Activities of Arne GERICKE related to 2016/2095(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
A European Pillar of Social Rights (debate) DE
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on a European Pillar of Social Rights PDF (513 KB) DOC (93 KB)
Amendments (97)
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the Commission will present a proposal for a binding European Pillar of Social Rights (EPSR), which should deliver key social rights, in particular equality between women and men;
Amendment 5 #
Draft opinion
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas equality between women and men falls under the fundamental social principle of personality;
Amendment 8 #
Draft opinion
Recital A b (new)
Recital A b (new)
Ab. whereas the upbringing of children by parents, in particular mothers, is an important and – in the truest sense of the word – priceless social contribution to the future of Europe;
Amendment 56 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 15 a (new)
Citation 15 a (new)
– having regard to Eurofound’s European Industrial Relation Dictionary,
Amendment 57 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 16
Citation 16
Amendment 57 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Urges the Commission, with a view to recognising the social contribution made by parents, to come forward with a package of legislative and non-legislative measures regarding work- life balance with a view to achieving gender equality, including revising the directives on maternity and parental leave and proposing directives on paternity and carers’ leave;
Amendment 94 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the European Union needs a paradigm shift towards a strong European social model based onconsists of 28 social models all of which to seek to deliver solidarity, social justice, a fair distribution of wealth, gender equality, a high-quality public education system, quality employment and sustainable growth - a model that ensures; whereas the EU can add value to these models by supporting and encouraging new initiatives that will deliver good social protection for all, empowers vulnerable groups, enhances participation in civil and political life, and improves the living standards for all citizens, delivering on the objectives and rights set out in the EU Treaties, the Charter of Fundamental Rights and the European Social Charter;
Amendment 102 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the European Union needs a paradigm shift towards a strong European social modelalready has the highest social standards in the world based on solidarity, social justice, a fair distribution of wealth, gender equality, a high-quality public education system, quality employment and sustainable growth - a model that ensures good social protection for all, empowers vulnerable groups, enhances participation in civil and political life, and improves the living standards for all citizens, delivering on the objectives and rights set out in the EU Treaties, the Charter of Fundamental Rights and the European Social Charter;
Amendment 116 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas human dignity and personality are already a supporting pillar of the European social model and people are at the centre of all government and economic activity; whereas a success- oriented economy ultimately always puts its sustainable economic activity as the fundamental idea of the social market economy in services to people and whereas people must be the benchmark for everything in the economic, social and political activity of Europe;
Amendment 130 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the Commission is expected to come forwhas set out that the purpose of the Social Pillard ins the spring of 2017 with a proposal for a binding European Pillar of Social Righto support well-functioning and fair labour markets and welfare systems within the Eurozone Member States;
Amendment 146 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. Whereas the provision and management of social security systems are a Member State competence which the Union coordinates but does not harmonise;
Amendment 152 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B b (new)
Recital B b (new)
Bb. Whereas the setting of wages is a Member State competence;
Amendment 159 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Emphasises that the European Pillar of Social Rights (EPSR) cannot be limited to a declaration of principles or good intentions but must consist of real matter (legislation, policy-making mechanisms and financial instruments), delivering positive impact on citizens’ lives in the short term and enabling support for European construction in the 21st century by effectively upholding social rights and Treaty objectives, strengthening cohesion and upward convergence, and helping to complete EMUhelp to measure the employment and social performance of participating Member States, to drive reforms at national level and, to drive convergence within Eurozone Member States;
Amendment 165 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Emphasises that the European Pillar of Social Rights (EPSR) cannot be limited to a declaration of principles or good intentions but must consist of real matter (legislation, policy-making mechanisms and financial instruments), delivering positive impact on citizens’ lives in the short term and enabling support for European construction in the 21st centurypolicy- coordinating instruments to foster national reforms towards stronger labour markets, better political conditions for job creation and sustainable social systems by effectively upholding social rights and Treaty objectives, strengthening cohesion and upward convergence, and helping to complete EMU;
Amendment 173 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Emphasises that the European Pillar of Social Rights (EPSR) cannot be limited to a declaration of principles or good intentions but builds on basic principles such as personality, solidarity, subsidiarity, sustainability and must consist of real matter (legislation, policy- making mechanisms and financial instruments), delivering positive impact on citizens’ lives in the short term and enabling support for European construction in the 21st century by effectively upholding social rights and Treaty objectives, strengthening cohesion and upward convergence, and helping to complete EMU;
Amendment 191 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Highlights that the EPSR should take the principle of subsidiarity seriously, equip European citizens with stronger means to keep control over their lives and make markets work for wellbeing and sustainable development; stresses, in that connection, that the contribution that individuals can make on their own initiative and power should not be taken away; subsidiarity means: that which can be provided by small and subsidiary communities should not be undertaken by larger communities; larger communities have a duty to support subsidiary communities and individuals with the aim of helping them to help themselves;
Amendment 203 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Whereas the European social model already essentially builds on the following content and principles: the social responsibility of ownership, social justice and equal opportunities, upholding women’s rights, global division of assets and resources, joint responsibility and participation in companies, balance of interests between capital and labour, protection of families and acquisition of assets by employees;
Amendment 223 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 1
Subheading 1
Amendment 224 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 1
Subheading 1
Amendment 228 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
Amendment 235 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Calls for the enactment of a directive on fair working conditions for all forms of employment, ensuring for every worker a core set of enforceable rights, including equal treatment, social protection, protection in case of dismissal, health and safety protection, provisions on working time and rest time, freedom of association and representation, collective bargaining, collective action, access to training, and adequate information and consultation rights; underlines that this directive should apply to employees as well as to all workers in non-standard forms of employment, such as fixed-term work, part-time work, on-demand work, self-employment, crowd-working, internship or traineeship; requests that the EUsupports national assessments of the implementation of existing instruments on sustainable and fair working conditions for all forms of employment, social protection, protection in case of dismissal, health and safety protection, provisions on working time, work-life-balance and rest time, access to training, and adequate information and consultation rights; recommends that the existing social acquis be updatis assessed accordingly so as to apply to all workersand be promoted;
Amendment 260 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Recognises the Commissions intention to modernise the existing acquis; believes that in the context of the Better Regulation Agenda, it is important to ensure that EU legislation remains fit for purpose given the rapid change of the world of work, societal developments and scientific knowledge over the last decade;
Amendment 265 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Calls for full implementation of the binding principles of the social market economy for the whole of Europe under Article 3 of the Treaty of Lisbon;
Amendment 267 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. Stresses the need for socially responsible activity by all as the foundation of an active social pillar and the meaning of the ‘honourable merchant’ ideal as a European model for responsible participation in economic life - characterised by awareness of responsibilities by individual companies, for society and for the environment; an ‘honourable merchant’ bases his behaviour on virtues which aim to produce long-term economic success without going against the interests of society; he conducts his business sustainably;
Amendment 268 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. Considers that, where the need for action at EU level in the area of employment and social affairs has been clearly identified and fully respects the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality, that a set of indicators to identify the full compliance costs as well as administrative costs of any such legislative act should be applied in order to better assess its impact;
Amendment 271 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 2
Subheading 2
Amendment 277 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 – introductory part
Paragraph 4 – introductory part
4. Calls for decisive steps towards legal certainty on what constitutes ‘employment’, also for work intermediated by digital platforms; underlines that open-ended contracts should remain the norm githe Commission to use measures including the use of benchmarks, and to review, update and improven their importance for socio-economic security; calls for the directive on fair working conditions to include relevant minimum standards to be ensured in more precarious forms of employment, in particular: enforcement of existing pieces of legislation in order to help Member States address the emerging opportunities and challenges;
Amendment 280 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 – introductory part
Paragraph 4 – introductory part
4. Calls for decisive steps towardsmore legal certainty on what constitutes ‘employment’, also for work intermediated by digital platforms; underlines that open- ended contracts should remain the norm given their importance for socio-economic security; calls for the directive on fair working conditions to include relevant minimum standards to be ensured in more precarious forms of employment, in particular:
Amendment 298 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 – point a
Paragraph 4 – point a
Amendment 300 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 – point a
Paragraph 4 – point a
Amendment 319 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 – point b
Paragraph 4 – point b
Amendment 320 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 – point b
Paragraph 4 – point b
Amendment 335 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 – point c
Paragraph 4 – point c
Amendment 336 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 – point c
Paragraph 4 – point c
Amendment 357 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Emphasises the need for renewedHighlights the Commissions intention to promote upward social convergence in wages throughout the EU; calls on the Commission to actively support a wider coverage for collective bargaining;encourage Member States to considers that to ensure decente benefits of developing policies on living wages, and minimum wages set at a decent level are necessary; recommends the establishment of national wage floors through legislation or collective bargaining, with the objective of attaining at least 60 % of the respe; Stresses the importance of the exchange of best practivce national average wagein this regard;
Amendment 360 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Emphasises the need for renewed upward convergence in wages throughout the EU; calls on the Commission to actively support a wider coverage for collective bargaining; considers that to ensure decent living wages, minimum wages set at a decent level are necessary; recommends the establishment of national wage floors through legislation or collective bargaining, with the objective of attaining at least 60 % of the respective national average wagesocial dialogue on national level as a contribution to subsidiarity and more prosperity;
Amendment 387 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
Amendment 404 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Eagerly awaits the outcome of the public consultation on the Working Time Directive; believes that the Commission should produce its detailed impact assessment on the Directive as a matter of urgency;
Amendment 407 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Stresses the importance of collective rights; expects the Commission to step up concrete support for strengthening social dialogue in Member States and sectors where it is weak owing to the prolonged crisis or the prevalence of non-standard forms of employmentEncourages the Commission to work with Member States to promote both competitiveness and fairness by for example strengthening social dialogue;
Amendment 447 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Supports more integrated provisRecalls the existing coordination of social protection benefits and social services as a way to make the welfare state more understandable and accessible while not weakening social protection; points to the importance of informing citizens about social rights and to the potential of e- government solutions, possibly including a European social security card, which could improve individual awareness and also help mobile workers clarify their contributions and entitlements;
Amendment 461 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Calls on the Commission to introduce a clear distinction between workers, job seekers and the economically inactive based on recent Court of Justice case law, which upheld the fundamental principle that the right to freedom of movement does not give automatic entitlement to social benefits;
Amendment 506 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
Amendment 532 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Calls for a European framework for minimum income schemes; highlights the importance of such schemes for maintaining human dignity as well as their role as a form of social investments enabling people to undertake training and/or look for workNotes that the value of human work ultimately rests with the person who performs it and human work always maintains an inherent dignity; which means that this understanding of work's inherent dignity has a number of important implications for European corporations;
Amendment 537 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Calls for a European framework forMember States to consider the strong socio-economic arguments in favour of introducing minimum income schemes; highlights the importance of such schemes for maintaining human dignity as well as their role as a form of social investments enabling people to undertake training and/or look for work;
Amendment 570 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
Amendment 588 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Considers child poverty to be a major issue on which Europe should ‘act big’; calls for the swift implementation of a Child Guarantee in all Member States, so that every child now living in poverty can have access to free healthcare, free education, free childcare, decent housing and proper nutritionthe Member States and the EU should take urgent action; Reminds the Commission and the Member States of the EU agenda for the rights of the child which includes 11 concrete actions where the EU can contribute in an effective way to children's well-being and safety;
Amendment 609 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
Amendment 625 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Stresses the particular social vulnerability of families, which are the fundamental unit of society and the starting point for subsidiary action; calls for particular account to be taken of the justified concerns of parents, for recognition of what they contribute to society, and for a non-legislative family strategy summarising all family needs and circumstances;
Amendment 629 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
Amendment 652 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Supports a Skills Guarantee as a new right for everyone to acquire fundamental skills for the 21st century,Calls on Member States, local and regional authorities to identify a broad range of emerging industries and key growth sectors on which Member States should focus on developing their skills base including digital literacy; highlights this as an important social investment, requiring adequate financing;
Amendment 673 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
Amendment 678 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 – introductory part
Paragraph 19 – introductory part
19. Is alarmed at the spread of precariousness arising from the excessive use of ‘atypical’ contracts; stresses the importance of ensuring sufficient institutional and budgetary capacities to providestresses the importance of adequate protection for people in non-standard forms of employment; considers in particular that:
Amendment 690 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 – point a
Paragraph 19 – point a
Amendment 696 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 – point a
Paragraph 19 – point a
a. member states provide adequate social insurance schemes must be broadened in order to enable all workers to accumulate entitlements providing income securiprotection against poverty in situations such as unemployment, involuntary part-time work or career breaks for family or training reasons;
Amendment 700 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 – point a
Paragraph 19 – point a
a. social insurance schemes must be broadened in order to enable all workers to accumulate entitlements providing income security in situations such as unemployment, involuntary part-time work or career breaks for family or training reasons; calls for recognition of the work parents do when raising children;
Amendment 705 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 – point b
Paragraph 19 – point b
Amendment 715 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Highlights that flexibility in the labour market must not come at the cost of worker rights; believes that balancing workers protection with the ability for individuals and employers to voluntarily agree ways of working that suit both their needs will increase levels of participation from groups that might otherwise have been excluded from the labour market;
Amendment 742 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 – introductory part
Paragraph 22 – introductory part
22. Considers that decisive progress is urgently needed in the area of genderthe equality of men and women and work-life family-balance; in particular:
Amendment 744 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 – introductory part
Paragraph 22 – introductory part
22. Considers that decisive progress is urgently needed in the area of gender equality between women and men and work-life balance; in particular:
Amendment 752 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 – point a
Paragraph 22 – point a
a. Directive 2006/54/EC should be reviassessed in order to strengthen existing mechanisms to ensure equal treatment between men and women, close persisting gender gaps in pay and pensions and reduce occupational segregation;
Amendment 757 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 – point b
Paragraph 22 – point b
Amendment 770 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 – point b a (new)
Paragraph 22 – point b a (new)
ba. society must fully acknowledge the work parents do when raising children and their essential contribution to Europe’s demographic development;
Amendment 779 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Calls on the Commission to set out new concretegether with the Member States to consider policy measures to ensure non- discrimination and equal opportunities;
Amendment 837 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Calls on the Commission to propose a clear roadmap that fully reflects the outcome of the public consultation and to consider the need for legislative updates, withdrawals and other measures that are necessary for full practical application of the EPSR; highlights that in cases of conflict of law, the horizontal social clause (Article 9 TFEU) should be properly applied;
Amendment 854 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 – introductory part
Paragraph 26 – introductory part
26. Considers that the objective of upward social convergence should be underpinned by a set of targets, building on the Europe 2020 strategy and the Sustainable Development Goals and serving to guide the coordination of economic, employment and social policies in the EU; believes that these targets could also form part of the Convergence Code currently being discussed for the euro area, and could be based on the following indicators which are directly affected by public policies:
Amendment 856 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 – introductory part
Paragraph 26 – introductory part
26. Considers that the objective of upward social convergence should be underpinned by a set of targets, building on the Europe 2020 strategy and the Sustainable Development Goals and serving to guide the coordination of economic, employment and social policies in the EUparticipating Member States; believes that these targets could also form part of the Convergence Code currently being discussed for the euro area, and could be based on the following indicators which are directly affected by public policies:;
Amendment 865 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 – point a
Paragraph 26 – point a
Amendment 873 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 – point b
Paragraph 26 – point b
Amendment 879 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 – point c
Paragraph 26 – point c
Amendment 884 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 – point d
Paragraph 26 – point d
d. the at-risk-of-poverty raelete;d
Amendment 890 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 – point e
Paragraph 26 – point e
Amendment 897 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 – point f
Paragraph 26 – point f
Amendment 899 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 – point g
Paragraph 26 – point g
Amendment 907 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 – point h
Paragraph 26 – point h
Amendment 914 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 – point i
Paragraph 26 – point i
Amendment 918 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 – point j
Paragraph 26 – point j
Amendment 934 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Calls for a rebStresses that social ancing of the European Semester so thatd economic aspects shall not be assessed separately, therefore refers to the existing scoreboard of key employment and social indicators and the new Convergence Code are directly taken into account in formulating CSRs and the euro area recommendation as well as for the activation of EU instruments; urges a stronger role for the Macroeconomic Dialogue with social partners; considers ‘macro-social surveillance’ to be of great importance for avoiding that economic imbalances are reduced at the expense of worsening the employment and social situation;
Amendment 935 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Calls for a rebalancing of the European Semester so that the existing scoreboard of key employment and social indicators and the new Convergence Code are directly taken into account in formulating CSRs and the euro area recommendation as well as for the activation of EU instruments; urges a stronger role for the Macroeconomic Dialogue with social partners; considers ‘macro-social surveillance’ to be of great importance for avoiding that economic imbalances are reduced at the expense of worsening the employment and social situationfor the participating Member States;
Amendment 951 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
Amendment 970 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
Amendment 986 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 – introductory part
Paragraph 30 – introductory part
30. Reiterates its call for the raising of the MFF 2014-20 ceilings in Believes that in the context of the on-going review of the MFF 2014 - 2020 that the principle of European added value must represent the cordner sto cope with increased needs; calls, in particular, for:ne of all expenditures and that EU funding should not be used to subsidise national approaches but to complement and enhance national programmes, reflecting a performance-based public budgeting model in which each budget line is accompanied by objectives and outputs to be measured;
Amendment 996 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 – point a
Paragraph 30 – point a
Amendment 1001 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 – point b
Paragraph 30 – point b
Amendment 1010 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 – point c
Paragraph 30 – point c
Amendment 1042 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
Amendment 1043 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
Amendment 1054 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 – point a
Paragraph 32 – point a
Amendment 1056 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 – point a
Paragraph 32 – point a
Amendment 1066 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 – point b
Paragraph 32 – point b
Amendment 1071 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 – point b
Paragraph 32 – point b
Amendment 1084 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
Paragraph 33
Amendment 1085 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
Paragraph 33
Amendment 1086 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
Paragraph 33
Amendment 1094 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
Paragraph 34
34. Calls on the Commission, the EEAS and theparticipating Member States to translate the EPSR into relevant external action, in particular by promoting the implementation of the UN SDGs, the ILO conventions and European social standards through trade agreements and strategic partnerships;
Amendment 1096 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
Paragraph 34
34. Calls on the Commission, the EEAS and the Member States to translate the EPSR into relevant external action, in particular by promotinge the implementation of the UN SDGs, the ILO conventions and European social standards through trade agreements and strategic partnerships;
Amendment 1103 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
Paragraph 35
35. Considers that the EPSR should be adopted in 2017 as a binding agreement between the European Parliament and the European Council, involving social partners at the highest level, and should before any initiatives are proposed under the EPSR, the outcome of the public consultation must be genuinely taken into accountain a clear roadmap for implementation, with concrete commitments and target dates and must fully respect the principle of subsidiarity;
Amendment 1109 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
Paragraph 35
35. Considers that the EPSR should be adopted in 2017 as a bindingn agreement between the European Parliament and the European Council, involving social partners at the highestregional, national and the European level, and should contain a clear roadmap for implementation, with concrete commitments and target dates;