Activities of Laura AGEA related to 2017/0305(NLE)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on the proposal for a Council decision on guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States PDF (230 KB) DOC (97 KB)
Amendments (24)
Amendment 37 #
Draft legislative resolution
Citation 4 a (new)
Citation 4 a (new)
- having regard to the report of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (A8-0205/2015),
Amendment 38 #
Draft legislative resolution
Citation 4 b (new)
Citation 4 b (new)
- having regard to the report of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (A8-0247/2016),
Amendment 39 #
Draft legislative resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Asks the Council to consult Parliament again if it intends to amend the Commission proposal substantially;
Amendment 40 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 1 a (new)
Recital 1 a (new)
(1a) The Council has chosen not to take into consideration the clear and explicit guidance provided by Parliament in 2015 and 2016 on the proposal for a Council decision on guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States, weakening cooperation between the Union institutions and thus strengthening the 'democratic deficit' as far as citizens are concerned.
Amendment 44 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 1
Recital 1
(1) Member States and the Union are to work towards developing adevelop an effective and coordinated strategy for employment and particularly for promoting a skilled, trained and adaptable workforce and labour markets responsive to economicn inclusive labour market and a skilled and trained workforce responsive to economic, social and environmental change, and with a view to achieving the objectives of full employment and social progress objectives set out in Article 3 of the Treaty on European Union. Member States, taking into account national practices related to the responsibilities of management and labour, are to regard promoting employment as a matter of common concern and coordinate their action in this respect within the Council.
Amendment 49 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) The Union is to combat all forms of poverty, social exclusion and discrimination and promote social justice and protection, as well as equality between women and men. In defining and implementing its policies and activities, the Union is to take into account requirements linked to the promotion of a high level of employment, the guarantee of adequate social protection, the fight against poverty and social exclusion, and a high level of education and training.
Amendment 53 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) In accordance with the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), the Union has developed and implemented policy coordination instruments for fiscal, macroeconomic and structural policies that have had adverse effects in certain Member States, resulting in insecurity, poverty and inequality. As part of these instruments, the present Guidelines for the Employment Policies of the Member States, together with the Broad Guidelines for the Economic Policies of the Member States and of the Union set out in Council Recommendation (EU) 2015/1184, form the Integrated Guidelines for Implementing the Europe 2020 strategy. They are to guide policy implementation in the Member States and in the Union, reflecting the interdependence between the Member States. The resulting set of coordinated European and nationalobjective is to implement socially responsible policies and reforms are to constitute, so as to obtain an appropriate overall economic and social policy mix which should achieveith positive spill-over effects for all Member States.
Amendment 61 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) The Guidelines for the Employment Policies are consistent with the Stability and Growth PactEuropean Pillar of Social Rights, the existing European Union legislation and various EU initiatives, including the Council recommendation on establishing a Youth Guarantee1, the Council Recommendation on the integration of the long-term unemployed into the labour market2, the Council Recommendation on Upskilling Pathways3 and the proposal for a Council Recommendation on a European Framework for Quality and Effective Apprenticeships4. _________________ 1 2 3OJ C 120, 26.4.2013, p. 1. OJ C 120, 26.4.2013, p. 1. 2 OJ C 67, 20.2.2016, p. 1. OJ C 67, 20.2.2016, p. 1. 3 OJ C 484, 24.12.2016, p. 1. OJ C 484, 24.12.2016, p. 1. 4 COM/2017/0563 final – 2017/0244 (NLE).
Amendment 63 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 4 a (new)
Recital 4 a (new)
(4a) To ensure a more democratic decision making on the integrated guidelines, which affect the citizens and labour markets across the Union, it is important that both the employment guidelines and the broad economic guidelines are decided upon by the European Parliament and the Council.
Amendment 66 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) The European Semester combines the different instruments in an overarching framework for integrated multilateral surveillance of economic, budgetary, employment and social policies and aims to achieve the Europe 2020 targets, including those concerning employment, education and poverty reduction, as set out in Council Decision 2010/707/EU5. Since 2015, the European Semester has been continuously reinforced and streamlined, notablyimproved in order to strengthen its employment and social focus and to facilitate more dialogue with the Member States, social partners and representatives of civil society. _________________ 5However, much still remains to be done to achieve the goals set for it. _________________ 5 OJ L 308, 24.11.2010, p. 46. OJ L 308, 24.11.2010, p. 46.
Amendment 72 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 6
Recital 6
(6) The European Union’s recovery from the economic crisis is supporting positive labour market trends, but important challenges and disparities in economic and social performance remain between and within Member States. The crisis underscored the close interdependence of the Member States' economies and labour markets. Ensuring that the Union progresses to a state of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth and, accompanied by sustainable and quality job creation is the key challenge faced today. This requires coordinated, ambitious and effective policy action at both Union and national levels, in accordance with the TFEU and the Union's provisions on economic governance. Combining supply- and demand-side measures, such policy action should encompass a boost to investment, especially in the circular economy and the green economy, a renewed commitment to appropriately sequenced structuralocially responsible reforms that improve productivity, growth performance, social cohesion and economic resilience in the face of shocks and the exercise of fiscal responsibility, while taking into account their employment and social impact.
Amendment 76 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) Reforms to the labour market, including the national wage-setting mechanisms, should follow national practices of social dialogue and allow the necessary opportunity for a broad consideration of socioeconomic issues, including improvements in competitiveness, sustainable and quality job creation, life-long learning and training policies as well as real incomes.
Amendment 92 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) The Employment Committee and the Social Protection Committee should monitor how the relevant policies are implemented in the light of the guidelines for employment policies, in line with their respective Treaty-based mandates. These committees and other Council preparatory bodies involved in the coordination of economic and social policies should work together closely, with the European Parliament to ensure democratic accountability.
Amendment 96 #
Proposal for a decision
Annex I – part 1 – paragraph 1
Annex I – part 1 – paragraph 1
Member States should facilitate the creation of sustainable quality jobs, including by reducing the bureaucratic barriers that businesses face in hiring people, by promoting entrepreneurship and self-employment and, in particular, by supporting the creation and growth of micro and small enterprises. Member States should actively promote the social economy and the green economy and the circular economy and foster social innovation.
Amendment 102 #
Proposal for a decision
Annex I – part 1 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Annex I – part 1 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Member States should cut red tape in order to ease the burden on small and medium-sized enterprises, as they contribute significantly to job creation.
Amendment 103 #
Proposal for a decision
Annex I – part 1 – paragraph 3
Annex I – part 1 – paragraph 3
The tax burden should be shifted away from labour toMember States should endeavour to reduce the tax burden on labour, in favour of other sources of taxation that are less detrimental to employment and growth such as fossil fuels taxation, for example, taking account of the redistributive effect of the tax system, while protecting revenue for adequate social protection and growth- enhancing expenditure, including investment in public services.
Amendment 112 #
Proposal for a decision
Annex I – part 2 – paragraph 1
Annex I – part 2 – paragraph 1
In the context of technological, environmental and demographic change, Member States, in cooperation with social partners, should promote productivity and employability through an appropriate supply of relevant knowledge, cross- cutting skills and competences throughout people's working lives, responding to current and future labour market needs. Member States should make the necessary investment in both initial and continuing education and training, including non- formal and informal learning. They should work together with social partners, education and training providers and other stakeholders to address structural weaknesses in education and training systems, to provide innovative, quality and inclusive education, training and life-long learning. They should ensure the transfer of training entitlements during professional transitions. This should allow everyone better to anticipate and adapt to labour market needs and successfully manage transitions, thus strengthening the overall resilience of the economy to shocks.
Amendment 129 #
Proposal for a decision
Annex I – part 2 – paragraph 4
Annex I – part 2 – paragraph 4
Tax reforms to shift taxes away from labour should aim to remove barriers and disexcessive bureaucracy and provide incentives tofor participation in the labour market, in particular for those furthest away from the labour market. Member States should support an adapted work environment for people with disabilities, including targeted financial support actions and services that enable them to participate in the labour market and in society.
Amendment 133 #
Proposal for a decision
Annex I – part 2 – paragraph 5
Annex I – part 2 – paragraph 5
Barriers to participation and career progression should be eliminated to ensure gender equality and increased labour market participation of women, including through equal pay for equal work. The reconciliation of work and family life should be promotguaranteed, in particular through access to long-term care and affordable qualityaffordable quality services, such as long-term care and early childhood education and care. Member States should ensure that parents and other people with caring responsibilities have access to suitable family leaves and flexible working arrangements, such as teleworking and smart working, in order to balance work and private life, and promote a balanced use of these entitlements between women and men.
Amendment 139 #
Proposal for a decision
Annex I – part 3 – paragraph 3
Annex I – part 3 – paragraph 3
Member States should provide the unemployed with adequate unemployment benefits of reasonable durationsufficient duration to enable recipients to find a new job, in line with their contributions and national eligibility rules. Such benefits should not constitute a disincentive to a quickbe accompanied by incentives for a swift return to quality employment.
Amendment 144 #
Proposal for a decision
Annex I – part 3 – paragraph 4
Annex I – part 3 – paragraph 4
The mobility of learners and workers should be promotedensured as a fundamental right and as a matter of free choice with the aim of enhancing employability skills and exploiting the full potential of the European labour market. Barriers to mobility in education and training, in occupational and personal pensions and in the effective recognition of qualifications and skills should be removed. Member States should take action to ensure that administrative procedures are not a blocking or complicating factor for workers from other Member States in taking up active employment. Member States should also prevent abuses of the existing rules and address potential ‘brain drain’ from certain regions.
Amendment 154 #
Proposal for a decision
Annex I – part 4 – paragraph 1
Annex I – part 4 – paragraph 1
Member States should combat all forms of discrimination and promote inclusive labour markets, open to all, by putting in place effective measures to promote equal opportunities for under-represented groups in the labour market. They should ensure equal treatment regarding employment, social protection, education and access to goods and services, regardless of gender, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation.
Amendment 159 #
Proposal for a decision
Annex I – part 4 – paragraph 2
Annex I – part 4 – paragraph 2
Member States should modernisimprove social protection systems to provide effective, efficient and adequate social protection throughout all stages of an individual's life, fostering social inclusion and upward social mobility, incentivising labour market participation and addressing inequalities, including through the design of their tax and benefit systems. The improvement and modernisation of social protection systems should lead to better accessibility, sustainability, adequacy and quality.
Amendment 172 #
Proposal for a decision
Annex I – part 4 – paragraph 6
Annex I – part 4 – paragraph 6
In a context of increasing longevity and demographic change, Member States should secure the sustainability and adequacy of pension systems for women and men, providing equal opportunities for workers and the self-employed, of both sexes, to acquire pension rights, including through supplementary schemes to ensure living in dignity. Pension reforms should not be supported by measures that extend working lives and subsequently raise the effective retirement age, such as limiting early exit from the labour market and increasing the statutory retirement age to reflect life expectancy gai. It is necessary to give workers greater freedom of choice, within certain limits, regarding age and seniority in employment to be reached before retirement, encouraging an intergenerational handover to a younger intake as a means of reducing working hours for those who are close to retirement. This provides a way of encouraging youth employment, while preparing older workers for retirement and ensuring a transfer of knowledge and experience between generations. Members States should establish a constructive dialogue with the relevant stakeholders, and allow an appropriate phasing in of the reforms.