Activities of Helga STEVENS related to 2016/2269(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
Combating inequalities as a lever to boost job creation and growth (debate) NL
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on combating inequalities as a lever to boost job creation and growth PDF (741 KB) DOC (105 KB)
Amendments (36)
Amendment 76 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas the level of inequality is shaped by institutions and political interventionsdue, inter alia, to poor policy-making;
Amendment 86 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Affirms that growing inequalities threaten the future of the European project, erode its legitimacyy is cause for concern and damages trust in the EU as an engine of social progress;
Amendment 101 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Firmly believes that the reduction of inequalities must be an institutional priority at the European levelupward convergence must be a European priority, not only in order to tackle poverty or to promote convergence, but also as the precondition for economic recovery, quality job creation and shared prosperity;
Amendment 110 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Highlights that reducing inequalities is essential to promote fairer and more stable democracies, marginalise populism and extremism and ensure that Europe is a project embraced by all its citizensmarginalise populism and extremism;
Amendment 116 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Reminds the Commission and the Member States that the European Union must fulfil its commitments under the Treacalls that the Union's objectives in terms ofclude promoting the wellbeing of its peoples, that it aims to establish a highly competitive social market economy geared to full employment and social progress, and that it promotes social justice and protection, equality between women and men, solidarity between generations, and protection of the rights of the child20; _________________ 20 Article 3 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU) and Preamble of the TFEU.
Amendment 120 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Asks the Commission and the Member States to evaluate the performance and outcomes of economic policy coordination, taking into account the evolution of social progress and social justice in the EU; warns that the European Semester has not been successful in the achievement of these aims and in reducing inequalitiesincluding the impact on poverty and social mobility in the EU;
Amendment 143 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Reiterates its cCalls for the establishment of an authentic European Pillar of Social Rights and the building of a deeper and fairer social dimension of the EMU, with the necessary legislative, institutional and financial means being devoted to guaranteeing truwhich promotes upwards convergence and can point the way forward towards growth for each Member State; calls nonetheless for the requisite respect for the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality; stresses that Member States must always be allowed sufficient flexibility to be able to pursue appropriate social progresolicies;
Amendment 163 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
Amendment 182 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Calls on the Commission to raise the funding level of the Youth Employment Initiative (YEI) for the period 2017-2020 to least EUR 21 billion, including young people under 30; calls on the Commission to ensure better implementation of the Youth Guarantee, taking into account the latest findings of the European Court of Auditors’ report on use of the YEI;
Amendment 192 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Stresses that programmes such as the Youth Guarantee and the Youth Initiative must not be a substitute for Member States’ own efforts to fight youth unemployment and promote sustainable integration into the labour market;
Amendment 195 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)
Paragraph 11 b (new)
11b. Stresses the importance of following more closely young people leaving the Youth Guarantee/Youth Initiative with a view to their lasting and efficient integration into the labour market;
Amendment 211 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Expresses its concern about the increasing number of involuntary atypical work contracts and forms of non-standard employment linked with precarious working conditions, lower wages, exploitation and poorer social security contributions, and rising inequality and exploitation;
Amendment 217 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Stresses that part-time working may be a valuable alternative to inactivity;observes that part-time working may encourage certain categories of person to participate in the labour market that are currently under-represented;
Amendment 221 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)
Paragraph 13 b (new)
13b. Observes that part-time working goes hand in hand with more flexible and family-friendly working hours;
Amendment 223 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 c (new)
Paragraph 13 c (new)
13c. Stresses that part-time formulae enable young people, for example, to gain initial experience on the labour market while they are still studying, and permit parents to combine employment with family responsibilities;
Amendment 226 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
Amendment 233 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
Amendment 242 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. ExpStresses its concern regarding the negative effects ofthat an assessment must be made of what the expected impact will be inc areasing automation due to the delay in adapting legisl where complete or partial automation, which threatens to exert downward pressure on social protection systems and wages, especially affecting low and medium-skilled workersill take place;believes, however, that this should not lead to a reactionary policy but calls for a policy based on research, reflection and selectivity;
Amendment 245 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Emphasises that developing and cultivating the right mix of skills is vital in a changing labour market;
Amendment 250 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Calls for a common approach across Member States regarding the introduction of aon Member States to introduce Minimum Income Scheme,s in order to support people with insufficient income, ease access to fundamental services, combat poverty and foster social integrationcombat poverty and promote social integration; stresses, however, that social security is primarily a matter for which Member States are responsible;
Amendment 257 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
Amendment 265 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
Amendment 273 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Emphasises that lifelong learning raises the level of skills and overcomes skills deficits, thereby contributing to better labour market outcomes and productivity;
Amendment 278 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
Amendment 291 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Calls on the Commission and the Members States to strengthenpromote workers’ rights and foster the bargaining power of employees through structural reforms of labour markets, widto work towards fair terms of employment and safe and humane working conditions; acknowledges the importance of social dialogue but stresses that in a genuing collective bargaining coverage, and promoting unionisatione democracy political decision-making must be assigned primacy;
Amendment 295 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Highlights that, in many countries, welfare and social protection systemConsiders that austerity measures are not to blame for the social malaise but indeed on the contrary are intended to provide an escape from it; stresses thave been severely unt it is vital that the Union should require its Member States to put their houses in orderm ined by austerity measures with huge consequences order to secure prosperity and wellbeing for future generations too; emphasises that a strong economic substructure ins terms of income inequalitieshe best guarantee of a social Europe based on solidarity;
Amendment 314 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Calls on the Member States to reform their welfare systems (education, health, pensions and transfers) in order to achieve more effective redistribution and promote fairer distribution, taking into account the new social risks and vulnerable groups that have arisen from the social and economic challenges confronting society;
Amendment 320 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. CRecalls on the Commission to put forward a European legal framework in line with the related ILO recommendation to guarantee every European citizen a social protection floor with universal access to healthcare, basic income security and access to the goods and services defined as necessary at national levelthat Article 36 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights stipulates that the EU recognises and respects access to services of general economic interest as provided for in national laws and practices, in order to promote the social and territorial cohesion of the Union; acknowledges the great importance that the Union attaches to public services but stresses that, under the Treaty, Member States bear primary responsibility for them;
Amendment 332 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Affirms that universal access to public, solidarity-based and adequate retirement and old-age pensions must be granted to all; calls on the Commission to support Member States in strengthening public and occupational pension systems to provide an adequate retirement income well above the poverty threshold and to allow pensioners to maintain their standard of living;
Amendment 339 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Considers that international trade has beenis an engine for growth in many countries, but also can be perceived as a source of inequalitand job creation in many countries; calls on the Commission and the Member State to promote fairer international trade agreements that respect European labour market regulations, while protecting quality employment and workers’ rights and ensuring intra-European and national mechanisms for the compensation of workers and sectors negatively affected, inter alia, provide for respect for and promotion of quality employment and workers’ rights;
Amendment 349 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Considers that serious efforts must be made to overcome the current inequality of opportunities for children and young people has damaging consequences for their wellbeing and ‘wellbecoming’ as individuals, thereby contributing to the estrangement of European youth, especially those on the wrong side of the opportunity gap; emphasises that equal opportunities must be actively promoted and that discrimination must be combated;
Amendment 354 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to step up the fight against child poverty, ensuring the coordinated implementation of the Investment in Children Initiative through the Child Guarantee scheme;
Amendment 364 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Calls on the Member States and the Commission to facilitato guarantee a common approach towards a National Child Basic Income to ensure that every child receives a minimum income, therebyccess to child benefit and thus to helping to achieve the goals of the Europe 2020 Strategy on reducing poverty and the risk of social exclusion;
Amendment 374 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
Amendment 385 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. Considers that, despite existing legislation enshrining the principle of equal pay for work of equal value by male and female workers, there is still a gender pay gap and an even greater gender pension gap; calls on the Commission and the Member States to address the gender gap challenge in pay and pensions;
Amendment 397 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
Paragraph 35