violations against children in Mali, including the reported use of child soldiers by all of the armed groups active in the north; applauds the action of UNICEF, which is assisting in the social reintegration of demobilised Malian child soldiers; emphasises the importance of allocating sufficient recourses to the tasks of demobilisation and rehabilitation of child soldiers; condemns in the strongest terms the sexual violence against girls, forced marriages, abductions and attacks on schools and hospitals that have occurred during the Mali conflict; draws attention to the capture and detention of children for intelligence purposes as a worrying emerging trend that needs to be addressed as a matter of the utmost urgency;
Amendment 117 #
2013/2020(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Calls on all the Sahel countries to embark on a policy of prevention and protection aimed at ensuring that children will not be recruited by force by armed groups; calls on the Sahel countries to refrain from recruiting children to their regular armies and to condemn any person guilty of this war crime;
Amendment 136 #
2013/2020(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Considers the need to fight impunity and hold all perpetrators of serious human rights violations accountable, irrespective of affiliation and status, as key to ensuring lasting peace and stability in Mali; welcomes therefore the Malian Government’'s referral of the situation to the ICC and the ICC Prosecutor’'s opening of formal investigations; calls on the EU and other international partners of Mali to help the government to pursue its objective of investigating and prosecuting perpetrators of abuses; calls onwelcomes the fact that the Malian Government to consider establishing a Truthhas established a Dialogue and Reconciliation Commission, along the South African lines,nd appointed a government emissary to carry on a dialogue with the armed groups in northern Mali in order to encourage dialogue and foster trust between communities;
Amendment 141 #
2013/2020(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Notes with great concern the role of these factors in facilitating the regional surge in international organised crime and jihadi networks; emphasises the serious threats that they pose to human rights and regional stability, and the need to confront such threats for the benefit of Sahelian populations; expresses particular alarm at the ‘trafficking highways’ across Africa from west to east, and south to north from the West African coast, transporting arms, narcotics, cigarettes, and people; notes that the Sahel risks further destabilisation from the proliferation of light weaponry originating in Libya; further condemns the region’s increased incidences of kidnapping and hostage-taking, which have proved highly lucrative for criminal and terrorist groups, and welcomes the work of the UN Human Rights Council Advisory Group on the impact of terrorist hostage-taking on human rights; draws attention to the impact of these activities on the wider region, as well as the EU, which is the destination for much of the illicit traffic;
Amendment 146 #
2013/2020(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Further condemns the region’s increased incidences of kidnapping and hostage-taking, which have proved highly lucrative for criminal and terrorist groups, and welcomes the work of the UN Human Rights Council Advisory Group on the impact of terrorist hostage-taking on human rights; draws attention to the impact of these activities on the wider region, as well as on the EU, which is being targeted by this hostage-taking; notes that the hostage-taking is intended to offer a show of force in relation to European countries;
Amendment 149 #
2013/2020(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)
Paragraph 14 b (new)
14b. Points out that terrorist operations know no borders and organisations are joining forces to pursue them; notes that the Boko Haram group is established in much of Nigeria and threatening the stability of Niger and that AQMI, led by three Algerians (Abou Zeid, Yahya Abou Al-Hammam, and Mokhtar Belmokhtar), is attempting to destabilise southern Algeria; welcomes the EUBAM Libya mission, aimed at securing Libyan borders; calls on the Sahel countries, therefore, to coordinate their efforts to make the entire region secure, starting with the borders, and to intensify counterterrorism cooperation with all the countries concerned, including Algeria, Nigeria, Morocco, and Libya; calls on the EU, the AU, ECOWAS, and the international community to provide the Sahel countries with every necessary form of technical, material, and human support;
Amendment 151 #
2013/2020(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 c (new)
Paragraph 14 c (new)
14c. Calls on the Sahel countries to establish intensive cooperation with Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, and Ghana, which are transit ports for drugs originating from Latin American criminal groups and bound for Europe; calls on the EU to help the Sahel countries fight this trafficking;
Amendment 152 #
2013/2020(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 d (new)
Paragraph 14 d (new)
14d. Notes that organised crime engenders corruption that permeates every sphere of state; calls on the Sahel countries, therefore, roundly to condemn all forms of corruption;
Amendment 160 #
2013/2020(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Welcomes the peaceful settlement of the border dispute between Niger and Burkina Faso brought by those two countries before the International Court of Justice, which handed down its ruling on 16 April 2013, and calls on the Sahel countries to follow this example;
Amendment 161 #
2013/2020(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 b (new)
Paragraph 16 b (new)
16b. Urges the governments of the Sahel countries to respect the independence and the impartiality of the courts, since these are essential guarantees of democracy and the rule of law; calls on the Sahel countries to continue their efforts to improve judicial training; and calls on the EU to support NGO projects aimed at raising human rights awareness among judicial practitioners;
Amendment 162 #
2013/2020(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 c (new)
Paragraph 16 c (new)
16c. Calls on the Sahel countries to cooperate with the ICC so as to enable it to conduct investigations freely and with complete impartiality; calls on states parties to execute international arrest warrants issued by the ICC and enforce its decisions with all due dispatch; proposes that the UN should help the Sahel countries to set up impartial and independent judicial bodies to try international crimes, following the example of the Special Court for Sierra Leone;
Amendment 165 #
2013/2020(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Encourages all countries in the region to tackle the persistent reports of alleged arbitrary arrests, ill-treatment and abuses, even torture, despite legislation prohibiting such practices; expresses concern over the reports of alleged forced disappearances of convicted prisoners in Mauritania and Chad, and points out that forced disappearances are considered a war crime under the Rome Statute; is troubled by reports of extremely poor conditions in some of the region’s prisons, which inflict great suffering on their inmates; calls on the Sahel countries to improve living conditions for prisoners and, in particular, to guarantee the safety and security of the most vulnerable groups, such as women and children;
Amendment 182 #
2013/2020(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Calls on the Sahel countries to cease all arbitrary arrests and intimidation campaigns aimed at the press and the media, human rights defenders, or opposition activists; calls on the Sahel- Sahara countries, including the North African countries, fully to respect the freedom of expression of non-violent groups and their freedom to demonstrate; calls on the judicial authorities to try imprisoned opposition figures fairly and in accordance with the law in force; calls on the Sahel countries to promote a multiparty system and both to allow political groupings which abide by the rule of law to contest elections without fear of reprisals and to enable the people to participate in elections;
Amendment 188 #
2013/2020(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Calls on the EU to support all measures being taken by Sahel countries, NGOs, and civil society to improve access to care, especially for the most vulnerable populations; calls on international organisations to continue the efforts to eradicate HIV-AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and meningitis, which cause numerous deaths; points out that some Sahel populations are nomadic and cannot easily gain access to care, and calls for support to be given to care- related awareness and training campaigns;
Amendment 197 #
2013/2020(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Notes, with due gravity, the frequent food crises and other humanitarian emergencies in the Sahel region, and their effect on the most fundamental human rights; welcomes the strong involvement of the EU and its Member States in the humanitarian crisis efforts in the Sahel; emphasises, however, the need for humanitarian action to be coordinated with longer term EU support in the context of development cooperation and human rights protectionnotes that in 2012 the Commission provided aid totalling EUR 338 million, including EUR 174 million in emergency humanitarian aid, to address food crises and that DG ECHO made EUR 172 million in humanitarian aid available, EUR 58 million of which was used in Mali; welcomes the budget of EUR 1.5 million granted to AGIR-Sahel under the 11th EDF with the aim of increasing the resilience of the Sahel States;
Amendment 207 #
2013/2020(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Notes, furthermore, with great concern, that slavery persists across the wider Sahel region, with large numbers of people in bonded labour in Mali, Niger and elsewhere; urges the responsible national and international authorities to take action in this regard, with particular attention to the position and vulnerability of women and girls, inter aliaby stamping out the practice employed by the Wahaya in Niger of forcing girls to have sexual relations with men who become their masters, assisting victims' rehabilitation and reintegration, collecting data, and organising awareness- raising campaigns;
Amendment 210 #
2013/2020(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Expresses deep concern about evidence of child labour in Malian gold mines, agriculture and forestry, reportedly involving children as young as six years old; notes Malian lawthe laws in force in the Sahel States prohibiting child labour, and the particularly hazardous nature of gold mining; calls, therefore, on the Malian authorities to implement the policy proposals in its Action Plan for the Fight against Child Labour (PANETEM) of June 2011, and to promote universal education more actively; calls on the EU to work with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and other national and international organisations, to eradicate fully child labour in Mali; calls on all the Sahel States to combat child labour and promote education;
Amendment 215 #
2013/2020(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)
Paragraph 27 a (new)
27a. Points out that the European Union endorses the principles underpinning the Kimberley Process, implements the FLEGT programmes and endeavours wherever possible to encourage compliance with basic international standards in the areas of social protection, employment and the environment and corporate social responsibility (CSR); calls on the European Union and the Sahel States to consider introducing a gold traceability process along the lines of the Kimberley Process for diamonds; emphasises the need for European firms which have subsidiaries in the countries of the region to satisfy themselves that these basic standards and international guidelines on CSR are being complied with; points out that the European Union is shortly to introduce the principle of country-by-country reporting;
Amendment 218 #
2013/2020(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)
Paragraph 28 a (new)
28a. Calls on the Sahel States to promote access to education for all children, both boys and girls, and for nomad peoples, with no discrimination on the grounds of race, caste or ethnicity; calls on the States to promote policies on vocational training and access to higher education and employment, in order to offer young people in the Sahel a future and thus keep them out of the clutches of terrorist groups; emphasises that conditions for children in schools must meet minimum criteria as regards health, safety and dignity and that steps must be taken to ensure that children are not mistreated or forced to engage in begging by their tutors;
Amendment 219 #
2013/2020(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Notes the discrimination faced by women and girls in much of the region, the manifestations of which include forced marriage, child marriage, sexual exploitation, under- education and, particularly in Chad, widespread female genital mutilation, including infibulation; calls on the EU to assist local women's groups and civil so, and traditional practices such as sororate or levirate marriage; calls for the implementation, in cooperation with all the development actors on the ground, of policietys to tackle oppression, and enable women to lead lives that they have freely chosensafeguard human rights and gender equality, in particular respect for and the safeguarding and promotion of the rights of women, including sexual and reproductive rights, with no discrimination on the grounds of race, caste, age, ethnicity, religious belief, marital status, origin or status as a migrant or non-migrant;
Amendment 229 #
2013/2020(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31 a (new)
Paragraph 31 a (new)
31a. Points out that the Sahel population consists of transfrontier ethno-cultural communities and that the continuing tensions between these communities and the exploitation of those tensions are making the establishment of democratic States and a lasting peace more difficult; takes the view that it is time to consolidate the close links between these groups and to put an end to the conflicts between them; calls on the Sahel States to arrange inclusive inter-ethnic dialogues;
Amendment 241 #
2013/2020(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 a (new)
Paragraph 35 a (new)
35a. Urges Senegal, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco to play a leadership role in the Sahel region and in so doing create a genuine regional dynamic which will boost the economic development of the region and safeguard human rights;
Amendment 244 #
2013/2020(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
Paragraph 36
36. Notes the April 2013 report of the UN Secretary-General on the situation concerning Western Sahara, which stresses 'the critical importance of addressing the Western Sahara conflict as part of a broader strategy for the Sahel', and that 'the issue of human rights remains important for any resolution of the conflict'; further notes that the conclusions of many observers that Western Sahara risks becoming destabilised by the conflict in the Sahel and the groups participating in itgoing conflicts in the Sahel, and in particular the presence of terrorist groups such as AQMI in northern Mali and southern Algeria, are factors destabilising Western Sahara;
Amendment 245 #
2013/2020(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
Paragraph 36
36. Notes the April 2013 report of the UN Secretary-General on the situation concerning Western Sahara, which stresses 'the critical importance of addressing the Western Sahara conflict as part of a broader strategy for the Sahel', and that 'the issue of human rights remains important for any resolution of the conflict'; further notes that the conclusions of many observers that Western Sahara risks becoming destabilised by the conflict in the Sahel and the groups participating in itgoing conflicts in the Sahel, and in particular the presence of terrorist groups such as AQMI in northern Mali and southern Algeria, are factors destabilising Western Sahara;
Amendment 264 #
2013/2020(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38
Paragraph 38
38. Expresses deep concern at the recent report from the UNSR on torture, who found evidenceobtained credible testimony stating that Moroccan officials have detained individuals on political grounds, inflicted torture and rape on Sahrawi inmates, kidnapped and abandoned protesters in the desert to intimidate them, and deliberately and frequently targeted pro-independence advocates, including in their homethat these types of treatment, which are contrary to international law, are being suffered by both Moroccan citizens and Sahrawis; notes further widespread allegations of forced disappearances and unfair trials; draws particular attention to the dismantling of the Gdeim Izik protest camp in November 2010, where significant violence claimed Moroccan and Sahrawi lives, and the subsequent trial of 25 Sahrawis, many of them known human rights activists, in February 2013; notes Morocco's insistence regarding the trial's fairness and due process, and the positive conclusions of some international observers, but also recalls the UNSR's concern at the use of a military court, the allegations of torture, and the Moroccan authorities' failure to investigate them; notes the conclusions by some NGOs and human rights observers relating to the case's alleged politicised prosecutions, deficient evidence and excessive sentences; calls thereforenotes that the King of Morocco has endorsed the proposal made by the Moroccan National Human Rights Council urging that civilians should not be tried by military tribunals; calls on the Moroccan authorities to work with civil society and other actors to guarantee the transparency and fairness of its judicial processes, and to investigate and prosecute security officials alleged to have been involved in arbitrary detentions, torture and other abuses of power;
Amendment 265 #
2013/2020(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38
Paragraph 38
38. Expresses deep concern at the recent report from the UNSR on torture, who found evidenceobtained credible testimony stating that Moroccan officials have detained individuals on political grounds, inflicted torture and rape on Sahrawi inmates, kidnapped and abandoned protesters in the desert to intimidate them, and deliberately and frequently targeted pro-independence advocates, including in their homethat these types of treatment, which are contrary to international law, are being suffered by both Moroccan citizens and Sahrawis; notes further widespread allegations of forced disappearances and unfair trials; draws particular attention to the dismantling of the Gdeim Izik protest camp in November 2010, where significant violence claimed Moroccan and Sahrawi lives, and the subsequent trial of 25 Sahrawis, many of them known human rights activists, in February 2013; notes Morocco's insistence regarding the trial's fairness and due process, and the positive conclusions of some international observers, but also recalls the UNSR's concern at the use of a military court, the allegations of torture, and the Moroccan authorities’ failure to investigate them; notes the conclusions by some NGOs and human rights observers relating to the case's alleged politicised prosecutions, deficient evidence and excessive sentences; calls thereforenotes that the King of Morocco has endorsed the proposal made by the Moroccan National Human Rights Council urging that civilians should not be tried by military tribunals; calls on the Moroccan authorities to work with civil society and other actors to guarantee the transparency and fairness of its judicial processes, and to investigate and prosecute security officials alleged to have been involved in arbitrary detentions, torture and other abuses of power;
Amendment 287 #
2013/2020(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40
Paragraph 40
40. Welcomes the significant economic and infrastructural development implemented by the Moroccan Government in Western Sahara; welcomes the regional development model for the southern provinces drawn up by Morocco's Economic, Social and Environmental Council, which would allow the people of the area to exercise their economic, social and cultural rights to the full and to prepare to make the Moroccan autonomy initiative a success; remains concerned, however, by the ongoing dispute over the exploitation of the territory's natural resources, particularly relating to phosphate mines, fisheries, and preliminary oil exploration; recalls the UN Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs' advice in 2002, which stressed the Western Saharan people's 'inalienable rights' to their territory's natural resources, and determined that further exploitation 'in disregard of the interests and wishes of the people of Western Sahara' would be illegal; draws attention to the UN Secretary- General's statement to the effect that Morocco was seeking to improve living conditions in the territory and, to that end, to draft a new regional development strategy for the area; stresses, therefore, that Western Saharan goods and resources should be exempt from any trade agreements between Morocco and the EU unless the Sahrawi population's consent and benefit can be clearly demonstrated; expresses particular concern that the EU should not re-institute a fisheries agreement with Morocco while this controversy remains unresolved;
Amendment 311 #
2013/2020(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43
Paragraph 43
43. Expresses concern that the poverty in Tindouf, coupled with an absence of long- term prospects for many refugees, leaves them vulnerable to radicalisation along religious fundamentalist lines; points to the danger of young people being recruited by criminal or terrorist organisations and draws attention to the region's porous borders, which risk facilitating deeper infiltration of the camps by jihadi groups from northern Mali and elsewhere; stresses, therefore, the paramount importance of ensuring the safety and security of the camps;
Amendment 312 #
2013/2020(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43
Paragraph 43
43. Expresses concern that the poverty in Tindouf, coupled with an absence of long- term prospects for many refugees, leaves them vulnerable to radicalisation along religious fundamentalist lines; points to the danger of young people being recruited by criminal or terrorist organisations and draws attention to the region's porous borders, which risk facilitating deeper infiltration of the camps by jihadi groups from northern Mali and elsewhere; stresses, therefore, the paramount importance of ensuring the safety and security of the camps;
Amendment 11 #
2013/2017(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Urges the Commission to act swiftly to facilitate the implementation of PSCI to promote supportive active labour market policies and good labour policy mix to improve the transition rates back to employment, especially for the long-term unemployed;, with progress, microfinance and cross-border partnerships being the tools that should be promoted in Member States.
Amendment 18 #
2013/2017(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Urges the Commission to assure sufficient payment appropriations on the budget line for the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund and to ensure that Member States make proper and appropriate use of this Fund;
Amendment 26 #
2013/2017(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Underlines that the 2014 budget should support measures promoting entrepreneurship in micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, including social entrepreneurship and innovative social enterprises and self-employment, as well as facilitate access to financing through the "social entrepreneurship" axis of PSCI, particularly for enterprises that have developed the social aspect of their CSR;
Amendment 13 #
2013/2013(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas petitions submitted by citizens give evidence that there is persisting discrimination against citizens as a result of their religion or belief, disability, belonging to a minority or certain ethnic group, age or sexual orientation;
Amendment 40 #
2013/2013(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital L
Recital L
L. whereas petition 630/2006 with more than one million signatures from EU citizens on the subject of the European Parliament’s two-seat arrangement has been kept on hold when it is not up to the Committee on Petitions to deal with this subject, which would call into question the Treaties, and when, moreover, there is already a single seat;
Amendment 50 #
2013/2013(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital O
Recital O
O. whereas certain petitions, such as one of the oldest outstanding petitions concerning discriminatory treatment against foreign- language lecturers (‘lettori’) in Italy, are pending between the Commission, Parliament and national authorities without any solution found, leaving the petitioners on uncertain ground with no sign of a conclusion;
Amendment 63 #
2013/2013(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Regrets, however, the Parliament administration's backlog of several hundred petitions received in 2012, which have not yet been considered; considers that the 2012 backlog is likely to grow in the following years and thus exacerbate the lack of confidence in the institutions;
Amendment 71 #
2013/2013(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Draws attention to persisting discrimination against citizens as a result of their religion or belief, disability, belonging to a minority group, age or sexual orientation; warns, in particular, that the Roma population across the EU continues to face obstacles to inclusion; calls therefore on the Commission to facilitate inter-governmental cooperation in this area, to provide adequate fundingensure that the substantial funding provided for the implementation of national strategies for Roma inclusion is being properly used, and to actively monitor whether these strategies are being effectively implemented in Member States;
Amendment 72 #
2013/2013(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls on the Commission to come up with a proposal for legislation to finally solve the problems relating to the mutual recognition by Member States of civil status documents and their effects;
Amendment 108 #
2013/2013(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Points out that EU citizens do not all have a national Ombudsman with extensive powers, which means that all EU citizens do not have the same access to redress; believes that with a national Ombudsman in each Member State, the European Network of Ombudsmen would provide considerable support for the European Ombudsman;
Amendment 118 #
2013/2013(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Deplores the bureaucratic obstacles placed before European Citizens’ Initiatives due to a lack of IT support; regrets, above all, that such a tool for citizens is being used so disparately in the different administrations, due to the different operating procedures in the Member States;
Amendment 6 #
2013/2006(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Considers that investment should be diversified, both in research and in new technologies, but that we should also reinvigorate our industrial heritage in such sectors as steel, vehicle manufacturing, textiles and aeronautics in order to improve our production tools so as to enable us to conquer new markets and remain internationally competitive;
Amendment 24 #
2013/2006(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Stresses that the creation of own resources for the European budget could enable them to be used in a manner which promotes the reindustrialisation of Europe;
Amendment 33 #
2013/2006(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Recommends better use of the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (EIP) and the Programme for the Competitiveness of Enterprises and small and medium-sized enterprises (COSME);
Amendment 34 #
2013/2006(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Suggests greater consistency between our trade policy, our competition policy and our industrial policy, to help SMEs to operate outside their country of origin and to promote their access to markets;
Amendment 35 #
2013/2006(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Recalls the importance and scope of the requirement that social standards be complied with in connection with large public procurement procedures;
Amendment 2 #
2013/0315(NLE)
The Committee on Development calls on the Committee on Fisheries, as the committee responsible, to propose that the Parliament give its consent. The Committee on Development considers that the Commission should take due account of the following points when implementing the Protocol: (a) the need to safeguard democratic principles and fundamental rights, and to suspend the application of the Protocol as provided for in Article 8 thereof in the event that these principles and rights are violated; (b) the importance of forwarding to Parliament and the Council the annual reports on the use of the sectoral budget in order to promote transparency and to guarantee that this additional budget, which is designed to support the sectoral fisheries policy, is used effectively and that this Protocol has a beneficial economic and social impact on local communities.
Amendment 45 #
2013/0238(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 16
Recital 16
(16) Efficient coordination between all partners contributing at Union, national, regional and local levels is a fundamental prerequisite for an effective European Year. Local and regional partners hav, first and foremost – given their geographical closeness to developing countries – those from the outermost regions and the Overseas Countries and Territories, have in this case a particular role to play in promoting EU development policy.
Amendment 48 #
2013/0238(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 1 – paragraph 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1
2015 shall be designated the ‘European Year ofor Development’ (hereinafter referred to as ‘the European Year’). The motto of the European Year shall be "Dignity for all".
Amendment 50 #
2013/0238(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – indent 1
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – indent 1
Amendment 54 #
2013/0238(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
1. The measures taken to achieve the objectives set out in Article 2 mayshall include the following initiatives, which may be organised at Union, national, regional or local level both within the European Union and in overseas countries and territories and developing countries, as detailed in the Annex to this Decision:
Amendment 60 #
2013/0238(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 4 – paragraph 2
Article 4 – paragraph 2
2. The national coordinators shall, in close coordination with the Commission, consult and cooperate with a wide range of relevant stakeholders, including civil society, national parliaments, local and regional authorities, the social partners and, where appropriate, the national agencies or contact points for the relevant Union programmes.
Amendment 62 #
2013/0238(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – indent 1
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – indent 1
Amendment 63 #
2013/0238(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 6 – paragraph 3
Article 6 – paragraph 3
3. The Commission shall convene meetings of the national coordinators to coordinate implementation of the European Year and to exchange information on implementation at EU and national level. The Commission shall invite representatives of civil society and regional and local authorities and Members of the European Parliament to attend those meetings as observers.
Amendment 67 #
2013/0238(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Annex 1 – paragraph 1
Annex 1 – paragraph 1
Implementation of the European Year will centre on a broad Union-wide information and communication campaign complemented by action taken by the Member States. Both Union and national action can also involve civil society, social partners, regional and local authorities, and other stakeholders with a view to creating a sense of ownership among key actors.
Amendment 21 #
2013/0110(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) It is also necessary to establish a certain minimum legal requirement as regards the extent of the information that should be made available to the public by undertakings across the Union. Annual reports should give a fair and comprehensive view of anthe policies, results, and risks of undertaking's policies, results, and riskand their branches, together with the precise purpose of their social investments.
Amendment 26 #
2013/0110(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 6
Recital 6
(6) In order to enhance consistency and comparability of non-financial information disclosed throughout the Union, companies should be required to include in their annual report a non-financial statement containing information relating to at least environmental matters, social and employee-related matters, respect for human rights, anti-corruption and bribery matters. Such statement should include a description of the policies, results, and the risks related to those mattersprecise purpose of social investments, as well as the risks related to those matters, encompassing the entire supply chain.
Amendment 30 #
2013/0110(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) In providing this information, companies may rely on national frameworks, EU-based frameworks such as the Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS), and international frameworks such as the United Nations (UN) Global Compact, the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights implementing the UN “Protect, Respect and Remedy” Framework, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) 26000, the International Labour Organization (ILO) Tripartite Declaration of principles concerning multinational enterprises and social policy, and the Global Reporting Initiative, or on a set of quantifiable, sector-specific social criteria endorsed by the European Union under, for example, a ‘social labelling’ scheme.
Amendment 31 #
2013/0110(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) It is also necessary to establish a certain minimum legal requirement as regards the extent of the information that should be made available to the public by undertakings across the Union. Annual reports should give a fair and comprehensive view of an undertaking's policies, results, and risks, as well as of the precise purpose of its social investments and those of its subsidiaries.
Amendment 32 #
2013/0110(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 6
Recital 6
(6) In order to enhance consistency and comparability of non-financial information disclosed throughout the Union, companies should be required to include in their annual report a non-financial statement containing information relating to at least environmental matters, social and employee-related matters, respect for human rights, anti-corruption and bribery matters. Such statement should include a description of the policies, and results, and the risks related to those mattersprecise purpose of social investments, as well as the risks related to those matters, including for the entire supply chain.
Amendment 32 #
2013/0110(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 8 a (new)
Recital 8 a (new)
(8a) The requirement to disclose non- financial information calls for the setting up of EU-approved rating agencies to check, wherever necessary, the accuracy of the information disclosed.
Amendment 33 #
2013/0110(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 9 a (new)
Recital 9 a (new)
(9a) Investor access to non-financial information should also help to channel investment into undertakings with high social standards.
Amendment 34 #
2013/0110(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 9 b (new)
Recital 9 b (new)
(9b) The disclosure of non-financial information should make it possible to o implement a sustainable and inclusive investment strategy that includes a corporate social responsibility clause with concrete guidelines for investors, as well as an efficient assessment methodology for public authorities monitoring the social and environmental impact of the resulting investments;
Amendment 35 #
2013/0110(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) In providing this information, companies mayundertakings should rely on national frameworks, EU-based frameworks such as the Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS), and international frameworks such as the United Nations (UN) Global Compact, the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights implementing the UN “"Protect, Respect and Remedy”" Framework, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) 26000, the International Labour Organization (ILO) Tripartite Declaration of principles concerning multinational enterprises and social policy, and the Global Reporting Initiative or on a set of quantifiable, sector-specific social criteria endorsed by the European Union under, for example, a ‘social labelling’ scheme.
Amendment 35 #
2013/0110(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 10 a (new)
Recital 10 a (new)
(10a) The requirement to disclose non- financial information includes striking a balance between environmental results and social results, in order to ensure that such disclosure is in keeping with CSR principles and is not confined solely to environmental data.
Amendment 36 #
2013/0110(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 9 a (new)
Recital 9 a (new)
(9a) Investor access to non-financial information should also help to channel investment into undertakings with high social standards.
Amendment 37 #
2013/0110(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 9 b (new)
Recital 9 b (new)
(9b) The disclosure of non-financial information should make it possible to o implement a sustainable and inclusive investment strategy that includes a corporate social responsibility clause with concrete guidelines for investors, as well as an efficient assessment methodology for public authorities monitoring the social and environmental impact of the resulting investments;
Amendment 38 #
2013/0110(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) The European Council of 24 and 25 March 2011 called for the overall regulatory burden, in particular for small and medium-sized enterprises ("SMEs"), to be reduced at both European and national levels and suggested measures to increase productivity while the Europe 2020 Strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth aims to improve the business environment for SMEs and to promote their internationalisation. Thus, according to the "think-small-first" principle, the disclosure requirements under Directive 78/660/EEC and Directive 83/349/EEC should only apply to certain large undertakings and groups. Nonetheless, strong incentives, such as tax breaks, could be introduced to encourage SMEs to disclose such information.
Amendment 39 #
2013/0110(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 10 a (new)
Recital 10 a (new)
(10a) The requirement to disclose non- financial information includes striking a balance between environmental results and social results, in order to ensure that such disclosure is in keeping with CSR principles and is not confined solely to environmental data.
Amendment 42 #
2013/0110(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 14 a (new)
Recital 14 a (new)
(14a) The requirement to disclose non- financial information calls for the setting up of EU-approved rating agencies to check, wherever necessary, the accuracy of the information disclosed.
Amendment 45 #
2013/0110(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 17 a (new)
Recital 17 a (new)
(17a) Non-financial information disclosure could be included among the contract award criteria when the Public Procurement Directive is next revised.
Amendment 45 #
2013/0110(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 17 a (new)
Recital 17 a (new)
(17a) Non-financial information disclosure could be included among the contract award criteria when the Public Procurement Directive is next revised.
Amendment 46 #
2013/0110(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 17 b (new)
Recital 17 b (new)
(17b) This Directive may be revised to include SMEs.
Amendment 48 #
2013/0110(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point a
Directive 78/660/CEE
Article 46 – paragraph 1 – point b – subparagraph 1
Article 46 – paragraph 1 – point b – subparagraph 1
For companies whose average number of employees during the financial year exceeds 500 and, on their balance sheet dates, exceed either a balance sheet total of EUR 20 million or a net turnover of EUR 40 million, the review shall also include a non-financial statement containing information relating to at leastequally to environmental, social and employee matters, respect for human rights, anti- corruption and bribery matters, including:
Amendment 49 #
2013/0110(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point a
Directive 787/660/CEE
Article 46 – paragraph 1 – point b – subpoint i a (new)
Article 46 – paragraph 1 – point b – subpoint i a (new)
(ia) The precise purpose of social investments.
Amendment 51 #
2013/0110(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point a
Directive 78/660/CEE
Article 46 – paragraph 1 – point b – subparagraph 3
Article 46 – paragraph 1 – point b – subparagraph 3
In providing such information the company may rely on national, EU-based or international frameworks or on a set of quantifiable, sector-specific social criteria endorsed by the European Union under, for example, a ‘social labelling’ scheme, and, if so, shall specify which frameworks it has relied upon.
Amendment 51 #
2013/0110(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point a
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point a
Directive 78 / 660/ CEE
Article 46 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 46 – paragraph 1 – point b
For companies whose average number of employees during the financial year exceeds 500 and, on their balance sheet dates, exceed either a balance sheet total of EUR 20 million or a net turnover of EUR 40 million, the review shall also include a non-financial statement containing information relating to at leastnot only environmental, but also social and employee matters, as well as respect for human rights, anti- corruption and bribery matters, including:
Amendment 54 #
2013/0110(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point a
Directive 83/349/CEE
Article 36 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
Article 36 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
The consolidated annual report shall include a fair review of the development and performance of the business and of the position of the undertakings included in the consolidation taken as a whole, together with a description of the principal risks and uncertainties that they face, including the entire supply chain.
Amendment 55 #
2013/0110(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point a
Directive 83/349/CEE
Article 36 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 3
Article 36 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 3
For parent undertakings of undertakings to be consolidated that together exceed an average number of 500 employees during the financial year, and, on their balance sheet dates, exceed either a balance sheet total of EUR 20 million or a net turnover of EUR 40 million, the review shall also include a non-financial statement containing information relating to at leastequally to environmental, social and employee matters, respect for human rights, anti- corruption and bribery matters, including the following:
Amendment 56 #
2013/0110(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point a
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point a
Directive 78 / 660/CEE
article 46 – paragraph 1 – point b– subpoint iii a (new)
article 46 – paragraph 1 – point b– subpoint iii a (new)
the precise purpose of its social investments.
Amendment 57 #
2013/0110(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point a
(ia) The precise purpose of social investments.
Amendment 61 #
2013/0110(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point a
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point a
Directive 78/660/EEC
Article 46 – paragraph 1 – point b – subparagraph 3
Article 46 – paragraph 1 – point b – subparagraph 3
In providing such information the company may rely on national, EU-based or international frameworks or on a set of quantifiable, sector-specific social criteria endorsed by the European Union under, for example, a ‘social labelling’ scheme and, if so, shall specify which frameworks it has relied upon.
Amendment 75 #
2013/0110(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – point 1 – point a
Article 2 – point 1 – point a
Directive 83/349 / EEC
Article 36 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
Article 36 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
The consolidated annual report shall include a fair review of the development and performance of the business and of the position of the undertakings included in the consolidation taken as a whole, together with a description of the principal risks and uncertainties that they face, encompassing the entire supply chain.
Amendment 81 #
2013/0110(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – point 1 – point a
Article 2 – point 1 – point a
Directive 83/349/CEE
Article 36 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 3
Article 36 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 3
For parent undertakings of undertakings to be consolidated that together exceed an average number of 500 employees during the financial year, and, on their balance sheet dates, exceed either a balance sheet total of EUR 20 million or a net turnover of EUR 40 million, the review shall also include a non-financial statement containing information relating to at leastnot only environmental but also social and employee matters, as well as respect for human rights, anti- corruption and bribery matters, including the following:
Amendment 83 #
2013/0110(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – point 1 – point a
Article 2 – point 1 – point a
Directive 83/349/CEE
Article 36 – paragraph 1 – point a – subparagraph 3 – subpoint iii a(new)
Article 36 – paragraph 1 – point a – subparagraph 3 – subpoint iii a(new)
the precise purpose of its social investments.
Amendment 1 #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 1
Citation 1
– having regard to Articles 232 and 341 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) and to the fact that the Protocol on the location of the seats of the institutions and of certain bodies, offices, agencies and departments of the European Union forms an integral part of the Treaties and thus of EU primary law, having been ratified, as part of the Treaty of Amsterdam, by all the Member States in accordance with their respective constitutional rules,
Amendment 2 #
Amendment 3 #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 2
Citation 2
– having regard to Protocol 6, annexed to the Treaties, on the location of the seats of the institutions and of certain bodies, offices, agencies and departments of the European Union, under which the European Parliament has its seat in Strasbourg, the Council has its seat in Brussels, the Commission has its seat in Brussels, the Court of Justice of the European Union has its seat in Luxembourg, the Court of Auditors has its seat in Luxembourg, the Economic and Social Committee has its seat in Brussels, the Committee of the Regions has its seat in Brussels, the European Investment Bank has its seat in Luxembourg, the European Central Bank has its seat in Frankfurt and the European Police Office (Europol) has its seat in The Hague,
Amendment 4 #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 3 a (new)
Citation 3 a (new)
– having regard to former Rule 191(2) and current Rule 201(2) of its Rules of Procedure,
Amendment 5 #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 4
Citation 4
Amendment 6 #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 6
Citation 6
Amendment 7 #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 7 a (new)
Citation 7 a (new)
– having regard to Parliament’s Environmental Statement for 2010, issued in May 2011, and in particular pages 68 to 70,
Amendment 8 #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 7 b (new)
Citation 7 b (new)
– having regard to the document drawn up by Parliament’s Secretariat entitled ‘Replies and follow-up to the discharge for 2010’;
Amendment 9 #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 9 – footnote 3
Citation 9 – footnote 3
3. Cases C-237/11 and C-238/11, France v Parliament, the judgment in which annulled Parliament’s votes of 9 March 2011.
Amendment 10 #
2012/2308(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph A
Paragraph A
A. whereas certain petitions have been deposited requesting that the establishment of the European Parliament in more than one place be discontinued; either that the European Parliament should no longer have its seat in Strasbourg or that Parliament’s seat should continue to be located in Strasbourg in accordance with Protocol No 6 annexed to the Treaty on European Union;
Amendment 11 #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 10
Citation 10
Amendment 12 #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 10
Citation 10
– having regard to the petition gathered in 2006 by the One Seat campaign, which was not signed by more than 1.2 million EU citizens, signature being required for compliance with Rule 201(2) (Rule 191(2) when the petition was deposited) of Parliament’s Rules of Procedure, since the it does not meet the signature admissibility criteria, and having regard moreover to the fact that its originators are MEPs seeking to circumvent the Treaties and that the petition therefore bears only one valid signature, namely that of the petitioner,
Amendment 12 #
2012/2308(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph A – point 1 (new)
Paragraph A – point 1 (new)
(1) whereas, on the basis of Article 341 TFEU, the Protocol on the location of the seats of the institutions and of certain bodies, offices, agencies and departments of the European Union forms an integral part of the Treaties and thus of EU primary law, having been ratified, as part of the Treaty of Amsterdam, by all the Member States in accordance with their respective constitutional rules;
Amendment 13 #
2012/2308(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph A – point 2 (new)
Paragraph A – point 2 (new)
(2) having regard to the ruling handed down by the Court of Justice of the European Union on 13 December 2012 in joined Cases C-237/11 and C-238/11 opposing France and Parliament, which annuls Parliament’s decision of 9 March 2011;
Amendment 15 #
Amendment 16 #
2012/2308(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph A b (new)
Paragraph A b (new)
Ab. whereas the real annual cost of retaining the Strasbourg seat in 2010 was EUR 51.5 million, i.e. 0.04 % of the annual budget of the European Union or 10 cents per citizen per year;
Amendment 17 #
2012/2308(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph A b (new)
Paragraph A b (new)
Ab. having regard to the requirements set out in the Treaty, which, following the adoption of the Treaty of Amsterdam in 1997, has formally laid down for Parliament an arrangement involving a seat in Strasbourg and two other sites in Brussels and Luxembourg;
Amendment 18 #
2012/2308(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph A c (new)
Paragraph A c (new)
Ac. whereas the gross cost of holding plenary sessions in Strasbourg is EUR 7 445 000 per part-session, and whereas 80 % of these costs are fixed and would be incurred irrespective of where a given part-session is held (equipment, publications, translation, etc.);
Amendment 19 #
2012/2308(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph A c (new)
Paragraph A c (new)
Ac. whereas the seats of some European institutions were chosen on account of their symbolic significance, one such example being Strasbourg, the city which symbolises the process of Franco-German reconciliation which is at the root of the European peace project;
Amendment 21 #
2012/2308(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph A d (new)
Paragraph A d (new)
Ad. whereas, in accordance with the sole article of Protocol No 6 annexed to the TFEU, the European Parliament has its seat in Strasbourg, the Council has its seat in Brussels, the Commission has its seat in Brussels, the Court of Justice of the European Union has its seat in Luxembourg, the Court of Auditors has its seat in Luxembourg, the Economic and Social Committee has its seat in Brussels, the Committee of the Regions has its seat in Brussels, the European Investment Bank has its seat in Luxembourg, the European Central Bank has its seat in Frankfurt and the European Police Office (Europol) has its seat in The Hague;
Amendment 22 #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas, pursuant to former Rule 191(2) and current Rule 201(2) of Parliament’s Rules of Procedure, petitions to Parliament ‘shall show the name, nationality and permanent address of each petitioner’, which ‘petition’ 0630/2006 clearly does not do;
Amendment 22 #
2012/2308(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph A e (new)
Paragraph A e (new)
Ae. having regard to Parliament’s Environmental Statement for 2010, issued in May 2011, and in particular pages 68 to 70;
Amendment 23 #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas the protocols on the seats of the institutions are governed by mutual respect for the respective powers of the Member States and of Parliament;
Amendment 23 #
2012/2308(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph A f (new)
Paragraph A f (new)
Af. having regard to the document drawn up by Parliament’s Secretariat entitled ‘Replies and follow-up to the discharge for 2010’;
Amendment 24 #
2012/2308(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph A g (new)
Paragraph A g (new)
Ag. having regard to the judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union of 13 December 2012 in Cases C-237/11 and C-238/11;
Amendment 25 #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas petitions and the more recently introduced European Citizens’ Initiative must not be used for polemical purposes by representatives of EU citizens;
Amendment 26 #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B b (new)
Recital B b (new)
Bb. whereas petitions are not an instrument for evading the Treaties but an instrument for use by European citizens to improve EU legislation which creates obstacles in their everyday life or to provide them with assistance so as to support them if their rights as citizens are disregarded;
Amendment 26 #
2012/2308(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph B
Paragraph B
B. whereas one of these petitions (0630/2006) does not bears the signatures of more than one million citizens of the EU; one million signatures required for compliance with Rule 201(2) (Rule 191(2) when the petition was deposited) of Parliament’s Rules of Procedure, and whereas, moreover, its originators are MEPs seeking to circumvent the Treaties;
Amendment 27 #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B c (new)
Recital B c (new)
Bc. whereas European Citizens’ Initiatives (ECIs) have the purpose of securing the adoption of a legal act of the Union which does not amend primary law; whereas any call for amendment of the ‘Protocol on the location of the seats of the institutions and of certain bodies and departments of the European Union’ would entail amendment of a primary legal act, which is not compatible with the regulation;
Amendment 29 #
2012/2308(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph B a (new)
Paragraph B a (new)
Ba. whereas, pursuant to the former Rule 191(2) and the current Rule 201(2) of Parliament’s Rules of Procedure, petitions to Parliament ‘shall show the name, nationality and permanent address of each petitioner’, which ‘petition’ 0630/2006 clearly does not do;
Amendment 30 #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas Article 232 TFEU allowrequires Parliament to adopt its own rules of procedure and to determine the length of plenary sessionby a majority of its Members;
Amendment 30 #
2012/2308(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph B b (new)
Paragraph B b (new)
Bb. whereas petitions and the more recently introduced European Citizen’s Initiative must not be used for polemical purposes by representatives of EU citizens;
Amendment 32 #
2012/2308(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph B c (new)
Paragraph B c (new)
Bc. whereas the city of Strasbourg is associated in people’s minds with the European Parliament, and whereas the seating capacity for visitors is much greater in the Strasbourg than in the Brussels Chamber, which represents an asset for the seat of European democracy;
Amendment 34 #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the ECJ has stated that the location of the seat is not to hinder the well-functioning of Parliament; whereas it has further stated that there are disadvantages and costs engendered by the plurality of working locations, but also that any improvement of the current situation requires a Treaty change and, thus, the consent ofresponsibility for remedying this lies neither with Parliament nor with the Court, but, rather, by exercising their exclusive power to determine the seats of the institutions, with the Member States;
Amendment 36 #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Da. whereas on two occasions, in 1997 and 2012, the Court of Justice of the European Union pointed out that the fact that Parliament’s seat is in Strasbourg is determined by the TFEU; whereas it has also confirmed Protocol No 6 in clarifying the conditions for the application thereof; whereas it has fully acknowledged the power of Parliament to determine its own internal organisational arrangements, since Parliament may adopt appropriate measures to ensure its proper functioning and proper conduct of its proceedings, but the question of determining its seat does not come within that remit;
Amendment 37 #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas Parliament has undergone a complete transformation, from a consultative body with 78 seconded members that – mostly for practical reasons – shared its facilities with the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, into a fully fledged, directly elected Parliament with 754 members thatcomprises 754 Members elected by direct universal suffrage and is today co-legislator on equal terms with the Council;
Amendment 38 #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
Ea. whereas Strasbourg has been the meeting place of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe since 1949 and then, from 1952, played host to the Parliamentary Assembly of the European Coal and Steel Community;
Amendment 39 #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E b (new)
Recital E b (new)
Eb. whereas the seat of the European Parliament in Strasbourg was confirmed by the Edinburgh European Council in 1992 and the Amsterdam Treaty in 1997 and then incorporated in the Lisbon Treaty in 2009;
Amendment 40 #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas this is most clearly illustrated by the growth of its legislative capacity, as reflec is illustrated inby the increase in the number of co-decision procedures (now ordinary legislative procedures) from 165 in 1993- 1999 to 454 in 2004-2009, to an even greater number in the current legislature;
Amendment 42 #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas the increase in legislative activity and responsibility is reflected in the fact that the number of statutory staff in Brussels increased by 377 % (from 1 180 to 5 635 staff members) from 1993 to 2013, by far exceeding the 48 % increase in the number of MEPs in the same periodincrease in staff at Parliament’s three places of work;
Amendment 43 #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas the structure of Parliament’s calendar (fixed during the Edinburgh Summit in 1992) predates all changes to its rolehas not been called into question, since it was confirmed in Protocol No 6 annexed to the Treaty of Lisbon, and the increase in Parliament’s powers arising from the adoption of the Treaties of Maastricht, Amsterdam, Nice and Lisbon has therefore been taken into account;
Amendment 43 #
2012/2308(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph C – subparagraph 1 (new)
Paragraph C – subparagraph 1 (new)
whereas it appreciates that some Members of the European Parliament have difficulties of access to certain institutions or agencies because of certain problems in road, rail or air services, but does not consider that this should be the subject of a report or petition, in view of the difficulties encountered in everyday life by many fellow citizens, which would give the impression that Members of the European Parliament are out of touch with the realities facing the people of Europe;
Amendment 46 #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I a (new)
Recital I a (new)
Ia. whereas all the countries which have joined the European Union have ratified Protocol No 6;
Amendment 47 #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital K
Recital K
Amendment 49 #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital L
Recital L
L. whereas the fact of geographical distance between the official seats of the co- legislative bodies – 435 km – isolates Parliament not only fromreflects the multi- centre principle with regard to the seats of the European institutions and, during part-sessions, the attention of the Council and the Commission, but also ofrom other stakeholders, such as NGOs, civil society organisations and Member State representations, and ofrom one of the world’s largest international journalistic communities, is fully focused on the work of Parliament;
Amendment 49 #
2012/2308(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph C a (new)
Paragraph C a (new)
Ca. whereas petitions are not an instrument for evading the Treaties but an instrument for use by European citizens to improve EU legislation which creates obstacles in their everyday life or to provide them with assistance so as to support them if their rights as citizens are disregarded;
Amendment 51 #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital M
Recital M
Amendment 53 #
2012/2308(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph C b (new)
Paragraph C b (new)
Cb. whereas the concept of mobility is inherent in the work of Members of the European Parliament to enable them to come closer to European citizens, whereas the Committee on Petitions regularly invites petitioners to comment on their petitions by inviting them to the European Parliament in Brussels and whereas this work of contact with citizens should not be confined to one direction;
Amendment 54 #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital M
Recital M
M. whereas the additional annual costs resulting from the geographic dispersion of Parliament have conservatively been estimated to range between EUR 169 million and EUR 204 million4, which is equivalent to between 15 % and 20 % of Parliament’s annual budget, while the environmental impact is also significant, with the CO2 emissions associated with the transfers to and from the three working locations estimated to amount to at least 19 000 tonnes5efficiency, cost-effectiveness and the principle of respect for the environment are not connected with the place in which Parliament sits, but with its needs; whereas, according to figures from the European Parliament’s services, the annual cost of Parliament’s seat in Strasbourg was EUR 51.5 million in 2010, or 0.04% of the annual EU budget, which represents a cost of 10 cents per EU citizen per year, and hence the arguments concerning the cost of Parliament are exaggerated;
Amendment 56 #
2012/2308(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph C c (new)
Paragraph C c (new)
Cc. whereas, if a debate is initiated concerning the seat of the European Parliament, it will inevitably lead to discussion of the distribution of the seats of the European Institutions, which is laid down in the Treaty, and whereas the budgetary discharges of the European agencies could be affected by it;
Amendment 59 #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital M – footnote 5
Recital M – footnote 5
Amendment 64 #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital N
Recital N
Amendment 65 #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital N
Recital N
N. whereas 78 % of all missions by Parliament statutory staff (on average, 3 172 each month) arise as a direct result of its geographic dispersion; whereas while Parliament’s buildings in Strasbourg are currently only being used 42 dayalmost 94% of the EU budget is spent on investment and hence for the benefit of the public; whereas, moreover, the European Union, with such a small and deficit-less oper year (remaining unused for 89 % of the time), they need to be heated, staffed and maintained for the entire yearating budget for its institutions serving 500 million inhabitants, stands as an example in these times of crisis;
Amendment 66 #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital N a (new)
Recital N a (new)
Na. having regard to the environmental example set by the European Parliament’s seat in Strasbourg, which reduced its CO2 emissions by 57% between 2006 and 2010, meaning that these now represent only 3.6% of all Parliament’s CO2 emissions;
Amendment 66 #
2012/2308(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. WelcomNotes the decision by the Committee on Constitutional Affairs to draw up a report on the location of the seats of the European Union’s institutions, bearing in mind that the adoption of such a report lies outside the remit of the European Parliament, as the Treaties do not provide for it;
Amendment 67 #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital N b (new)
Recital N b (new)
Nb. whereas the gross cost of holding part-sessions in Strasbourg is EUR 7 445 000 per part-session, and whereas 80% of these costs are fixed and would be incurred irrespective of where the part- session is held, be they for equipment, publications or translation, etc.;
Amendment 68 #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital O
Recital O
Amendment 69 #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital O
Recital O
O. whereas the expenditure arising from the geographic dispersion of Parliament constitutes an important area of potential savings, particularly in the current economic climatecarbon footprint for travel for committee, political group and delegation meetings, which increased by 23.8% between 2006 and 2010, is significantly larger (6 350 tonnes of CO2 in 2010) than that for Parliament’s seat in Strasbourg (4 199 tonnes of CO2 in 2010);
Amendment 69 #
2012/2308(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Considers that the only possible way of amending the ‘Protocol on the location of the seats of the institutions and of certain bodies and departments of the European Communities and of Europol’ is by means of a Treaty revision pursuant to Article 48 TEU, which requires an initiative by a Member State or the European Commission;
Amendment 70 #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital O a (new)
Recital O a (new)
Oa. whereas it is regrettable that this debate should focus on a matter which concerns 0.04% of the EU’s annual budget at a time when people want to see an overall Union budget capable of responding adequately to the financial difficulties that Member States are experiencing;
Amendment 71 #
2012/2308(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Considers, however, that it is time to stop the polemics concerning the cost of the Strasbourg seat; calls therefore for the figures provided by official sources within the European Parliament to be quoted clearly in the annexes to the own- initiative report of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs, including pages 68-70 of the Environmental Declaration of the European Parliament of May 2011 concerning the ‘environmental impact of the Strasbourg seat’ and page 40 of the document of the European Parliament’s Secretariat entitled ‘REPLIES AND FOLLOW-UP TO THE DISCHARGE FOR 2010’ on the annual cost of the Strasbourg seat;
Amendment 72 #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital P
Recital P
P. whereas Parliament, since its suggestion in 1958 to be sited in proximity to the Council and the Commission, has via numerous reports, declarations and statements alwaysoften expressed its wish for a more practical and efficient working arrangement;
Amendment 73 #
2012/2308(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Does not considers that a majority exists within the Council in favour of altering the seat of any European Institution, bearing in mind that this would send an undesirable message to citizens, which would be interpreted as expressing a desire on the part of the Member States to make the European Union’s decision-making bodies more remote from the European citizen;
Amendment 74 #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital Q
Recital Q
Amendment 75 #
2012/2308(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 c (new)
Paragraph 1 c (new)
1c. Notes the intention of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs to draw up a report which will make it possible to recall that the European Parliament has its seat in Strasbourg;
Amendment 76 #
2012/2308(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 d (new)
Paragraph 1 d (new)
1d. Recalls that European Citizens’ Initiatives (ECIs) have the purpose of securing the adoption of a legal act of the Union which does not amend primary law, whereas any call for amendment of the ‘Protocol on the location of the seats of the institutions and of certain bodies and departments of the European Union’ would entail amendment of a primary legal act, which is not compatible with the regulation;
Amendment 77 #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital Q
Recital Q
Q. whereas citizens of the EU – including the 1.27 million citizens who signed a petition asking for a single seat – have repeatedly expressed their discontent with the current arrangements, despite the fact that some EU parliamentarians – including the sole signatory of Petition 0630/2006 asking for a single seat, which already exists in Strasbourg – have repeatedly expressed their discontent with the current arrangements; whereas petitions concerning the seats of the institutions must be forwarded to the Member States, which alone have the power of decision on the matter;
Amendment 80 #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital Q a (new)
Recital Q a (new)
Qa. whereas several petitions have been submitted requesting either that the European Parliament should no longer have its seat in Strasbourg or that Parliament’s seat should continue to be located in Strasbourg in accordance with Protocol No 6 annexed to the Treaty on European Union;
Amendment 81 #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital Q b (new)
Recital Q b (new)
Qb. whereas the success of the open days held every year at the European Parliament’s seat in Strasbourg, the 100 000 visitors each year outside part- sessions and the 10 000 students from the Euroscola Programme indicate that the European public have in no way rejected the seat of the European Parliament in Strasbourg;
Amendment 82 #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital Q c (new)
Recital Q c (new)
Qc. whereas the so-called petition No 0630/2006 is not in fact a petition because it does not meet the criteria for admissibility of petitions to Parliament under Rule 201 of its Rules of Procedure (formerly Rule 191(2)) inasmuch as it does not show the nationality and permanent address of each petitioner, and whereas, by implication, electronic signatures on a petition are not admissible and there can be no guarantee as to the real or virtual level of support for this initiative;
Amendment 86 #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
Amendment 88 #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Believes that Parliament should, like any national parliament, the European Parliament does not have the rightpower to determine its own working arrangements, including the right to decide where and when it holds its meetingsplace of work, and accepts the place of work which is most appropriate historically, symbolically and politically;
Amendment 89 #
2012/2308(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Agrees with the principle that the European Parliament would be more effective, cost-efficient andConsiders efficiency, cost-effectiveness and the principle of respectful of for the environment if it were located in a single place; and notes that the continuation of the monthly migration between Brussels andnot to be connected with the place in which Parliament sits, but with its needs; points out that according to figures from the European Parliament’s services, the annual cost of Parliament’s seat in Strasbourg hwas become a symbolic negative issue amongst most EU citizens which is detrimental to Parliament’s reputationEUR 51.5 million in 2010, or 0.04% of the annual EU budget, which represents a cost of 10 cents per EU citizen per year, and hence considers the arguments on Parliament’s cost to be exaggerated;
Amendment 90 #
2012/2308(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 (new)
emphasises that the gross cost of holding part-sessions in Strasbourg is EUR 7 445 000 per part-session, and that 80% of these costs are fixed and would be incurred irrespective of where the part-session is held, be they for equipment, publications or translation, etc.;
Amendment 92 #
2012/2308(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Emphasises the environmental example set by the European Parliament’s seat in Strasbourg, which reduced its CO2 emissions by 57% between 2006 and 2010 by taking special measures, meaning that these now represent 3.6% of all Parliament’s CO2 emissions;
Amendment 93 #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Points out that holding part-sessions in Brussels rather than Strasbourg would result in a saving of EUR 1.5 million, as is specified in paragraph 28 - ‘Costs of using Strasbourg as the seat of the EP’ of the document drawn up by Parliament’s Secretariat entitled ‘Replies and follow-up to the discharge for 2010’;
Amendment 94 #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Respects the historical reasons for the location of its plenary sessions in Strasbourg and the Treaty requirements that necessitate the system of a single seat and three places of work;
Amendment 94 #
2012/2308(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Considers it inappropriate in the European Year of Citizens to show these selfsame European citizens that the idea is to distance them from EU institution decision-making centres, and also believes that prevailing Euroscepticism would use this is a reason to criticise an over-concentration of decision-making bodies in one set place;
Amendment 95 #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Emphasises that European integration necessarily entails mobility and that this applies to all national and European political representatives and officials, and that mobility is an intrinsic aspect of the work of MEPs, as representatives of the citizens of the European Union;
Amendment 95 #
2012/2308(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Considers that deciding the seats of EU institutions lies outside the remit of the European Parliament; points out that the ECB in Frankfurt is building new premises for itself, that the Council in Brussels will soon have new buildings, and that investments have been made in the European Parliament in Strasbourg in recent years to make it a parliament worthy of the centre of European democracy;
Amendment 96 #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 c (new)
Paragraph 1 c (new)
1c. Considers that decentralisation of the legislative authority away from Brussels strengthens its independence;
Amendment 97 #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 d (new)
Paragraph 1 d (new)
1d. Considers that the choice of the EU institutions’ seats has always been guided by a desire to bring the Union as close to ordinary people as possible and not to concentrate it in one place;
Amendment 98 #
2012/2308(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 c (new)
Paragraph 2 c (new)
2c. Emphasises that almost 95% of the EU budget is intended for investment and hence for the public, adding that the European Union, with such a small and deficit-less operating budget for 500 million inhabitants, stands as an example in these times of crisis;
Amendment 99 #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
Amendment 100 #
2012/2308(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 d (new)
Paragraph 2 d (new)
2d. Points to the environmental example set by the European Parliament’s seat in Strasbourg, which reduced its own CO2 emissions by 57% between 2006 and 2010, meaning that these now represent 3.6% of all Parliament’s CO2 emissions;
Amendment 101 #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
Amendment 102 #
2012/2308(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 e (new)
Paragraph 2 e (new)
2e. Adds that the carbon footprint for travel for committee, political group and delegation meetings, which increased by 23.8% between 2006 and 2010, is significantly larger (6 350 tonnes of CO2 in 2010) than that for Parliament’s seat in Strasbourg (4 199 tonnes of CO2 en 2010);
Amendment 104 #
2012/2308(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 f (new)
Paragraph 2 f (new)
2f. Considers that the success of the open days held every year at the European Parliament’s seat in Strasbourg, the 100 000 visitors each year outside part-sessions and the 10 000 students from the Euroscola Programme indicate that the European public have in no way rejected the seat of the European Parliament in Strasbourg;
Amendment 105 #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Considers it inappropriate in the European Year of Citizens to show these self-same European citizens that the idea is to distance them from EU institution decision-making centres, and also believes that the prevailing Euroscepticism would use this as a reason to criticise an over- concentration of decision-making bodies in one set place;
Amendment 105 #
2012/2308(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 g (new)
Paragraph 2 g (new)
2g. Expresses concern at the steady increase (+23.8% between 2006 and 2010) in the number of committee, political group and delegation meetings held outside the European Parliament’s places of work;
Amendment 106 #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Emphasises that the Committee’s report was prepared under the ordinary own-initiative procedure and there is thus no obligation to implement the proposals, and further that the matter of the EU institutions’ seats is governed directly by the Treaties and is therefore subject to the political will of the Member States acting unanimously;
Amendment 106 #
2012/2308(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 g (new)
Paragraph 2 g (new)
2g. Points out that holding part-sessions in Brussels rather than Strasbourg would result in a saving of EUR 1.5 million, as is specified in paragraph 28 - ‘Costs of using Strasbourg as the seat of the EP’ of the document drawn up by Parliament’s Secretariat entitled ‘Replies and Follow-up to the Discharge for 2010’;
Amendment 107 #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Recalls that the Court of Justice of the EU has held that Parliament, during the proceedings before the Court, did not adduce reasons based on the exercise of its power of internal organisation sufficient to show – despite the continuous increase in its powers – that it had the power to alter the timetable of part-sessions; stresses, therefore, that the European Parliament likewise does not now have the power to decide where its seat should be;
Amendment 107 #
2012/2308(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 h (new)
Paragraph 2 h (new)
2h. Notes that the carbon footprint for travel in connection with these meetings was 6 350 tonnes of CO2 en 2010, while for the seat in Strasbourg it was 4 199 tonnes that year;
Amendment 110 #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Decides not to make any recommendations regarding the seats of the other EU institutions;
Amendment 113 #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Acknowledges that any future decision by Parliament on its working arrangements must allow sufficient time for debate and reflection, as well as for an orderly transition, on which enough time has been wasted in debate and reflection, was invalidated by the ruling given by the Court of Justice on 13 December 2012 and that accordingly any action by Parliament relating to the location of the seats of the Institutions of the European Union would not comply with the Treaties, which however it intends to defend in its capacity as the democratic representation of European citizens;
Amendment 117 #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Respects the historical and symbolic reasons for the location of its plenary sessions in Strasbourg and the Treaty requirements that establish the seat of the European Parliament as being in Strasbourg and stipulate that the European Parliament must hold its twelve monthly plenary sessions there, as the ECJ confirmed in its judgment of 13 December 2012;
Amendment 118 #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Points out that this own-initiative report must not be used as a means of disregarding the EU Treaties, which provide that the seat of the European Parliament shall be in Strasbourg and that 12 part-sessions per year shall be held there;
Amendment 119 #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. Points out that Parliament may be consulted on the question of the seats of the European institutions only prior to the convening by the Council of an intergovernmental conference and that there are no plans for such a conference;
Amendment 120 #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. Observes that, if a debate were initiated concerning the seat of the European Parliament, it would inevitably lead to discussion of the distribution of all the seats of the European Institutions, which is laid down in the Treaty;
Amendment 121 #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, and the European Council, and the Heads of State and Government and parliaments of the Member States.
Amendment 122 #
2012/2308(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Respects the historic and symbolic reasons for the location of its plenary sessions in Strasbourg and the Treaty requirements that necessitateestablish the two-seat system; nevertheless insists that such of the European Parrangement cannot continue in perpetuity and that Parliament itself must be able to state a preference for its futureliament as being in Strasbourg and stipulate that the European Parliament must hold its twelve monthly plenary sessions there, as the ECJ confirmed in its judgment of 13 December 2012;
Amendment 124 #
2012/2308(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 – point 1 (new)
Paragraph 3 – point 1 (new)
(1) Adds that all new European agencies and institutions should be created in the new Member States;
Amendment 126 #
2012/2308(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Points out that Croatia, as the 28th Member State of the Union as of 1 July 2013, is bound to seek the siting of a future EU agency or institution on its territory;
Amendment 132 #
2012/2308(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Points out that Parliament’s initiatives on determining for itself the matter of its seat – which is in Strasbourg – were set aside by the Court of Justice in its ruling of 13 December 2012 and that, therefore, any action on Parliament’s part to establish the seats of the EU institutions is in breach of the very Treaties which it sees itself as defending in its capacity as the democratic voice of Europe’s citizens;
Amendment 137 #
2012/2308(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. Points out that the European Union has developed in a polycentric way, with the EU institutions and agencies located, insofar as possible, throughout all the Member States, so as to bring decision making closer to the people and avoid an unwelcome concentration of power;
Amendment 140 #
2012/2308(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 c (new)
Paragraph 3 c (new)
3c. Points out that it is fundamentally important to Europe’s citizens that decisions are taken in more than one place;
Amendment 146 #
2012/2308(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
Amendment 154 #
2012/2308(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 – point 1 (new)
Paragraph 4 – point 1 (new)
(1) Considers that the so-called petition No 0630/2006 is not in fact a petition because it does not meet the criteria for admissibility of petitions to Parliament under Rule 201 of its Rules of Procedure (formerly Rule 191(2)) inasmuch as it does not show the nationality and permanent address of each petitioner, and that, by implication, electronic signatures on a petition are not admissible and there can be no guarantee as to the real or virtual level of support for this initiative;
Amendment 158 #
2012/2308(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Considers, in the light of the foregoing, that the first-named petitioner in petition No 0630-2006 is the only one to meet the admissibility criteria and that this means the so-called petition has received just one signature;
Amendment 160 #
2012/2308(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. Finds it regrettable that this debate should focus on a matter which concerns 0.04% of the EU budget at a time when people want to see an overall Union budget capable of responding adequately to the financial difficulties that Member States are experiencing;
Amendment 161 #
2012/2308(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 c (new)
Paragraph 4 c (new)
4c. Asks Parliament’s Legal Service to specify whether such a report on the location of the seats of the EU institutions is lawful;
Amendment 162 #
2012/2308(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 d (new)
Paragraph 4 d (new)
4d. Considers that petitions about the seats of the EU institutions should be forwarded to the Member States, which alone are empowered to take decisions in the matter;
Amendment 163 #
2012/2308(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 e (new)
Paragraph 4 e (new)
4e. Considers that the own-initiative report by the Committee on Constitutional Affairs can have no legal impact;
Amendment 164 #
2012/2308(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 f (new)
Paragraph 4 f (new)
4f. Points out that Parliament may be consulted on the question of the seats of the European institutions only prior to the convening by the Council of an intergovernmental conference and that there are no plans for such a conference.
Amendment 3 #
2012/2306(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Calls on the Commission to promote CSR in all SME's and international companies to assure better social convergence and fair competition;
Amendment 8 #
2012/2295(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Notes that the amount of sustainable biomass from EU sources will never be enoughcould be insufficient to meet current energy demand and increasing and competing uses of biomass, and that the EU will therefore be increasingly dependent on imports from developing countries;
Amendment 11 #
2012/2295(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Considers it essential that the EU give over a significant proportion of investment to promoting bioeconomy research and development and introducing a genuine European strategy so as to ensure global food security, together with the other international players, develop more efficient value chains for renewable raw materials, step up sustainable agricultural production, produce biomass energy, and increase the industrial use of renewable raw materials.
Amendment 12 #
2012/2295(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Fears that EU import dependency increases the strain on global agreements, such as the CBD and UN REDD, and that rising demand for wood products may not only trigger off illegal logging and weaken Voluntary Partnership Agreements under FLEGT, but also increase the strain on global agreements such as the CBD and UN REDD;
Amendment 15 #
2012/2295(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Calls for the EU to become an international research and innovation powerhouse in the area of bioeconomy research; states that new products, new processes and new services based on renewable resources will enhance the competitiveness of European industry and make it an international front runner;
Amendment 17 #
2012/2295(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Recalls that ILUC factors for biofuels and bioliquids, as well as binding sustainability criteria for the use of solid biomass, should be included in the Renewable Energy Directive; calls on the Commission to propose a Biomass Framework Directive covering all applications of biomass (energy, fuels, materials, chemicals) and introducing a biomass hierarchy;
Amendment 21 #
2012/2295(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Deems it crucial to develop international legally binding sustainability standards for all sectors of biomass uses, as well as binding sustainable forest management criteria; urges the EU to pursue adoption of multilateral agreements and provide, especially for LDCs, related institutional and technical support for ensuring sustainable use of biomass.
Amendment 166 #
2012/2293(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Calls on the Member States to make greater use of private law instruments to facilitate the provision of social housing, such as long lease arrangements, obviating the need to purchase land for building purposes, and continued individual ownership of social housing by encouraging lessor usufruct arrangements;
Amendment 187 #
2012/2293(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Asks the Commission to make other potential sources of financing available to Member States for the development and renovation of social housing stock as forms of social investment, and to retain the reduced rates of VAT that apply to such investment, given the labour-intensive nature of the sector and its very limited impact on cross-border trade within the EU; urges that consideration be given to applying the same rates of VAT to social housing as to basic necessities;
Amendment 313 #
2012/2293(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Calls on Member States to establish attractive tax systems to encourage property owners to improve the energy efficiency of their buildings, and to refine the definition of ‘decent housing’ in order to counter the trend whereby the most energy-inefficient housing is rented to people on low incomes;
Amendment 27 #
2012/2289(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas global challenges remain – hunger and poverty, lack of proper and safe sanitation, insufficient levels of primary education, and gender inequality and ensuring respect for human rights;
Amendment 41 #
2012/2289(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas it is projected that in 2015 more than 600 million people will still be using unimproved water sources and that one billion people will be living on less than USD 1.25 per day; whereas declaring 2015 the European Year for Development will thus help raise public awareness in Europe of the importance of the new MDGs;
Amendment 42 #
2012/2289(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas it is projected that in 2015 more than 600 million people will still be using unimproved water sources which pose a risk to health and that one billion people will be living on less than USD 1.25 per day; whereas declaring 2015 the European Year for Development will thus help raise public awareness in Europe of the importance of the new MDGs;
Amendment 54 #
2012/2289(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas the lack of peace, security, democracy and political stability, together with corruption and human rights violations, prevents poor countries from fulfilling their development potential;
Amendment 66 #
2012/2289(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Points out that some developing countries have become donors, while others still face high levels of inequality; points out that, among other things, climate change, food insecurity, migration, unemployment, demographic change, resource constraints, unsustainable growth and, financial and economic crises and human rights violations pose complex and interrelated challenges;
Amendment 67 #
2012/2289(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Points out that some developing countries have become donors, while others still face high levels of inequality; points out that, among other things, climate change, food insecurity, migration, unemployment, demographic change, corruption, resource constraints, unsustainable growth and financial and economic crises pose complex and interrelated challenges;
Amendment 69 #
2012/2289(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Stresses the need for coherence between the EU’s trade policies and its policies on development, in particular as regards the outermost regions;
Amendment 79 #
2012/2289(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Urges that poverty eradication and the achievement of sustainable social and environmental development be the imperative global priorities for the post- 2015 development agenda;
Amendment 111 #
2012/2289(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Stresses that access to universal health coverage (UHC) and to quality education should be considered to be major goals of the post- 2015 agenda;
Amendment 121 #
2012/2289(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Stresses that the post-2015 sustainable development framework requires respect for the principle of democratic governance, effective, transparent and accountable institutions at all levels and a truly functioning andn empowered civil society that is systematically involved in the democratic process;
Amendment 129 #
2012/2289(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Points out that authorities at all levels play a crucial role in a sustainable development agenda by taking part in policy debates, holding governments accountable for their social, environmental and judicial policies, and building on the ownership principle;
Amendment 148 #
2012/2289(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Encourages the EU to support developing countries in building up their political will and in increasing efforts to improve the level of implementation of legal and political human rights instruments;
Amendment 150 #
2012/2289(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Encourages the Union to use the Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights efficiently and effectively in the developing countries where it is needed;
Amendment 151 #
2012/2289(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Encourages the Union to apply the financial penalties authorised by the Cotonou agreements in a balanced way so that they can be used to help put democratic processes back on track;
Amendment 162 #
Amendment 164 #
2012/2289(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Calls on the EU to contribute, in an inclusive and transparent manner, to strengthening coherence between sustainable development goals (SDGs) in the social and environmental spheres and post-2015 development goals;
Amendment 168 #
2012/2289(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Recognises the inseparable links between access to energy, water, sustainable land use, natural resources efficiency, marine protection and biodiversity, deforestation and climate change mitigation in the anti- poverty frameworkcontext of efforts to tackle poverty and improve social rights;
Amendment 174 #
2012/2289(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Points out that promoting universal access to water and modern, reliable, affordable, climate-friendly and sustainable energy services for all is a key driver of poverty eradication and inclusive growth;
Amendment 194 #
2012/2289(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Stresses that the financing instrument for development cooperation is an important tool which should be used wisely for the benefit of developing countries;
Amendment 204 #
2012/2289(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Calls on the EU to improve and continue to develop blending loans and grants to boost financial resources for development, based and focused on harmonised poverty reduction strategies, and to promote microcredit;
Amendment 213 #
2012/2289(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Underlines the importance of increasing transparency in corporate reporting of profits and taxes paid, and of the social standards applied, especially by companies involved in the exploitation of natural resources;
Amendment 225 #
2012/2289(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
31. Calls on developing countries to establish a genuine business regulatory framework focusing on a business code of conduct, respect for human rights, including ILO standards, and environmental protection;
Amendment 237 #
2012/2289(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
Paragraph 35
35. Calls on the EU to continue to pay particular attention to the clear linkages between PCD and the post-2015 MDGs, in particular in the following priority areas: trade and finance, health and education, climate change, agriculture, food security, migration, energy, and peace and security policies;
Amendment 239 #
2012/2289(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
Paragraph 35
35. Calls on the EU to continue to pay particular attention to the clear linkages between PCD and the post-2015 MDGs, in particular in the following priority areas: trade and finance, climate change, agriculture, food security, migration, energy, and peace and security policies, and human rights;
Amendment 12 #
2012/2288(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Underlines that creating accountable, human rights-based, and inclusive relations among governments, LAs, CSOs, the private sector and citizens offers a unique opportunity for the EU - citizens, LAs and the private sector included - to establish sustainable partnerships with developing countries;
Amendment 22 #
2012/2288(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Encourages the EU to promote institutionalised mechanisms for multilevel and multiple stakeholder dialogue among CSOs, LAs, the private sector and partner governments in decent work agendas, and sustainable and inclusive growth;
Amendment 29 #
2012/2288(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Encourages the EU to adopt a scale- up agenda with a view to building on the worthwhile outcomes of both CSOs’ and LAs’ EU-funded projects and initiatives;
Amendment 32 #
2012/2288(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Calls on the Commission to adopt the sustainable development agenda, taking account of the fact that its three core components (environmental, social and economic) are equally important and inextricably linked;
Amendment 37 #
2012/2288(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Recalls that an effective decentralisation process requires public sector reforms, such as the transfer of power, functions, and resources, as well as the active participation of citizens, via their representatives, in participatory planning and budgeting; calls on the Commission to include decentralisation and TAD into public sector-wide reforms and to make them a cross-cutting priority in all geographic programmes;
Amendment 56 #
2012/2288(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Calls on the Commission to continue its support of decentralised cooperation and partnerships between LAs from EU and partner countries; these partnerships have proven to be efficient tools in the reinforcement of the capacity of LAs in key sectors which contribute to poverty eradication; calls also on the Commission, for the same reason, to continue to support cooperation between CSOs and EU Member States and between CSOs and partner countries;
Amendment 60 #
2012/2288(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Calls on the Commission to promote the participation of CSOs in the ongoing discussion on blending mechanisms in the framework of the EU Platform for Blending in External Cooperation; asks the Commission to draft binding guidelines and create inclusive monitoring mechanisms to ensure that blending contributes to poverty eradication;
Amendment 61 #
2012/2288(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 a (new)
Paragraph 29 a (new)
29a. Calls also on the Commission to allow CSOs to participate in all new forms of cooperation under the EU Platform for Blending in External Cooperation;
Amendment 63 #
2012/2257(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10 a. Stresses the importance of ensuring greater social cohesion, without neglecting cooperation by companies in achieving this, which could be encouraged notably by allowing them to promote their innovative and virtuous actions in social matters through a label which would attract new investors and promote the development of a European social model in the long term;
Amendment 89 #
2012/2257(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Warns that austerity measures should not compromise the quality of employment, nor social protection and health and safety standards; encourages Member states to promote identification of companies and SMEs doing effort to be more socially virtuous than minimal legal obligations.
Amendment 94 #
2012/2257(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Calls on the Member States, while pursuing fiscal consolidation, to secensure efficient investments in education lifelong learning and training.
Amendment 1 #
2012/2225(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Confirms its support forRecalls the importance of the principle of Policy Coherence for Development; notes that, in the context of trade with developing countries, this presupposes inter aliaquires that trade agreements and investment undertaken by the EU be guided by the need to ensure responsible and sustainable development to enable the safeguarding and expansion of such countries’ abilities to industrialise, diversify their production and move up the value chain, as well as the abolition of any agricultural subsidies that could harm their food security;
Amendment 11 #
2012/2225(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Notes that improved access to development expertise andbetter training in development issues would allow for the clearer identification of concrete development needs and possible ways to fulfil them woulin order to guide and facilitate the tasks of trade negotiators and other trade officials;
Amendment 14 #
2012/2225(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses the need for the EU, in order to increase wealth and living standards among the poorest, to specifically target some of its trade-related assistance for responsible and sustainable development towards building local and regional trade capacity within and among these countries;
Amendment 16 #
2012/2225(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Stresses that, in order for growth to be inclusive and efficient in terms of poverty reduction, it should be pursued in sectors in which poor people are active, should benefit and empower women and should be associated with the creation of jobs as well as ofwith the development of finance for micro and small businesses;
Amendment 19 #
2012/2225(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Calls on EU-based companies with production facilities in developing countries to set an example by abideing by obligations to respect human rights and freedoms, social and environmental standards, core labour standards and international agreements;
Amendment 24 #
2012/2225(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Emphasises the importance of the steady pursuit ofEU support and shared experience in promoting good governance, a well- functioning tax administration, an effective fight against corruption, the formulation of national development strategies aiming at sustainable, inclusive growth and poverty reduction and strong commitment to their successful implementation; stresses that the pursuit of these objectives must precede, accompany and influence the negotiation of trade agreements;
Amendment 25 #
2012/2225(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. NotDeplores the flaws in the implementation and follow-up of the regulations laid down for the ‘Kimberley Process’; emphasises the urgent need for a solid, transparent and reliable tracking system for gems and valuable minerals, such as coltan, so as to more efficiently prevent products that contribute to systematic breaches of human rights, or fuel conflict or unrest in developing countries, from entering the EU market;
Amendment 22 #
2012/2224(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas the possible negative trade and development effects on developing countries of the Common Agricultural Policy must be eliminated;
Amendment 34 #
2012/2224(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital N
Recital N
N. whereas investing in opportunities for women, with regard to microcredit in particular, generally delivers high returns in terms of economic and social development;
Amendment 40 #
2012/2224(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Confirms its position that facilitating development must be the overriding objective of the EU’s trade policy towards developing countries; takes the view that concrete and sustainable development objectives should be formulated for all initiatives in the framework of this policy;
Amendment 53 #
2012/2224(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls on the EU to actively use the many instruments at its disposal to support peace, the rule of law, good governance, sound public finances, investments in infrastructure, compliance with social standards by European firms and their subsidiaries, reliable provision of basic services and the pursuit of inclusive growth and poverty reduction in developing countries and thereby also help create a conducive environment for efficient Aid for Trade and sustainable trade development;
Amendment 62 #
2012/2224(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Stresses that in order for growth to be inclusive and efficient in poverty reduction, it should be pursued in the sectors most affected by poverty, sectors in which poor people are active; points out that growth should also benefit and empower women and be associated with the creation of jobs as well as the development of micro- and small businesses;
Amendment 68 #
2012/2224(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Stresses the importance of timely, systematic and well-prepared National Development Strategies and impact assessments;
Amendment 83 #
2012/2224(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Calls for AfT instruments to be focused not only on trade between the EU and developing countries, but also on support for internal, regional and South-South trade, as well as on triangular trade between ACP countries;
Amendment 86 #
2012/2224(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Encourages the development of more effective support instruments in relation to production adjustment and diversification, as well as to the responsible and sustainable development of processing industries and small and medium-sized companies in developing countries;
Amendment 96 #
2012/2224(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Calls on EU-based companies with production facilities in developing countries to abide strictly by obligations to respect human rights and freedoms, social and environmental standards, core labour standards and international agreements;
Amendment 10 #
2012/2144(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Notes that all main stakeholders have to commit themselves to properly enforcing the full implementation of Single Market legislation, whilst alsoinvariably taking into account its social dimension;
Amendment 21 #
2012/2144(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Notes that over two decades the Single Market has proved to be a great success; maintains that incorporating the social dimension into tendering procedures could do much to assist progress towards greater social convergence on the Single Market; believes, at the same time, that more efforts need to be concentrated on promoting growth and job creation through tax incentives and measures to ease the administrative burden on SMEs in particular, as a means of enabling the EU to overcome the current crisis;
Amendment 29 #
2012/2144(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Notes the new Commission Communication entitled ‘Single Market Act II – Together for new growth’, which is aimed at enhancing the integration of the Single Market within the EU, stimulating growth and fostering job creation, particularly for young people, and welcomes the support it offers to social entrepreneurship; calls for this initiative to be followed by other initiatives in support of SMEs as a whole.
Amendment 2 #
2012/2143(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the development of the UN concept of ‘Responsibility to Protect’ (R2P), which clarifies and strengthens the existing obligations of states to ensure the protection of civilians against genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity, where necessary with the assistance of the international community; stresses that this concept, born from the international community’s failures in Rwanda in 1994, is critical for the survival of the community of nations;
Amendment 5 #
2012/2143(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Recalls, however, that international humanitarian law (IHL) is the prime body of law in times of armed conflict and that its improved implementation should be the focus of the international community; emphasises that, although R2P is not a legal concept, it is grounded in international law and is narrowly focused on the four crimes of genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity, whether in armed conflicts or in peacetime;
Amendment 10 #
2012/2143(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Reiterates that in situations where R2P is applied it is of the utmost importance to maintain thea very clear distinction of mandates between military and humanitarian actors, in order to safeguard the perception of the neutrality and impartiality of all humanitarian actors and to avoid putting at risk the effective delivery of aid, access to beneficiaries and the personal safety of field-based humanitarian personnel, including European Humanitarian Aid Corps volunteers; points out, in this connection, that R2P remains closely linked to developments in humanitarian law;
Amendment 11 #
2012/2143(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Stresses that effective regional cooperation in preventing the occurrence of these four crimes and protecting civilians against them is of crucial importance to the implementation of R2P; calls, therefore, for steps to be taken to enhance regional capacity for identifying and implementing effective policies for the prevention of these four crimes;
Amendment 14 #
2012/2143(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Stresses that R2P is primarily a preventive doctrine and that military intervention should be the last recourse in R2P situations; calls for R2P, whenever possible, to be carried out first and foremost through diplomatic and long-term developmental activities that focus on capacity-building in the fields of human rights, good governance, the rule of law, conflict prevention through education and the expansion of trade, and the strengthening of early warning systems; furthermore, recalls that there are many non-military coercive alternatives, such as sanctions, accountability mechanisms and mediation; emphasises that the EU must continue to play a leadership role in the field of conflict prevention;
Amendment 1 #
2012/2136(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Highlights that the economic and financial crisis is a threat to human rights as a whole, including civil and political rights, and has had detrimental effects on access to food, health care and education for the most vulnerable groups in society, in both urban and rural areas; recalls that governments have a duty toshould ensure respect for economic, social and cultural (ESC) rights and to provide protection against abuses by, for example, corporate and other private actorpoints to the EU’s responsibility to propose partnership arrangements and ways and means of creating growth and employment, including minimum social standards;
Amendment 8 #
2012/2136(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Stresses that the crisis has shown that social protection spending increases poor people’s resilience to shocks; highlights as wellsocial investment has made it possible to protect poor people more effectively against the crisis; highlights as well the fact that, despite the crisis, some developing countries’ growth rate is close to 4% and that countries with effective systems of domestic taxation reduce their vulnerability to sudden losses of trade taxes or foreign capital inflows; urges, therefore, the EU to help developing countries set up progressive and effective taxation systems to mitigate the impact of the crisis; and urges the EU to continue to take a hard line on conditionality and effectiveness of its development aid, having regard to countries where corruption is exacerbating even further the impact of the crisis in terms of undermining human rights;
Amendment 13 #
2012/2136(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. DeplorRealises that, while the international community acknowledges the indivisibility and equal importance of all human rights, ESC rights remain difficult to enforce in practice; believes that full use should be made of the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) that allows for individual complaints of alleged violations of ESC rights;
Amendment 15 #
2012/2136(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Reaffirms that while the global economic crisis poses a severe threat to the fulfilment of ESC rights, there is no justification for states, whatever their level of income, to compromise on their obligation to respect fundamental human rightPoints out that, by means of trade agreements and partnership arrangements, emerging countries such as China, India and Brazil must be encouraged by the EU, despite the crisis, to make compliance with ILO social standards and human rights part of their growth policies; stresses that governments have, at all times, an obligation to ensure ‘minimum essential levels’ of the social and economic rights necessary for living in dignity;
Amendment 18 #
2012/2136(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Stresses that the global crisis has clearly demonstrated that – in a context where deregulation, liberalisation and privatisation have entrenched global poverty and exacerbated inequalities between and within countries – a rethink is urgently needed of the role of the state in economic policy; believUnderscores that the fulfilment of social and economic rights depends on, inter alia, the capacity of the state to regulate the financial market and to allocate resources in an equitable manner through, for example, an effective, transparent, and progressive taxation system;
Amendment 19 #
2012/2136(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Stresses that governments must make not only an economic, but also a social response to the crisis; states that, in order to support developing countries’ efforts, subsequent partnership agreements must place greater emphasis on promotion of better governance;
Amendment 30 #
2012/2136(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Notes with concern that the global economic crisis is jeopardising Official Development Aid spending by EU Member States; recalls that the costs of the global economic crisis are being borne disproportionately by poor countries, despite having originated in the richer countries; urges, therefore, the EU and its Member States to maintain and deliver on their existing bilateral and multilateral ODA commitments and on the targets identified in, for example, the UN Millennium Declaration.; and points out that, through their potential contribution to official development assistance, the emerging countries also have an important role to play;
Amendment 11 #
2012/2134(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Points out that without a personal contribution it is impossible for SMEs to gain access to credit, and that every effort to secure bank guarantees for business creation should be encouraged;
Amendment 19 #
2012/2134(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Suggests facilitating and promoting access to businesses’ social and environmental information by means of a label, in order to attract investment funds more easily;
Amendment 1 #
2012/2101(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 3
Citation 3
– having regard to Article 47(3) of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union,
Amendment 2 #
2012/2101(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 a (new)
Citation 6 a (new)
– having regard to the Committee on Petitions’ working document on a fact- finding visit to Berlin (23-24 November 2011),
Amendment 3 #
2012/2101(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Da. whereas the principle that proceedings should be brought before national courts first is an additional handicap for people requiring assistance in cross-border proceedings;
Amendment 4 #
2012/2101(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital L a (new)
Recital L a (new)
La. whereas information on legal aid for citizens must be provided in one of the EU’s languages so as to ensure that they have been informed of their legal aid options in a language they understand;
Amendment 5 #
2012/2101(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Deplores, however, the fact that Denmark is the only Member State not to have adopted Council Directive 2002/8/EC;
Amendment 9 #
2012/2101(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Points out that new technologies and communication tools could be used to enable access to information on legal aid; hopes that these information campaigns will stress the importance of the e-Justice portal, which is intended to be a ‘one-stop shop’ in the area of justice;
Amendment 10 #
2012/2101(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Considers , as outlined in the European Parliament’s Committee on Petitions’ working document on a fact-finding visit to Berlin (23-24 November 2011),that databases of legal professionals with the sufficient linguistic and comparative law skills to act in cross- border legal aid cases should be established, thus ensuring that legal professionals are appointed who are able to act in such cases;
Amendment 12 #
2012/2101(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Takes the view that these databases should be additional to the databases of legal professionals on the e-Justice portal;
Amendment 13 #
2012/2101(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7b. Calls for Member State notifications to the Commission covering the official language or languages of the Community institutions other than their own in which the competent receiving authority will accept legal aid applications submitted in accordance with Directive 2002/8/EC to be made available to the public, in particular on the e-Justice portal;
Amendment 16 #
2012/2101(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Stresses the importance of ensuring that application procedures are simple, so that citizens are always able to apply for legal aid without the help of a legal practitioner; advocates automatically informing citizens embarking on such procedures of the existence of the e-Justice portal, with a view to ensuring that they are better informed;
Amendment 18 #
2012/2101(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 – point 1 (new)
Paragraph 15 – point 1 (new)
(1) Calls for national courts to be connected by an early-warning system so that, when an application for assistance is made in one Member States, the other Member States are made aware of it;
Amendment 20 #
2012/2101(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Paragraph 17 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Encourages, to that end, the Member States to refer citizens to the equivalent of the national ombudsman; calls for all Member States to have a national ombudsman, who should have the power to access, for instance, all administrative or legal documents, so that all EU citizens may consult them;
Amendment 21 #
2012/2101(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 – point 1 (new)
Paragraph 18 – point 1 (new)
(1) Wishes to inform the Member States that the systematic use of the European arrest warrant should not be encouraged in civil proceedings; calls, therefore, on Member States receiving a European arrest warrant against one of their citizens to contact the authorities of the requesting State in advance to ascertain whether the case justifies the use of a European arrest warrant, thus making it a criminal, rather than civil, law matter;
Amendment 22 #
2012/2101(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Calls on Denmark to adopt Directive 2002/8/EC; notes that European citizens have contacted the European Parliament’s Committee on Petitions to complain about their helplessness and lack of support in respect of Danish court rulings, particularly in cross-border divorce cases;
Amendment 4 #
2012/2098(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Points out that CSR covers a wide range of social standards on which very little focus is placed owing to a failure to establish indicators with which to measure progress on social issues;
Amendment 5 #
2012/2098(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 c (new)
Paragraph 1 c (new)
1c. Stresses that its should be easy for investors and consumers to identify firms which have made a commitment to CSR, as this would encourage those firms in their efforts;
Amendment 6 #
2012/2098(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 d (new)
Paragraph 1 d (new)
1d. Highlights the need for the EU to look at the possibility of introducing appropriate marks or labels to be used alongside the names, or on the products, of firms that have made a commitment to CSR, so as to make them easy to identify;
Amendment 6 #
2012/2098(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Commends the Commission’s intentionto conduct Eurobarometer surveys on intention to conduct Eurobarometer trust in business; advocates that surveys on trust in business; corporate social responsibility (CSR) advocates that corporate social can fully contribute to restoring lost responsibility (CSR), if practised confidence, as this is absolutely by all companies and not only the necessary for economic recovery; larger ones, can fully contribute to restoring lost confidence, as this is absolutely necessary for economic recovery;
Amendment 10 #
2012/2098(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Deplores the lack of information for SMEs on the global compact under which businesses can commit themselves to aligning their operations and strategies with 10 universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption;
Amendment 11 #
2012/2098(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Stresses that the UN Global Compact and the ISO 26000 standards are not properly suited to the needs of SMEs, which makes the whole idea of CSR less effective within the EU;
Amendment 12 #
2012/2098(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 c (new)
Paragraph 2 c (new)
2c. Draws attention to the need for thought to be given at both EU and national levels to how tax incentives might be used to promote CSR more widely among firms;
Amendment 12 #
2012/2098(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Stresses that co- and self-regulation cannot be a substitute for appropriate regulation in anywith regard to social and environmental requirements, two of the areas covered by CSR, but believes that it could underpin existing private and voluntary CSR initiatives by establishing minimum principles to ensure consistency, materiality, multi-stakeholder input and transparency and by facilitating the creation of audit bodies specialised in CSR;
Amendment 19 #
2012/2098(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Points out it, if uptake of CSR is to increase within the EU, it is essential for appropriate oversight bodies to be set up at both EU and national levels;
Amendment 21 #
2012/2098(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Points out that the way in which extractive industries operate in developing countries requires moving beyond a voluntary approach; reiterates that CSR should be applicable to all enterprises so as to create a fair and equal playing field;
Amendment 32 #
2012/2098(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Condemns corporate corruption and tax »evasion; calls on the Commission to evasion; calls on the Commission to place place new emphasis on these issues in new emphasis on these issues in the CSR the CSR debate under the heading debate under the heading ‘good ‘good governance’; governance’; stresses the importance of offering specific CSR training in universities and in business and management schools;
Amendment 4 #
2012/2097(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Points out that CSR covers a wide range of social standards on which very little focus is placed owing to a failure to establish indicators with which to measure progress on social issues;
Amendment 5 #
2012/2097(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 c (new)
Paragraph 1 c (new)
1c. Stresses that its should be easy for investors and consumers to identify firms which have made a commitment to CSR, as this would encourage those firms in their efforts;
Amendment 6 #
2012/2097(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 d (new)
Paragraph 1 d (new)
1d. Highlights the need for the EU to look at the possibility of introducing appropriate marks or labels to be used alongside the names, or on the products, of firms that have made a commitment to CSR, so as to make them easy to identify;
Amendment 10 #
2012/2097(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Deplores the lack of information for SMEs on the global compact under which businesses can commit themselves to aligning their operations and strategies with 10 universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption;
Amendment 10 #
2012/2097(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas corporate social responsibility (CSR) must not be used to redefine internationally agreed minimum applicable standards but to seek better to understand and implement the way in which these areto gauge their implementation and better understand the way in which these can be made readily and directly applicable toby businesses of every size;
Amendment 11 #
2012/2097(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Stresses that the UN Global Compact and the ISO 26000 standards are not properly suited to the needs of SMEs, which makes the whole idea of CSR less effective within the EU;
Amendment 12 #
2012/2097(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 c (new)
Paragraph 2 c (new)
2c. Draws attention to the need for thought to be given at both EU and national levels to how tax incentives might be used to promote CSR more widely among firms;
Amendment 19 #
2012/2097(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Points out it, if uptake of CSR is to increase within the EU, it is essential for appropriate oversight bodies to be set up at both EU and national levels;
Amendment 21 #
2012/2097(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Points out that the way in which extractive industries operate in developing countries requires moving beyond a voluntary approach; reiterates that CSR should be applicable to all enterprises so as to create a fair and equal playing field;
Amendment 33 #
2012/2097(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Recognises that the Commission communication is part of a series of policy statements thanks to which CSR is now embedded in EU policies and actionserving to ensure that CSR is being promoted more widely and will in the longer term be embedded in EU policies and action; calls on the Commission and the Member States to use the 2014-2020 CSR strategy as the basis for practical measures to encourage companies to become involved in CSR;
Amendment 41 #
2012/2097(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Regrets that CSR continues to be focused on environmental standards at the expense of social standards, even though these are essential in order to restore a social climate conducive to economic growth and social convergence;
Amendment 50 #
2012/2097(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Believes that future key drivers for ‘scaling up’ CSR will include an emphasis on global CSR instruments, fresh momentum from leading businesses among their peers, the use of appropriate regulation, a robust impact analysis of existing CSR initiatives, support for new initiatives in the social sphere, adaptation of CSR to meet the needs of SMEs, and increasing recognition within both the business community and wider society of the scale of global social and environmental challenges;
Amendment 60 #
2012/2097(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Restates its belief in the ‘business case’ for CSR, but reiterates that, where such a case does not apply in the short term in any given situation or company, it can never be used as an excusthat CSR has to include social measures encompassing vocational training, work-life balance, and appropriate fwor choosing irresponsibilityking conditions;
Amendment 67 #
2012/2097(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Recognises that a deep flaw in CSR initiatives arises whenif companies which pride themselves on practising CSR manage to avoid critical interest groups or sensitive issues relevant to their business; calls on the Commission, working with financial authorities and the social partners, to build on the previous work of CSR ‘laboratories’ in order better to identify how companies and their stakeholders can objectively pinpoint social and environmental issues which are ‘material’ to the business in question;
Amendment 77 #
2012/2097(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Strongly supports the recognition, in the Commission communication, that ‘helping to mitigate the social effects of the current crisis’ is part of the social responsibility of enterprises; calls on businesses to undertake initiatives for youth job creationthe Commission and the Member States to help businesses to become involved in CSR and undertake initiatives aimed at preserving and creating jobs, especially for young people, as a practical example of their commitment;
Amendment 98 #
2012/2097(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Recognises that business closures and retrenchment are jeopardising some of the gains made through CSR in terms of the employment of marginalised groups in society and that it is therefore essential to determine benchmarks for social measures; calls on the Commission to undertake a major analysis of the social impact of the crisis on such initiatives;
Amendment 114 #
2012/2097(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to consider the feasibility and desirability of developing a European social label for all companies involved in CSR, so as to make their efforts more visible to consumers and investors; suggests that companies bearing such a label be monitored regularly regarding their compliance with the social CSR provisions set out in the label;
Amendment 133 #
2012/2097(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Believes that CSR is an important tool in helping the EU to support the implementation of ILO conventions; supports the provision of funding to enable Europeancalls on the Commission to support European organisations and trade unions seeking to undertake pilot projects on the OECD Guidelines and other international CSR standards with a view to building capacity in third countries;
Amendment 142 #
2012/2097(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Endorses the view, dating from the June 2004 report of the Multi-stakeholder Forum, that public authorities can make a significant contribution by using convening, incentivising and regulatory roles to advance CSR, not least in public procurement, and calls on the Member States to give major new impetus to these efforts;
Amendment 165 #
2012/2097(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Notes that a key driver of the socially responsible investment market remains institutional investor demand, but the primary focus should not remain confined to environmental aspects; notes, in this vein, that disclosure to investors and consumers is a key driver of CSR and must be based on readily applicable and measurable social and environmental principles-based; ;
Amendment 183 #
2012/2097(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Endorses a continuing leading role for the European Multi-stakeholder Forum in supporting the implementation of the proposals set out in the Commission communication; points out that if it were geared more closely to SMEs, CSR could spread more widely in all parts of Europe;
Amendment 196 #
2012/2097(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Agrees that there cannot be a ‘one size fits all’ approach to CSR but, recognising that the profusion of private and voluntaryCSR initiatives can generate additional costs and be a barrier to implementation, calls on the Commission, together with other international bodies, to make a commitment to supporting the long-term objective of ‘convergence’ of CSR initiatives;
Amendment 7 #
2012/2078(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the Treaties provide several ways forward regarding employment and social policies, the potential of which has not been fully exploited; whereas greater social convergence can therefore be attained without prejudice to the subsidiarity principle;
Amendment 13 #
2012/2078(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Underlines the urgent need to improveestablish genuine European social governance atwith the European level in parallel withsame political determination as led to the establishment of European economic governance;
Amendment 27 #
2012/2078(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Calls on the Commission to make full use of its power of legislative initiative to put to the European Parliament, on a regular basis, ambitious regulatory provisions relating to social affairs and employment;
Amendment 34 #
2012/2078(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Stresses that the existence and aggravation of internal imbalances call for automatic stabilisers at EU or eurthe social situation in Europe requires a balanced and ambitious European budget and better consistency between economic, trade and social policies in order to aprea level, such as a youth guarantee or a minimum unemployment allowanceserve European industrial operations and promote business start-ups;
Amendment 52 #
2012/2078(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Calls on the Commission to insist on the submission of National Job Plans by Member States to the European Parliament as part of their National Reform Programme in the context of the European Semester;
Amendment 58 #
2012/2078(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Reiterates its call for the strengthening of the democratic and social dimension of the European Semester, including by reinforcing Parliament's role through the ordinary legislative procedure and by involving national parliaments, in interaction with social partners and civil society;
Amendment 1 #
2012/2063(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Calls on the Commission to including binding provisions on social standards and on the objectives of full and productive employment, including for women and young people, decent work, respect for workers‘ rights, and gender equality in all EU trade agreement; and public procurements, in respect of WTO rules; reiterates on this point that the EU must insist on the necessary reform of WTO rules in order to be able to promote European social standards in all trade agreements.
Amendment 6 #
2012/2063(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Underlines the importance of binding corporate social responsibility obligations, and of encouraging employers to apply social standards which are more ambitious than current statutory provisions, including the possibility to develop and obtain a designation such as a social label; calls on the Commission to support the Member States in carefully monitoring the implementation, and ensuring the legal enforcement, of these obligations;
Amendment 7 #
2012/2063(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Stresses the importance of establishing Policy Coherence for Development (PCD) focal points also in developing countries to improve information exchanges, inter alia on issues beyond EU competences, such as the socially-inclusive use of resource rents or taxation and remittances; calls on the Commission to mainstream social policy in the work of the EEAS; believes it is essential also for middle-income countries to commit an increasing proportion of their revenue to social purposes, notably by developing taxation systems and social protection;
Amendment 9 #
2012/2063(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Calls on the Commission to engage in social dialogue with non-EU labour organisations and trade unions about the implementation of social standards in their respective countries, and to ensure more adequate technical assistance for the implementation of social and fiscal policy.
Amendment 5 #
2012/2062(INI)
Draft opinion
Section 1 – paragraph 4
Section 1 – paragraph 4
4. Highlights the importance of Policy Coherence for Development so as to ensure that EU policies in all areas permfacilit at least somee respect for human rights to be increasingly realisedand access to health care, while ensuring that no human right is violated by any EU policy;
Amendment 52 #
2012/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital M
Recital M
M. whereas good and effective information and consultation in relation to restructuring means a more intelligent, proactive, responsible and strategic manner, which will contribute to makingthat the relevant measures should be taken several months prior to the proposed restructuring, that they should also cover subcontractors and that they should include the prompt provision of retraining courses in order to help make undertakings and the Union more competitive, as well as sending out a message of certainty and transparency to European citizens and investors at a time of crisis;
Amendment 18 #
2012/2045(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Stresses the need to ensure a better match between the forms of training available and the needs of the sectors suffering from a shortage of workers; training-business partnerships should be developed and innovative training systems should be encouraged, involving, in particular, mentoring by senior staff members;
Amendment 32 #
2012/2045(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Regrets the reduced funding for education and the lack of training placements offered by enterprises owing to the crisis; also regrets the unacceptable increase in the number of unpaid traineeships;
Amendment 37 #
2012/2045(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Suggests that consideration should be given to developing partnerships between schools, universities and businesses in order to improve the suitability of training and increase the number of traineeships available;
Amendment 8 #
2012/2042(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Recognises that if Member States are to deliver on EU 2020 targets, SMEs and microbusinesses must be taken into accountit is necessary to facilitate the creation of SMEs and microbusinesses and to support their development during the first five years;
Amendment 36 #
2012/2042(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Recalls that the EU and the Member States must increase their support of SMEs to facilitate their access to the markets of third countries and to public markets, particularly in emerging countries;
Amendment 1 #
2012/2016(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Stresses that the 2013 budget should support the objectives of the Europe 2020 strategy and calls for adequatembitious funding ofor the flagship initiatives ‘Youth on the Move’, ‘New Skills for New Jobs’, ‘European Platform Against Poverty’ and ‘An Innovation Union’;
Amendment 5 #
2012/2016(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Stresses the need for recognition in the budget of the dramatic situation facing theimportance of budgetary provision for combating youngth unemployed andment, as well as the need to relaunch job creation; calls for clear earmarking by the Commission of the funds for this purpose; highlights the need to provide for appropriate financing of all employment instruments;
Amendment 21 #
2012/2016(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Stresses that the current revision of the EGF implementing regulation must make the fund more effective, in particular as regards the budgetary aspects of its mobilisation;
Amendment 24 #
2012/2016(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Calls for an enhancement of targeted public information on existing programmes, such as EURES, the ‘Your First EURES Job’ and ‘Social Solidarity for Social Integration’ pilot projects and the Microfinance Facility;
Amendment 26 #
2012/2016(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Calls for Parliament be given regular, detailed updates on the various stages in the implementation of pilot projects by the Commission;
Amendment 26 #
2012/2004(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the current financial crisis and an ageing population burden social welfare systems, includingencourage us to promote innovative social assistance systems and statutory and voluntary healthcare schemes;
Amendment 62 #
2012/2004(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. States that social business is part of the eco-social market economy and the European Single Market and has showed high resilience against the crisesa driver of greater social cohesion and, if it receives adequate European support, can participate in the establishment of true social governance;
Amendment 242 #
2012/2004(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Supports the Commission’s proposal to set up a multilingual online platform for social enterprises that should, inter alia, enable the exchange of best practices, facilitate information-sharing about access to funding and serve as a network for cross-border cooperation, especially in healthcare to encourage telemedicine and telemonitoring initatives;
Amendment 250 #
2012/2004(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to institute a ‘social label’ to be awarded to social enterprises, to ensure better access to public procuremently virtuous European enterprises and to social enterprises to stimulate greater social convergence and to meet the needs of consumers and investors wishing to contribute to the improvement of the European social level;
Amendment 269 #
2012/2004(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Points out that the promotion of socially virtuous enterprises and social business requires a maximum of support and acceptance, and calls for a broad information campaign to be launched by means of introducing a multilingual online- platform that providesenables enterprises to apply to obtain the social label and employees and social partners to contribute to information on their enterprises, thereby providing quick and easy information for citizens seeking for social products and services, and which gives a good overview of the activities and added value of this sector;
Amendment 9 #
2012/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the current economic and financial crisis will have long -lasting effects not only on economic growth but also on employment rates, social exclusion, public savings and the quality of social investments in Europe;
Amendment 14 #
2012/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the majority of recent responses to the crisis were based mainly on short- term goals aimed at restoring stability to public finances, being crucial efforts to defend our economy, and whereas these austerity measures could have negative long-term effects on employment, growth and competitiveness if not completed with growth- and employment-friendly measures through the rapid implementation of strong social governance;
Amendment 21 #
2012/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas the Lisbon Strategy and the European Employment Strategy have failed to deliver, and whereas the success of the Europe 2020 strategy is uncertain and requires stronger engagement from Member States and the European Institutions; whereas compulsory social governance, such as economic governance, would be the only means of forcing Member States to take social measures that would create jobs;
Amendment 32 #
2012/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
Fa. whereas in 2012 the rate of poverty among 16- to 24-year olds in Europe is 21.6 % on average and young people are more likely to be found in precarious fixed-term or part-time employment, and are also at a higher risk of unemployment; whereas precarious employment has significantly increased in recent years and unemployment is rising dramatically in some countries;
Amendment 53 #
2012/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Notes therefore that social investments should be an important part of the European economic and employment policies, and of the EU’s responses to the crisis, and that this requires a better implementation of the employment, social and education goals of Europe 2020; stresses the urgency of implementing measures to ensure appropriate training for sectors with labour shortages;
Amendment 65 #
2012/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. nNotes that the crisis requires a modernisation of the European Social Model, the implementation of strong social governance with a rethinking of national social policies and a transition from an ‘active welfare state’, that only responds to emerging damages caused by market failure, to an ‘activating welfare state’, that invests in people and gives citizens instruments and incentives;
Amendment 81 #
2012/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 – point c
Paragraph 5 – point c
c) invest in bringing education and training into line, especially by facilitating cooperation between business sectors and schools in order to be able to guarantee improved academic guidance,
Amendment 85 #
2012/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 – point c a (new)
Paragraph 5 – point c a (new)
ca) invest in innovation by supporting the manufacture of innovative goods and services, especially related to climate change, energy efficiency, health and ageing populations,
Amendment 97 #
2012/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 – point f
Paragraph 5 – point f
f) fight poverty and social and medical exclusion.
Amendment 100 #
2012/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls on Members States and the Commission to take steps to develop a job- friendly environmentpromote job creation with supportive SME and labour market policies, such as more effective and better targetedby linking unemployment and social assistance benefit systems linked to employment activation measures, to introduce special training and re-trainingto active job search measures, to introduce lifelong training and special training linked to sectors with labour shortages in order to sustain the employability of the long-term unemployed, and to promote up-skillingthe adequacy of skills for local or regional job markets and to develop learning, paid traineeships and on-the-job training with particular emphasis on unemployed young persons and on workers with low skills;
Amendment 106 #
2012/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Encourages Member States to invest in supportingdevelop partnerships between schools, training centres and local or regional businesses in order to provide better guidance for young persons, and in to improvinge their access to the labour market, by providing training and paid youth internship programmes, by promoting entrepreneurship and creating incentives for employers to engage graduates, byset up senior employee sponsorship schemes to be able to engage and train young persons on the job, in order to securinge a better transition from education to work and by promoting European and regional mobility;
Amendment 132 #
2012/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Encourages Member States to introduce necessary reforms in order to increase the statutory retirement age and limit early retirement possibilities, and to combine this with the constant improvement ofmprove working conditions and the implementation of lifelong training schemes enabling longer professional careers to be adapted and thus to respond to the demands of sectors with labour shortages;
Amendment 141 #
2012/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Notes that in order to secure proper implementation of employment and social targets, the recently developed system for macroeconomic and budgetary surveillance in the EU must be supplemented by an improved monitoring of employment and social policies; calls, therefore, on the Commission to consider developing a scoreboard of common social investment indicators for monitoring the progress in EU countries in this regard and to promote the corporate responsibility of companies and especially of SMEs by creating a European social label;
Amendment 20 #
2012/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas, in accordance with the Treaty of Lisbon, the implementation of development policy should be cohesive, and the measures aimed at encouraging economic growth in developing countries should contribute, first and foremost, to combating poverty and exclusion, particularly through access to education and healthcare,
Amendment 29 #
2012/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Considers that the Agenda for Change is innovative in that it focuses, inter alia, on harnessing budgetary resources, combining subsidies and loans and promoting the private sector; considers that the use of these mechanisms should contribute, principally, to lifting the inhabitants of developing countries out of extreme poverty and dependence and to the dissemination and application of principles of good administrative and fiscal governance;
Amendment 47 #
2012/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Notes that the Commission makes poverty a central issue in its new policy of ‘differentiation’; observes, however, that 70 % of people whose income is below the poverty threshold live in middle-income countries, and hence deplores the fact that the poor in those countries continue to be deprived of access to education, healthcare and the benefits of economic growth;
Amendment 56 #
2012/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Believes it essential for middle-income countries to commit an increasing proportion of their revenue to social purposes, thereby enabling the European Union to gradually scale back its current development programmes to benefit the poorest countries while maintaining a close partnership with middle-income countries in areas of social policy;
Amendment 85 #
2012/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Considers that the Union should fully assume the responsibility incumbent upon it as the world’s leading donor of development aid and turn its political potential to better effect and further develop its leading role at international level on development issues, particularly by spreading the principles of good governance and training local actors, by making resolute use of the powers conferred on it by Article 210 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union to take every appropriate initiative to foster the coordination of the development cooperation policies of the EU and its Member States and to synchronise their aid programmes;
Amendment 56 #
2012/0340(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 1
Recital 1
(1) The trend towards a digital society provides users with new ways of accessing information and services. The providers of information and services, such as public sector bodies, rely increasingly on the Internet in order to produce, collect and provide a wide range of information and services online, which are essential to the public. In this respect, the security of transmission of information and the protection of personal data are of great importance.
Amendment 58 #
2012/0340(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) Web-accessibility refers to principles and techniques to be observed when constructing websites in order to render the content of these websites accessible to all users, in particular people with functional limitations, including persons with disabilities. The content of websites includes textual as well as non-textual information, and also the downloading of forms and two-way interaction, e.g. the processing of digital forms, authentication, and transactions like case handling and paymentscluding persons with disabilities and elderly people.
Amendment 61 #
2012/0340(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) The Commission's eGovernment Action Plan 2011-2015 calls for action to develop eGovernment services that ensure inclusiveness and accessibility. At the same time, more efforts are needed for the effective implementation of the e- Inclusion policy, which aims at reducing gaps in ICT usage and promoting the use of ICT to overcome exclusion, and improve economic performance, employment opportunities, quality of life, social participation and cohesion, including democratic consultations.
Amendment 63 #
2012/0340(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) In its Communication ‘entitled 'A Digital Agenda for Europe’', a Europe 2020 initiative, the Commission announced that public sector websites should be fully accessible by 2015.
Amendment 64 #
2012/0340(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 4 a (new)
Recital 4 a (new)
(4a) It is highly important to increase of synergies between flagships initiatives such as "Digital Agenda for Europe", "New skills and jobs", "Innovation Union", "Youth on the move", "Resource-efficient Europe" and "European Platform Against Poverty and Exclusion".
Amendment 65 #
2012/0340(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 6
Recital 6
(6) By ratifying the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (‘'the UN Convention’'), the majority of the Member States and the Union, by its conclusion, have committed themselves ‘"to ensure to persons with disabilities access, on equal basis with others, to inter alia information and communication technologies’" and ‘"to take appropriate measures […...] to promote access for persons with disabilities to new information and communications technologies and systems, sign languages, including the Internet.’"
Amendment 67 #
2012/0340(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) The European Disability Strategy 2010- 2020, which aims to break down the barriers that prevent persons with disabilities from participating in society on an equal basis, builds on the UN Convention and contains actions in several priority areas, including web accessibility, with the objective ‘"to ensure accessibility to goods and services including public services and assistive devices for people with disabilities.’
Amendment 68 #
2012/0340(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 8 a (new)
Recital 8 a (new)
(8a) The European Parliament resolution of 25 October 2011 on mobility and inclusion of people with disabilities and the European Disability Strategy 2010- 20201 stresses that innovative and knowledge-based economies cannot develop without accessible content and forms for people with disabilities governed by binding legislation, such as accessible websites for the blind and subtitled contents for the hard of hearing, including mass media services, online services for people using sign languages, smart phone applications and tactile and vocal aids in public media2. __________________ 1 OJ C 131 E, 8.5.2013, p. 9
Amendment 70 #
2012/0340(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 9
Recital 9
(9) The fast growing web-accessibility market comprises a range of economic operators such as those developing websites or software tools to create, manage and test web pages, developing user agents such as web browsers and related assistive technologies, implementing certification services and training providers. In this respect, of a great importance are the efforts made in the framework of the Grand Coalition for Digital Jobs, which is a follow-up to the Employment Package, and addresses ICT specialists and aims to respond to the skills gaps, including literacy and working skills, in the ICT sector.
Amendment 73 #
2012/0340(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 15
Recital 15
(15) Citizens should benefit from wider access to online public sector services and should receive services and information which will facilitate their daily lives and the enjoyment of their rights across the Union, notably their right to move and reside freely within the territory of the Union and their freedom of establishment and to provide services.
Amendment 75 #
2012/0340(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 16
Recital 16
(16) The web–accessibility requirements defined in this Directive are technology neutral. They only indicate which basic functionalities have to be fulfilled for the user to perceive, operate or understand a site and its content. They do not specify how this has to be achieved or what technology should be selected for a particular site, on-line information or application. As such they do not hamper innovation and shall be platform independent at the end users.
Amendment 77 #
2012/0340(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 18
Recital 18
(18) As underlined in the Digital Agenda for Europe, public authorities should play their part in promoting markets for online content. Governments can stimulate content markets by making public sector information available under transparent, effective and non-discriminatory conditions. This is an important source of potential growth of innovative online services. In addition to that, new and innovative pilot projects shall be used in this sense, for example in the field of sign language from 2013 based on the European Parliament's financing decision of 6 June 2013 to have allocated a budget of EUR 750,000 for further development.
Amendment 82 #
2012/0340(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 21
Recital 21
(21) The Commission has already issued a mandate M/376 to the European Standardisation Organisations, to develop a European standard specifying the functional accessibility requirements for ICT products and services, including web content, which could be used in public procurement as well as for other purposes like procurement in the private sector. To this end, the European Standardisation Organisations are required to establish close co-operation with relevant industry standards forums and consortia including the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C/WAI). A harmonised standard that would provide presumption of conformity with the web-accessibility requirements laid down in this Directive should be built upon the outcome of this work. It should be recalled that, in accordance with the progress report issued by the Council on 24 May 2013, 23 Member States have already developed their national web accessibility policies and standards.
Amendment 87 #
2012/0340(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 24
Recital 24
(24) The conformity with web-accessibility requirements should be continuously monitored from the initial construction of the public sector bodies' website to all subsequent updates of its content. A harmonised monitoring methodology would cover a way of verifying, on a uniform basis in all Members States, the degree of compliance of the website with the requirements for web-accessibility, the collection of representative samples and the periodicity of the monitoring.. Member States should report annually on the outcome of the monitoring and more generally on the list of actions taken in application of this Directive, which shall be open to the public.
Amendment 92 #
2012/0340(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 25
Recital 25
(25) In a harmonised framework, the web- developers industry should face fewer barriers to operate in the internal market, while costs for governments and others procuring web-accessibility products and services should be reduced which would contribute to economic growth and employment.
Amendment 93 #
2012/0340(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 27
Recital 27
(27) In order to ensure uniform conditions for the implementation of the relevant provisions of this Directive, implementing powers should be conferred to the Commission. The examination procedure should be used for the definition of the methodology that Member States should use for monitoring the conformity of the websites concerned with those requirements. The advisory procedure should be used for the determination of the modalities according to which Member States should report to the Commission on the result of this monitoring. Those powers should be exercised in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and the Council of 16 February 2011 laying down the rules and general principles concerning mechanisms for control by the Member States of the Commission's exercise of implementing powers. Special attention should be paid to the composition of the committee referred to in this Directive with regard to the participation of persons with disabilities.
Amendment 97 #
2012/0340(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1
1. This Directive aims at approximating the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States related to the accessibility of the content, including audiovisual content, of public sector bodies' websites to all users, in particular people with functional limitations including persons with disabilities, as well as for elderly persons.
Amendment 128 #
2012/0340(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 8 a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 8 a (new)
(8a) 'Web-accessibility' means principles and techniques to be observed when constructing websites concerned in order to render the content of those websites accessible to all users, including people with disabilities and elderly persons. Web- accessibility refers in particular to principles and techniques that enhance users' perception, navigation, operation, interaction and understanding, and includes the use of assistive technology, sign language, or augmentative and alternative communication. The content of websites includes textual as well as non-textual information, and also the downloading of forms and two-way interaction, e.g. the processing of digital forms, authentication, and transactions like case handling and payments.
Amendment 129 #
2012/0340(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 8 a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 8 a (new)
(8a) 'Assistive technology' means any item, piece of equipment, or product system, acquired commercially as such as well as financed by Union budget or Funds as a pilot project or distributed by the Government, or modified, or customised, and used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of persons with disabilities
Amendment 134 #
2012/0340(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) in a consistent and adequate way for users' perception, operation and understanding, including persons with disabilities, and for elderly persons, as well as the adaptability of content presentation and interaction, when necessary, providing an accessible electronic alternative;
Amendment 153 #
2012/0340(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 6 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Member States shall urge on new ICT solutions which are user-friendly and intended for persons with disabilities and elderly people, and shall promote training and education to increase their digital knowledge.
Amendment 160 #
2012/0340(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 6 – paragraph 4
Article 6 – paragraph 4
4. Member States shall cooperate at Union level with industry, social partners and civil society stakeholders, with facilitation by the Commission, in order to review, for the purpose of the annual reporting referred to in Article 7(4), market and technological developments and progress in web- accessibility and to exchange best practices. A particular attention shall be granted to the competitiveness of companies in the sector, especially of SMEs, so as no extra burdens are imposed on their functioning.
Amendment 173 #
2012/0340(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 7 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 7 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Member States shall take the measures necessary to accessibly inform the users or other interested parties of the possibility of lodging complaints, referred to in subparagraph 1 to the designated competent authority. The lodging of the complaints must be made possible in an accessible manner.
Amendment 216 #
2012/0340(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Annex – point 12 a (new)
Annex – point 12 a (new)
(12a) Gas, heat, electricity, water services
Amendment 220 #
2012/0340(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Annex – point 12 b (new)
Annex – point 12 b (new)
(12b) Public transport-related services
Amendment 223 #
2012/0340(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Annex – point 12 c (new)
Annex – point 12 c (new)
(12c) Basic banking and insurance services (such as basic payment account, home contents and building insurance, life insurance or medical insurance
Amendment 225 #
Amendment 226 #
2012/0340(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Annex – point 12 e (new)
Annex – point 12 e (new)
(12e) Services of primary, secondary and higher education.
Amendment 229 #
2012/0340(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Annex – point 12 f (new)
Annex – point 12 f (new)
(12f) Services of statutory and complementary social security schemes, organised in various ways (mutual or occupational organisations), covering the main risks of life, such as those linked to health, ageing, occupational accidents, unemployment, retirement and disability.(7) Childcare services
Amendment 231 #
Amendment 233 #
Amendment 234 #
Amendment 237 #
Amendment 57 #
2012/0297(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) Over the last decade, environmental issues, such as resource efficiency, biodiversity, climate change, and disaster risks, have become more important in policy making and should therefore also constitute criticalimportant elements in assessment and decision-making processes, especially for infrastructure projects.
Amendment 60 #
2012/0297(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 4 a (new)
Recital 4 a (new)
(4a) Stipulating that greater account must be taken of environmental criteria in all projects may also prove counter- productive if it serves to add to the complexity of the procedures involved and to lengthen the time needed to authorise and validate each stage. This may increase costs and may even in itself come to pose a threat to the environment if infrastructure projects take a very long time to complete.
Amendment 61 #
2012/0297(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 4 b (new)
Recital 4 b (new)
(4b) Environmental issues surrounding infrastructure projects must not divert attention from the fact that any project will inevitably have an impact on the environment and that the focus must be on the balance between the value of a project and its environmental impact.
Amendment 67 #
2012/0297(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 9
Recital 9
(9) Climate change will continue to cause damagepose a threat to the environment and compromise the predictability of economic development. Accordingly, the environmental, social and economic resilience of the Union should be promoted so as to deal with climate change throughout the Union’s territory in an efficient manner. Climate change adaptation and mitigation responses need to be addressed across many of the sectors of Union legislation.
Amendment 72 #
2012/0297(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 16
Recital 16
Amendment 77 #
2012/0297(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 18
Recital 18
(18) The environmental report of a project to be provided by the developer should include an assessment of reasonable alternatives relevant to the proposed project, including the likely evolution of the existing state of the environment without implementation of the project (baseline scenario), as a means to improve quality of the assessment process and to allow integrating environmental considerations at an early stage in the project’s design.
Amendment 87 #
2012/0297(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 28
Recital 28
(28) Since the objective of this Directive, namely to ensure a high level of protection of the environment and of human health, through the establishment of minimum requirements for the environmental assessment of projects, cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States and can therefore, by reason of the scope, seriousness and transboundary nature of the environmental issues to be addressed, be better achieved at Union level, the Union may adopt measures, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity as set out in Article 5 of the Treaty on the European Union. In accordance with the principle of proportionality, as set out in that Article, this Directive does not go beyond what is necessary in order to achieve that objective.
Amendment 102 #
2012/0297(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3
2011/92/EU
Article 3 – point b
Article 3 – point b
(b) land, soil, water, air and climate change;
Amendment 24 #
2012/0295(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) The Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived (hereinafter the 'Fund') should strengthen social cohesion by contributing to the reduction of poverty in the Union by supporting national schemes that provide non-financial assistance to the most deprived persons to alleviate food deprivation, homelessness and material deprivation ofand material deprivation, particularly among the homeless and children.
Amendment 29 #
2012/0295(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) In order to set out an appropriate financial framework, the Commission should establish, by means of implementing acts, an annual breakdown of global resources by Member State using an objective and transparent method reflecting disparities in terms of poverty, relative poverty and material deprivation.
Amendment 33 #
2012/0295(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) The operational programme of each Member State should identify and justify the forms of material deprivation to be addressed, and describe the objectives and features of the assistance to the most deprived persons that will be provided through the support of national schemes. ItFood insecurity should be the form of deprivation which Member States tackle before all others. The programme should also include elements necessary to ensure its effective and efficient implementation of the operational programme.
Amendment 35 #
2012/0295(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) In order to improve the quality and design of each operational programme and evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of the Fund, ex ante and ex post evaluations should be conducted. Those evaluations should be supplemented by surveys on the most deprived persons who have benefited from the operational programme and, if necessary, by evaluations during the programming period. The responsibilities of Member States and the Commission in this respect should be specified.
Amendment 37 #
2012/0295(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) Citizens have the right to know how the Union’s financial resources are invested and to what effects. For the purpose of ensuring wide dissemination of information about the achievements of the Fund and to ensure accessibility and transparency of funding opportunities, detailed rules about information and communication, especially in relation to the responsibilities of the Member States and the beneficiaries, should be set out in such a way that the dignity of the end recipients is not undermined.
Amendment 41 #
2012/0295(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16
Recital 16
(16) Uniform and, equitable and simple rules on the eligibility period, operations and expenditures for the Fund should be applied across the Union. The conditions of eligibility should reflect the specific nature of the Fund’s objectives and target populations, notably through simple and adequate conditions of eligibility of the operations as well as forms of support and rules and conditions of reimbursement.
Amendment 42 #
2012/0295(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1
Article 6 – paragraph 1
1. The global resources available for budgetary commitment from the Fund for the period 2014-2020 shall be EUR 2 500 000 000 at 2011 prices, in accordance with the annual breakdown set out in Annex IInot less than the 2007-2013 allocation for the European food aid programme for deprived persons.
Amendment 46 #
2012/0295(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 17 a (new)
Recital 17 a (new)
(17a) In order to ensure broad support within society for the most deprived persons and to tackle food waste, Member States should remove obstacles to the donation of food or basic consumer goods by firms to food banks, civil society organisations and other stakeholders.
Amendment 48 #
2012/0295(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 19
Recital 19
(19) In accordance with the principle of shared management, Member States should have the primary responsibility, through their management and control system, for the implementation and control of their operational programme, while seeking at all times to improve effectiveness and reduce bureaucracy.
Amendment 56 #
2012/0295(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 27
Recital 27
(27) Union budget commitments should be effected annually. In order to ensure effective programme management, it is necessary to lay down simple common rules for interim payment requests, the payment of the annual balance and the final balance.
Amendment 62 #
2012/0295(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 41 a (new)
Recital 41 a (new)
(41a) In order to ensure that delays in the implementation of this Regulation at the beginning of 2014 do not lead to a sudden drop-off in food aid, the Commission should take the transitional measures necessary to guarantee that persons dependent on food aid are not at risk of food poverty.
Amendment 63 #
2012/0295(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1
1. This Regulation establishes the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived (hereinafter ‘the Fund’) for the period from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2020 and determines the objectives of the Fund, the scope of its support, the financial resources available and the criteria for their allocation and lays down the rules necessary to ensure the effectiveness of the Fundat the Fund is effective and easy to implement.
Amendment 66 #
2012/0295(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – point 2
Article 2 – point 2
(2) '‘partner organisations'’ means public bodies or non-for-profit organisations that deliver the food orand possibly other essential goods directly or through other partner organisations to the most deprived persons, and whose operations have been selected by the managing authority in accordance with Article 29(3)(b);
Amendment 74 #
2012/0295(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3
Article 3
The Fund shall promote social cohesion in the Union by contributing to achieving the poverty reduction target of at least 20 million of the number of persons at risk of poverty and social exclusion in accordance with the Europe 2020 strategy. The Fund shall contribute to achieving the specific objective of alleviating the worst forms of poverty in the Union, and first and foremost food insecurity, by providing non- financial assistance to the most deprived persons. This objective shall be measured by the number of persons receiving assistance from the Fund.
Amendment 78 #
2012/0295(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1
Article 4 – paragraph 1
1. The Fund shall support national schemes whereby food products and basic consumer goods for the personal use of the most deprived persons, in particular homeless persons or of children, are distributed to the most deprived persons through partner organisations selected by Member States.
Amendment 91 #
2012/0295(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 9
Article 5 – paragraph 9
(9) The Commission and the Member States shall carry out their respective roles in relation to the Fund with the aim, placing greater emphasis ofn reducing the administrative burden for beneficiaries.
Amendment 106 #
2012/0295(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1
Article 6 – paragraph 1
1. The global resources available for budgetary commitment from the Fund for the period 2014-2020 shall be EUR 23 500 000 000 at 2011 prices, in accordance with the annual breakdown set out in Annex II.
Amendment 133 #
2012/0295(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1
Article 8 – paragraph 1
1. The Commission shall assess the consistency of the operational programme with this Regulation and its contribution to the objectives of the Fund, taking into account the ex ante evaluation carried out in accordance with Article 14.
Amendment 139 #
2012/0295(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 2
Article 11 – paragraph 2
Amendment 140 #
2012/0295(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 3
Article 11 – paragraph 3
Amendment 141 #
2012/0295(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 2
Article 11 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 2
Amendment 142 #
2012/0295(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 6
Article 11 – paragraph 6
6. The Commission shall adopt the template for the annual implementation report, including the list of common indicators and for the final implementation report by means of implementing act. This implementing act shall be adopted in accordance with the advisory procedure referred to in Article 60(2).
Amendment 143 #
2012/0295(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 7
Article 11 – paragraph 7
7. The Commission may address observations to a Member State concerning the implementation of the operational programme. The managing authority shall within three months inform the Commission of the corrective measures taken.
Amendment 144 #
2012/0295(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 8
Article 11 – paragraph 8
Amendment 148 #
2012/0295(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 1
Article 13 – paragraph 1
1. 1. Member States shall provide the resources necessary for carrying out evaluations, and shall ensure that procedures are in place to produce and collect the data necessary for evaluations, including data related to the common indicators referred to in Article 11.
Amendment 149 #
2012/0295(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14
Article 14
Amendment 153 #
2012/0295(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 2
Article 15 – paragraph 2
Amendment 154 #
2012/0295(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 3
Article 15 – paragraph 3
3. The Commission may carry out, at its own initiative, evaluation of operational programmes where it has evidence suggesting any irregularity in their implementation.
Amendment 206 #
2012/0295(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 25 a (new)
Article 25 a (new)
Article 25a 1. Member States shall carry out administrative and physical checks to ensure that operational programmes are implemented in compliance with the applicable rules and shall establish the penalties applicable in the event of irregularities. 2. Member States shall fulfil the management, control and audit obligations and assume the resulting responsibilities laid down in the rules on shared management set out in the Financial Regulation and this Regulation. 3. Member States shall prevent, detect and correct irregularities and shall recover amounts unduly paid, together with any interest on late payments. 4. Member States shall establish and implement a procedure for the independent examination and resolution of complaints concerning the selection or implementation of operations cofinanced by the Fund.
Amendment 207 #
2012/0295(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 26
Article 26
Amendment 210 #
2012/0295(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 28
Article 28
Amendment 212 #
2012/0295(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 29
Article 29
Amendment 218 #
2012/0295(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 32
Article 32
Amendment 220 #
2012/0295(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 33
Article 33
Amendment 222 #
2012/0295(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 34
Article 34
Amendment 237 #
2012/0295(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 48
Article 48
Amendment 264 #
2012/0295(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 60 a (new)
Article 60 a (new)
Article 60a The Commission shall take the necessary financial and regulatory measures, if need be through budgetary redeployment, early pre-financing or prolongation of Regulation (EC) No 121/2012, in order to ensure the continuity of the MDP from 2013 to 2014 in the event of delays in the implementation of this regulation.
Amendment 9 #
2012/0267(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) This Regulation aims to ensure the functioning of the internal market as regards in vitro diagnostic medical devices, taking as a base a high level of protection of health for health professionals, patients, users and operators. At the same time, this Regulation sets high standards of quality and safety for devices to meet common safety concerns as regards those products. Both objectives are being pursued simultaneously and are inseparably linked whilst one not being secondary to the other. As regards Article 114 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, this Regulation harmonises the rules for the placing on the market and putting into service of in vitro diagnostic medical devices and their accessories on the Union market which may then benefit from the principle of free movement of goods. As regards Article 168(4)(c) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, this Regulation sets high standards of quality and safety for those devices by ensuring, among other things, that data generated in clinical performance studies is reliable and robust and that the safety of subjects participating in clinical performance studies is protected.
Amendment 10 #
2012/0267(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) Key elements of the existing regulatory approach, such as the supervision of notified bodies, risk classification, conformity assessment procedures, clinical evidenceinvestigations and clinical evaluation, vigilance and market surveillance should be significantly reinforced, whilst provisions ensuring transparency and traceability regarding in vitro diagnostic medical devices should be introduced, to improve health and safety for health professionals, patients, users and operators, particularly in the waste disposal chain.
Amendment 11 #
2012/0267(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13 a (new)
Recital 13 a (new)
(13a) The Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the minimum health and safety requirements regarding the exposure of workers to the risks arising from physical agents (electromagnetic fields) (XXth individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16(1) of Directive 89/391/EEC)1 should be the reference text for ensuring that people working in the vicinity of magnetic resonance imaging equipment when it is functioning are properly protected. ______________ 1 COM(2011)0348.
Amendment 12 #
2012/0267(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 27
Recital 27
(27) The traceability of in vitro diagnostic medical devices by means of a Unique Device Identification (UDI) system based on international guidance should significantly enhance the effectiveness of the post-market safety of in vitro diagnostic medical devices due to improved incident reporting, targeted field safety corrective actions and better monitoring by competent authorities. It should also help to reduce medical errors and to fight against counterfeit devices. Use of the UDI system should also improve purchase-ing and waste disposal policyies and stock-hospitals’ management by hospitalsof stock.
Amendment 13 #
2012/0267(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 28
Recital 28
(28) Transparency and better information are essential to empower patients and, healthcare professionals and all others concerned, and to enable them to make informed decisions, to provide a sound basis for regulatory decision-making and to build confidence in the regulatory system.
Amendment 14 #
2012/0267(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 29
Recital 29
(29) One key aspect is the creation of a central database that should integrate different electronic systems, with the UDI as an integral part of it, to collate and process information regarding in vitro diagnostic medical devices on the market and the relevant economic operators, certificates, interventional clinical performance studies and other clinical performance studies involving risks for the subjects of the studies, vigilance and market surveillance. The objectives of the database are to enhance overall transparency, to streamline and facilitate the flow of information between economic operators, notified bodies or sponsors and Member States as well as between Member States among themselves and with the Commission, to avoid multiple reporting requirements and to enhance the coordination between Member States. The database will also facilitate the traceability of medical equipment donated or exported to countries outside the EU. Within an internal market, this can be ensured effectively only at Union level and the Commission should therefore further develop and manage the European databank on medical devices (Eudamed) by further developing the databank set up by Commission Decision 2010/227/EU of 19 April 2010 on the European Databank for Medical Devices.
Amendment 15 #
2012/0267(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 48
Recital 48
(48) In order to better protect health and safety regarding devices on the market, the vigilance system for in vitro diagnostic medical devices should be made more effective by creating a central portal at Union level for reporting serious incidents and field safety corrective actions within and outside the EU.
Amendment 16 #
2012/0267(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point 55
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point 55
(55) ‘field safety notice’ means the communication sent by the manufacturer to users, waste disposal operators or customers in relation to a field safety corrective action;
Amendment 15 #
2012/0266(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) This Regulation aims to ensure the functioning of the internal market as regards medical devices, taking as a base a high level of protection of health for health professionals, patients, users and operators. At the same time, this Regulation sets high standards of quality and safety for medical devices to meet common safety concerns as regards these products. Both objectives are being pursued simultaneously and are inseparably linked whilst one not being secondary to the other. As regards Article 114 TFEU, this Regulation harmonises the rules for the placing on the market and putting into service of medical devices and their accessories on the Union market which may then benefit from the principle of free movement of goods. As regards Article 168(4)(c) TFEU, this Regulation sets high standards of quality and safety for those medical devices by ensuring, among other things, that data generated in clinical investigations is reliable and robust and that the safety of the subjects participating in a clinical investigation is protected.
Amendment 16 #
2012/0266(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) Key elements of the existing regulatory approach, such as the supervision of notified bodies, conformity assessment procedures, clinical investigations and clinical evaluation, vigilance and market surveillance should be significantly reinforced, whilst provisions ensuring transparency and traceability regarding devices should be introduced, to improve health and safety for health professionals, patients, users and operators, particularly in the waste disposal chain.
Amendment 17 #
2012/0266(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) There is scientific uncertainty about the risks and benefits of nanomaterials used for medical devices. In order to ensure a high level of health protection,and safety protection for health professionals, operators and patients, as well as free movement of goods and, legal certainty for manufacturers and responsibility on their part, it is necessary to introduce a uniform definition for nanomaterials based on Commission Recommendation 2011/696/EU of 18 October 2011 on the definition of nanomaterial, with the necessary flexibility to adapt this definition to scientific and technical progress and subsequent regulatory development at Union and international level. In the design and manufacture of medical devices, the manufacturers should take special care when using nanoparticles that can be released to the human body and those devices should be subject to the most severe conformity assessment procedure.
Amendment 19 #
2012/0266(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 19
Recital 19
(19) To recognise the important role of standardisation and traceability in the field of medical devices, compliance with harmonised standards as defined in Regulation (EU) No […/…] on European standardisation should be a means for manufacturers to demonstrate conformity with the general safety and performance requirements and other legal requirements, such as quality and risk management.
Amendment 20 #
2012/0266(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 21 a (new)
Recital 21 a (new)
(21a) The Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the minimum health and safety requirements regarding the exposure of workers to the risks arising from physical agents (electromagnetic fields) (XXth individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16(1) of Directive 89/391/EEC)1 should be the reference text for ensuring that people working in the vicinity of magnetic resonance imaging equipment when it is functioning are properly protected. ______________ 1 COM(2011)0348.
Amendment 21 #
2012/0266(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 32
Recital 32
(32) Patients who are implanted with a device shouldmust be given clear and easily accessible essential information related to the implanted device allowing it to be identified and containing any necessary warnings or precautions to be taken, for example indications as to whether or not it is compatible with certain diagnostic devices or with scanners used for security controls.
Amendment 22 #
2012/0266(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 36
Recital 36
(36) One key aspect is the creation of a central database that should integrate different electronic systems, with the UDI as an integral part of it, to collate and process information regarding medical devices on the market and the relevant economic operators, certificates, clinical investigations, vigilance and market surveillance. The objectives of the database are to enhance overall transparency, to streamline and facilitate the flow of information between economic operators, notified bodies or sponsors and Member States as well as between Member States among themselves and with the Commission, to avoid multiple reporting requirements and to enhance the coordination between Member States. The database will also facilitate the traceability of medical equipment donated or exported to countries outside the EU. Within an internal market, this can be ensured effectively only at Union level and the Commission should therefore further develop and manage the European databank on medical devices (Eudamed) set up by Commission Decision 2010/227/EU of 19 April 2010 on the European Databank for Medical Devices.
Amendment 23 #
2012/0266(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 39
Recital 39
(39) For high-risk medical devices, manufacturers should summarise the main safety and performance aspects of the device and the outcome of the clinical evaluation in a document that should be publicly available and easily accessible.
Amendment 24 #
2012/0266(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 40
Recital 40
(40) The proper functioning of notified bodies is crucial for ensuring a high level of health and safety protection andfor health professionals, users and operators, particularly in the waste disposal chain, and for ensuring citizens'’ confidence in the system. Designation and monitoring of notified bodies by the Member States, in accordance with detailed and strict criteria, should therefore be subject to controls at Union level.
Amendment 25 #
2012/0266(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 52
Recital 52
(52) In order to better protect the health and safety of health professionals, patients, users and operators, particularly in the waste disposal chain, regarding devices on the market, the vigilance system for medical devices should be made more effective by creating a central portal at Union level for reporting serious incidents and field safety corrective actions.
Amendment 26 #
2012/0266(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 53
Recital 53
(53) Healthcare professionals and patients should be empowered to report suspected serious incidents at national level using harmonised formats. The national competent authorities shouldmust inform manufacturers and share the information with their peers when they confirm that a serious incident has occurred in order to minimise recurrence of those incidents and enable information about them to be disseminated to the countries to which medical equipment is donated or exported.
Amendment 33 #
2012/0266(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point 47
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point 47
(47) ‘field safety notice’ means the communication sent by the manufacturer to users, waste disposal operators or customers in relation to a field safety corrective action;
Amendment 59 #
2012/0266(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex 1 – part II – point 10 – point 10.3 – paragraph 1
Annex 1 – part II – point 10 – point 10.3 – paragraph 1
In the case of biological substances other than those referred to in Sections 10.1. and 10.2., the processing, preservation, testing and handling of those substances shall be carried out so as to provide optimal safety for patients, users and, where applicable, other persons, particularly in the waste disposal chain. In particular, safety with regard to viruses and other transmissible agents shall be addressed by implementation of validated methods of elimination or inactivation in the course of the manufacturing process.
Amendment 33 #
2012/0245(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) Volunteering in humanitarian aid could help maintain young people active, contribute to their personal development and intercultural awareness, and improve their competences and employability in global economy. It would, thus, contribute to the ‘Youth Opportunities Initiative’18 and to a range of other key objectives of the Union such as social inclusion, employment, active citizenship, education, and skills development19 as well as in upholding volunteering as a concrete expression of European solidarity with people affected by crises, thus promoting the Union's values and principles.
Amendment 36 #
2012/0245(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1
This Regulation establishes a European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps (hereinafter referred to as ‘the EU Aid Volunteers’' initiative') as a framework for joint contributions from European volunteers in humanitarian aid operations of the Union.
Amendment 39 #
2012/0245(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 4
Article 4 – paragraph 4
4. The EU Aid Volunteers' initiative shall promote common activities and participation of volunteers from different countries and foster joint projects and transnational partnerships between implementing organisations as referred to in Article 10.
Amendment 43 #
2012/0245(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1
Article 6 – paragraph 1
1. In implementing the Regulation, coherence shall be ensured with other areas of Union's external action and with other relevant Union policies. Particular attention shall be given to ensure smooth transition between relief, rehabilitation and development and synergies with the Union Civil protection Mechanism.
Amendment 44 #
2012/0245(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 2
Article 6 – paragraph 2
2. The Commission and the Member States shall cooperate to improve the consistency and coherence between relevant national volunteering schemes and the actions of the EU Aid Volunteers' initiative. The Commission should make use of the existing European networks, which are efficient.
Amendment 47 #
2012/0245(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
1. The EU Aid Volunteers' initiative shall pursue the following operational objectives:
Amendment 51 #
2012/0245(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Chapter 2 – title
Chapter 2 – title
ACTIONS OFof THE EU AID VOLUNTEERS' initiative
Amendment 52 #
2012/0245(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – title
Article 8 – title
Actions of the EU Aid Volunteers' initiative
Amendment 53 #
2012/0245(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
The EU Aid Volunteers' initiative shall pursue the objectives referred to in Articles 3 and 7 through the following types of actions:
Amendment 57 #
2012/0245(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 1
Article 12 – paragraph 1
1. The Commission shall establish a training programme in order to prepare the candidate volunteers for undertaking humanitarian activities and for deployment in humanitarian aid operations, notably by providing necessary background information on the Union's role and values regarding humanitarian issues.
Amendment 61 #
2012/0245(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 5 a (new)
Article 12 – paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. If the training programme is longer than 3 months, the candidate volunteer should receive a monthly grant to cover the costs of accommodation at the place of training, including during the time of the apprenticeship if no gratification is foreseen.
Amendment 63 #
2012/0245(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 14 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Prior to their deployment, the EU aid volunteers shall receive additional training specifically tailored to the needs and special situation of the country to which they are sent.
Amendment 65 #
2012/0245(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 4 a (new)
Article 14 – paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. On the basis of a certificate issued by the Commission, the actual time of the EU aid volunteering period shall be counted in the length of professional experience when the contract between the sending and hosting organisations is longer than six months. For contracts shorter than six months, the experience gained as an EU Aid Volunteer can be recognised as a traineeship, on the basis of a certificate issued by the Commission.
Amendment 68 #
2012/0245(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 3
Article 16 – paragraph 3
3. The Network shall also provide and promote opportunities for on-line volunteering to complement and reinforce the activities of the EU Aid Volunteers. The Commission should use existing European networks, which are efficient, such as the EURES network. The EURES network could be useful as, after six months of experience volunteers might want to use their humanitarian aid experience.
Amendment 1 #
2012/0238(NLE)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
The Committee on Development calls on the Committee on Fisheries, as the committee responsible, to propose that Parliament decline to give its consent until such time as democratic elections have taken place in Madagascar. The Committee on Development considers that the Commission should duly take into account the following points during the implementation of the protocol: (a) the holding of free and the democratic order has been reinstatedelections in May 2013; (b) the desire expressed by the future candidates to put an end to the corruption problems.
Amendment 145 #
2012/0061(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 16
Recital 16
(16) In order to ensure the correct application of, and to monitor compliance with, the substantive rules on the terms and conditions of employment to be respected with regard to posted workers, Member States should apply only certain control measures or administrative formalities toimpose on undertakings posting workers for the provision of services. Such measures and requirements ma any conly be imposed provided that the competent authorities cannot carry out their supervisory task effectively without the requested information and the necessary information cannot be obtained easily from the employer of posted workers or the authorities in the Member State of establishment of the service provider within a reasonable delay and/or less restrictive measures would not ensure that the objectives of the national controls measures deemed necessary are attainedtrol measures or administrative formalities which are regarded as appropriate and necessary.
Amendment 146 #
2012/0061(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 16
Recital 16
(16) In order to ensure the correct application of, and to monitor compliance with, the substantive rules on the terms and conditions of employment to be respected with regard to posted workers, Member States should apply only certaina given level of harmonisation of the control measures or administrative formalities to undertakings posting workers for the provisshould be guaranteed. Beyond that minimum requirement, Member States should be free to take any measures they deem appropriate to monitor compliance with the conditions governing the work of undertakings which are service providers on their territory and the terms and conditions of services. Suchemployment of posted workers. These control measures and requirements may only be imposed provided that the competent authorities cannot carry out their supervisory task effectively without the requested information and the necessary information cannot be obtained easily from the employer of posted workers or the authorities in the Member State of establishment of the service provider within a reasonable delay and/or less restrictive measures would not ensure that the objectives of the national controls measures deemed necessary are attained.
Amendment 147 #
2012/0061(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 16
Recital 16
(16) In order to ensure the correct application of, and to monitor compliance with, the substantive rules on the terms and conditions of employment to be respected with regard to posted workers, Member States should apply only certainany control measures or administrative formalities to undertakings posting workers for the provision of services deemed to be effective and necessary for that purpose. Such measures and requirements may only be imposed provided that the competent authorities cannot carry out their supervisory task effectively without the requested information and the necessary information cannot be obtained easily from the employer of posted workers or the authorities in the Member State of establishment of the service provider within a reasonable delay and/or less restrictive measures would not ensure that the objectives of the national controls measures deemed necessary are attained.
Amendment 176 #
2012/0061(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 24
Recital 24
(24) In view of the prevalence of subcontracting in the constructiocertain sectors, and in order to protect posted workers' rights, it is necessary to ensure that in such sector at least the contractor of which the employer is a direct subcontractor can be held liable to pay to posted workers the net minimum rates of pay due, any back- payments of outstanding remuneration and/or contributions due to common funds or institutions of social partners regulated by law or collective agreement in so far as these are covered by Article 3 (1) of Directive 96/71/EC in addition to or in place of the employer. The contractor shall not be held liable if he/she has undertaken due diligence. The latter may imply preventive measures concerning proof provided by the subcontractor, including where relevant based upon information emanating from national authorities.
Amendment 177 #
2012/0061(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 24
Recital 24
(24) In view of the increasing prevalence of subcontracting in the construction sectortext of cross-border service provision, and in order to protect posted workers' rights, it is necessary to ensure that in such sector at least the contractor of which the employer is a direct subcontractor can be held liable to pay to posted workers the net minimum rates of pay due, any back- payments of outstanding remuneration and/or contributions due to common funds or institutions of social partners regulated by law or collective agreement in so far as these are covered by Article 3 (1) of Directive 96/71/EC in addition to or in place of the employer. The contractor shall not be held liable if he/she has undertaken due diligence. The latter may imply preventive measures concerning proof provided by the subcontractor, including where relevant based upon information emanating from national authorities.
Amendment 185 #
2012/0061(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 25
Recital 25
Amendment 200 #
2012/0061(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 26 a (new)
Recital 26 a (new)
(26a) Public and private end-clients also have a duty of care and a role to play in ensuring that the rights of posted workers are upheld where those workers are directly employed by the contractor. The joint and several liability instrument established for contractors whose posted workers are employed by the subcontractor should apply in the same way to clients whose posted workers are employed by the contractor, since it may be that workers posted by that contractor are in the same situation as workers employed by an undertaking established in the Member State of establishment of the client with regard to the possibility to claim outstanding pay or refunds of taxes or social security contributions unduly withheld. These arrangements should not apply, however, to private individuals, who are not in a position to carry out the same checks as business end-clients.
Amendment 244 #
2012/0061(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point c a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point c a (new)
(ca)´posted´ worker means a worker who, for a limited period of time, carries out his work in the territory of a Member State other than the State in which he normally lives and usually works for his employer in the context of service provision;
Amendment 248 #
2012/0061(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – title
Article 3 – title
Amendment 273 #
2012/0061(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point a
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point a
(a) the place where the undertaking has its registered office and administration, uses office space, pays taxes and social security, has a professional licence or is registered with the chambers of commerce or professional bodies,
Amendment 298 #
2012/0061(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point e
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point e
(e) the abnormally limited number of contracts performed and/or size of turnover realised in the Member State of establishment.
Amendment 402 #
2012/0061(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 a (new)
Article 3 a (new)
Article 3a If the criteria laid down in paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article are not met, all the laws, rules and collective agreements of the host Member State shall apply to the workers concerned.
Amendment 416 #
2012/0061(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. The Commission and the Member States shall financially support joint initiatives of the relevant social partners, at the European and national level, to set up joint instruments which are aimed to inform undertakings and workers on the applicable terms and conditions to be respected according to Directive 96/71/EC.
Amendment 435 #
2012/0061(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point c
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point c
(c) make the information available to workers and service providers in languages other than the national language(s) of the country in which the services are provided, if possible in summarised leaflet form indicating the main labour conditions applicable and upon requests in formats accessible to persons with disabilities, and specifying the competent authority which the posted worker may apply to in cases of non-compliance with the relevant legislation;
Amendment 441 #
2012/0061(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point e
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point e
(e) indicate, if possible, a contact person at the liaison office in charge of dealing with requests for information; and makes sure that all necessary information is made available for the posting company and posted workers;
Amendment 449 #
2012/0061(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 4
Article 5 – paragraph 4
4. Where, in accordance with national law, traditions and practices, the terms and conditions of employment referred to in Article 3 of Directive 96/71/EC are laid down in collective agreements in accordance with article 3 paragraph 1 and 8 of that Directive, Member States should ensure that the social partners shall identify these and make the relevant information, in particular concerning the different minimum rates of pay andservice providers from other Member States and posted workers are informed of these rules in an accessible and transparent way, and may, to that end, involve the social partners. The information shall specify their constituent elements of the minimum rate of pay, the method used to calculate the remuneration due and the qualifying criteria for classification in the different wage categories, , available in an accessible and transparent way for service providers from other Member States and posted workers.
Amendment 468 #
2012/0061(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 6 – paragraph 2
Article 6 – paragraph 2
2. The cooperation of the Member States shall in particular consist in replying without delay to reasoned requests for information and to carry out checks, inspections and investigations from competent authorities with respect to the situations of posting referred to in Article 1 (3) of Directive 96/71/EC, including investigation of any abuses of applicable rules on the posting of workers or possible cases of unlawful transnational activities.
Amendment 486 #
2012/0061(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 6 – paragraph 5 a (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. The Commission and the Member States shall provide financial support for joint initiatives taken by the social partners concerned, at European and national levels, with a view to establishing joint arrangements for informing undertakings and workers of the terms and conditions with which they need to comply under Directive 96/71/EC.
Amendment 524 #
2012/0061(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
1. Member States may onlyshall at least impose the following administrative requirements and control measures:
Amendment 526 #
2012/0061(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
1. Member States may onlyshall at least impose the following administrative requirements and control measures:
Amendment 527 #
2012/0061(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
1. Member States may only imposeshall impose at least the following administrative requirements and control measures:
Amendment 545 #
2012/0061(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) an obligation for a service provider established in another Member State to make a simple declaration to the responsible national competent authorities at the latest atbefore the commencement of the service provision, whereby the declaration may only covershall cover at least: (i) the identity of the service provider, the presence of one or more clearly identifiable posted workers, their anticipated number,(ii) the anticipated number of and particulars for each of the posted workers, (iii) the anticipated duration and location of twheir presence, andre the service is to be provided, and (iv) the services justifying the posting;
Amendment 550 #
2012/0061(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) an obligation for a service provider established in another Member State to make a simple declaration to the responsible national competent authorities at the latest atbefore the commencement of the service provision, whereby the declaration may only covershall cover at least the identity of the service provider, the presence of one or more clearly identifiable posted workers, their anticipated number, theanticipated number of clearly and individually identifiable posted workers, the designated contact person, the beginning, anticipated duration and location of their presencewhere the service is to be provided, and the services justifying the posting;
Amendment 561 #
2012/0061(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) an obligation to keep or make available and/or retain copies in paper or electronic form, during the period of posting, of the employment contract (or an equivalent document within the meaning of Directive 91/533, including, where appropriate or relevant, the additional information referred to in Article 4 of that Directive), payslips, time-sheets and proof of payment of wages or copies of equivalent documents during the period of posting, forms providing information on the membership to a social security network in the country of origin or the full contact details of the social security body to which the posted workers are affiliated during their stay in the host member country (Regulations 883/2004 EC and 987/2009 EC), certificate of fitness for work issued by a qualified Occupational Health Service from the country of origin, in an accessible and clearly identified place in its territory, such as the workplace or the building site, or for mobile workers in the transport sector the operations base or the vehicle with which the service is provided;
Amendment 563 #
2012/0061(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) an obligation to keep or make available and/or retain copies in paper or electronic form of the employment contract (or an equivalent document within the meaning of Directive 91/533, including, where appropriate or relevant, the additional information referred to in Article 4 of that Directive), A1 forms, work and residence permits of third country nationals, payslips, time-sheets and proof of payment of wages or copies of equivalent documents during the period of posting in an accessible and clearly identified place in its territory, such as the workplace or the building site, or for mobile workers in the transport sector the operations base or the vehicle with which the service is provided;
Amendment 572 #
2012/0061(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point c
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point c
(c) a translation of the documents referred to under (b), may be justified provided these documents are not excessively long and standardised forms are generally used for such documents in one of the official languages of the host State;
Amendment 594 #
2012/0061(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point d
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point d
(d) an obligation to designate a contact person who can be contacted by the competent authorities of the Member State and who is authorised to negotiate, if necessary, on behalf of the employer with the relevant social partners in the Member State to which the posting takes place, in accordance with national legislation and practice, during the period in which the services are provided.
Amendment 601 #
2012/0061(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 9 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Member States shall be free to lay down administrative requirements and control measures over and above those under points (b) and (c) provided that those requirements and measures are consistent with the Union’s principles of proportionality and necessity and on the understanding that Member States inform service providers of the new provisions in a precise, clear and accessible way;
Amendment 609 #
2012/0061(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 3
Article 9 – paragraph 3
3. Within three years after the date referred to in Article 20, the necessity and appropriateness of the application of national control measures shall be reviewed by the European Commission in the light of the experiences with and effectiveness of the system for cooperation and exchange of information, the development of more uniform, standardised documents, the establishment of common principles or standards for inspections in the field of the posting of workers as well as technological developments, with a view to assessing the necessity and feasibility of an EU-wide digital prior notification system and to proposing, where appropriate, any necessary amendments or modifications.
Amendment 610 #
2012/0061(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 3
Article 9 – paragraph 3
3. Within three years after the date referred to in Article 20, the necessity and appropriateness of the application of national control measures shall be reviewed in the light of the experiences with and effectiveness of the system for cooperation and exchange of information, the development of more uniform, standardised documents, the establishment of common principles or standards for inspections in the field of the posting of workers as well as technological developments, with a view to proposing, where appropriate, any necessary amendments or modifications.
Amendment 621 #
2012/0061(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 10 – paragraph 1
Article 10 – paragraph 1
1. Member States shall ensure that appropriateffective checks and monitoring mechanisms are put in place and that effective and adequate inspections are carried out on their territory in order to control and monitor compliance with the provisions and rules laid down in Directive 96/71/EC and to guarantee its proper application and enforcement. Such inspections shall be based primarily on a risk assessment to be drawn up regularly by the competent authorities. The risk assessment shall identify the sectors of activity in which the employment of workers posted for the provision of services is concentrated on their territory. When making such risk assessment the realisation of big infrastructural projects, the special problems and needs of specific sectors, the past record of infringement, as well as the vulnerability of certain groups of workers shall be taken into account.
Amendment 625 #
2012/0061(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 10 – paragraph 1
Article 10 – paragraph 1
1. Member States shall ensure that appropriate checks and monitoring mechanisms are put in place and that effective and adequate inspections are carried out on their territory in order to control and monitor compliance with the provisions and rules laid down in Directive 96/71/EC and to guarantee its proper application and enforcement. Such inspections shall be based primarily on a risk assessment to be drawn up regularly by the competent authorities. The risk assessment shall identify the sectors of activity in which the employment of workers posted for the provision of services is concentrated on their territory. When making such risk assessment the realisation of big infrastructural projects, the special problems and needs of specific sectors, the past record of infringement, as well as the vulnerability of certain groups of workers shall be taken into account.
Amendment 628 #
2012/0061(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 10 – paragraph 1
Article 10 – paragraph 1
1. Member States shall ensure that appropriate checks and monitoring mechanisms are put in place and that effective and adequate inspections are carried out on their territory in order to control and monitor compliance with the provisions and rules laid down in Directive 96/71/EC and to guarantee its proper application and enforcement. Such inspections shallmay be based primarilyin particular on a risk assessment to be drawn up regularly by the competent authorities. The risk assessment shallmay identify the sectors of activity in which the employment of workers posted for the provision of services is concentrated on their territory. When making such risk assessment the realisation of big infrastructural projects, the special problems and needs of specific sectors, the past record of infringement, as well as the vulnerability of certain groups of workers shallmay be taken into particular account.
Amendment 709 #
2012/0061(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – introductory part
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – introductory part
1. With respect to the construction activities referred to in the Annex to Directive 96/71/EC, for all posting situations covered by Article 1(3) of Directive 96/71/EC, the Member States shall ensure on a non–discriminatory basis with regard to the protection of the equivalent rights of employees of direct subcontractors established in its territory, that the contractor of which the employer (service provider or temporary employment undertaking or placement agency) is a direct subcontractor can, in addition to or in place of the employer, be held liable by the posted worker and/or common funds or institutions of social partners for non-payment of the followMember States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that a company that is instructing another company directly with the provision of services on its behalf is held liable for its direct subcontractor regarding:
Amendment 714 #
2012/0061(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – introductory part
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – introductory part
1. With respect to the construction activities referred to in the Annex to Directive 96/71/EC, fFor all posting situations covered by Article 1(3) of Directive 96/71/EC, the Member States shall ensure on a non– discriminatory basis with regard to the protection of the equivalent rights of employees of direct subcontractors established in its territory, that the contractor of which the employer (service provider or temporary employment undertaking or placement agency) is a direct subcontractor can, in addition to or in place of the employer, be held liable by the posted worker and/or common funds or institutions of social partners for non- payment of the following:
Amendment 724 #
2012/0061(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 point a a (new)
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 point a a (new)
(aa) Any outstanding travel, board and lodging/ accommodation costs unduly withheld by the employer.
Amendment 751 #
2012/0061(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 12 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Paragraphs 1 and 2 of this article shall apply equally to the final customer, unless a private individual, vis-à-vis their contractor.
Amendment 759 #
2012/0061(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraph 3
Article 12 – paragraph 3
Amendment 778 #
2012/0061(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 13 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
Article 13 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
2. The requesting authority may, in accordance with the laws, regulations and administrative practices in force in its own Member State, request the competent authority in another Member State to recover a penalty or fine or notify a decision imposing a penalty or a fine, in so far as the relevant laws, regulations and administrative practices in force in the requested authority’s Member State allow such action for similar claims or decisions.
Amendment 816 #
2012/0061(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 18 – paragraph 2
Article 18 – paragraph 2
2. Member States may continue to apply bilateral arrangements concerning administrative cooperation between their competent authorities as regards the application and monitoring of the terms and conditions of employment applicable to posted workers referred to in Article 3 of Directive 96/71/EC, in so far as these arrangements do not adversely affect the rights and obligations of the workers and companies concerned.
Amendment 823 #
2012/0061(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 18 – paragraph 3
Article 18 – paragraph 3
3. In the context of bilateral agreements referred to in paragraph 2, competent authorities of the Member States shall use IMI as much as possible. In any event, where a competent authority in one of the Member States concerned has used IMI, it shall be used for any follow-up required and shall take precedence over the mechanism(s) foreseen in such a bilateral agreement with respect to administrative cooperation and mutual assistance.
Amendment 831 #
2012/0061(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 21 – paragraph 1
Article 21 – paragraph 1
No later than 5 years after the expiry of the deadline for transposition, the Commission shall report to the European Parliament, the Council and the European Economic and Social Committee on the implementation of this Directive, making appropriate proposals where necessary. Risk assessments drawn up regularly by the competent authorities shall be provided with the report in order to identify the sectors of activity in which employment of workers posted for the provision of services is concentrated on their territory. These risk assessments shall make it possible to produce a map, at EU level, of the special problems and needs of specific sectors, the past record of infringements, as well as the vulnerability of certain groups of workers.
Amendment 2 #
2012/0060(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 26
Recital 26
(26) In the light of the overall policy of the Union with regard to least-aimed at supporting the economic growth of developeding countries as provided for, inter alia, in Councilnd their integration in the global economy, which underpins the establishment by the Union of a generalised preference system as set out in Regulation (ECU) No 732978/200812 of 22 July 2008the European Parliament and of the Council applying a scheme of generalised tariff preferences from 1 January 2009, it is appropriate to assimilate goods and services from these countries to Union goods and serviless-developed countries benefiting from the ‘Everything but Arms’ arrangement to Union goods and services, and also goods and services originating in developing countries considered to be vulnerable due to a lack of diversification and insufficient integration in the world economy, as defined in Annexes IV and VII respectively of Regulation (EU) No 978/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council applying a scheme of generalised tariff preferences.
Amendment 5 #
2012/0060(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2
Article 4 – paragraph 2
Goods or services originating in least- developed countries listed in Annex IV to Regulation (ECU) No 732/2008978/2012 or developing countries considered to be vulnerable due to a lack of diversification and insufficient integration in the world economy, as defined in Annex VII of Regulation (EU) No 978/2012, shall be treated as covered goods and services.
Amendment 7 #
2012/0060(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 1
Article 19 – paragraph 1
Amendment 52 #
2011/2320(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Regrets that policy guidance aimed at making work more attractive does not address the quality of jobs and that too little attention is devoted to putting in place the necessary preconditions for increasing labour participation, notably of women and persons with disabilities; calls on the European Council to include guidance on decent work and efforts to support the reconciliation of work, family and private life, by means of affordable childcare provision, family-related leave and flexible working arrangements;
Amendment 81 #
2011/2320(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Considers that the EU2020 headline target for the employment rate can only be achieved if the labour market participation of vulnerable groups and women is increased significantly; believes that guidance to Member States should aim at putting in place the necessary conditions for higher employment rates among women, such as affordable child care, adequate maternity, paternity and parental leave schemes and flexibility in working hours and place of work;
Amendment 89 #
2011/2320(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Calls on the Member States to ensure that people on temporary or part-time contracts or who are self-employed have adequate social protection and access to training, to lifelong learning and that framework conditions are set to enable them to make a career; calls on the Member States to implement the framework agreements on part-time work and fixed-term employment;
Amendment 7 #
2011/2312(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Stresses that combating poverty includes combating exclusion and that rural regions with low population density or with ageing populations must cope with a decline in medical demography, which could be offset by improved accessibility to broadband technologies and the promotion of telemedicine;
Amendment 23 #
2011/2312(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Notes that there are considerable employment and social disparities both between and within regions; believes that programmes have to be tailored to regional and sub-regional needs and considers that the ESF has to continue supporting the development of local approaches in the field of employment and social and medical inclusion;
Amendment 35 #
2011/2312(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Considers it important that partnership contracts and operational programmes provide a comprehensive analysis of the disparities and development needs of territories and integrated strategies to address the specific needs of those geographical areas most affected by unemployment and, poverty and medical ‘desertification’, or of target groups at highest risk of discrimination or social exclusion, with special regard to marginalised communities;
Amendment 42 #
2011/2312(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Recalls the importance of facilitating the implementation of coordination platforms for innovative projects, having obtained excellent results in combating social and medical exclusion;
Amendment 8 #
2011/2293(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Recalls the need to encourage volunteering particularly during the European Year of Citizenship in 2013, by facilitating the mobility of volunteers and the recognition of their experience;
Amendment 51 #
2011/2293(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. ProposeSuggests the setting up of a cross-border network of voluntary organisations in the various Member States by bringing together existing voluntary organisations based on their experiences;
Amendment 56 #
2011/2293(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Calls on Member States to ensure legal certainty for volunteers so that different regimes in different Member States do not constitute barriers toencourage cross-border volunteering and also to ensure better provision of information to volunteers in connection with their rights and the regulatory and institutional arrangements pertaining in the various Member States;
Amendment 9 #
2011/2286(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 bis (new)
Paragraph 2 bis (new)
2 a. Considers that the strong Chinese presence amongst the mining and agricultural resources of many Latin American countries should convince the European Union to rapidly and effectively reinforce its sustainable development aid in the region
Amendment 13 #
2011/2286(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 bis (new)
Paragraph 4 bis (new)
4 a. Insists on the need to aid Latin American countries by putting in place a form of fiscal governance that is exempt from corruption and fraud, particularly through cooperation, technical assistance and the establishment of legal and fiscal trainings near local administrations;
Amendment 58 #
2011/2286(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 bis (new)
Paragraph 16 bis (new)
16 a. Emphasises the importance for the European Union of developing a commercial policy that is more coherent with the development policies in order to ensure that trade will also be a vector for promoting fair and equitable social standards, particularly by including social clauses respecting human rights in Partnership Agreements.
Amendment 78 #
2011/2286(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 bis (new)
Paragraph 19 bis (new)
19 a. Emphasises that the negative impacts of climate change justify increased attention from local authorities and from the European Union to the growing investments by Asian countries that are harmful to sustainable development and the ecosystem.
Amendment 92 #
2011/2286(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 bis (new)
Paragraph 23 bis (new)
23 a. Recalls that the Eurpean Union should better consider and exploit the major advantage represented by the geostrategic position of certain outermost regions of the Union located close to Latin America.
Amendment 123 #
2011/2286(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E bis (new)
Recital E bis (new)
E a. considering that China’s growing investments in Latin America, especially in deposits of raw materials and hydrocarbons and in the extensive exploitation of agricultural land for the production of biofuel, to the detriment of the environment, sustainable development and social laws.
Amendment 125 #
2011/2286(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E b (new)
Recital E b (new)
E b considering that China has become the third largest investor in Latin America and the main or even the only export market for certain products ; emphasises that although this situation may benefit the balance of trade for numerous Latin American countries in the short term, this kind of dependence poses a problem for their long-term development.
Amendment 40 #
2011/2285(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Stresses the need to take measures to promote professional and occupational development under conditions of genuine gender equality; points out that this principle forms part of the concept of corporate social responsibility which is promoted at international and national level and needs to be developed in all the EU Member States;
Amendment 72 #
2011/2285(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Calls for legal proceedings to enforce the legally binding principle of equal pay for work of equal value to be made simpler, swifter and more accessible to employees;
Amendment 15 #
2011/2192(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Calls on the Commission to offer and provide in a more systematic manner legal and financial training for local staff, with a view to optimising the management of European aid and ensuring good governance in the medium term at local authority level
Amendment 1 #
2011/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 a (new)
Citation 2 a (new)
- having regard to Article 20 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union defining the notion of citizenship;
Amendment 3 #
2011/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 3 a (new)
Citation 3 a (new)
- having regard to Article 45 of the Treaty, under which guaranteed freedom of movement for European workers entails the abolition of any discrimination based on nationality between workers of the Member States as regards employment, remuneration and other conditions of work and employment,
Amendment 7 #
2011/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 11 a (new)
Citation 11 a (new)
- having regard to the proposal of 11 August 2011 for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Year of Citizens (2013),
Amendment 8 #
2011/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 13 a (new)
Citation 13 a (new)
- having regard to the Stockholm Programme, for which the citizen is the focal point of European on freedom, security and justice, guaranteeing respect for diversity and protection for the most vulnerable,
Amendment 11 #
2011/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the Lisbon Treaty enhanced the concept ofMaastricht Treaty in 1992 introduced the concept of citizenship within the EU, conferring upon all EU citizens the basic right to move and reside freely within the EU, whereas the 1997 Amsterdam Treaty strengthened the rights associated with EU citizenship, and the rights derived therefromwhereas the Lisbon Treaty is an instrument serving citizens by virtue of the new rights which it either creates or strengthens, such as the European Citizens’ Initiative and the individual rights contained in the Charter of Fundamental Rights;
Amendment 16 #
2011/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas European citizenship is a source of rights, but also of duties;
Amendment 19 #
2011/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
B a. Whereas this demonstrates the EU's endeavour to put the citizen at the heart of its action and to work towards an area of freedom, justice and rights for all EU citizens;
Amendment 20 #
2011/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B b (new)
Recital B b (new)
B b. Whereas the right to free movement not only brings concrete benefits to EU citizens but also to the EU's overall economy;
Amendment 21 #
2011/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas, seven years after the entry into force of the FMD, too many problems still persist in relation to its implementation; whereas most complaints focus on European citizens, their right of entry, their right of residence for more than three months, the validity of residence permits, the retention of their right of residence and right of permanent residence and the rights of their family members;
Amendment 22 #
2011/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas the 25 proposals contained in the Commission’s Citizenship Report with a view to dismantling many obstacles to exercising citizenship are tangible measures for reducing needless expenditure and thus contributing to European citizens’ purchasing power, which is particularly important during times of crisis;
Amendment 24 #
2011/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas many citizens overestimate the scope ofdo not possess all information concerning their rights championed by the FMD, in particular when seeking rights for family members who are third-country nationals, and find it difficult to understand that the directive does not apply when they are resident in their own Member State, an apparent anomaly;
Amendment 25 #
2011/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Da. regretting the fact that only sixteen out of 27 Member States have amended their legislation, or announced their intention to do so, in order to apply the FMD properly;
Amendment 27 #
2011/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas the issue of thereprimand by the Commission, as the guardian of the Treaties, in connection with the planned deportation of Roma people by France in 2010 was controversiaproved useful not only from the fundamental rights perspective, but also from the standpoint of the right to free movement and that of discrimination on the grounds of nationality and racial and ethnic origin;
Amendment 30 #
2011/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas several Member States have decided to introduce or to continue applying transitional arrangements which limit Romanian and Bulgarian nationals’ access to their labour market; whereas such measures can lead to worker exploitation, illegal work and lack of access to social security benefits;
Amendment 34 #
2011/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Recital G a (new)
Ga. whereas exercising a broad range of rights conferred on citizens by Union legislation is dependent on, or fostered by, the free movement or voluntary mobility of workers; whereas, accordingly, making free movement easier can make citizens more able to make the most of the single market while providing a basic driver of growth;
Amendment 35 #
2011/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G b (new)
Recital G b (new)
Gb. whereas the right to move and reside freely within the territory of the Member States cannot make for a better understanding of the values of European integration unless it is accompanied by specific measures taken by the Union and the Member States in terms of information, training, recognition of qualifications, and worker mobility (seasonal, cross-border and posted workers and workers transferred as a result of head office relocations, etc.);
Amendment 38 #
2011/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas a large number of petitions revealed problems in the field of accessing social security benefits, mainly involving a lack of cooperation on the part of national authorities, incorrect application of the principle of aggregation of benefits payable in several Member States, failure to provide correct information on the applicable rules or cumbersome administration of cases;
Amendment 42 #
2011/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I a (new)
Recital I a (new)
Ia. whereas, under the Bologna Process, generally accepted diplomas for completion of university studies are being awarded as a step towards more straightforward recognition of qualifications;
Amendment 44 #
2011/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital K
Recital K
K. whereas discrimination on the grounds of nationality whas been vigorously denounced by petitioners in the case of; whereas the German Youth Welfare Office (Jugendamt), which - according to the petitions received – discriminates against the non-German spouse in mixed marriages contributes in some cases, because of its operational independence, to the difficulties encountered by foreign divorced parents wishing to leave German territory with their children;
Amendment 47 #
2011/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital K a (new)
Recital K a (new)
Ka. whereas all European citizens brought before the courts of a Member State have right of access, for their defence, to documents translated into their mother tongue, in order to prevent any discrimination based on language, and whereas, in particular, all citizens must be kept informed about any court proceedings against them, the entire process taking place within a judicially acceptable time frame;
Amendment 64 #
2011/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Considers that the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI), which will apply from 1 April 2012, constitutes the first instrument of transnational participatory democracy and will give citizens the possibility to become more actively involved in the framing of European policies and legislation; calls for the effective implementation of the ECI Regulation, and, in particular, calls on the EU institutions and Member States to take an active role in informing citizens about this new instrument; considers moreover that the Committee on Petitions, by reason of its experience of direct contacts with citizens, should hold public hearings for organisers of European citizens’ initiatives, provided for in Article 11 of the Regulation, whether or not they have obtained the required number of signatures;
Amendment 70 #
2011/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls on the Commission, when preparing its annual report on the application of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, to focus not only on the application of the Charter, but also on all EU Treaty articles relating to fundamental rights and on the situation of fundamental rights in the European Union; calls on the Commission to include in that report more detailed information on the implementation of the Charter by Member States when applying European law and on the issues raised with it by citizens, how it dealt with them and what concrete follow- up measures it took;
Amendment 77 #
2011/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. While recognising the right to information as one of the cornerstones of democracy, considers thatalls for more transparency so as to allow greater access to information on investigations and infringement files could be provided by the Commission without jeopardising the purpose of the investigations and that an overriding public interest might well justify access to these files, particularly in cases where fundamental rights, human health and the protection of the environment against irreversible damage may be at stakewithout the decision- taking process being adversely affected by the disclosure of internal documents;
Amendment 82 #
2011/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Calls onEncourages the Commission to continue its current efforts to ensure that Member States transpose and implement the FMD correctly, making full use of its power to launch infringement proceedings; calls on Member States to remove existing legal and practical barriers to the free movement of citizens and not to introduce cumbersome, unjustified administrative procedures restricting the application of that right; calls on the Commission, further, to step up its efforts to raise awareness about citizens’ right to free movement and to assist them in exercising it, in particular when it is denied or limited; in this context, calls on the Commission to submit an assessment of free-movement policies in 2013 and to propose specific ways and means of supporting the application of freedom of movement, particularly at local level;
Amendment 87 #
2011/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Calls on those Member States which have decided to introduce or to continue applying transitional arrangements restricting access by Romanian and Bulgarian nationals to their labour markets1 to revise their decisions by the end of 2011ach a rapid solution so that the employment rights associated with European citizenship are no longer restricted for Romanian and Bulgarian citizens;
Amendment 97 #
2011/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Repeats its previous calls to the Member States to ensure freedom of movement for all EU citizens and their families, without discrimination on grounds of their sexual orientation or nationality2; repeats its call to Member States to implement fully the rights granted under Articles 2 and 3 of Directive 2004/38/EC not only to different- sex spouses, but also to the registered partner, member of the household or partner with whom an EU citizen has a duly attested, stable relationship, including members of same-sex couples, on the basis of the principles of mutual recognition, equality, non-discrimination, dignity and respect for private and family life; in that connection, calls on the Commission to ensure that the directive is strictly applied, drawing on the analysis and conclusions contained in the reports of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, and to monitor these issues; supports the Commission’s action to facilitate the free circulation of official civil status documents by 2013;
Amendment 105 #
2011/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Calls on the Commission to pay more attention and respond more precisely to the numerous petitions received on the mutual recognition of civil-status documents and of their effects1 and therefore highlights the importance of making progress as quickly as possible towards ensuring the mutual recognition of the status of same-sex marriages andofficial documents relating to the status of same-sex and different-sex recognisemarriages and partnerships across the EU and overcoming discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation or type of relationship (civil partnership or marriage); calls on the Commission, further, to put forward appropriate legislative proposals as a matter of urgency regarding the mutual recognition of all types of official documents;
Amendment 110 #
2011/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Highlights the fact that mass expulsions represent a breach of the FMD, in addition to contravening the basic values and principles underpinning the European Union; rRecalls that, under the FMD, restrictions on freedom of movement and residence on grounds of public policy or public security can be imposed exclusively on the basis of personal conduct, without any discrimination on grounds such as ethnic or national origin, and that lack of economic means cannot be used as the justification for the automatic expulsion of EU citizens (Recital 16, Article 14);
Amendment 114 #
2011/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Urges Member States to abolish policies that discriminate, either directly or indirectly, against the Roma and other minority groups on the grounds of race and ethnicity, and calls on them to stop all instances of persecution, eviction and expulsion; calls on all Member States and the EU to take joint responsibility for promoting the integration of Roma, in keeping with the European Parliament resolution of 9 March 2011 on the EU strategy on Roma inclusion1 and ‘An EU Framework for National Roma Integration Strategies up to 2020’2, and to promote and protect their fundamental rights;
Amendment 119 #
2011/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Calls on the Commission to link social inclusion priorities to a clear set of objectives that include protection of citizens, and minorities in particular, against discrimination in all areas of life and the promotion of social dialogue between Roma and non-Roma people in order to combat racism and xenophobia; calls on the Commission, as guardian of the Treaties, to ensure that the relevant legislation is implemented in full and that appropriate penalties are imposed for racially or sexually motivated crimes3;
Amendment 123 #
2011/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Points out that, although right of free movement and residence is firmly established in Union primary law and well developed in secondary law, the rules continue to be applied unsatisfactorily, negatively impacting on citizens who wish to exercise their rights; points out that Member States should work together to eliminate any remaining administrative and legal obstacles brought to their attention by European institutions and the Committee on Petitions; points out that a special effort should be made to meet the wishes of low-skilled workers and workers with disabilities for professional mobility, exchanges and training; points out that one response could be, for example, to establish an Erasmus programme for people with disabilities;
Amendment 125 #
2011/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)
Paragraph 14 b (new)
14b. Considers that the convergence of European tax and social security rules and the harmonisation of national social security schemes are viable solutions for dealing with the difficulties in relation to coordination between Member States on the detailed procedures within their own systems; takes the view that, as a result, national, regional and local authorities would encounter fewer difficulties in applying the rules and that procedures would be simplified for European citizens;
Amendment 127 #
2011/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 c (new)
Paragraph 14 c (new)
14c. Takes the view that the patient's right to information is fundamental; notes therefore with concern that many citizens are poorly informed about procedures for reimbursement of medical expenses incurred abroad, too often taking the view that a particular medical treatment which is free in their home country will inevitably be free abroad, in particular on the basis of the European health insurance card;
Amendment 128 #
2011/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 d (new)
Paragraph 14 d (new)
14d. Supports the introduction of an electronic system for information exchange, in connection with social security data, between Member States in order to speed up procedures for registration and payment of benefits, but also to combat social security fraud;
Amendment 130 #
2011/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Considers that a modernised Recognition of Qualifications Directive should focus on streamlining the sources of information currently available to professionals and ensure coordination with the ‘Your Europe’ portal;
Amendment 132 #
2011/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Proposes that the Commission make citizens aware of the risks inherent in illegal work, and of the advantages associated with obtaining legal work (tax, social security, right to professional training, right to citizenship, right to housing, right to family reunification, access to education and training for children), through existing tools (EURES, etc.);
Amendment 133 #
2011/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 b (new)
Paragraph 18 b (new)
18b. Proposes that a specific and very regularly updated internet portal be set up to allow national, regional and local authorities to flag up the sectors of the economy looking for manpower, in order to facilitate voluntary mobility;
Amendment 135 #
2011/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Recalls that one of the oldest outstanding petitions concerns the discriminatory treatment that foreign- language lecturers (‘lettori’) have been suffering in several Italian universities1; calls on the Commission to investigate further the current so-called ‘Gelmini reform’, which entered into force in December 2010; calls on the Italian authorities and the respective universities to resolve this case as a matter of urgency; considers, however, that this is not an isolated case and therefore the Member States’ ombudsmen could meet in order to exchange views on the solutions to be introduced in Europe;
Amendment 136 #
2011/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Recalls that Regulation (EC) No 2201/20033 lays down the principle that children should be able to maintain their relationships with both parents after the latter have separated, even if they live in different Member States; points out that, although the introduction and application of substantive rules on access rights is currently a Member State matter, the Member States must respect Union law when exercising their powers, in particular the Treaty provisions concerning the freedom of all EU citizens to travel and reside in another Member State4 as well as maintaining ties between parents and children, grandparents and grandchildren, and brothers and sisters; adds that the occasionally lengthy waiting periods and the number of procedures constraining parents who wish to return to their home country with their child/children are a barrier to the free movement of European citizens;
Amendment 139 #
2011/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Points out that any state intending to modify a child’s civil-status documents recognised in a Member State of the Union must inform the Member State in question of its intention to do so, so that documents such as birth certificates cannot be modified in such a way as to erase the origin of the child's identity;
Amendment 141 #
2011/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 b (new)
Paragraph 20 b (new)
20b. Points out that any Union citizen recognised as the parent of a child born in or out of wedlock must be informed, in the event of separation, about his or her scope for redress, in order to obtain visiting rights, except in cases where, by common agreement between the parents’ and child’s home countries, it has been established that that would place the child at genuine risk;
Amendment 142 #
2011/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 c (new)
Paragraph 20 c (new)
20c. Calls for the appointment of an ombudsman or, at the very least, a children’s ombudsman in every Member State who would have sufficient powers to access any documents and review court decisions, with the aim of reconciling the claims and legal difficulties of parents who are separating, in order to prevent them from opting for unlawful conduct so as to enforce what they regard as their right and that of their children; adds that any citizen may bring a matter before the ombudsman in their home country or in the country where, in his or her opinion, his or her rights have not been respected;
Amendment 143 #
2011/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 d (new)
Paragraph 20 d (new)
20d. Calls - in the interests of equality between European citizens as to choice of divorce law - on the Member States which have not done so to ratify the Council Decision of 12 July 2010 authorising enhanced cooperation in the area of the law applicable to divorce and legal separation; calls moreover on the Commission to promote this new instrument during European Year of Citizenship, given that, as the number of transnational marriages increases, the number of transnational divorces will inevitably increase too;
Amendment 144 #
2011/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 e (new)
Paragraph 20 e (new)
20e. Takes the view that redress must be available at least at local, national or European level to any citizen who considers that his or her rights have been flouted, so as to defend those rights;
Amendment 149 #
2011/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Recalls thea key priority in the Committee on Petitions: to find a solution to the longstanding property concerns, particularly in the field of real property, in countries such as Spain, Cyprus and Bulgaria; points out that EU citizens, both nationals and non-nationals, have had a number of serious problems with property transactions and bank guarantees and the violation of property rights, which has contributed to a lack of confidence in the cross-border property market and to Europe’s economic problems; on the basis of the conclusions reached by a number of property law experts and members of the Committee on Petitions, calls for the EU’s consumer-protection and free movement principles to be extended to cover property, and reiterates its callcalls accordingly for the right to legitimateally acquired property to be fully respected;
Amendment 153 #
2011/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Acknowledges that the continuing reduction in voter turnout at the European elections constitutes a challenge for Europe; calls therefore on the European institutions and Member States to step up their efforts to provide useful and specific information to citizens on their electoral rights, for both European and local elections in the Member State in which they are resident, and to promote the exercise of their rights; welcomes the Commission’s willingness to simplify the procedure that allows European citizens to stand for election in European and local elections in their country of residence and to carry out the technical groundwork to improve mechanisms for preventing double voting and loss of voting rights; proposes accordingly that a European electoral roll be established for European elections;
Amendment 154 #
2011/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 b (new)
Paragraph 22 b (new)
22b. Supports the action taken by the Commission with a view to publishing the results of European Parliament elections at the same time in each Member State;
Amendment 155 #
2011/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 c (new)
Paragraph 22 c (new)
22c. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to initiate a dialogue in order to prevent European citizens from losing their voting rights as a result of exercising their right to free movement; calls accordingly on the Commission to organise a hearing on the issue, together with Parliament, the conclusions of which could be published for the European Year of Citizenship in 2013;
Amendment 156 #
2011/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 d (new)
Paragraph 22 d (new)
22d. Proposes that becoming a member of a European political party could be suggested more often, when a national party is joined, as a way of promoting citizens’ political involvement in Europe;
Amendment 157 #
2011/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 e (new)
Paragraph 22 e (new)
22e. Proposes that the Commission conduct a survey to determine how European citizens wish to be informed about the Union’s activities so as to meet their expectations more directly;
Amendment 158 #
2011/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 f (new)
Paragraph 22 f (new)
22f. Proposes that the Commission launch a Union-level competition in 2012 to design a logo for the European Year of Citizenship;
Amendment 159 #
2011/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 g (new)
Paragraph 22 g (new)
22g. Calls on the Commission to make European territory more closely networked with regard to information on Union activities by increasing the number of grassroots information outlets for citizens;
Amendment 162 #
2011/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23a. Points out that, as information is the core component of any action, citizens should be better informed about their rights as passengers, consumers, workers, tourists, etc.; is of the view, moreover, that citizens who know for certain that they are protected will help more to marshal the full potential of the European market for goods and services and will benefit more from it; calls therefore for the European institutions to inform citizens about the resources provided to protect and help them in the face of threats or situations where, as individuals, they are powerless, making sure to convey that information to what are termed minority groups or groups living below the poverty line, which are not disposed to seeking out such information;
Amendment 163 #
2011/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 b (new)
Paragraph 23 b (new)
23b Suggests that host Member States make support available to Union citizens who are newly resident in their country so that they can exercise their social rights (social security, access to healthcare, access to education) and their electoral rights (local, European and trade union elections);
Amendment 164 #
2011/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 c (new)
Paragraph 23 c (new)
23c. Regards cross-border workers as the first to suffer as a result of Member States’ administrative red tape; points out that, in addition to better information about their social and professional rights, cross-border workers must have easier access to trade union membership so that they can be better protected; believes moreover that information on the advantages linked to mobility may be a crucial support for efforts to combat the brain drain facing the EU;
Amendment 165 #
2011/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 d (new)
Paragraph 23 d (new)
23d. Calls on Parliament and the European Council to ensure that the Member States have sufficient budget funds to ensure that the European Year of Citizens in 2013 and the resulting activities, particularly media-related, proceed well if the objectives set are to be attained;
Amendment 166 #
2011/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Encourages the Commission to make the European Citizens’’ Initiative a central feature of its agenda in 2013; encourages the Commission to cooperate with the Committee on Petitions in drafting a new citizenship report in 2013;
Amendment 168 #
2011/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24a. Believes that the European Union should communicate more regularly via television, which is an important vehicle for information; therefore welcomes the additional budget funds allocated to Euronews;
Amendment 169 #
2011/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24 a. Welcomes the Commission's recent proposal to strengthen the EU citizens' protection by the diplomatic or consular authorities of any Member State, notably by clarifying when a citizen is considered not represented and specifying the type of assistance Member States typically provide in cases of need;
Amendment 170 #
2011/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 b (new)
Paragraph 24 b (new)
24 b. Encourages the Commission to produce information material, such as a "EU Citizens' Right Decalogue", outlining in clear and simple terms EU citizens' rights; considers that this leaflet should be readily available and serve as a handbook for all citizens moving, working, studying, shopping, travelling and exercising their political rights across borders;
Amendment 173 #
2011/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Welcomes the Commission’s proposal to declare 2013 as the ‘European Year of Citizens’, which would mark 20 years since the introduction of the ‘EU citizenship’ concept and would enhance awareness of the rights attaching to Union citizenship; calls on the Commission to use this opportunity to strengthen its efforts to protect and promote citizens’ rights, particularly in connection with the next Citizenship Report;
Amendment 174 #
2011/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25a. Deplores the lack of coordination between Member States, resulting in double taxation of European citizens because of their experience or residence in a country other than their country of origin; calls, in the absence of pension taxation harmonisation, for at least regular cooperation between Member States on these questions, as well as for the establishment of a centralised authority for double-taxation complaints involving Member States; underlines the fact that bilateral agreements between Member States are long-established and no longer reflect workers’ movements and the new needs of the citizens concerned;
Amendment 176 #
2011/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25a. Notes the lack of information for consumers in the case of on-line purchases in other Member States, which impedes trade; believes that information intended for consumers is sometimes complex and that simplification, particularly of labels, is required;
Amendment 177 #
2011/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 b (new)
Paragraph 25 b (new)
25b. Believes that every European citizen has the right to free access to information that is unbiased and of high quality; views with the utmost concern the establishment of media oversight authorities too closely linked to government;
Amendment 178 #
2011/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 c (new)
Paragraph 25 c (new)
25c. Calls on the Member States to become more heavily involved in establishing an intensive information flow and targeted coverage of the European institutions’ activities; adds that Union- level action complements and supplements national action in pursuit of that objective, as is underscored in the political declaration ‘Communicating Europe in Partnership’, signed on 22 October 2008 by Parliament, the Council and the Commission;
Amendment 179 #
2011/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 d (new)
Paragraph 25 d (new)
25d. Believes that European citizens do not enjoy the same opportunities in terms of access to healthcare, particularly owing to the disparity in the number of doctors per inhabitant; suggests therefore the introduction of a directive on telemedicine, which is an effective, low- cost solution that can easily be implemented throughout Europe in order to overcome the infrastructure-related differences in European health policy;
Amendment 180 #
2011/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 e (new)
Paragraph 25 e (new)
25e. Notes that opening a bank account is subject to residence conditions; stresses, however, that newcomers who do not yet have an address can open a bank account by simply presenting a document committing a proprietor and the prospective tenant to sign a lease;
Amendment 181 #
2011/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 f (new)
Paragraph 25 f (new)
25f. Deplores the lack of transparency in the rates offered by banks and insurance companies in Europe; notes with concern the development of on-line banks, which poses an additional difficulty for citizens with no access to a natural person; condemns on-line investment arrangements in connection with which consumer citizens are not clearly informed about the possibility of losing their investments;
Amendment 182 #
2011/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 g (new)
Paragraph 25 g (new)
25g. Calls for the volume of documents for which, for court proceedings, a certified translation is required to be reduced to an absolute minimum, in order not to delay the defence for a citizen and to prevent excessive legal costs from being incurred;
Amendment 183 #
2011/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 h (new)
Paragraph 25 h (new)
25h. Calls for the Commission, which supports European town twinning, not to move exclusively towards awarding assistance for twinning schemes involving the new Member States or non- member countries, but, rather, calls for older twinning arrangements to continue to receive European assistance so that their continued existence in the longer term, now under threat, is ensured;
Amendment 185 #
2011/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)
Paragraph 26 a (new)
26a. Calls for any European citizen claiming to be a victim of overzealous treatment or an abuse of a dominant position by the administrative or police authorities of another Member State to be able to easily approach the national or local authority responsible for complaints against those bodies;
Amendment 186 #
2011/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 b (new)
Paragraph 26 b (new)
26b. Congratulates the Commission on setting up the e-Justice portal, providing a compendium of legal procedures and arrangements in the Member States;
Amendment 187 #
2011/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 c (new)
Paragraph 26 c (new)
26c. Notes the disparities between the Member States with regard to mobile telephony and Internet accounts; emphasises that reductions in roaming charges have come about solely as a result of European legislation; calls accordingly for the publication of cost prices in each Member State for SMS, MMS, calls by minute and Internet connections in order to promote the establishment of European flat rates, allowing a reduction in mobility costs;
Amendment 188 #
2011/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 d (new)
Paragraph 26 d (new)
26d. Condemns tie-in sales practices; calls for the European Year of Citizens also to be an opportunity to show citizens the measures that have protected them as consumers and have helped to maintain their purchasing power at times of crisis;
Amendment 17 #
2011/2157(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Stresses that European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) should focus on economic and social reforms with employment at the centre and labour standards as pre- requisites for financial support; these measures should help to reduce social dumping and, as a consequence, prevent distortions of competition;
Amendment 20 #
2011/2157(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Stresses that ENP should tackle urgent labour-market issues such as supply- demand mismatches, informal employment and gender imbalances-based inequality with the expertise and collaboration of the EU and the international organisations that deal with reforming labour markets and developing social policies;
Amendment 32 #
2011/2157(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses the importance of job creationcreating jobs that are adapted to the training of the jobless and appropriate to economic needs, but recalls the need to cope effectively with illegal migration of the jobless;
Amendment 64 #
2011/2157(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Requires the Commission to effectively monitor the results of its actions and financing through impact studies.
Amendment 28 #
2011/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
Ea. whereas the lack of a regular timetable for workers in occupations involving night work often causes difficulties which can lead to occupational diseases;
Amendment 76 #
2011/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. RDeplores the accelerating growth of conditions and accidents caused by psychosocial problems among workers; regrets the unequal application across the EU of the Framework Agreement on Work-related Stress and calls on the Commission to present a legislative proposal on work-related stress;
Amendment 150 #
2011/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Hopes that employees will be given the option of transferring to another post when they believe their working conditions to constitute a hazard to their health or safety (and considers that, to that end, the degree of harmfulness should be measured according to predetermined indicators or criteria);
Amendment 174 #
2011/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Calls on the Commission to propose a directive18 protecting people who legitimately draw atthe status of 'whistleblowers' and, more generally, protenction to and invesng early warnings and expert opinions. Individuals who legitigmately warn of unacknowledged risks in an enterprise should be protected in order to prevent any pressure being exerted on them (threats of dismissal, etc.);
Amendment 177 #
2011/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24a. Points out that it is important, first and foremost, for a clear definition to be given to occupational accidents and diseases, including accidents during travel (from home to the workplace), in addition to work-related stress, which should be able to be measured in accordance with specific indicators;
Amendment 178 #
2011/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 b (new)
Paragraph 24 b (new)
24b. Is of the view that the stress often caused by workplace bullying is a factor which increases musculoskeletal disorders and psycho-social risks and these factors should be the subject of an in-depth study on the part of the Commission;
Amendment 179 #
2011/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 c (new)
Paragraph 24 c (new)
24c. Takes the view that at each stage of the decision-making process regarding sick leave and accidents at work, close consultations should take place between the human resources department and the occupational medicine department in order to make risk prevention more effective in the long term;
Amendment 180 #
2011/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 d (new)
Paragraph 24 d (new)
24d. Considers that in order to prevent the risk of long-term illness, strict compliance with legislation on sick leave and maternity leave should be ensured, since pressure exerted by employers during this period can lead to an extension of such leave;
Amendment 188 #
2011/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Stresses that migrants19, the young, old, women of child-bearing age, the disabled and, low-skilled workers and casual workers are particularly at- risk categories20;
Amendment 207 #
2011/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Considers that excessive working hours and insufficient rest periods, ares well as the disproportionate output required, are a major factors in the increased level of occupational accidents and diseases; hopes that the opt-out provisions applicable to Directive 2003/88/EC will be removed; stresses that these provisions violate the fundamental principles of OSH;
Amendment 242 #
2011/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 a (new)
Paragraph 36 a (new)
36a. Calls for administrative and legal redress proceedings relating to the recognition of work-related accidents and diseases to be facilitated and speeded up, provision being made for amicable settlement;
Amendment 16 #
2011/2106(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Notes with satisfaction the sustained reduction in critical remarks (33 in 2010, 35 in 2009, 44 in 2008 and 55 in 2007) issued by the Ombudsman; concurs that this is evidence that the EU institutions are taking a more pro-active role in resolving complaints and that the Ombudsman’s effectiveness has earned him a degree of legitimacy in the eyes of those institutions;
Amendment 17 #
2011/2106(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Notes that the average time required for completing inquiries seems to have stabilised at 9 months in 2009 and 2010; calls for this timeframe to be reduced by means of closer cooperation among all stakeholders;
Amendment 21 #
2011/2106(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Notes that in 2010 the Ombudsman submitted one special report, which concerned the Commission’s refusal to disclose documents and to co-operate with the Ombudsman in a sincere mannerpirit of complete transparency; recalls that the Committee on Petitions’ report3 on the special report was adopted by Parliament on 27 October 2010; recalls that in the adopted resolution the Commission was urged to give an undertaking to the European Parliament that it would fulfil its duty of sincere cooperation with the European Ombudsman;
Amendment 22 #
2011/2106(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Calls for the launch of an information campaign designed to reassure the staff of the EU institutions as to the Ombudsman’s willingness to listen and discuss issues, and to highlight the advantages of intervention by the Ombudsman with a view to bringing the administrations of the EU institutions closer to EU citizens;
Amendment 25 #
2011/2106(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Encourages the Ombudsman to continue to insist on the fundamental right of access to documents, a citizen-friendly culture of service and a pro-active attitude of the EU’s institutions, agencies and bodies with regard to putting documents into the public domain; proposes, therefore, that examples of effective intervention by the Ombudsman be publicised among EU citizens in order to counter their negative image of the EU administration, which is often regarded as cumbersome and ineffective;
Amendment 29 #
2011/2106(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Proposes that this statement of public service principles be disseminated as widely as possible and made easily accessible to EU citizens, so as to reassure them of the EU’s commitment to protecting public services, which are a feature of their day-to-day lives;
Amendment 3 #
2011/2088(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Stresses that the percentage of early school leavers in the EU currently stands at 14.4% and that 17.4% of these have only completed primary school; notes that the above figures must be considered in the light of the fact that the labour market and Europe’s level of competitiveness will both tend to favour holders of higher education qualifications;
Amendment 26 #
2011/2088(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Considers that the Commission should present to the committee in a year’s time a survey, assessment and evaluation of national reform programmes; calls for the assessment to be based on the specific national, regional, and local features of early school leaving;
Amendment 36 #
2011/2088(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Urges the Member States to carry out an analysis of the problem of early school leaving, while taking due account of data protection, and to develop appropriate packages of measures for prevention, intervention and compensation, including specialised establishments or school support services for recognised disabilities;
Amendment 50 #
2011/2088(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Advocates flexible, needs-based forms of learning at schools and stresses that this challenge must be addressed in particular by primary schools and in the early years of secondary schooling; takes the view that teaching staff should be qualified for this purpose; considers that every pupil is entitled to personalised monitoring and guidance and, where necessary, should have access to a school psychologist and psychological follow-up;
Amendment 56 #
2011/2088(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Calls for actors outside school to set up networks so as to enable schools to support pupils more effectively and tackle the problems that put children in difficulty;
Amendment 67 #
2011/2088(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Notes that pupils’ personal situations, e.g. gender, low level of education in the family or a migrant background, must be taken into account, and that these pupils must be given targeted encouragement from the outset; stresses that Roma children and children with no identity papers must be enabled to attend schoolfrom disadvantaged populations must receive help to enable them to attend school (administrative and financial aid, subsidised transport) and cope with homework;
Amendment 81 #
2011/2088(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Advocates desegregation policies to change the social make-up of ‘disadvantaged’ schools and improve the educational attainment of children from socially disadvantaged and low-education backgrounds;
Amendment 82 #
2011/2088(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Supports forms of positive discrimination such as priority education zones and programmes providing targeted support for schools in disadvantaged areas;
Amendment 93 #
2011/2088(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Urges that special individual careers advice be given to early school leavers to facilitate their entry into the world of work, and that they should be enabled by means of specially tailored measures to obtain skills and qualifications later and benefit from retraining opportunities and course equivalence arrangements;
Amendment 124 #
2011/2088(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Amendment 3 #
2011/2072(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Stresses that offshore oil and gas production involves extremely high risks for worker health and safety, owing to the at times extreme environmental conditions, the 12-hour shift patterns and the isolated working environment, and considers that working conditions should be regulated, in particular in view of the human errors they may cause; therefore recommends that workers could benefit of a system of insurance as well as a mutual insurance company in adequacy to the risks occurred;
Amendment 28 #
2011/2072(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Wishes that a particular and regular medical follow-up care for patients should be provided for the workers exercising their activities within the offshore oil and gas sector; recommends that a medical visit regarding the physical and psychological state of the workers should be organised at least once a year;
Amendment 30 #
2011/2072(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7b. Wishes that a permanent observation of the risks based on a systematical collect of information and scientific opinions should be realised, this would allow to anticipate the new and coming-up risks;
Amendment 32 #
2011/2072(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 c (new)
Paragraph 7 c (new)
7c. Wishes that a mechanism of evaluation of the risks incurred by the workers be approved and that this evaluation should be taken into consideration for the calculation of the remuneration of the workers.
Amendment 8 #
2011/2071(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph C
Paragraph C
C. whereas there is a need to ensure a strengthened interaction between employment, social and economic policies in the context of the European Semester, and whereas this has to be done in a manner fostering the democratic accountability, ownership and legitimacy of the actors involved in drawing up these policies,
Amendment 14 #
2011/2071(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Considers that Europe 2020 and the European Semester as a framework for strengthened economic and social governance have a potential to help reinforce a common approach to the challenges, the responses and the assessment of the employment and social situation in the Member States; deplores, however, the failure to involve European Parliament in this process during the first European Semester;
Amendment 19 #
2011/2071(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Calls for Parliament to be fully involved in the European Semester in order to represent citizens’ interests and to increase the legitimacy of the social policies to be conducted by the Member States;
Amendment 20 #
2011/2071(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Wishes to see the role of the national parliaments strengthened with regard to their involvement in the process of economic and social policy-making so as to demonstrate their solidarity as partners in the European Semester; considers that this would serve to increase the legitimacy of the decisions taken and would ensure that the European Parliament is not the sole representative of the interests of European citizens and that strong political signals are sent at national level;
Amendment 29 #
2011/2071(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Calls on the Council and the Commission, when providing policy guidance to Member States relating to education, employment and social affairs, macroeconomic policy and the budget, to respect the principles of subsidiarity and social dialogue in the field of wages and pensions as well and, in keeping with Article 153(5) TFEU, to respect the competences of the Member States and social partners in these areas;
Amendment 33 #
2011/2071(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Calls for the Commission and Council recommendations to focus as a priority on a social policy that promotes education and training, access to employment, reintegration of the unemployed into the labour market and improved coordination of social protection systems in the Member States;
Amendment 43 #
2011/2071(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 – introductory part
Paragraph 5 – introductory part
Amendment 44 #
2011/2071(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 – point b
Paragraph 5 – point b
b) Encourages the Employment Committee (EMCO) toransparency among European Semester stakeholders, including the Employment Committee (EMCO), so as to ensure that it will regularly share the results of its employment surveillance with the responsible committee of the European Parliament,
Amendment 46 #
2011/2071(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 – point c
Paragraph 5 – point c
c) Invites the social partners, social NGOs and other stakeholders to take part in a regular exchange of views with Parliament, in particular on the implementation of employment and social policies and on the progress towards achieving the related EU targets; requests that preparatory documents for exchanges of views be communicated in advance to the members of the appropriate parliamentary committee;
Amendment 61 #
2011/2071(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Calls on the Commission and the Council, as far as the European Semester is concerned, to devote particular attention to guideline 8 on young people’s access to education, educational guidance, and appropriate personalised lifelong training, since this will enable training of a high standard, and indeed at high levels, to be geared to future needs on the labour market.
Amendment 62 #
2011/2071(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8b. Calls on the Commission and the Council to devote particular attention to guideline 9, bearing in mind that economic recovery will be impossible unless the current unemployment rate in the EU, especially among young people, is brought down and, as regards earlier stages in life, measures are taken to prevent early school leaving.
Amendment 63 #
2011/2071(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 c (new)
Paragraph 8 c (new)
8c. Proposes, with a view to achieving an employment rate of 75% and facilitating mutually reinforced interaction of employment, social, and economic policy, that social benefits for the unemployed be limited or made subject to an obligation to carry out community service and financial incentives provided to take up a new job.
Amendment 64 #
2011/2071(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 d (new)
Paragraph 8 d (new)
8d. Calls on the Commission and the Council, when adopting economic policies, to keep the implementation of the social objectives of the Europe 2020 strategy under review, with particular reference to macroeconomic policies serving to fund a social policy to promote the integration of older people into the labour market, the guidelines to be laid down by Member States regarding a minimum common core of social protection at company level (European label), and the mobility of young workers.
Amendment 65 #
2011/2071(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 e (new)
Paragraph 8 e (new)
8e. Hopes that the European Semester will serve to implement guideline 7, especially as regards measures to stamp out undeclared work in Member States, since this would lead to a manifest gain in wealth for the EU.
Amendment 66 #
2011/2071(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 f (new)
Paragraph 8 f (new)
8f. Hopes that recommendations will be drawn up long enough in advance to have a real impact on national budgetary decisions.
Amendment 67 #
2011/2071(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 g (new)
Paragraph 8 g (new)
8g. Maintains that public sector wages should be limited if they are index linked and, above all, when the Member State concerned is running a substantial government deficit.
Amendment 68 #
2011/2071(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 h (new)
Paragraph 8 h (new)
8h. Calls on the Commission and Council to implement guideline 7 and, in particular, without infringing the subsidiarity principle, to encourage economic and social policies allowing for higher life expectancy as far as the retirement age is concerned.
Amendment 69 #
2011/2071(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 i (new)
Paragraph 8 i (new)
8i. Hopes that the European Semester, instead of focusing solely on the economic procedures and approaches specific to each Member State, will also allow for the cross-border effects of the single market and that a tax on financial transactions will be imposed within the single market as a whole; considers that such a tax would serve to correct structural macroeconomic imbalances and thus reduce the social impact of potential crises on European workers; believes that the tax would consequently act as a tax shield.
Amendment 77 #
2011/2067(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Recalls that, within the Europe 2020 strategy, Member States agreed on an employment target of 75% for the 20-64 years age group by 2020; calls on all stakeholders to intensify their efforts to make the Europe 2020 strategy a success; calls, however, on the Member States to ensure that such employment takes place in civilised, high-quality conditions;
Amendment 135 #
2011/2067(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Regrets that for many workers the reconciliation of work and family life remains a difficult task; calls on the Member States to give all parents, especially single-parent families, opportunities for integration not only into working life but also into lifelong learning processefinancial support to parents wishing to take care of their children, especially in the case of disadvantaged or disabled people, by means of appropriate allowances and/or the opportunity of leave for family reasons;
Amendment 168 #
2011/2067(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Regrets that the number of early school-leavers still remains high; calls on the Member States to implement policies to prevent early school leaving and to offer learning and training alternatives and retraining possibilities to students with learning difficulties;
Amendment 182 #
2011/2067(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Welcomes the Commission’s proposal to promote European centres of excellence within new academic specialisations for tomorrow’s jobs; and to improve the mobility of young people in this area;
Amendment 188 #
2011/2067(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Encourages Member States to integrate ICT competences, digital literacy and transversal key competences such as communication in foreign languages, as well as entrepreneurship and the accreditation of professional experience, into their vocational training and lifelong learning policies;
Amendment 196 #
2011/2067(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Encourages Member States to implement a dual system of education/training in order to introduce young people to the labour market from the earliest stage; furthermore, calls on relevant stakeholders to ensure that traineeships and apprenticeships lead to the provision of new jobs or correspond to a need, identified upstream, for local job market opportunities;
Amendment 224 #
2011/2067(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Calls on the Member States and the Commission to stimulate creation of small and medium-sized enterprises, to provide them with a regulatory friendly environment and to improve their access to finance; recalls that 85% of jobs in the EU are provided by SMEs; urges all relevant stakeholders to remove barriers to business creation and its free movement; calls on the Member States to list the barriers to recruitment, to legislate only when strictly necessary and only following an impact study, and to avoid increasing the social and fiscal pressure on businesses;
Amendment 254 #
2011/2067(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Strongly condemns undeclared work which endangers both society and workers; calls on the Member States to carry out regular checks and to initiate information campaigns in order to raise awareness of long-term disadvantages for workers employed in the black economy; calls, however, for this fight against undeclared work to be undertaken in compliance with the law and adversarial procedure. Also calls for a definition of undeclared work;
Amendment 264 #
2011/2067(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Considers that the health-care sector has a critical role to play in achieving the goals of the Europe 2020 strategy; furthermore considers that, because of demographic change, the health and social care sector is an importantrepresents a possible source of employerment, whose significance is likely to grow; calls on the Commission to initiate a study on care assistants employed in clients’ homes in order to establish whether EU legislation provides sufficient social protection for this category of workers;
Amendment 274 #
2011/2067(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Calls on states to ensure the strengthening of legal certainty for enterprises, for example by reducing the statute of limitations in the field of social disputes;
Amendment 305 #
2011/2067(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Urges the Member States to develop teleworking, i.e. all forms of distance working and all kinds of work organisation and/or execution which exist outside the classic time-space format, by means of telecommunications and the Internet, in the form of a service provision or an employment relationship; would also like employers to transfer the most secondary tasks to junior employees;
Amendment 324 #
2011/2067(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25a. Calls for special protection and adaptation of jobs for pregnant women and workers who suffer workplace accidents or illnesses;
Amendment 328 #
2011/2067(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Emphasises the importance of tackling youth unemployment as a matter of priority; calls on the Commission and Member States to continue their efforts to foster youth integration in the labour market, including the provision of incentives for young people and employers and the development of traineeships and apprenticeships; underlines in this context the crucial importance of facilitating the transition from school to work, as well as skills anticipation, upgrading and matching;
Amendment 329 #
2011/2067(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Emphasises the importance of tackling youth unemployment as a matter of priority; calls on the Commission and Member States to continue their efforts to foster youth integration in the labour market, including the provision of incentives for young people and employers and information on appropriate professional training; underlines in this context the crucial importance of facilitating the transition from school to work, as well as skills anticipation, upgrading and matching, personalised guidance and monitoring;
Amendment 340 #
2011/2067(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)
Paragraph 27 a (new)
27a. Calls on states to ensure the strengthening of legal certainty for enterprises, for example by reducing the statute of limitations in the field of social disputes;
Amendment 347 #
2011/2067(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Considers that pursuing the objective of full employment has to be complemented by strengthened efforts to improve the job quality, working and living conditions of all employees, as well as ensuring their health and safety at the workplace;
Amendment C #
2011/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Calls for regular, critical monitoring ofthe establishment of a regular, critical evaluation mechanism, involving the European Parliament, the Committee of the Regions and the European Economic and Social Committee, based on precise indicators at national and European level, by which the multiple dimensions of poverty can be evaluated and the Member States’ progress, by gender and age, towards achieving the poverty reduction target, and towards breaking this target down into sub-targets, can be measured, in view of the fact that the lack of a precise definition of poverty leaves too much leeway for the Member States, to break this target down into sub-targets; hus risking aberrant interpretations; calls on the Commission to improve national and European indicators relating to the comparability of national statistics on the poverty of vulnerable people and to promote, with Eurostat, the production of more precise statistics within a comprehensive scoreboard on poverty and social exclusion by means of which it will be possible to track the number of people below the 50% and 40% levels of median income and on this basis to conduct an annual evaluation of the situations of poverty in the EU, the statistical approach of which should be supplemented by a qualitative and participatory approach; calls on the Commission to ensure the policies implemented are beneficial to all and not just to those close to the poverty threshold;
Amendment 101 #
2011/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I a (new)
Recital I a (new)
Ia. whereas a social dimension should be included in European and international trade agreements, providing for decent working conditions and adequate social protection arrangements for poor workers, with a view to rethinking where human beings figure in such exchanges, and thus to tackling poverty more effectively,
Amendment 102 #
2011/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I b (new)
Recital I b (new)
Amendment 169 #
2011/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Calls for regular, critical monitoring of the Member States’ progress towards achieving the poverty reduction target, and for the Member States to break this target down into sub-targets; calls for the improvement of national and European indicators relating to the comparability of national statistics on the poverty of vulnerable people;
Amendment 215 #
2011/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Notes that holding down a job is a key aspect of individual citizens’ dignity. Suggests, therefore, that the investment of public funds in job creation should be regarded as a priority, with exemptions from certain aspects of tax and social policy being provided for the benefit of employers if necessary;
Amendment 265 #
2011/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Calls on the Member States to improve the protection provided for employees who are unfit to carry on working as a result of illness, an accident at work or an industrial disease, to prevent their being reduced to financial insecurity; would like to see national legislation strengthened, therefore, to make it mandatory for redeployment to be offered before employment can be terminated;
Amendment 340 #
2011/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
Amendment 20 #
2011/2048(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Amendment 64 #
2011/2048(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Advocates amending the current legal framework for public procurement to reflect the particular nature of social services;
Amendment 87 #
2011/2048(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Stresses that SMEs can be regarded as the lifeblood of the European economy and believes that easy access for SMEs to public procurement procedures is crucial for preserving jobs;
Amendment 89 #
2011/2048(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 b (new)
Paragraph 9 b (new)
9b. Calls for the costs that companies incur in tendering for a public procurement contract to be minimised, with a view to making companies more competitive and boosting employment;
Amendment 90 #
2011/2048(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 c (new)
Paragraph 9 c (new)
9c. Advocates greater flexibility and rapidity in public procurement procedures in order to enable companies to be more competitive and thus create more jobs;
Amendment 91 #
2011/2048(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 d (new)
Paragraph 9 d (new)
9d. Calls for the concept of ‘cross-border’ to be defined so that a suitable legal framework for posted workers can be established;
Amendment 2 #
2011/2046(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph B a (new)
Paragraph B a (new)
Ba. having regard to the balanced approaches adopted by the Court of Justice of the European Union towards freedom of establishment of undertakings in the cases of Daily Mail and General Trust1, Centros2, Überseering3 and Cartesio4, 1 Judgment of 27 September 1988 in Case 81/87, Daily Mail and General Trust plc, ECR 1988, p. 5483. 2 Judgment of 9 March 1999 in Case C- 212/97, Centros, ECR 1999, p. 1459. 3 Judgment of 5 November 2002 in Case C-208/00, Überseering BV, ECR 2002, p. I-9919. 4 Judgment of 16 December 2008 in Case C-210/06, Cartesio, ECR 2008, p. I-9641.
Amendment 3 #
2011/2046(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph B b (new)
Paragraph B b (new)
Bb. whereas Articles 49 and 54 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union guarantee freedom of establishment for all companies and firms; having regard, moreover, to the lack of consistency in legislation on transfers and on procedures for transferring the registered office or real head office of an existing company or firm incorporated under national law from one Member State to another, within the single market, and the associated risks in terms of employment,
Amendment 4 #
2011/2046(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
Amendment 7 #
2011/2046(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Calls for transfers of seat to maintain the continuity of the legal personality of the company or firm, in order to ensure its proper functioning;
Amendment 8 #
2011/2046(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Calls for transfers of seat to be guided by the principle of flexicurity in the interests of a more flexible market which accords better with the interests of workers and is free of obstacles but in which the rights of workers are respected and they are protected against dismissal;
Amendment 10 #
2011/2046(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Expects such a proposal to prevent abuses and fraud and to protect the interests of creditors, – particularly in the event of insolvency of a company or firm – minority shareholders and employees;
Amendment 13 #
2011/2046(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Encourages Member States to arrange for the legality of transfers to be monitored by a competent authority which in particular gives judgment on compliance with the obligations of all stakeholders;
Amendment 14 #
2011/2046(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Calls for Directive 2001/86/EC on employee participation to become the main legal basis for transfers of seat, bearing in mind the provisions of labour law;
Amendment 15 #
2011/2046(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 – introductory part
Paragraph 6 – introductory part
6. Recommendation 2: EU legislation on the transfer of the registered office of a company or firm must include the following elements in order to ensure that employees are involvedhave the right to participate, while also guaranteeing their cohesion, and retain the protection and guarantees granted to their representatives, during and after the transfer: , for reasons of efficiency and legal certainty:
Amendment 16 #
2011/2046(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 – indent 1
Paragraph 6 – indent 1
– legislative provisions on employees’ right of involvement, similar to those set out in Directive 2005/51/86/EC concerning merger the involvement of employees in European companies and European cooperative societies;
Amendment 20 #
2011/2046(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 – indent 2
Paragraph 6 – indent 2
– in addition, the management body should consult employees about the legal and economic implications of the transfer by means of a report setting out the consequences for employees, presented at least one month before the general meeting decides whether or not to approve the proposed transfer; the consultation on the report should be accessible and free of charge for all workers and their representatives;
Amendment 22 #
2011/2046(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 – indent 3
Paragraph 6 – indent 3
– the company’s rights and obligations – deriving from legislation, accepted practice and individual employment contracts or employment relationships – in respect of working conditions in the Member State of origin should continue to apply, as well as the activities of the bodies representing workers, should continue to apply during the transfer of the seat and following its registration in the host Member State;
Amendment 23 #
2011/2046(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 – indent 3 a (new)
Paragraph 6 – indent 3 a (new)
– if the transfer entails a change in the structure of the company or firm, central management should – on its own initiative or in response to a written request by a number of workers decided by the social partners – take a decision to alter the composition of the bodies representing workers;
Amendment 24 #
2011/2046(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 – indent 6
Paragraph 6 – indent 6
– the Member States should provide for effective legal remedies, with suspensive effect, for employees and their representatives so that employers can be forced to discharge their obligationscontractual or legal obligations at national and European level should they fail to do so;
Amendment 13 #
2011/2035(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 17 a (new)
Citation 17 a (new)
- having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions on the ‘Fifth Cohesion Report’, adopted on 1 April 2011,
Amendment 20 #
2011/2035(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Approves the intention of developing new macro-regional strategies and calls for steps to be taken to identify and combat regional disparities, such as in access to training, employment and education;
Amendment 24 #
2011/2035(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the cohesion and structural policies have proved flexible in crisis situations and have made a defining contribution to various national recovery and training programmes, and whereas it is important to maintain this flexibility,
Amendment 36 #
2011/2035(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses the fact that the ESF provides crucial support for employment market policies and plays an important part in boosting social inclusion, particularly for the most disadvantaged groups such as the Roma people;
Amendment 48 #
2011/2035(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
Fa. whereas, however, a significant threshold effect exists between regions with comparable levels of development but benefiting from very different levels of aid – growth regions exceeding the threshold of 75% of average per capita GDP for the EU in receipt of more financial support than stagnating regions above that threshold – and whereas this represents a real problem in terms of fairness between Europe’s regions,
Amendment 50 #
2011/2035(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas a comprehensive European cohesion policy continues to be essential, given the significant imbalances between regional economies and in social terms and the geographical disadvantages of certain regions (particularly the outermost regions), as well as specific structural problems and geographical disadvantathe need to adapt to new challenges, and it is also a requirement under the Lisbon Treaty,
Amendment 57 #
2011/2035(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Asks the Commission to improve the visibility of ESF action and to make the ESF more accessible and capable of providing more support for integration into the job market, particularly by setting upintroducing in-school guidance based on local and regional job opportunities and lifelong training to help workers adapt their skills to the needs of the job market;
Amendment 81 #
2011/2035(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Sees the achievement of European objectives in accordance with the principle of multi-level governance as one of the major advantages of cohesion policy and thus as a form of added value in itself; calls for this partnership principle to be further strengthened; and the political debates in the Council and Parliament to be further strengthened with a view to promoting transparency, accountability for all and an evaluation of the effects of cohesion policy;
Amendment 82 #
2011/2035(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Underlines that particular attention should be paid to developing innovation and the capacity to create SME and independent entrepreneur projects, which are some of the main job creators;
Amendment 87 #
2011/2035(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Emphasises that, despite the trend towards a narrowing of inter-regional disparities, major imbalances still exist – and in some Member States are actually growing – so cohesion policy must continue to concentrate on evening out differences between regions’ levels of developmentreducing disparities and implementing harmonious development for all Europe’s regions;
Amendment 92 #
2011/2035(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Recognises the special needs of regions particularly disadvantaged by virtue of their geographical situation or natural environmeor demographic situation or specific constraints; reiterates its call for special forms of preference to continue to apply in respect of those types of region, mentioned in the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, which are particularly disadvantaged (outermost regions, northernmost regions with very low population density and island, mountain and cross-border regions), and in particular the additional specific allocation granted to the outermost regions under the ERDF;
Amendment 139 #
2011/2035(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Sees macroregional strategies as affording a major opportunity to harness forms of trans-regional potential and adopt a joint approach to shared challenges stemming from the natural environment, e.g. in relation touch as environmental protection; considers that better coordination of existing support mechanisms can create scope for more targeted use of the EU structural funds;
Amendment 227 #
2011/2035(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Emphasises that the core components of the EU 2020 strategy (innovation, education and training, energy, environment, employment, competitiveness, skills and combating poverty) are already integral to the cohesion and structural policies; takes the view that the EU 2020 challenges can be integrated very easily into the system of three objectives (Convergence, Regional Competitiveness and Employment, and European Territorial Cooperation), which has proved its effectivenessarchitecture of the cohesion policy;
Amendment 260 #
2011/2035(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Calls for a dependable and appropriate phasing-out arrangement for areas formerly eligible for maximum support underthe creation of a new intermediate category for regions with per capita GDP between 75% and 90% of the EU average, in order to resolve political problems (unequal treatment of regions in spite of their similar situations) and practical problems (difficulty of managing degressive funding) linked to the current phasing-out arrangement; considers that the creation of such a category will be made possible by the fact that a large number of regions have passed the threshold of 75% of the EU average per capita GDP and will thus automatically cease to be covered by the convergence objective; stresses that this change to the architecture of the cohesion policy should neither penalise regions currently benefiting from the Cconvergence objective (convergence regions)and the competitiveness objective, nor lead to an increase in the cohesion policy budget; considers that this new category will make it possible to strengthen the justice and solidarity which are the fundamental principles of the cohesion policy;
Amendment 277 #
2011/2035(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
Amendment 293 #
2011/2035(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Takes the unequivocal view that efforts under Objective 3 (European Territorial Cooperation) need to be stepped up at all EU internal borders and at all three levels of such cooperation (cross-border, inter- regional and trans-national) and calls for the relevant share of the structural funds to be increased to 7%; calls for the allocation of funding for each territorial cooperation programme to be based on harmonised criteria in order to provide a strategic and integrated response to the needs and specificities of each geographical territory and area concerned; stresses the importance of the border regions in terms of achievement of the EU 2020 objectives; considers that there is a need for closer linkage with the TEN networkto increase the coordination of the TEN networks and their subsidies – in line with European priorities – and with cross-border infrastructure, and calls for a corresponding increase in funding for all border regions;
Amendment 310 #
2011/2035(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Calls for the ESF, as a component of cohesion policy, to continue to foster social integration, economic growth and employment; regards the ESF as the Union’s most important labour-market and employment-policy tool; attaches particular importance to developing skills and mobility, enhancing equality of opportunity between the sexes, – with priority being assigned to training which meets local needs –, enhancing equality of opportunity between the sexes and people with disabilities, integrating and socially reintegrating people who are disadvantaged and supporting SMEs and the self-employed;
Amendment 313 #
2011/2035(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Draws attention to the synergies achievable through integrated approaches, notably linking the ESF and the ERDF, and calls for the option of cross-financing between these funds – specifically with a view to integrated development planning – to be facilitated; calls, furthermore, for better synergies between the EDF and the ERDF;
Amendment 399 #
2011/2035(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
Paragraph 37
37. Calls for the funding under investment partnerships to be made conditional on the implementation of reforms by the Member State, for Member States to be called upon to implement reforms, in order to ensure that it is used efficiently in areas directly related to cohesion policy; considers it fair for such conditions to include, in particular, full implementation of existing EU legislation (e.g. on price regulation, tendering procedures, transport, the environment and health) in order to prevent irregularities and ensure effectiveness; rejects, however, the imposition of conditions requiring Member States to undertake fundamental social and economic reform;
Amendment 416 #
2011/2035(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39
Paragraph 39
Amendment 506 #
2011/2035(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 52
Paragraph 52
52. Calls on the Member States/regions to designate authorities that will assume exclusive responsibilityle for the proper administration of monies from the structural funds;
Amendment 512 #
2011/2035(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 53
Paragraph 53
Amendment 534 #
2011/2035(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 55
Paragraph 55
55. Supports the Commission’s proposal that national authorities should not receive reimbursement until the EU funding has been paid out to the beneficiaries; envisages that this will speed up payment procedures and will be a crucial incentive to carry out stringent national auditing; notes, however, that cashflow problems could potentially arise at Member State or federal-stateregional level and that appropriate hedging arrangements will have to be made;
Amendment 2 #
2011/2024(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Believes that the free movement of persons and of ever more highly skilled workers is one of the key benefits of Europea competitive and integrationed internal market;
Amendment 29 #
2011/2024(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Calls on the Commission to lay the foundations for an ambitious system for the validation of the professional skills of all workers, so that the latter can obtain full or partial certification (diploma, vocational qualification, statement of professional standing) on the basis of their professional experience following validation by a panel of their knowledge and skills;
Amendment 35 #
2011/2024(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. Calls on the Commission to establish a Community system for the validation of professional skills, taking as a model the university bachelor’s-master’s-doctorate system, in order to make the labour market more transparent for employers and more accessible for job-seekers, who would thus be able to refer to a single legal basis;
Amendment 69 #
2011/2024(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Calls for a pragmatic and effective approach to language tests, which must be approved by a competent EU body, where registration is possible without proof of language but are permitted upon an offer of employment available in the three main official languages of the European Union;
Amendment 70 #
2011/2024(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Calls for the introduction of common language tests in the European Union;
Amendment 73 #
2011/2024(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Calls for general simplification of the administrative processes involved and for a reduction of the costs at all levels includin order to facilitate and speed up the recognition of professional qualifications and, ing those incurred by professionals.is way, ensure that the free movement of persons is not hampered;
Amendment 6 #
2011/2020(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Endorses the Ombudsman’s training policy including the intention to enter the Interinstitutional Framework Contract, which allows access to a large number of courses for people linked to the institution in order to make them more efficient and to harmonise the aims of the institution;
Amendment 9 #
2011/2020(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Calls for an increase in the payment appropriations for the European Social Fund and, not least to improve the provision of facilities to assist the mobility and training of people with disabilities, and for the creation of a new category of intermediate regions;
Amendment 27 #
2011/2019(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Calls for funding to be provided for the free movement of workers and the coordination of social security systems;
Amendment 5 #
2011/2006(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Is concerned, however,Emphasises that greater harmonisation may have a negatof insolvency proceedings will promote equality, give icompact on Member States’ competitiveness and, therefore, on potential employment opportunitiesnies less reason to engage in ‘insolvency tourism’ and reduce the risk of their being placed in insolvency in one country, thus affording employees greater protection;
Amendment 8 #
2011/2006(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Emphasises that employment law is chiefly the responsibility of the Member States and that any debate surrounding but, in relation to insolvency, points out nonethe lestablishment of common rules on insolvency must not include any reference to common rules os that, in the context of increasing globalisation and indeed of the economic crisis, the harmonisation of proceedings needs to be considered from an employment -law perspective;
Amendment 9 #
2011/2006(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H a (new)
Recital H a (new)
Ha. whereas a legal framework should be established that better suits cases of companies being temporarily insolvent,
Amendment 13 #
2011/2006(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Notes with regret the increasing number of workers affected by insolvency proceedings which can be attributed to the economic crisis, and notes that systemically-relevant cross-border financial institutions play a crucial role in this area;
Amendment 20 #
2011/2006(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Takes the view that the objective of Directive 2008/94/EC has met its objective ofis to ensuringe a minimum degree of protection for employees in the event of insolvency, whilst maintaining adequate flexibility for Member States;
Amendment 20 #
2011/2006(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Annex – part 1 – point 1.1 – indent 2 a (new)
Annex – part 1 – point 1.1 – indent 2 a (new)
– all companies can start insolvency proceedings in cases where insolvency is temporary, in order to protect themselves;
Amendment 22 #
2011/2006(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Considers the overly strict definition of insolvency – particularly with regard to temporary and final insolvency – to be regrettable in cases where the creditors are employees;
Amendment 23 #
2011/2006(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Considers that the term ‘creditor’ needs to be defined in the light of Article 12(b) of Directive 2008/94/EC so as not to exclude those with a minority share in the company; calls, too, for the date on which the employer becomes insolvent to be taken into account in decisions to refuse or reduce the liability in cases where the employee, on his or her own or together with his or her close relatives, was the owner of an essential part of the employer’s undertaking or business and had a considerable influence on its activities;
Amendment 26 #
2011/2006(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Annex – part 1 – point 1.2 – indent -1 (new)
Annex – part 1 – point 1.2 – indent -1 (new)
Amendment 28 #
2011/2006(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Does not consider it necessary to set a minimum figure for the payments made by the guarantee institution at European levelConsiders it necessary to set a compensatory minimum figure for the payments made by the guarantee institution at national level, to be calculated on the basis of either the minimum wage in the country of origin of the contract of employment, or a monthly amount corresponding to the average wage paid over the last six months; considers, in any event, that the payment made by the guarantee fund must: (a) be in accordance with the principle of equality and non-discrimination; (b) exclude bonuses; (c) include social security contributions; (d) include benefits in kind; (e) be associated with provision for swift effective procedures in the event of disputes involving the guarantee institution; considers further that the concept of ‘outstanding claims’ will have to include redundancy payments which the debtor was unable to meet, that the ceiling for such payments must not be less than an amount calculated in accordance with the criteria set out above, and that it is also necessary to harmonise the timeframe for the relevant proceedings (maximum one year) and intervention by the guarantee funds to enable the payments to be made, as well as the period in which the sums in question are payable (a year prior to and a year following the opening of the proceedings, if the claim covers that period);
Amendment 28 #
2011/2006(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Annex – part 1 – point 1.4 – indent 2 a (new)
Annex – part 1 – point 1.4 – indent 2 a (new)
– when main insolvency proceedings are opened, the liquidator should be empowered for a period of six months to decide on the protection of assets with retroactive effect in cases where companies have moved capital;
Amendment 29 #
2011/2006(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Annex – part 1 – point 1.4 – indent 2 b (new)
Annex – part 1 – point 1.4 – indent 2 b (new)
– the liquidator must be empowered to use appropriate priority procedures to recover monies owing to companies, in advance of settlement with creditors and as an alternative to transfers of claims;
Amendment 31 #
2011/2006(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Highlights the changing nature of employment contracts across the EU and the diversity of such contracts within Member States; considers it counterproductivurrently impossible, therefore, to seek to define ‘employee’ at European level;
Amendment 35 #
2011/2006(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Notes that the Member States are competent to define ‘remuneration’ and ‘pay’, provided that they adhere to the general principles of equality and non- discrimination. between workers, with the result that any situation of insolvency potentially prejudicial to the latter should be taken into account for purposes of compensating them in accordance with the social objective of Directive 2008/94/EC and with threshold levels of compensation to be determined;
Amendment 36 #
2011/2006(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Annex – part 2 – point 2.4 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Annex – part 2 – point 2.4 – paragraph 1 a (new)
In the event of main and secondary insolvency proceedings being opened, it calls for the timeframes for these procedures to be harmonised and shortened.
Amendment 39 #
2011/2006(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Calls for the transfer of information between the authorities responsible for managing business and company registers in all the Member States to be made compulsory, with a view to protecting employees’ rights;
Amendment 39 #
2011/2006(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Annex – part 4 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Annex – part 4 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Prior to the creation of an EU insolvency register, transfer of information between the authorities responsible for managing business and company registers in all the Member States should be made compulsory in order to afford creditors legal certainty.
Amendment 43 #
2011/2006(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 b (new)
Paragraph 9 b (new)
9b. Calls on the guarantee institutions to act as guarantors in the case of insolvency proceedings opened in situations arising exclusively from delays experienced by company in relation to payments or debt collection;
Amendment 44 #
2011/2006(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 c (new)
Paragraph 9 c (new)
9c. Demands that, when main insolvency proceedings are opened against an employer which is in debt, the liquidator be empowered for a period of six months to declare assets to be protected with retroactive effect in cases where companies have moved capital; also wants liquidators to be empowered to use appropriate priority procedures for the recovery of monies owing to companies, in advancer of settlement with creditors and as an alternative to transfers of claims;
Amendment 45 #
2011/2006(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 d (new)
Paragraph 9 d (new)
9d. Considers that the concept of ‘abuse’ needs to be defined in accordance with the case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union as ‘any abusive practice that is prejudicial to a guarantee institution inasmuch as it artificially creates a pay claim and thus unlawfully triggers a liability for the institution’, having regard to the date on which an employer becomes insolvent;
Amendment 46 #
2011/2006(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 e (new)
Paragraph 9 e (new)
9e. Calls for the timeframes for main and secondary proceedings to be harmonised and shortened in order to protect paid employees and afford them legal certainty;
Amendment 47 #
2011/2006(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 f (new)
Paragraph 9 f (new)
9f. Calls for the dates for determining outstanding claims to be fixed on the basis that the date of the decision on the application to open insolvency proceedings is the date on which an employer becomes insolvent;
Amendment 48 #
2011/2006(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 g (new)
Paragraph 9 g (new)
9g. Calls for the degree of harmonisation of insolvency proceedings to be not less than that provided for in Regulation No 1346/2000 and Directive 2008/94/EC;
Amendment 89 #
2011/0438(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 5 a (new)
Recital 5 a (new)
(5a) Under Article 9 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, requirements linked to the guarantee of adequate social protection and the fight against social exclusion should be taken into account when defining and implementing Union policies and activities, especially to promote a high level of employment. This directive specifies how contracting authorities can help promote social criteria and improve employees’ rights in accordance with case-law and European and international legislation whist ensuring that they can obtain the best social value for money for their contracts.
Amendment 91 #
2011/0438(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) Other categories of services continue by their very nature to have a limited cross- border dimension, namely what are known as services to the person, such as certain social, health and educational services. These services are provided within a particular context that varies widely amongst Member States, due to different cultural traditions. A specific regime should therefore be established for public contracts for these services, with a higher threshold of EUR 500 000. Services to the person with values below this threshold will typically not be of interest to providers from other Member States, unless there are concrete indications to the contrary, such as Union financing for trans-border projects. Contracts for services to the person above this threshold should be subject to Union-wide transparency. Given the importance of the cultural context and the sensitivity of these services, Member States should be given wide discretion to organise the choice of the service providers in the way they consider most appropriate. The rules of this directive take account of that imperative, imposing only observance of basic principles of transparency and equal treatment and making sure that contracting authorities are able to apply specific quality criteria for the choice of service providers, such as the criteria set out in the voluntary European Quality Framework for Social Services of the European Union's Social Protection Committee and particularly criteria relating to social and employment conditions, health and safety at the workplace, social security and working conditions. Member States and/or public authorities remain free to provide these services themselves or to organise social services in a way that does not entail the conclusion of public contracts, for example through the mere financing of such services or by granting licences or authorisations to all economic operators meeting the conditions established beforehand by the contracting authority, without any limits or quotas, provided such a system ensures sufficient advertising and complies with the principles of transparency and non-discrimination.
Amendment 94 #
2011/0438(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 15
Recital 15
(15) There is a widespread need for additional flexibility and in particular for wider access to a procurement procedure providing for negotiations, as is explicitly foreseen in the Agreement, where negotiation is allowed in all procedures. Contracting authorities should, unless otherwise provided in the legislation of the Member State concerned, be able to use a competitive procedure with negotiation as provided for in this Directive, in various situations where open or restricted procedures without negotiations are not likely to lead to satisfactory procurement outcomes. This procedure should be accompanied by adequate safeguards ensuring observance of the principles of equal treatment and transparency. This will give greater leeway to contracting authorities to buy works, supplies and services which are perfectly adapted to their specific needs and meet demanding requirements relating to social and employment conditions, health and safety at the workplace, social security and working conditions. At the same time, it should also increase cross-border trade, as the evaluation has shown that contracts awarded by negotiated procedure with prior publication have a particularly high success rate of cross-border tenders.
Amendment 104 #
2011/0438(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 36 a (new)
Recital 36 a (new)
(36a) Contracting authorities should be able to make it a requirement that measures to improve social protection are implemented during the performance of a public procurement contract. It should be possible to call for a description of measures taken by the economic operator to ensure a high level of social protection in the form of reporting or voluntary membership of a social label.
Amendment 105 #
2011/0438(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 37
Recital 37
(37) Contracts should be awarded on the basis of objective criteria that ensure compliance with the principles of transparency, non-discrimination and, equal treatment and the conscientious application of social standards. These criteria should guarantee that tenders are assessed in conditions of effective competition, also where contracting authorities require high-quality works, supplies and services that are optimally suited to their needs, for instance where the chosen award criteria include factors linked to the production process. As a result, contracting authorities should be allowed to adopt as award criteria either ‘the most economically advantageous tender’ or ‘the lowest cost’, added to that of basic respect for national, European and international social standards, taking into account that in the latter case they are free to set adequate quality standards by using technical specifications or contract performance conditions.
Amendment 257 #
2011/0438(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 41 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point c
Article 41 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point c
(c) the labels are established in an open and transparent procedure in which all stakeholders, including government bodies, consumers, manufacturers, distributors, social partners and environmental organisations, may participate,;
Amendment 271 #
2011/0438(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 55 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 55 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Any economic operator shall be automatically excluded from participation in a contract where the contracting authority is aware of any violation of obligations established by Union legislation in the field of social and labour law or environmental law or of the international social and environmental law provisions listed in Annex XI, including in the supply chain; if the supply chain is wholly or partly located in third countries, the contracting authority may exclude any economic operator if it is aware of any violation of the international social and environmental law provisions listed in Annex XI.
Amendment 273 #
2011/0438(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 55 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 – point a
Article 55 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 – point a
Amendment 295 #
2011/0438(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 66 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – introductory part
Article 66 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – introductory part
Without prejudice to national laws, regulations or administrative provisions concerning the remuneration of certain services, and basic respect for social standards, the criteria on which contracting authorities shall base the award of public contracts shall be one of the following:
Amendment 302 #
2011/0438(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 66 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point b a (new)
Article 66 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point b a (new)
(ba) innovative social criteria.
Amendment 304 #
2011/0438(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 66 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
Article 66 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
2. The most economically advantageous tender referred to in point (a) of paragraph 1 from the point of view of the contracting authority shall be identified on the basis of criteria linked to the subject-matter of the public contract in question. Those criteria shall include, in addition to the price or costs referred to in point (b) of paragraph 1 and basic respect for social standards, other criteria linked to the subject-matter of the public contract in question, such as:
Amendment 25 #
2011/0435(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) Directive 2005/36/EC only applies to professionals who want to pursue the same profession in another Member State. There are cases where the activities concerned are part of a profession with a larger scope of activities in the host Member State. If the differences between the fields of activity are so large that in reality a full programme of education and training is required from the professional to compensate for shortcomings and if the professional so requests, a host Member State should under these particular circumstances grant partial access. However, in case of overriding reasons of general interest, such as in the case of a doctor of medicine or, other health professionals or notaries, a Member State should be able to refuse partial access.
Amendment 26 #
2011/0435(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 7
Recital 7
Amendment 33 #
2011/0435(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 9
Recital 9
(9) Applications for recognition from professionals coming from non-regulating Member States have to be treated in the same way as those of professionals coming from a regulating Member State. Their qualifications have to be compared to the qualifications requested in the host Member State on the basis of the qualification levels and objective criteria in Directive 2005/36/EC. In case of substantial differences the competent authority should be able to impose compensation measures.
Amendment 55 #
2011/0435(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Directive 2005/36/EC
Article 2 – paragraph 1
Article 2 – paragraph 1
1. This Directive shall apply to all nationals of a Member State wishing to pursue a regulated profession or a remunerated traineeship in a Member State, including those belonging to the liberal professions,, including those belonging to the liberal professions, wishing to pursue a regulated profession – other than those professions which necessarily require a delegation of public authority – or a remunerated traineeship in a Member State other than that in which they obtained their professional qualifications, on either a self-employed or employed basis.
Amendment 91 #
2011/0435(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 5
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 5
Directive 2005/36/EC
Article 4f – paragraph 2
Article 4f – paragraph 2
2. Partial access may be rejected if such rejection is justified by an overriding reason of general interest, such as patient safety, consumer protection or public health, it would secure the attainment of the objective pursued and it would not go beyond what is strictly necessary.
Amendment 95 #
2011/0435(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6 – point a
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6 – point a
Directive 2005/36/EC
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) where the service provider moves, if he has pursued that profession in one or several Member States for at least two years during the last 10 years preceding the provision of services when the profession is not regulated in the Member State of establishment. The condition requiring two years' pursuit shall not apply when either the profession or the education and training leading to the profession is regulated.
Amendment 96 #
2011/0435(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6 – point a
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6 – point a
Directive 2005/36/EC
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point b – subparagraph 2
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point b – subparagraph 2
Amendment 102 #
2011/0435(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6 – point b
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6 – point b
Directive 2005/36/EC
Article 5 – paragraph 4
Article 5 – paragraph 4
Amendment 106 #
2011/0435(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 7 – point a – point ii
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 7 – point a – point ii
Directive 2005/36/EC
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point f
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point f
f) (f) in the case of evidence of formal qualifications referred to in Article 21 (1) and in the case of certificates of acquired rights referred to in Articles 23, 26, 27, 30, 33, 33a, 37, 39, and 43, evidence attesting sufficient knowledge of the language of the host Member State.
Amendment 127 #
2011/0435(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 12 – point c
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 12 – point c
Directive 2005/36/EC
Article 14 – paragraph 3
Article 14 – paragraph 3
Amendment 155 #
2011/0435(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 38
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 38
Directive 2005/36/EC
Article 53 – paragraphe 2 – subparagraph 1
Article 53 – paragraphe 2 – subparagraph 1
A Member State shall ensure that any controls of the knowledge of a language are carried out by a competent authority afterbefore the decisions referred to in Articles 4d, 7(4) and 51(3) have been taken and if there is a serious and concrete doubt about the professional's sufficient language knowledge in respect of the professional activities this person intends to pursue.
Amendment 162 #
2011/0435(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 38
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 38
Directive 2005/36/EC
Article 53 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
Article 53 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
In the case of professions with patient safety implications, Member States may confer ton the competent authorities the right to carry out language checking covering all professionals concerned in the course of the procedure for the recognition of professional qualifications, if it is expressly requested by the national health care system, or in the case of self- employed professionals not affiliated to the nationals health care system, by representative national patient organisations.
Amendment 15 #
2011/0412(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9
Recital 9
(9) The task of building and sustaining a culture of human rights and good financial, social, administrative and fiscal governance, and making democracy work for citizens, though especially urgent and difficult in emerging democracies, is essentially a continuous challenge, belonging first and foremost to the people of the country concerned but without diminishing the commitment of the international community. It also requires a range of institutions, in particular national democratic parliaments that should ensure participation, representation, responsiveness and accountability.
Amendment 17 #
2011/0412(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) Furthermore, whilst democracy and human rights objectives must be increasingly mainstreamed in all external assistance financing instruments, Union assistance under this Regulation will have a specific complementary and additional role by virtue of its global nature and its independence of action from the consent of third country governments and other public authorities. This will allow for cooperation with civil society on sensitive human rights and democracy issues possible, applying good financial, social, administrative and fiscal governance principles, thus providing the flexibility to respond to changing circumstances. It should also provide Union capacity to articulate and support specific objectives and measures at international level which are neither geographically linked nor crisis related and which may require a transnational approach or involve operations both within the Union and in a range of third countries. Moreover, it will provide the necessary framework for operations, such as support for independent European Union election observation missions requiring policy coherence, a unified management system and common operating standards.
Amendment 19 #
2011/0412(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 2 – point b
Article 1 – paragraph 2 – point b
(b) supporting and consolidating democratic reforms in third countries, by enhancing participatory and representative democracy, and applying good financial, social, administrative and fiscal governance principles, thus strengthening the overall democratic cycle, and improving the reliability of electoral processes, in particular by means of election observation missions.
Amendment 22 #
2011/0412(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point a – point iv
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point a – point iv
(iv) supporting reforms to achieve effective and transparent democratic accountability and oversight, including that of the security and justice sectors, and encouraging measures against corruption, in particular good financial and fiscal governance;
Amendment 23 #
2011/0412(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point a – point v
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point a – point v
(v) promoting political pluralism and democratic political representation, and encouraging political participation by citizens, in particular women and marginalised groups, in democratic reform processes at local, regional and national level;
Amendment 26 #
2011/0412(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point b – point vi
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point b – point vi
(vi) the rights of women as proclaimed in the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and its Optional Protocols, particularly access to education and healthcare and the right to decide freely and independently about their bodies, including measures to combat female genital mutilation, forced marriages, crimes of honour, trafficking, and any other form of violence against women;
Amendment 27 #
2011/0412(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point c – point ii a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point c – point ii a (new)
(iia) providing legal and tax-related training for local stakeholders with a view to establishing good-governance mechanisms that prevent corruption.
Amendment 12 #
2011/0411(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 2 – point a
Article 1 – paragraph 2 – point a
(a) implementing the international dimension of the “‘Europe 2020”’ strategy by supporting Union’'s bilateral, regional and inter-regional cooperation partnership strategies, by promoting policy dialogues and by developing collective approaches andprinciples of good governance and collective responses to challenges of global concern such as the promotion of social cohesion, energy security, climate change and environment. This objective shall be measured by the uptake of the “Europe 2020” policies and objectives by key partner countries;
Amendment 18 #
2011/0411(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 2 – point b
Article 1 – paragraph 2 – point b
(b) improving market access and developing trade, investment and business opportunities for European companies by means of economic partnerships and by business and legal and taxation regulatory cooperation. This objective shall be measured by the Union’s share in foreign trade with key partner countries and by trade and investments flows to partner countries specifically targeted by actions, programmes and measures under this Regulation;
Amendment 19 #
2011/0411(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 2 – point c
Article 1 – paragraph 2 – point c
(c) enhancing widespread understanding and visibility of the Union and its role on the world scene by means of public diplomacy, education/academic cooperation, training in the principles of good administrative and tax governance for local players and outreach activities to promote the Union’s values and interests. This objective may be measured, inter alia, by opinion surveys or evaluations.
Amendment 22 #
2011/0411(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1
Article 2 – paragraph 1
(1) All third countries, regions and territories associated with the Union may be eligible for cooperation under this Regulation.
Amendment 23 #
2011/0411(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2
Article 3 – paragraph 2
(2) To enhance the impact of the Union’s assistance, a differentiated and flexible approach shall be pursued, where appropriate, in designing cooperation with partner countries to take account of their economic, social and political contexts, the requirement for good administrative and tax governance, as and also of the Union’s specific interests, policy priorities and strategies.
Amendment 28 #
2011/0411(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9
Recital 9
(9) Notwithstanding the specific focus on global players, the scope of this Regulation should be worldwide enabling to support cooperation measures with developing countries where the Union has significant interests in accordance with the objectives of this Regulation. Consideration ought therefore to be given to the overseas countries and territories associated with the Union throughout the world, in order in particular to enhance knowledge and understanding of the Union and improve its visibility in third countries.
Amendment 30 #
2011/0411(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) In particular,Eradicating poverty and fighting climate change isare recognised as one of thebeing the two great challenges which the Union faces and the areas where urgent international action is necessary. In accordance with the intent stated in the Commission Communication “A budget for Europe 2020” of increasing the climate related proportion of the Union budget to at least 20%, this Regulation should inter alia contribute to that goal.
Amendment 31 #
2011/0411(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) The Union is committed to helping to meet the global 2020 biodiversity targets and to deliver on the associated Strategy for resource mobilisation and their sustainable integrated management.
Amendment 32 #
2011/0411(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) Under this Regulation, the Union should support the implementation of the “Europe 2020” strategy, in particular objectives relating to poverty eradication, climate change, the transition to a greener economy and resource efficiencyefficient use of natural resources, trade and investment, business and regulatory cooperation with third countries, and should promote public diplomacy, good financial and tax governance, education/academic cooperation and outreach activities, notably in regard to access to healthcare for women and children.
Amendment 34 #
2011/0411(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16
Recital 16
(16) In order to achieve the objectives of this Regulation it is necessary to pursue a differentiated and flexible approach by developing models for cooperation with key partner countries and principles of good governance which prevent corruption and which take into account their economic, social and political contexts and also the Union’s specific interests, policy priorities and strategies, whilst maintaining the ability to intervene all over the world wherever needed.
Amendment 29 #
2011/0397(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 17
Recital 17
(17) Ambiguity exists as to whether Member States may require the takeover of staff upon a change of provider for groundhandling services to which access is limited. Discontinuity of staff can have a detrimental effect on the quality of groundhandling services. It is therefore appropriateessential to clarify the rules on the takeover of staff beyond the application of Directive 2001/23/EC on transfers of undertakings, in consultation with the social partners, enabling Member States to ensure adequate employment and working conditions.
Amendment 36 #
2011/0397(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 28
Recital 28
(28) In a labour-intensive sector such as groundhandling, continuous staff development and training have a strong impact on service quality. Minimum training requirements, harmonised at a European level, should therefore be set to ensure the quality of operations in terms of reliability, resilience, safety and security, and to create a level playing field among operators.
Amendment 39 #
2011/0397(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 31
Recital 31
(31) Member States should retain the power tomust ensure an adequate level of social protection for the staff of undertaking providing groundhandling services. In the absence of adequate social protection, accreditation may be suspended, withdrawn or withheld.
Amendment 76 #
2011/0397(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 34 – paragraph 1
Article 34 – paragraph 1
1. Suppliers of groundhandling services and self-handling airport users shall ensumust require that all their employees involved in the provision of groundhandling services, including managing staff and supervisors, regularly attend specific and recurrent training, harmonised at European level, to enable them to perform those tasks assigned to them
Amendment 84 #
2011/0397(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 34 – paragraph 2
Article 34 – paragraph 2
2. Every employee involved in the provision of groundhandling services shallmust attend at least two days of theoretical and practical training relevant for the tasks assigned to the employee. Every employee shall attend the relevant training when taking up a new job or when a new task is assigned to the employee.
Amendment 86 #
2011/0397(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 34 – paragraph 3 – introductory part
Article 34 – paragraph 3 – introductory part
3. Where relevant for the activity of groundhandling services in question, training which is harmonised at a European level and can be completed using specific tests appropriate to certain Member States shall cover, at least:
Amendment 20 #
2011/0386(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) The amendments to the Stability and Growth Pact increase both the guidance, and, for the Member States whose currency is the euro, incentives for the setting and the implementation of a prudent budgetary policy, while avoiding excessive government deficits. These provisions have created a more robust framework at the level of the Union for the surveillance of national economic policies. An enhanced surveillance of social policies linked with job creation should be added to these provisions.
Amendment 70 #
2011/0386(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 3 – point e
Article 5 – paragraph 3 – point e
(e) the main assumptions about expected economic and social developments and important economic and social variables which are relevant to the achievement of the budgetary targets. These assumptions shall be based on independent macroeconomic growth forecast;
Amendment 35 #
2011/0385(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2 a (new)
Recital 2 a (new)
(2 a) Notion of social governance should be added to the economic governance, including to the reinforced surveillance measures on economic policies, and also some appropriate and convergent social measures to safeguard employment.
Amendment 50 #
2011/0385(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – point d a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – point d a (new)
(d a) Communicate to the European Parliament information about evolution of poverty in each Member State.
Amendment 127 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Title
Title
Proposal for a REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL on a European Union Programme for Social ChangeEmployment, Social Progress and Innovation
Amendment 130 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1
Recital 1
(1) In line with the Commission Communication ‘A budget for Europe 2020’4, which recommends rationalising and simplifying the Union’s funding instruments and sharpening their focus both on Union added value and on impacts and results, this Regulation establishes a European Union Programme for Social ChangeEmployment, Social Progress and Innovation (hereinafter ‘the Programme’) to provide for the continuation and development of activities carried out on the basis of Decision No 1672/2006/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 October 2006 establishing a Community Programme for Employment and Social Solidarity – Progress5, Regulation No 492/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 April 2011 on freedom of movement for workers within the Union6 and Commission Decision 2003/8/EC of 23 December 2002 implementing Regulation No 1612/1968 as regards the clearance of vacancies and applications for employment7 and Decision No 283/2010/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 March 2010 establishing a European Progress Microfinance Facility for employment and social inclusion (hereinafter ‘the Facility’).
Amendment 134 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) The European Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusion and the Innovation Union flagship initiatives identify social innovation as a powerful tool for addressing the social challenges arising from population ageing, poverty, unemployment, new work patterns and life styles, and citizens' expectations regarding social justice, education and health care. The Programme should support action to step up social innovation in policy areas falling within its scope and which warrant greater attention, such as combating poverty and social exclusion, fostering social inclusion and improving access to health care and training for disadvantaged people, in the public, private and third sectors, taking due account of the role of regional and local authorities. In particular, it should help identify, evaluate and scale up innovative solutions and practice through social experimentation to assist the Member States more effectively in reforming their labour markets and social protection policies. It should also act as a catalyst for transnational partnerships and networking between public, private and third-sector actors as well as supporting their involvement in designing and implementing new approaches to tackling pressing social needs and challenges.
Amendment 140 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) In line with the Europe 2020 Strategy, the Programme should pursue a coherent, innovative and adaptable approach to promoting employment and combating social exclusion and poverty. Its implementation should be rationalised and simplified, notably through a set of common provisions including, inter allia, general objectives, typology of actions, monitoring and evaluation arrangements. The Programme should also focus on large projects with clear EU added value in order to reach critical mass and, reduce the administrative burden and make matters simpler and more comprehensible for both the beneficiaries and the Commission. In addition, greater use should be made of simplified cost options (lump-sum and flat- rate financing) in particular for the implementation of targeted mobility schemes. The Programme should be a one- stop shop for microfinance providers, providing financing for micro-credit, capacity building and and ‘social enterprises’, providing a suitable level of financing for micro-credit, and financing for social entrepreneurship, facilitating access to borrowing, building their capacity and providing technical assistance. Lastly, the Programme should provide for budgetary flexibility through the establishment of a reserve, of a maximum amount to be defined, and to be allocated on an annual basis in order to respond to policy priorities set by the Commission after consulting the Member States and Parliament.
Amendment 145 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) The Union is uniquely placed to provide a Union platform for policy exchanges and mutual-learning between the Member States in the employment and social areasvia social experimentation at local, regional or national level in the employment and social areas (concerning social inclusion, job insecurity, health care, etc.). Knowledge of the policies carried out in other countries increases the range of options available to policy- makers, triggerspaves the way for innovative policy developments and encourages national reform.
Amendment 147 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) Ensuring that minimum standards, as defined by the OECD and the ILO, and as enshrined in the Charter of Human Rights, are in place and that working conditions improve constantly in the Union is a central feature of Union social policy. The Union must also ensure that all companies active on its territory apply these standards. The Union has an important role to play both in ensuring that the legislative framework is adapted, in line with ‘Smart Regulation’ principles, to evolving work patterns and new health and safety risks and in financing measures to improve compliance with Union rules on the protection of workers' rights.
Amendment 154 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) The Union is committed to combating social dumping and strengthening the social dimension of globalisation by promoting decent work and labour standards internationally, either directly vis-à-vis third countries or indirectly through cooperation with international organisations. Accordingly, suitable relations need to be developed with third countries not participating in the Programme in order to help achieve its objectives, having regard to any agreements of relevance between such countries and the Union. This may involve the attendance of representatives of these third countries at events of mutual interest (such as conferences, workshops and seminars) that take place in countries participating in the Programme. In addition, cooperation should be developed with the international organisations concerned, and in particular the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the Council of Europe and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), with a view to implementing the Programme in a way that takes the role of such organisations into account.
Amendment 156 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) In accordance with Articles 45 and 46 of the Treaty, Regulation (EU) No 492/2011 lays down provisions intended to achieve freedom of movement for workers by ensuring close cooperation between the Member States and with the Commission. EURES should promote better functioning of the labour markets by facilitating transnational geographical mobility of workers, providing greater transparency on the labour market, and ensuring equal treatment for cross-border workers in both social and tax-related terms, ensuring the clearance of vacancies and applications for employment and supporting activities in the areas of recruitment, advice and guidance services at national and cross-border level, thereby contributing to the objectives of the Europe 2020 Strategy.
Amendment 158 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) EURES’ scope should be widened to develop and support targeted mobility schemes at Union level with a view to filling vacancies where labour market shortcomings have been identified and to stepping up and increasing the number of cross-border EURES partnership projects. In accordance with Article 47 of the Treaty, the scheme should facilitate mobility among young workers, without overlooking the importance of helping them find a first job, most often near their home, with a view to offering them the chance of job mobility in the future.
Amendment 161 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) Lack of access to credit is one of the main obstacles to business creation, especially among people furthest from the labour market. Union and national efforts in this area need to be stepped up in order to increase the supply of microfinance, facilitate access to borrowing and meet demand from those who need it most, and in particular unemployed and vulnerable people who wish to start up or develop a micro-enterprise, including on a self- employed basis, but do not have access to credit. As a first step, in 2010 the European Parliament and the Council set up the Facility.
Amendment 166 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15
Recital 15
(15) Making microfinance more available on the Union’s young microfinance market calls for the institutional capacity of microfinance providers, and in particular non-bank microfinance institutions that are officially accredited lenders, to be stepped up in line with the Commission Communication 'A European Initiative for the development of micro-credit'10.
Amendment 169 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16
Recital 16
(16) Social enterprises are a cornerstone of Europe’s pluralist social market economy, and play an important role in ensuring greater social convergence in Europe. They can act as drivers of social change by offering innovative solutions, and therefore make a valuable contribution to meeting the objectives of the Europe 2020 Strategy. The programme should improve social enterprises’ access to finance and thereby contribute to the Social Business Initiative launched by the Commission11.
Amendment 175 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 17 a (new)
Recital 17 a (new)
(17a) In line with the Europe 2020 strategy, the Programme should tackle the problem of youth unemployment. Despite some positive signs of recovery in 2009, the employment growth was too weak to produce a steady reduction in the high unemployment rate. The average unemployment spells have lengthened, and youth unemployment figures have risen in many Member States, reaching more than 40% in some of them. Although the situation in European countries differs considerably, the average youth unemployment rate in the EU is more than twice as high as the adult unemployment rate. Moreover there are large regional disparities. Especially in rural areas, youth unemployment is raising. Young people aged under 25 years should therefore be given a future and the perspective to play a key role in developing society and economy in Europe, which is of particular importance in this time of crisis.
Amendment 176 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 17 b (new)
Recital 17 b (new)
(17b) Tackling youth unemployment and the precariousness of young workers would not only reduce societal costs but also promote social inclusion. Therefore, the Programme should put a special focus on youth employment, by introducing a Youth Initiative axis, which aims at improving the transition from education to decent employment as well as working conditions of young people and reduce early school leaving.
Amendment 182 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 18
Recital 18
(18) Pursuant to Articles 8 and 10 of the Treaty, the Programme should support the mainstreaming of gender equality and anti- discrimination objectives in all its activities. Regular monitoring and evaluation should be carried out to assess the way in which gender equality and anti- discrimination issues are addressed by the Commission, either directly or indirectly, in the Programme's activities.
Amendment 188 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 21
Recital 21
(21) Since the objectives of this Regulation cannot be sufficiently achieved at Member State level and can therefore, by reason of their scale and effects, be better achieved at Union level, the Union may adopt measures in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity as set out in Article 5 of the Treaty on European Union, particularly by reallocating unused resources from the Cohesion Fund in each Member State. In accordance with the principle of proportionality as set out in that Article, this Regulation does not go beyond what is necessary to achieve those objectives.
Amendment 194 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1
1. This Regulation establishes a European Union Programme for Social ChangeEmployment, Social Progress and Innovation (hereinafter ‘the Programme’) which aims to contribute to the improvement, by means of innovative action, and to the implementation of the Europe 2020 Strategy, its headline targets and Integrated Guidelines by providing financial support for the European Union’s objectives in terms of promoting a high level of employment, guaranteeing adequate social protection, combating social exclusion and poverty and improving working conditions.
Amendment 201 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) ‘Social enterprise’ means an enterprise whose primary objective is to achieve social impact rather than generate profit for owners and stakeholder socially responsible enterprise whose priorities concern society as much as business, and create operational models for social progress. It operates in the market through the production of goods and services in an entrepreneurial and innovative way, and uses surpluses mainly to achieve social goals. It is managed in an accountable and transparent way, in particular by involving workers, customers and stakeholders affected by its business activity.
Amendment 204 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) ‘Microcredit’ means a loan of up to EUR 25 000, which can be revised upwards depending on the economic climate.
Amendment 207 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
(da) ‘Social innovation’ means a ground- breaking social initiative or project, drawn up specifically to address in a meaningful way social needs that have been ignored or insufficiently dealt with, such as help finding a first job, social exclusion, combating poverty or access to health care for disadvantaged people.
Amendment 209 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point d b (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point d b (new)
(db) ‘Social experimentation’ means promoting and financing projects that are innovative in terms of their approach to society and their implementation method, that facilitate access to employment, improve jobseekers’ living conditions, combat social exclusion and poverty, and whose positive results could be more widely publicised at European level.
Amendment 212 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) The Progress axis, which shall support the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of Union employment and social policy and legislation on working conditions and shall promote evidence, social protection, combating poverty and access to health care for disadvantaged people, and shall promote evidence- and social experimentation-based policy-making and innovation, in partnership with the social partners, civil society organisations and other interested parties;
Amendment 215 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) The EURES axis, which shall support activities carried out by the EURES network, i.e. the specialist services designated by the EEA Member States and the Swiss Confederation, together with other interested parties, to develop information exchanges and dissemination and other forms of cooperation, such as cross-border partnerships, to promote workers’targeted geographical mobility for workers;
Amendment 220 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point c
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point c
(c) The Microfinance and Social Entrepreneurship axis, which shall facilitate access to financea suitable level of finance – which can be revised upwards depending on the economic climate – for entrepreneurs, especially those hitherto furthest from the labour market, and for start-up or existing social enterprises.
Amendment 222 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point c a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point c a (new)
(ca) The Youth Initiative axis, which shall improve the employment and educational situation of young people, in particular those who are not in education, employment or training (NEET).
Amendment 226 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) Strengthen ownership of the Union objeBring about concrete and coordinated activeons in the employment, social, social exclusion and working conditions fields, at both Union and Member State level, by strengthening ownership among key Union and national policy-makers, as well as other interested parties in order to bring about concrete and coordinated actions at both Union and Member State level, of the Union’s objectives in these fields and promoting close collaboration with the social partners concerned;
Amendment 230 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) SPromote social governance by targeting greater social convergence, stimulating social innovation and supporting the development of adequate, accessible, equitable and efficient social protection systems and labour markets, and facilitate policy reform, by promoting good governance, mutual learning and social innovation;
Amendment 238 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point d
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point d
(d) Promote workers’all initiatives on first jobs and returning the unemployed to work, workers’ targeted geographical mobility and boost employment opportunities by developing Union labour markets that are open and accessible to all;
Amendment 245 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point e a (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point e a (new)
(ea) Ensure a good transition from education to decent employment, prevent early-school leaving and promote quality of traineeships and apprenticeships.
Amendment 249 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point b
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point b
(b) Ensure that the requirements linked to theIn defining and implementing the Union's policies and activities, promotion ofe a high-level of employment, a guarantee of adequate social protection and the fight against social exclusion are taken into account in defining and implementing of the Union's policies and activities.
Amendment 254 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1
Article 5 – paragraph 1
1. The financial appropriations for implementing the Programme over the period from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2020 shall amount to EUR 958.19 million14at least EUR 1 000 million14 taking into account the employment situation and the constraints in the multiannual financial framework currently being negotiated.
Amendment 260 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point a
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point a
(a) 60% to the Progress axis, of which at least 1720% shall be allocated to promoting social experimentation as a method for testing and evaluating innovative solutions with a view to scaling them up;
Amendment 264 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point b
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point b
(b) 15 % to the EURES axis, prioritising ‘Your first Eures job’ in particular, and allocating at least 20 % to transnational partnerships;
Amendment 268 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
The remaining 5 % shall be apportioned among the axes on an annual basis in line with policy priorities proposed by the Commission and agreed to by Parliament and the Council.
Amendment 270 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. In addition to the financial appropriations mentioned in paragraph 1, funding shall be provided for the Youth Initiative axis set out in Article 3 (1) (ca). Over the Programme period from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2020 financial appropriations dedicated to this axis shall amount to [EUR XXX] million.
Amendment 271 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 3
Article 5 – paragraph 3
3. The Commission may make use of the appropriations referred to paragraph 1 to finance technical and/or administrative assistance, in particular relating to auditing, outsourcing of translation, meetings of experts, and information and communication activities for the mutual benefit of the Commission and the beneficiaries, and strengthen checks on expenditure. These appropriations shall be limited and capped.
Amendment 272 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
The following types of actions in its field of expertise may be financed under the Programme:
Amendment 274 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point c
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point c
(c) Eindependent evaluations, and promotion of impact assessments including by private bodies;
Amendment 278 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point e a (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point e a (new)
(ea) specific innovative actions in the fields of employment, social exclusion, access to healthcare for disadvantaged people, working conditions and social affairs.
Amendment 280 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point b
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point b
Amendment 281 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point c
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point c
Amendment 284 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point d
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point d
(d) Drafting and publication of guides, reports and educational materials and measures relating to information, communication, and media coverage of initiatives supported by Progress;
Amendment 285 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point e
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point e
Amendment 286 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point e a (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point e a (new)
(ea) Formulation and dissemination of a set of social criteria applicable on a voluntary basis by all undertakings within the European Union which could be accorded a designation such as that referred to in Article 16.
Amendment 289 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point b
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point b
Amendment 293 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point d
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point d
Amendment 297 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point 4
4. Actions to promote mobility of individuals in the Union, in particular the development of a multilingual digital platform for the clearance of job vacancies and applications, and targeted mobility schemes to fill vacancies where labour market shortcomings have been identifiThe following types of action may be funded aund/oer to help specific groups of workers such as young people.he EURES axis:
Amendment 299 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point a (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point a (new)
(a) Actions to promote the mobility of individuals in the Union, in particular the development of a multilingual digital platform for the clearance of job vacancies and applications, and targeted mobility schemes to fill vacancies where labour market shortcomings have been identified and/or to help specific groups of workers such as young people and those seeking their first job.
Amendment 300 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point b (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point b (new)
(b) Training of EURES legal practitioners and policy advisers;
Amendment 301 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point c (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point c (new)
(c) Capacity-building of national administrations and specialist services responsible for promoting targeted geographical mobility designated by the Member States;
Amendment 302 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point d (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point d (new)
(d) Networking of, and cooperation among, specialist bodies, national, regional, and local authorities, and employment services at European level;
Amendment 304 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point 5
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point 5
5. Support to microfinance and social enterprises in particular through the financial instruments provided for under Title VIII of Part one of Regulation XXX/2012 [New Financial Regulation] on the financial rules applicable to the annual budget of the Union, and grants.The following types of actions may be financed under the heading of ‘microfinance and social enterprises’:
Amendment 306 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point 5 – point a (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point 5 – point a (new)
(a) Support to microfinance and social enterprises in particular through the financial instruments provided for under Title VIII of Part one of Regulation (EU) No XXX/2012 [New Financial Regulation] on the financial rules applicable to the annual budget of the Union, and grants.
Amendment 307 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point 5 – point b (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point 5 – point b (new)
(b) Capacity-building of national administrations and specialist services responsible for the recognition and promotion of microcredit providers designated by the Member States.
Amendment 313 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1
Article 8 – paragraph 1
1. The Commission, in cooperation with the Member States, shall ensure that activities carried out under the Programme are consistent with, and complementary to, other Union action, in particular within the Structural Funds, under the European Social Fund (ESF), under the ERDF and specific SME programmes, and in such areas as social dialogue, justice and fundamental rights, education, vocational training and youth policy, research and innovation, entrepreneurship, health, enlargement and external relations, and general economic policy.
Amendment 317 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 1
Article 10 – paragraph 1
1. The results of the actions implemented under the Programme shall be regularly and suitably communicated and disseminated to citizens, the EESC, and representatives of SMEs, the social partners, and the European Parliament in order to maximise their impact, sustainability and Union added value.
Amendment 319 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13
Article 13
With a view to regular monitoring of the Programme and making any adjustments needed to its policy and funding priorities, the Commission shall draw up bieanniual monitoring reports and send them to the European Parliament and the Council and to the CoR and the EESC for information. Such reports shall cover the Programme’s qualitative and quantified results and the extent to which gender equality and anti- discrimination considerations, including accessibility issues, have been addressed through its activities. The reports shall be published and made publicly accessible in order to enhance transparency.
Amendment 329 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 15 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) Develop and disseminate high-quality comparative analytical knowledge in order to ensure that Union employment and social policy and working conditions legislation are based on sound evidence and are relevant tosocial policy, to combat exclusion and as regards both access to health care for the most deprived and employment, and working conditions legislation are based on local, regional, or national evidence and are fully suited to the needs of job-seekers and/or employees and to the needs, challenges and conditions inaffecting citizens of the individual Member States and other participating countries;
Amendment 332 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 15 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) fFacilitate effective and inclusive information-sharing, mutual learning and dialogue on Union employment and social policyfocusing on innovative actions to promote access to employment and to a first job in particular, mutual learning and dialogue on Union social policy, measures to combat exclusion, and information campaigns on the usefulness of a label for the socially most virtuous enterprises in Europe and on working conditions legislation at Union, national and international level in order to assist the Member States and the other participating countries in developing their policies and in implementing Union law;
Amendment 337 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 1 – point c
Article 15 – paragraph 1 – point c
(c) Provide policy-makenational, regional, or local actors with financial support to test social and labour market policy reforms, build up the main actors’ capacity to design and implement social experimentation, and make the relevant knowledge and expertise accessible;
Amendment 338 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 1 – point d
Article 15 – paragraph 1 – point d
(d) pProvide Union and nationorganisations and national, regional, or local organisations with financial support to step up their capacity to develop, innovative social experimentation and promote and support the implementation of Unionsocial policy, of policy to combat exclusion, of employment and social policy, and of Union working conditions legislation.
Amendment 340 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 15 – paragraph 1 a (new)
In addition to the general objectives set out in Article 4, the specific objectives of the Progress axis shall be to: (a) establish a social label to identify enterprises which endeavour to satisfy social criteria more ambitious than the minimum legal standards in order to progress towards a European social model capable of offering better social protection to employees and meeting the aspirations of consumers and of financial institutions wishing to invest in socially responsible enterprises; (b) establish funding to serve as a ‘personal contribution’ of the recipients when they approach financial institutions; (c) set up one-stop shops bringing together employment services and all other related social services (NGOs, voluntary organisations, social partners, etc.) in the world of work (training, apprenticeship, redeployment, etc.) and in the social field (housing, health, transport, etc.); (d) promote teleworking; (e) encourage and support all initiatives by schools and training centres aiming to work more closely with employment services in order to gear training courses to sectors suffering a shortage of skilled labour; (f) set up business incubators enabling resources to be pooled for start-up purposes, and promote enterprise creation systems by providing technical and financial support and offering the possibility of sponsorship; (g) improve the information provided to citizens on European programmes to assist job-seekers; (h) support initiatives enabling the individual circumstances and the environment of unemployed persons seeking work to be taken into account (mobility assistance, loan of a vehicle, assistance for the purpose of learning to drive, welfare benefits, etc.); (i) combat exclusion and poverty, not least by enabling the most deprived to gain access to health care.
Amendment 342 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 16 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. For the purposes of implementing this Programme, the Commission shall establish cooperation with the European foundations and agencies dealing with social affairs and ensure that this Programme is consistent with, and complementary to, the Grundtvig and Leonardo programmes.
Amendment 343 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 4
Article 16 – paragraph 4
4. The Commission may cooperate with third countries not participating in the Programme. Representatives of such third countries may attend events of mutual interest (such as conferences, workshops and seminars) that take place in countries participating in the Programme and the cost of their attendance may be covered in part by the Programme.
Amendment 347 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 20 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 20 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) Ensure that job vacancies and applications, and any related information are transparent for the potential applicants and the employers; this shall be achieved through their exchange and dissemination at transnational, interregional and cross- border level using standard interoperability forms; ensure that targeted mobility does not impede access to local employment through training geared to sectors suffering a labour shortage;
Amendment 349 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 20 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 20 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) Develop services for the recruitment and placing of workers in employment through the clearance ofrecruitment services, including ‘one-stop shop’ guidance and training, and services for the placing of workers in employment in order to meet the specific needs of job-seekers, in particular to facilitate administrative formalities and enable skills to be matched with job vacancies and applications at European level; this shall cover all phases of placement, ranging from pre-recruitment preparation to post- placement assistance with a view to the applicant’s successful integration into the labour market; such services shall include targeted mobility schemes to fill vacancies where labour market shortcomings have been identified and/or help particular groups of workers such as young people. It shall be ensured in particular that these recruitment and placement services do not encourage the ‘brain drain’.
Amendment 362 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 22 – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point a a (new)
Article 22 – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point a a (new)
(aa) the creation and development of micro-enterprises, applying microfinance arrangements enabling the maximum amount to be raised according to the economic situation;
Amendment 365 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 22 – paragraph 1 – point 2 a (new)
Article 22 – paragraph 1 – point 2 a (new)
2a. Establish microfinance or funding to serve as a ‘personal contribution’ of the recipients when they approach financial institutions;
Amendment 367 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 22 – paragraph 1 – point 3
Article 22 – paragraph 1 – point 3
3. Support the development of social enterprises and of enterprises awarded a label in recognition of their consistent efforts to fulfil a given number of predetermined ambitious social criteria, in particular by facilitating access to finance.
Amendment 371 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 23 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 23 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) financing for social enterprises and those awarded a label in recognition of their consistent efforts to fulfil a given number of predetermined ambitious social criteria.
Amendment 377 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 26 – paragraph 1
Article 26 – paragraph 1
1. The international financial institutions and, where relevant, the fund managers shall send the Commission annual implementation reports setting out the activities granted support and covering their financial implementation and the allocation and accessibility of funding and investment by sector and type of beneficiary, applications accepted or rejected and contracts concluded by the public and private bodies concerned, actions funded and the results, including in terms of social impact, employment creation and sustainability of the businesses support grantedgranted support. The Commission shall regularly send those reports to the European Parliament for information.
Amendment 380 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Chapter III a (new)
Chapter III a (new)
Chapter III a (new) Youth Initiative Axis
Amendment 382 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 26 a (new)
Article 26 a (new)
Article 26 a Thematic sections and financing 1. The Youth Initiative axis for people aged under 25 years shall support actions in one or more of the thematic sections listed in points (a), (b) and (c). Over the entire period of the Programme, the breakdown of the allocation referred to in Article 5(2a) between the different sections shall respect the following lower limits: a) Preventing early-school leaving especially through reintegration into training: 30%; b) Developing skills that are relevant to the labour market in order to bring together more closely worlds of employment, education and training: 20%; c) Supporting a first work experience and on-the-job training in order to offer the opportunity to young people to acquire both the relevant skills and work experience: 20%; d) quality of traineeships and apprenticeships: 20%.
Amendment 384 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 26 b (new)
Article 26 b (new)
Article 26 b Specific objectives In addition to the general objectives set out in Article 4, the specific objectives of the Youth Initiative axis shall be to: (a) Support the creation of specific innovative programmes in order to fight youth unemployment and promote the transition of young people from education to decent employment in particular in deprived areas and regions with exceptionally high youth unemployment; in this context special attention shall be paid to young people with fewer opportunities, including young women, young people not in education, employment or training (NEET) and young people from ethnic minorities, who might all face multiple discrimination; (b) Support the exchange of best practice and mutual learning in the field of fighting youth unemployment, including the possibility of introducing a youth guarantee which would offer every young person in Europe a job, further education or work-focused training at the latest four months after leaving education or after becoming unemployed; improving the quality of traineeships and apprenticeships and reducing early school leaving; (c) Provide policy-makers with financial support to test social and labour market policy approaches designed to fight youth unemployment, to promote the transition of young people from education to decent employment, improve the quality of traineeships and apprenticeships, reduce early school leaving and make the relevant knowledge and expertise accessible; (d) Provide Union, national and regional organisations with financial support to step up their capacity to develop, promote and support activities in order to fight youth unemployment, to promote the transition of young people from education to decent employment, improve the quality of traineeships and apprenticeships, reduce early school leaving and make the relevant knowledge and expertise accessible.
Amendment 386 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 26 c (new)
Article 26 c (new)
Amendment 76 #
2011/0269(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
Amendment 80 #
2011/0269(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6
Recital 6
(6) In order to maintain the European nature of the EGF, an application for support should be triggered when the number of redundancies reaches a minimum threshold. In small labour markets, such as small Member States or remote regions, and in exceptional circumstances, applications may be submitted for a lower number of redundancies. As regards farmers, the necessary criteria should be determined by the Commission in relation to the consequences of each trade agreement.
Amendment 84 #
2011/0269(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) Redundant workers should have equal access to the EGF independently of their type of employment contract or employment relationship. Therefore, workers with fixed term contracts and temporary agency workers made redundant, as well as owner-managers of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and self- employed workers who cease their activities and farmers who change or adjust their activities to a new market situation following trade agreements, should be regarded as redundant workers for the purposes of this Regulation.
Amendment 92 #
2011/0269(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8
Recital 8
Amendment 147 #
2011/0269(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point c
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point c
Amendment 156 #
2011/0269(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point d
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point d
(d) '‘a worker'’ means owner-managers of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and self-employed workers (including farmers) and all members of the household active in the business, provided that, if farmers, they were already producing the output affected by the relevant trade agreement before the measures concerning the specific sector were implemented.
Amendment 174 #
2011/0269(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 3
Article 4 – paragraph 3
Amendment 184 #
2011/0269(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 4
Article 4 – paragraph 4
4. Where owner-managers of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and self- employed workers change or, in the case of farmers, adjust their previoustheir activitiesy, such situations shall be considered as redundancies for the purposes of this Regulation.
Amendment 196 #
2011/0269(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point c
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point c
Amendment 228 #
2011/0269(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point a
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point a
(a) (a) a reasoned analysis of the link between the redundancies and the major structural changes in world trade patterns, or the serious disruption of the local, regional or national economy caused by an unexpected crisis, or the new market situation in the agricultural sector in the Member State and resulting from the effects of a trade agreement initialled by the European Union in accordance with Article XXIV of the GATT or a multilateral agreement initialled within the World Trade Organisation as per Article 2(c). This analysis shall be based on statistical and other information at the most appropriate level to demonstrate the fulfilment of the intervention criteria set out in Article 4;
Amendment 237 #
2011/0269(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point j
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point j
Amendment 270 #
2011/0269(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 1
Article 14 – paragraph 1
Expenditure shall be eligible for a financial contribution from the dates set out in Article 8(2)(h) on which the Member State starts the personalised services to the targeted workers or the administrative expenditure to implement the EGF in accordance with Article 7(1) and (3) respectively. In the case of farmers, expenditure shall be eligible for a contribution from the date set in the delegated act taken in accordance with Article 4(3).
Amendment 289 #
2011/0269(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 23 – paragraph 1
Article 23 – paragraph 1
Amendment 97 #
2011/0268(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9
Recital 9
(9) Efficient and effective implementation of actions supported by the ESF depends on good governance and partnership between all relevant territorial and socio- economic actors, in particular the social partners and non-governmental organisations. It is therefore necessary that Member States encourage the participation of social partners and non-governmental organisations in the implementation of the ESF, particularly in the field of education, to enable training to be tailored more closely to the needs of the regional, national and European job market.
Amendment 110 #
2011/0268(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) Support for social innovation is crucial for making policies more responsive to social change and to promote corporate social responsibility and encourage and support innovative social enterprises, including SMEs. In particular, testing and evaluating innovative solutions before scaling them up is instrumental in improving the efficiency of the policies and thus justifies specific support from the ESF.
Amendment 116 #
2011/0268(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) The mobilisation of regional and local stakeholders is necessary to deliver the Europe 2020 Strategy and its headline targets. Territorial pacts, local initiatives for employment and social inclusion, community-led local development strategies and sustainable urban development strategies mayshould be used and supported to involve more actively regional and local authorities, cities, social partners and non-governmental organisations in the implementation of programmes.
Amendment 154 #
2011/0268(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 3
Article 2 – paragraph 3
3. The ESF shall benefit people, including disadvantaged groups such as the long- term unemployed, young people who have left school without acquiring any qualifications, people with disabilities, migrants, ethnic minorities, marginalised communities and people facing social exclusion. The ESF shall also provide support to enterprises, systems and structures with a view to facilitating their adaptation to new challenges and promoting good governance and the implementation of reforms, in particular in the fields of employment, education and social policies.
Amendment 206 #
2011/0268(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point b – introductory part
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point b – introductory part
(b) Investing in education, developing or updating relevant skills and life- long learning through:
Amendment 224 #
2011/0268(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point b – point iii
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point b – point iii
(iii) Enhancing access to lifelong learning, upgrading the skills and competences of the workforce and increasing the labour market relevance of education and training systems, including through the creation of partnerships between educational and training establishments and businesses;
Amendment 254 #
2011/0268(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point c – point iv
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point c – point iv
(iv) Eenhancing access to affordable, sustainable and high-quality services, including health care and, specifically, the creation of European platforms and pilot projects to increase awareness of e-health initiatives (telemedicine, telemonitoring), and social services of general interest;
Amendment 260 #
2011/0268(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point c – point v
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point c – point v
(v) Ppromoting the social economy and, social enterprises and CSR, including through the creation of a social label;
Amendment 362 #
2011/0268(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 3
Article 9 – paragraph 3
3. The Commission shall facilitate capacity building for social innovation, in particular through supporting mutual learning, establishing networks, and disseminating good practices and methodologies, including as regards common criteria for the award of social labels to enterprises.
Amendment 5 #
2011/0261(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 1
Recital 1
(1) The recent financial crisis has led to debates at all levels about a possible additional tax on the financial sector and in particular a financial transactions tax (FTT). This debate stems from the desire to ensure the financial sector contribute to covering the costs of the crisis and that it is taxed in a fair way vis-à-vis other sectors for the future; to dis-incentivise excessively risky activities by financial institutions; to regulate speculation on commodities and foodstuffs; to complement regulatory measures aimed at avoiding future crises and to generate additional revenue for general budgets or specific policy purposesies, such as development aid policy.
Amendment 10 #
2011/0261(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) In order to concentrate the taxation on the financial sector as such rather than on citizens and because financial institutions execute the vast majority of transactions on financial markets, the tax should apply to those institutions, whether they trade in their own name, in the name of other persons, for their on own account or for the account of other persons. The Member States should ensure, in particular, that institutions do not indirectly pass on to their clients the cost constituted by their annual liability under the FTT.
Amendment 11 #
2011/0261(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 16
Recital 16
(16) In order to allow the adoption of more detailed rules for determining whether certain financial activities constitute a significant part of an undertaking's activity, so that the undertaking can be considered a financial institution for the purposes of this Directive, as well as more detailed rules regarding protection against tax evasion, avoidance and abuse, the power to adopt acts in accordance with Article 290 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union should be delegated to the Commission in respect of specifying the measures necessary to this effect. It is of particular importance that the Commission carries out appropriate consultations during its preparatory work, including at expert levelparticularly with experts, NGOs and other stakeholders. The Commission, when preparing and drawing-up delegated acts, should ensure a timely and appropriate transmission of relevant documents to the European Parliament and the Council.
Amendment 15 #
2011/0261(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 16 – paragraph 1
Article 16 – paragraph 1
Every fivthree years and for the first time by 31 December 2016, the Commission shall submit to the European Parliament and the Council a report on the application of this Directive and, where appropriate, a proposal for its modification.
Amendment 16 #
2011/0261(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 16 – paragraph 2
Article 16 – paragraph 2
In that report the Commission shall, at least, examine the impact of the FTT on the proper functioning of the internal market, the financial markets and the real economy, on speculation on commodities and foodstuffs and on the fight against tax havens, and it shall take into account the progress on taxation of the financial sector in the international context.
Amendment 21 #
2011/0217(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 3 a (new)
Recital 3 a (new)
(3a) The freedom to move and reside freely should be guaranteed in all Member States and for all citizens without discrimination of any kind on grounds of gender, race, age, disability or professional qualifications.
Amendment 28 #
2011/0217(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) In particular, free movement and workers' mobility help addressing the consequences of demographic change on the labour market, while also increasing the employability of people and improving the competitiveness of European industries. At the same time, free movement either enables, as an essential condition, or stimulates the exercise by citizens of a broad range of rights available to them under Union law, such asEuropean citizenship is not limited to the exercise of the right to move freely and to work in another Member State. The Union confers a broad range of rights which all citizens should be aware of and be able to exercise freely: their rights to training, to health and to retirement and their rights as to consumers to access goods and services or their rights as passengers and tourists. Facilitating free movement has therefore the potential to enhance citizens' possibilities to fully benefit from the single market, whilst being a key driver for growth. Citizens should also have access to information on all means of redress should their rights not be respected.
Amendment 36 #
2011/0217(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) The right to move and reside freely within the territory of the Member States is highonly valued by Union citizens as a core individual right deriving from Union citizenship. As such, it demonstrates and promotes a better understanding of the value of European integration, as well as citizens' participation in shaping the European Union. When extending aspects of their lives beyond national borders by travelling to other Member States or settling there, citizens become aware and take advantage of the broad array of rights granted to them under Union law in cross-border situations. Exercising the right to free movement and residence therefore contributes to making Union citizenship a tangible reality in the daily life of citizenslows a better understanding of the value of European integration if accompanied by practical measures taken by the Union and Member States in relation to training, recognition of qualifications, worker mobility (seasonal workers, cross-border workers, seconded workers, workers posted as a result of seat transfers...).
Amendment 42 #
2011/0217(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 9
Recital 9
(9) Despite the fact that the right to free movement and residence is firmly anchored in primary Union law and substantially developed in secondary law, a gap still remains between the applicabletion of legal rules and the reality confronting citizens when they seekremains unsatisfactory and is a burden on citizens wishing to exercise thiseir right in ps. Member States should remove all subsisting administractice. Aside from ave and legal obstacles based on uincertainty over the advantages of being mobile, Union citizens perceive too many practical obstorrect interpretation. A special effort should be made to assist poorly qualified workers and workers with special needs due to a disability in their desire for job mobility, job exchanges and occupational training. Back-up measures should be taken by the host Member State to enable them to exercise their social rights (social security, aclces with regard to living and working elsewhere in ths to healthcare, access to educational establishments) and voting rights (local elections, trade Uunion elections, etc.).
Amendment 55 #
2011/0217(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 12 a (new)
Recital 12 a (new)
(12a) All the existing websites set up by the Commission to inform citizens should be simplified to make them more accessible and to facilitate mobility for all workers, whatever their qualifications.
Amendment 64 #
2011/0217(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 13 a (new)
Recital 13 a (new)
(13a) It should be stressed that mobility support measures have focused mainly on citizens with educational qualifications. It is therefore time for the Union to open up mobility to the least qualified workers, workers with disabilities, through the establishment of new exchange programmes and clearly structured and user-friendly websites.
Amendment 78 #
2011/0217(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – indent 2 a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – indent 2 a (new)
– to raise citizens' awareness of the risks involved in illegal work and the advantages of engaging in legal employment (in terms of tax, social security, the right to occupational training, the right to citizenship. housing, family reunification, children’s access to schooling and apprenticeships through existing instruments (EURES, etc.)).
Amendment 82 #
2011/0217(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 3 – paragraph -1 a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph -1 a (new)
1a. In the course of 2012, the Commission shall organise an EU-wide competition to design a logo for the European Year of Citizens.
Amendment 86 #
2011/0217(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – indent 2
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – indent 2
– exchange of information, sharing of experience and good practices ofstablishment of a specific and very regularly updated internet portal to enable national, regional, and local administrations and other organisations;to provide information on employment sectors seeking labour.
Amendment 97 #
2011/0217(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – indent 6 a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – indent 6 a (new)
– information campaigns to raise the profile of the European Parliament’s Committee on Petitions and the European Ombudsman.
Amendment 98 #
2011/0217(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – indent 6 b (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – indent 6 b (new)
– modernisation of the EURES website to make it more user-friendly and improve regular updating thereof, and an information campaign to make it more visible;
Amendment 99 #
2011/0217(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – indent 6 quater (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – indent 6 quater (new)
– information campaigns to increase the visibility, accessibility and multilingualism of the NARIC website (recognition of diplomas and qualifications);
Amendment 83 #
2010/2307(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Emphasises that the transition from school, as well as from educational guidance, vocational training or higher education, to employment must be better prepared and must follow on directly from education or training, and welcomes the ‘European Youth Guarantee’ initiative; believes that social partners and youth organisations should be involved in the development of a sustainable strategy to reduce youth unemployment, in which there must be formal recognition of qualifications obtained;
Amendment 103 #
2010/2307(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Takes the view that measures must be taken to reinforce the role of the family and social environment of young people and of their school in guiding them in their career choices and towards finding an occupation and that the two environments need to work together, not separately;
Amendment 117 #
2010/2307(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Takes the view that occupational choices must be less strongly influenced by gender, that measures must be taken to present a comprehensive overview of possible career choices, preferably in the local area, by setting up local agencies to provide young people with assistance with formalities and career choices, and that the attempt must be made from an early age to interest and support girls, in particular, in mathematical and technical professions;
Amendment 132 #
2010/2307(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Emphasises that an active labour market policy, including publicly funded work programmes for young people, and the creation of new, sustainable and good jobs are essential preconditions for successfully tackling youth unemployment, and that the existing funds, such as the European Social Fund, must be targeted more specifically at these objectives, in particular as regards providing support for young people through local agencies which offer them information and guidance, as well as specialist training courses held as close as possible to where they live;
Amendment 147 #
2010/2307(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Emphasises that young people whose chances of getting started in life are poorer must be supported individually or even mentored to increase their employability and that publicly funded training places are an effective instrument for integrating particularly disadvantaged young people;
Amendment 37 #
2010/2305(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Calls on the Commission to ensure that while supporting the implementation of the Europe 2020 Strategy, cohesion policy reduces disparities between regions, takes due account of the specific needs of the outermost regions and promotes a harmonious development in the EU;
Amendment 46 #
2010/2305(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Calls on the Commission to review the level of co-financing, to reflect better the level of development; calls on the Member States to create mechanisms for helping the small beneficiaries preparing for applications and during the period of implementation‘European one-stop shops’ at infra-regional level with a view to collecting and helping with the compiling of cohesion fund applications, both for local authorities and EU citizens;
Amendment 14 #
2010/2301(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Calls for trade competition between China and the EU to be based on clearly established rules allowing mutual emulation and business stability and optimisation, in order not to go against employees’ interests;
Amendment 42 #
2010/2301(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Calls for exchanges of commercial and social good practice and experience between the EU and China to be stepped up;
Amendment 4 #
2010/2295(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas citizens of the EU are directly represented by Parliament, and the right of petition offers them the means to address their representatives if they consider that their rights have been infringed and if the subject of their petition comes within the field of activity of the Committee on Petitions,
Amendment 5 #
2010/2295(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the implementation of European legislation has a direct impact on EU citizens and residents, who are the best placed to assess its effectiveness and its shortcomings and to signal remaining loopholes that need to be closed to ensure better implementation of EU legislation by the Member States, and whereas the Committee on Petitions should become a priority contact,
Amendment 6 #
2010/2295(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas, however, in some cases many Member States remain reluctant to cooperate actively with the responsible committee, and fail, for example, to attend meetings of the committee or to reply to letters sent to them; whereas this denotes a failure to cooperate with the institution in good faith,
Amendment 7 #
2010/2295(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital P a (new)
Recital P a (new)
Pa. whereas, given that very many petitions relate to projects with a potential environmental impact, it would be desirable for the Committee on Petitions to consider treating such petitions, relating to projects which are the subject of a public inquiry, in a way which optimises the committee’s decision- making time vis-à-vis both the petitioner and the state of progress on the project,
Amendment 10 #
2010/2295(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Hopes that Parliament and the Committee on Petitions will be actively involved in the development of the citizens’ initiative with a view to helping it fully achieve its objectives and ensuring enhanced transparency in the EU decision- making process, allowing citizens to suggest improvements, changes or additions to EU law, while seeking to prevent this public platform from being used solely for publicity purposes;
Amendment 11 #
2010/2295(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Hopes that the Committee on Petitions will be given the task of following up European Citizens’ Initiatives registered with the Commission;
Amendment 12 #
2010/2295(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Amendment 13 #
2010/2295(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 c (new)
Paragraph 1 c (new)
1c. Calls for the Committee on Petitions to be the committee representing the European Parliament at the Parliament and Commission public hearing of representatives who have gathered a million signatures for their Citizens’ Initiatives, thus enabling the hearing to benefit from the committee’s experience and legitimacy;
Amendment 18 #
2010/2295(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Welcomes the Commission’s decision to declare 2013 the ‘European Year of Citizenship’ in order to give momentum to the debate on European citizenship and inform EU citizens of their rights and of the democratic instruments available to them to assert those rights;
Amendment 20 #
2010/2295(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Welcomes the establishment of the one- stop shop for citizens seeking advice or recourse or making complaints through ‘Your EU Rights’; welcomes the steps taken by the Commission to streamline the existing public assistance services that serve to inform citizens about their rights at EU level and the means of redress available in the event of infringements; points out, however, that the European institutions need to provide more information and act with greater transparency, in particular by guaranteeing easy access to documents, and preserving confidentiality of identity for petitioners who request it;
Amendment 33 #
2010/2295(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Stresses the need to bring greater transparency to the management of petitions: internally by giving Members direct access to petition files via the E- petition application, and externally by establishing an interactive Web portal for petitioners; considers, moreover, that Members should have access in the e- Petition application to petitions from petitioners who have requested anonymity;
Amendment 4 #
2010/2272(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Calls for a definition of disability to be provided to serve as a point of reference for Member States;
Amendment 7 #
2010/2272(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Calls for types of disability to be classified according to their severity, so that appropriate solutions can be found throughout the period of education and professional life;
Amendment 15 #
2010/2272(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Recommends that the Member States develop sheltered workshops, mainly by means of tax and social security exemptions and that contracts be introduced tailored to the situation of disabled people;
Amendment 20 #
2010/2272(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Recommends that quotas be introduced for the recruitment of disabled people, together with special facilities, staff geared to their needs and the introduction of disabled people's representatives within large firms;
Amendment 21 #
2010/2272(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 b (new)
Paragraph 9 b (new)
9b. Recommends that the Member States set up special contact points where disabled people and their families can obtain the information and administrative advice they need;
Amendment 26 #
2010/2272(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Amendment 57 #
2010/2272(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Calls for a definition of disability to established to which Member States can refer;
Amendment 63 #
2010/2272(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Observes that there is an intrinsic solidarity in European societies which fully acknowledges the need for adaptations for people with mild disabilities; stresses however that people with severe or multiple disabilities need more help in terms of human rights and dignity; points out that types of disability should therefore be categorised on the basis of their severity so that suitable arrangements can be made at all stages of education and training and professional life;
Amendment 191 #
2010/2272(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Stresses that sheltered workshops and integrated workplaces could be equally valuable solutions to employing people with different disabilities in accordance with applications of reasonable accommodation; urges the Member States, therefore, to develop sheltered workshops, in particular by granting them exemptions from taxes and social security contributions, and to conclude contracts tailored to the physical capacity of the individuals concerned;
Amendment 205 #
2010/2272(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23a. Advocates the introduction of recruitment quotas for people with disabilities, the provision of specific facilities for them, the employment of staff trained to meet their needs and the appointment within large undertakings of representatives to speak for them;
Amendment 240 #
2010/2272(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Stresses that social corporate responsibility could also be an important impetus to the situation of people with disabilities; calls upon actors and stakeholders to support and apply good practices in this field; recommends that the representatives of workers with disabilities should be consulted each year with a view to taking stock of the progress made in this area;
Amendment 253 #
2010/2272(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)
Paragraph 28 a (new)
28a. Urges the Member States to establish dedicated counters where people with disabilities and members of their families can obtain information and seek administrative advice;
Amendment 255 #
2010/2272(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 b (new)
Paragraph 28 b (new)
28b. Calls for special forms of leave to be created so that parents can take care of their disabled children; urges, further, that the commitment shown and the work performed by parents of disabled children should be recognised by being counted as professional experience and by being specifically taken into account when old- age pension entitlements are calculated;
Amendment 110 #
2010/0242(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 1 a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 1 a (new)
(1a) to protect older persons who continue carrying on an activity, regardless of the category of organisation in which that activity is performed, via suitable medical monitoring;
Amendment 57 #
2010/0210(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) The Directive should provide for a flexible entry system based on demand and objective criteria, such as a valid work contract or a binding job offer that specifies the level of remuneration applicable to seasonal workers in the sector concerned; a maximum duration should also be set for seasonal jobs.
Amendment 69 #
2010/0210(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 20
Recital 20
(20) Considering the specially vulnerable situation of third-country national seasonal workers and the temporary nature of their assignment, there is a need to define clearly the working conditions applicable to such workers in order to ensure legal certainty by referring such conditions to generally binding instruments providing effective protection, in particular social protection, of the rights of third- country seasonal workers, such as law or universally applicable collective agreements.
Amendment 81 #
2010/0210(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 23
Recital 23
(23) To facilitate enforcement, effective legal remedy should be available to third- country nationals, and relevant designated third parties such as trade unions or other associations should be able to lodge complaints in order to ensure effective application of the Directive. This is considered necessary to address situations where seasonal workers are unaware of the existence of enforcement mechanisms or hesitant to use these in their own name, out of fear of possible consequences.
Amendment 47 #
2010/0209(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) Intra-corporate transferees should benefit from the same working conditions as posted workers whose employer is established on the territory of the European Union, as defined by Directive 96/71/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 1996 concerning the posting of workers in the framework of the provision of services. Intra-corporate transferees should benefit from the same treatment as nationals of the host Member State and permanent staff as regards both pay and employment conditions, and in particular as regards the amount of social protection benefits. That requirement is intended to protect workers and, guarantee fair competition between undertakings established in a Member State and those established in a third country, as it ensures that the latter will not be able to benefit from lower labour standards to take any competitive advantage, and in particular to avoid social dumping.
Amendment 107 #
2010/0209(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – point g
Article 3 – point g
(g) ‘graduate trainee’ means any person with a higher education qualification who is transferred to broaden his/her theoretical knowledge of and experience in a company or institution in preparation for a managerial position within the company;
Amendment 20 #
2001/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital V
Recital V
V. whereas one of the crucial factors identified for this state of affairs is a lack of information, awareness, administrative capacity and financial and other resources at local level,;
Amendment 22 #
2001/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital AF
Recital AF
AF. whereas legal proceedings can only be launched once a project has been approved by Member States; whereas it is hard for citizens to understand that the EU cannot intervene until the whole procedure has been concluded and the licence awarded,project has been approved by the Member States;
Amendment 31 #
2001/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital AU
Recital AU
AU. whereas what is required in order to meet legally established recycling and prevention targets is the active participation of civil society, improved stakeholder participation and increased public awareness, to be achieved through media campaigns to raise public awareness;
Amendment 34 #
2001/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital AW
Recital AW
Amendment 52 #
2001/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Urges the Commission and Member States to promote, in this context, greater environmental awareness among the population about the advantages of efficient waste management, notably by advising them of the merits of pre-sorting waste and the real cost of collecting household waste, as well as of the financial gain obtained from recovering this household waste;
Amendment 58 #
2001/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Considers that if the Commission, after referral by Parliament’s Committee on Petitions, delivers an opinion according to which a household-waste processing project approved by the Member States is incompatible with EU law, then implementation of this project has to be suspended until the European Union gives a ruling;
Amendment 63 #
2001/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)
Paragraph 27 a (new)
27a. Believes that to thwart criminal organisations, there needs to be close financial oversight by local and national authorities of private enterprises awarded waste processing contracts;
Amendment 69 #
2001/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Paragraph 30 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Believes that illegal dumping in the countryside of highly contaminated chemical or radioactive waste should be punished with very severe sentences commensurate with the dangers this practice poses for people and the environment;