BETA

Activities of Cindy FRANSSEN

Plenary speeches (65)

Fight against cancer (topical debate)
2019/09/18
High-level UN political declaration on Universal Health Coverage (debate)
2019/10/23
Children rights in occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Convention of the Rights of the Child (debate)
2019/11/13
EU accession to the Istanbul Convention and other measures to combat gender-based violence (debate)
2019/11/25
Dossiers: 2019/0132(NLE)
EU disability strategy post 2020 (debate)
2019/12/17
Enabling the digital transformation of health and care (debate)
2019/12/17
Dossiers: 2019/2804(RSP)
Gender pay gap (debate)
2020/01/13
“Housing First” as urgent action to address the situation of homeless people in Europe (debate)
2020/01/13
Sustainable investment plan, just transition fund and Roadmap on Social Europe (debate)
2020/01/14
A social Europe in a Digital world (topical debate)
2020/02/12
Gender Equality Strategy (debate)
2020/02/12
The EU priorities for the 64th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (debate)
2020/02/12
Dossiers: 2019/2967(RSP)
Vaccines and therapeutics in the context of Covid-19 (debate)
2020/05/14
Conference on the Future of Europe (debate)
2020/06/17
Dossiers: 2020/2657(RSP)
The EU’s public health strategy post-COVID-19 (continuation of debate)
2020/07/08
Dossiers: 2020/2691(RSP)
State of the Union (topical debate) (continuation of debate)
2020/09/16
Women in decision making on company boards, including the state of play on the directive on improving the gender balance among non-executive directors of companies listed on stock exchanges and related measures (debate)
2020/10/05
The impact of Covid-19 outbreak on long-term care facilities (debate)
2020/10/08
EU measures to mitigate social and economic impact of Covid-19 (debate)
2020/10/21
Programme for the Union's action in the field of health for the period 2021-2027 (“EU4Health Programme”) (debate)
2020/11/12
Dossiers: 2020/0102(COD)
Pharmaceutical strategy for Europe (debate)
2020/11/26
Preparation of an EU Strategy on COVID-19 vaccination, including its external dimension (debate)
2020/12/16
EU global strategy on COVID-19 vaccinations (debate)
2021/01/19
Decent and affordable housing for all (debate)
2021/01/20
Dossiers: 2019/2187(INI)
The gender perspective in the COVID-19 crisis and post-crisis period - The EU Strategy for Gender Equality - Closing the digital gender gap: women’s participation in the digital economy (continuation of debate)
2021/01/21
Dossiers: 2020/2021(INI)
Reducing inequalities with a special focus on in-work poverty (debate)
2021/02/08
Dossiers: 2019/2188(INI)
Challenges ahead for women’s rights: more than 25 years after the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (continuation of debate)
2021/02/10
Dossiers: 2021/2509(RSP)
Action Plan for the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights, in preparation of the Social Summit in Porto in May (debate)
2021/03/10
Turkey’s withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention (debate)
2021/03/25
European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) 2021-2027 (debate)
2021/04/27
European Child Guarantee (debate)
2021/04/28
Dossiers: 2021/2605(RSP)
Impacts of EU rules on the free movements of workers and services: intra-EU labour mobility as a tool to match labour market needs and skills (debate)
2021/05/17
Dossiers: 2020/2007(INI)
European Solidarity Corps Programme (debate)
2021/05/18
Meeting the Global COVID-19 challenge: effects of waiver of the WTO TRIPS agreement on COVID-19 vaccines, treatment, equipment and increasing production and manufacturing capacity in developing countries (debate)
2021/05/19
European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) 2021-2027 (continuation of debate)
2021/06/08
Dossiers: 2018/0258(COD)
Follow-up of the Porto Social Summit of 7 May 2021 (debate)
2021/06/09
Women in politics – combatting online abuse (debate)
2021/06/09
European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control - Serious cross-border threats to health (debate)
2021/09/13
Dossiers: 2020/0322(COD)
Identifying gender-based violence as a new area of crime listed in Article 83(1) TFEU (debate)
2021/09/15
Dossiers: 2021/2035(INL)
Protecting workers from asbestos (debate)
2021/10/18
Dossiers: 2019/2182(INL)
The Right to a Healthy Environment (debate)
2021/10/19
European framework for employees' participation rights and the revision of the European Works Council Directive (debate)
2021/12/14
Dossiers: 2021/2005(INI)
The European Commission Guidelines on inclusive language (topical debate)
2021/12/15
Empowering European Youth: post-pandemic employment and social recovery (debate)
2022/01/20
Dossiers: 2021/2952(RSP)
Strengthening Europe in the fight against cancer(debate)
2022/02/15
Dossiers: 2020/2267(INI)
The EU priorities for the 66th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (continuation of debate)
2022/02/16
Dossiers: 2022/2536(RSP)
Protection of workers from the risks relating to exposure to carcinogens, mutagens and reprotoxins at work (debate)
2022/02/17
Dossiers: 2020/0262(COD)
A new EU strategic framework on health and safety at work post 2020 (debate)
2022/03/09
Dossiers: 2021/2165(INI)
Amending Annexes IV and V to Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 on persistent organic pollutants (debate)
2022/05/02
Dossiers: 2021/0340(COD)
The impact of the war against Ukraine on women (debate)
2022/05/05
Dossiers: 2022/2633(RSP)
Revision of the EU Emissions Trading System - Social Climate Fund - Carbon border adjustment mechanism - Revision of the EU Emissions Trading System for aviation - Notification under the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) (joint debate – Fit for 55 (part 1))
2022/06/07
Dossiers: 2021/0204(COD)
Common European action on care (debate)
2022/07/05
Dossiers: 2021/2253(INI)
EU action plan for the social economy (debate)
2022/07/05
Dossiers: 2021/2179(INI)
Adequate minimum wages in the European Union (debate)
2022/09/13
Dossiers: 2020/0310(COD)
International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (debate)
2022/10/17
Mental health (debate)
2022/10/18
Gender balance among non-executive directors of companies listed on stock exchanges (debate)
2022/11/22
Dossiers: 2012/0299(COD)
A need for a dedicated budget to turn the Child Guarantee into reality - an urgency in times of energy and food crisis (debate)
2022/12/13
Adequate minimum income ensuring active inclusion (debate)
2023/03/14
Dossiers: 2022/2840(RSP)
Keeping people healthy, water drinkable and soil liveable: getting rid of forever pollutants and strengthening EU chemical legislation now (topical debate)
2023/04/19
Roadmap on a Social Europe: two years after Porto (debate)
2023/05/10
Improving firefighters’ working conditions (debate)
2023/09/14
Dossiers: 2023/2701(RSP)
Rising precariousness in Europe including the need for aid to the most deprived (debate)
2023/10/02
Protection of workers from asbestos (debate)
2023/10/02
Dossiers: 2022/0298(COD)
Decent Housing for All (topical debate)
2023/10/04

Shadow reports (9)

REPORT on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) No 1309/2013 on the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (2014-2020)
2019/10/04
Committee: EMPL
Dossiers: 2019/0180(COD)
Documents: PDF(170 KB) DOC(70 KB)
Authors: [{'name': 'Vilija BLINKEVIČIŪTĖ', 'mepid': 96681}]
REPORT on the EU Strategy for Gender Equality
2020/11/25
Committee: FEMM
Dossiers: 2019/2169(INI)
Documents: PDF(323 KB) DOC(137 KB)
Authors: [{'name': 'Maria NOICHL', 'mepid': 124836}]
REPORT on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2004/37/EC on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to carcinogens or mutagens at work
2021/04/07
Committee: EMPL
Dossiers: 2020/0262(COD)
Documents: PDF(331 KB) DOC(140 KB)
Authors: [{'name': 'Stefania ZAMBELLI', 'mepid': 197586}]
RECOMMENDATION FOR SECOND READING on the Council position at first reading with a view to the adoption of a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers (EGF) and repealing Regulation (EU) No 1309/2013
2021/04/26
Committee: EMPL
Dossiers: 2018/0202(COD)
Documents: PDF(170 KB) DOC(50 KB)
Authors: [{'name': 'Vilija BLINKEVIČIŪTĖ', 'mepid': 96681}]
REPORT with recommendations to the Commission on identifying gender-based violence as a new area of crime listed in Article 83(1) TFEU
2021/07/22
Committee: FEMMLIBE
Dossiers: 2021/2035(INL)
Documents: PDF(243 KB) DOC(95 KB)
Authors: [{'name': 'Diana RIBA I GINER', 'mepid': 197832}, {'name': 'Malin BJÖRK', 'mepid': 124992}]
REPORT with recommendations to the Commission on protecting workers from asbestos
2021/10/01
Committee: EMPL
Dossiers: 2019/2182(INL)
Documents: PDF(353 KB) DOC(138 KB)
Authors: [{'name': 'Nikolaj VILLUMSEN', 'mepid': 197571}]
REPORT on a new EU strategic framework on health and safety at work post 2020 (including better protection of workers from exposure to harmful substances, stress at work and repetitive motion injuries)
2022/02/09
Committee: EMPL
Dossiers: 2021/2165(INI)
Documents: PDF(254 KB) DOC(93 KB)
Authors: [{'name': 'Marianne VIND', 'mepid': 199941}]
REPORT on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2009/148/EC on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to asbestos at work
2023/04/28
Committee: EMPL
Dossiers: 2022/0298(COD)
Documents: PDF(399 KB) DOC(177 KB)
Authors: [{'name': 'Véronique TRILLET-LENOIR', 'mepid': 197593}]
REPORT on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Directive 98/24/EC and Directive 2004/37/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the limit values for lead and its inorganic compounds and diisocyanates
2023/09/08
Committee: EMPL
Dossiers: 2023/0033(COD)
Documents: PDF(271 KB) DOC(120 KB)
Authors: [{'name': 'Nikolaj VILLUMSEN', 'mepid': 197571}]

Shadow opinions (4)

OPINION on the impacts of climate change on vulnerable populations in developing countries
2020/07/09
Committee: ENVI
Dossiers: 2020/2042(INI)
Documents: PDF(155 KB) DOC(76 KB)
Authors: [{'name': 'Mick WALLACE', 'mepid': 197817}]
OPINION on a strong social Europe for Just Transition - Communication from the Commission
2020/10/30
Committee: FEMM
Dossiers: 2020/2084(INI)
Documents: PDF(140 KB) DOC(56 KB)
Authors: [{'name': 'Evelyn REGNER', 'mepid': 96998}]
OPINION on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on adequate minimum wages in the European Union
2021/10/11
Committee: FEMM
Dossiers: 2020/0310(COD)
Documents: PDF(234 KB) DOC(186 KB)
Authors: [{'name': 'Lina GÁLVEZ MUÑOZ', 'mepid': 197702}]
Opinion on Mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers – EGF/2022/003 ES/Alu Ibérica - Spain
2023/04/04
Committee: EMPL
Dossiers: 2023/0068(BUD)
Documents: PDF(105 KB) DOC(65 KB)
Authors: [{'name': 'Romana TOMC', 'mepid': 125104}]

Institutional motions (8)

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on children’s rights on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
2019/11/20
Dossiers: 2019/2876(RSP)
Documents: PDF(205 KB) DOC(64 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Nigeria, notably the recent terrorist attacks
2020/01/13
Dossiers: 2020/2503(RSP)
Documents: PDF(156 KB) DOC(48 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Burundi, notably the case of imprisoned journalists
2020/01/13
Dossiers: 2020/2502(RSP)
Documents: PDF(160 KB) DOC(46 KB)
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Nigeria, notably the recent terrorist attacks
2020/01/15
Dossiers: 2020/2503(RSP)
Documents: PDF(161 KB) DOC(55 KB)
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Burundi, notably freedom of expression
2020/01/15
Dossiers: 2020/2502(RSP)
Documents: PDF(169 KB) DOC(57 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the EU priorities for the 64th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women
2020/02/05
Dossiers: 2019/2967(RSP)
Documents: PDF(169 KB) DOC(59 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on an EU strategy to put an end to female genital mutilation around the world
2020/02/05
Dossiers: 2019/2988(RSP)
Documents: PDF(163 KB) DOC(55 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on challenges ahead for women’s rights in Europe: more than 25 years after the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action
2021/02/03
Dossiers: 2021/2509(RSP)
Documents: PDF(221 KB) DOC(67 KB)

Oral questions (7)

Effects of the bankruptcy of the Thomas Cook Group
2019/10/14
Documents: PDF(45 KB) DOC(10 KB)
EU Disability Strategy after 2020
2019/12/10
Documents: PDF(45 KB) DOC(10 KB)
Reinforcing the Youth Guarantee
2020/09/24
Documents: PDF(49 KB) DOC(10 KB)
Reinforcing the Youth Guarantee
2020/09/24
Documents: PDF(48 KB) DOC(10 KB)
Lack of tangible results following Parliament’s resolution of 18 June 2020 on funding for biomedical research on ME/CFS and the fight against long COVID
2022/06/27
Documents: PDF(45 KB) DOC(10 KB)
Call for a European strategy to counter hostage diplomacy
2023/02/27
Documents: PDF(54 KB) DOC(11 KB)
Medicine shortages and strategic healthcare autonomy in the EU
2023/09/05
Documents: PDF(54 KB) DOC(12 KB)

Written explanations (209)

European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (2014-2020) (A9-0015/2019 - Vilija Blinkevičiūtė)

Nu een brexitakkoord op 31 oktober opnieuw onzeker lijkt, is het cruciaal dat het Europees Fonds voor aanpassing aan de globalisering (EFG) klaarstaat met belangrijke en broodnodige steun voor Belgische werknemers in geval van een harde brexit. Vlaanderen is samen met Ierland en Nederland een van de regio’s die het hardst getroffen zullen worden door een mogelijke harde brexit. Maar liefst 28 000 banen staan onder druk, onder meer in de havens, de textiel- en de voedingssector, maar ook in heel wat kmo’s. Ook die kmo’s moeten aanspraak kunnen maken op Europese steun. Zeker voor de Vlaamse economie is dat van belang: kmo’s vormen de ruggengraat van onze economie. Volgens ruwe schattingen dreigt minstens 70 % van het Vlaamse banenverlies te liggen bij kmo’s in de textiel-, de visserij- en de agro-voedingssector. Om de werknemers van die bedrijven en sectoren te kunnen helpen, moeten we snel kunnen reageren, eigenlijk al vanaf de dag dat de brexit daadwerkelijk plaatsvindt. Dit is een cruciaal dossier: er komt meer dan 170 miljoen euro vrij vanaf 1 november tot eind 2020 voor werknemers die getroffen worden door een harde brexit.
2019/10/22
Objection pursuant to Rule 112: partially granting an authorisation for a use of chromium trioxide (Cromomed S.A. and others) (B9-0151/2019)

Wanneer we inzetten op het coördineren en verbeteren van de strijd tegen kanker op Europees niveau, moeten we ook inzetten op preventie en het beschermen van werknemers in onze bedrijven. Wanneer er specifieke toepassingen van een gevaarlijke stof zijn waarvoor er geen alternatief beschikbaar is, kan overwogen worden een autorisatie te geven. In dergelijke gevallen dienen alle mogelijke veiligheidsmaatregelen in acht genomen te worden om het risico tot een absoluut minimum te beperken. Maar in dit geval is uit de analyse van het Europees Agentschap voor chemische stoffen duidelijk dat niet alle mogelijke alternatieven werden onderzocht. Er zijn wel degelijk innovatieve bedrijven die alternatieven gebruiken voor deze stof. We moeten ondernemingen alle kansen geven, maar ook de bescherming van de werknemers waarborgen en een gelijk speelveld garanderen voor die bedrijven die wél innovatieve alternatieven inzetten.
2019/10/24
Children rights in occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Convention of the Rights of the Child (B9-0178/2019, B9-0179/2019, B9-0180/2019)

Naar aanleiding van het 30-jarig bestaan van het Kinderrechtenverdrag hebben we vandaag opnieuw ons engagement uitgedrukt om de rechten van elk kind verder te versterken en te garanderen. We hebben grote ambities inzake bescherming en participatie van, en voorzieningen voor kinderen, en dat is ook nodig!Vandaag zijn kinderen bijna een kwart van de in de EU geregistreerde slachtoffers van mensenhandel. Eén op vijf kinderen is nog steeds het slachtoffer van een of andere vorm van seksueel geweld. Bijna 25 miljoen kinderen in de EU lopen het risico op armoede of sociale uitsluiting. Ruim een kwart van de sterfgevallen onder kinderen jonger dan 5 jaar wereldwijd houdt verband met milieurisico’s. Dat zijn onaanvaardbare cijfers. Wie niet inzet op jonge kinderen, dreigt een hele generatie te verliezen.De rechten van kinderen moeten we volledig uitwerken in het EU-beleid. Naar analogie met de Vlaamse kinderrechtencommissaris hebben we een EU-vertegenwoordiger nodig voor kinderrechten. Die coördineert een omvattend beleid dat kinderen kind laat zijn, met de volgende actiepunten: kinderarmoede halveren tegen 2030, aandacht voor mentale gezondheid, een Europese kindergarantie, zodat elk kind toegang heeft tot gezondheidszorg, onderwijs, voeding, opvang en degelijke huisvesting, kinderen beschermen tegen schadelijke stoffen, klimaatopwarming en hormoonverstorende stoffen, en de participatie van kinderen verhogen.
2019/11/26
EU accession to the Istanbul Convention and other measures to combat gender-based violence (B9-0224/2019, B9-0225/2019, B9-0226/2019)

De strijd tegen geweld tegen vrouwen moet een topprioriteit zijn voor de nieuwe Commissie von der Leyen. Alle lidstaten, ook de EU, moeten een duidelijk signaal geven en zonder verder uitstel het Verdrag van Istanbul, dat tot doel heeft geweld tegen vrouwen te bestrijden en te voorkomen, omzetten in hun wetgeving. De focus ligt daarbij op betere preventiemaatregelen, slachtofferbescherming en het effectief berechten van daders.Zeven lidstaten én de Unie hebben dit internationaal akkoord nog steeds niet geratificeerd. Daar moet nu eindelijk werk van gemaakt worden. Daarnaast wil het Parlement inzetten op de empowerment van vrouwen en betere gegevensverzameling als cruciale maatregelen om geweld tegen vrouwen effectiever aan te pakken. Ook in de volgende Europese strategie voor gendergelijkheid moet een samenleving zonder gendergerelateerd geweld centraal staan.
2019/11/28
Objection pursuant to Rule 112: Active substances, including dimoxystrobin and mancozeb (B9-0230/2019)

Dimoxystrobin staat sinds 2015 op de lijst van stoffen die in aanmerking komen voor vervanging vanwege hun kankerverwekkende, reproductietoxische en hormoonverstorende eigenschappen. Mancozeb staat vandaag al gecatalogiseerd als reproductietoxisch en zorgt voor een sterk verhoogd risico op parkinson. Het gaat in beide gevallen om stoffen die verwerkt worden in gewasbeschermingsmiddelen.Voor beide stoffen loopt nog een extra wetenschappelijke beoordeling. Die meest recente wetenschappelijke resultaten zijn dus niet mee in rekening genomen in het voorstel van de Commissie om de markttoelating te verlengen. Desondanks verlengt de Europese Commissie al enkele jaren herhaaldelijk de markttoelating van beide stoffen. Maar waar er duidelijke indicaties zijn dat het om zo’n schadelijke stoffen gaat, moet de volksgezondheid voor mij primeren. Dat spoort ook met de ambitie van de nieuwe Europese Commissie om het gebruik van schadelijke chemicaliën en pesticiden af te bouwen, en het gebruik van niet-schadelijke alternatieven te stimuleren.
2019/12/18
Public discrimination and hate speech against LGBTI people, including LGBTI free zones (B9-0234/2019)

LGBTI-rechten zijn integraal verbonden met de fundamentele vrijheden waarop de Europese Unie gestoeld is. Het is dan ook een schande voor Europa dat bepaalde lidstaten ‘LGBTI-vrije zones’ in het leven roepen. Dergelijke ‘vrije zones’ zijn een regelrechte aanval op de kernwaarden van de Europese Unie. De EU dient elke vorm van discriminatie te bestrijden, ook die tegen mensen met een andere geaardheid. Met deze resolutie sturen we een sterk signaal richting die lidstaten én roepen we de Commissie op tot actie. Zo moet er nu snel werk gemaakt worden van de aangekondigde permanente monitoring van de rechtsstaat en de grondrechten in de EU-lidstaten, inclusief de LGBTI-rechten. Het is bovendien cruciaal dat er eindelijk een omvattende Europese LGBTI-strategie komt die een concreet beleid voor de komende jaren uittekent.Ik sta volledig achter deze resolutie, waarin openbare discriminatie, haatzaaiende uitlatingen en LGBTI-vrije zones sterk worden veroordeeld.
2019/12/18
EU Pollinators Initiative (B9-0233/2019)

De aanwezigheid van bestuivers zoals bijen, maar ook motten en kevers, is niet alleen een cruciale graadmeter voor de gezondheid van ons milieu en de biodiversiteit, maar is ook essentieel voor de landbouw. Statistieken tonen echter aan dat de bestuivers het erg moeilijk hebben in de EU, en jaar na jaar achteruitboeren. Snelle actie is daarom broodnodig. Europa moet daarom volop inzetten op het terugdringen van schadelijke pesticiden. Vaste en bindende doelstellingen voor alle lidstaten en betere gegevens zijn daarbij cruciaal. Dat wordt ook een van de speerpunten van de pas aangekondigde Europese Green Deal van de nieuwe Europese Commissie. Tegen 2021 moet de Commissie met een duidelijk, bindend plan voor minder pesticiden komen, in het belang van de volksgezondheid en de landbouw.
2019/12/18
Enabling the digital transformation of health and care (B9-0239/2019)

De digitale transformatie is zich volop aan het voltrekken in de gezondheidszorg. Dit zal bijdragen aan meer patiëntgerichte en gepersonaliseerde zorg, waarbij preventie en efficiëntie centraal staan. De digitalisering moet resulteren in kwaliteitsvolle zorgverlening, die zowel toegankelijk als betaalbaar is. Daarbij is het van groot belang dat we de digitale kloof wegwerken, door mensen kansen te geven om zich vertrouwd te maken met de nieuwe digitale technologieën. Eén van de grote uitdagingen daarbij is het zorgvuldig verwerken van gegevens. Voor de digitalisering is er behoefte aan kwalitatieve gegevens, waar we uiterst zorgzaam mee omspringen. Ik sta dan ook achter deze resolutie waarin wordt opgeroepen tot voldoende gegevensbescherming, betere gegevens omtrent gezondheid én doeltreffende digitale instrumenten.
2019/12/18
The European Green Deal (RC-B9-0040/2020, B9-0040/2020, B9-0041/2020, B9-0042/2020, B9-0043/2020, B9-0044/2020, B9-0045/2020, B9-0046/2020)

Om het vertrouwen van de burger te winnen, zal de Green Deal over meer moeten gaan dan enkel het klimaat. Het gaat in de eerste plaats om de mens. Daarom moeten we naast ambitieuze emissiereducties tegelijk ook inzetten op andere bezorgdheden van de burgers, zoals de volksgezondheid en de strijd tegen armoede en sociale uitsluiting. We moeten jobs creëren en iedereen meenemen in de transitie. Het klimaatbeleid moet ook een sociaal beleid zijn. Dit kan echter alleen wanneer er extra middelen worden vrijgemaakt in de volgende Europese meerjarenbegroting. Europa moet ook werken aan een Zero Pollution strategie. We verwachten binnen zes maanden een bindende wetgeving om de aanwezigheid van hormoonverstoorders aan te pakken in consumptieproducten, als opstap naar een breder plan om schadelijke chemische stoffen uit de leefomgeving te bannen. Het is immers onaanvaardbaar dat we van 70 000 chemische stoffen nog niet weten of en hoe schadelijk ze zijn. Een actieplan binnen de Green Deal is dan ook essentieel.
2020/01/15
Implementing and monitoring the provisions on citizens’ rights in the Withdrawal Agreement (B9-0031/2020)

Het Europees Parlement maakt zich zorgen over de rechten van Europese burgers in het Verenigd Koninkrijk na de brexit. In het brexitakkoord zijn duidelijke afspraken gemaakt dat de 3,5 miljoen Europese burgers in het VK en de circa 1 miljoen Britten op het vasteland daar ook na de brexit kunnen blijven wonen, werken of studeren met behoud van bestaande rechten op het vlak van gezondheidszorg, pensioenen, ... Die burgers hebben zich in een andere lidstaat gevestigd in de veronderstelling dat zij deze rechten gedurende hun hele leven zouden blijven houden in de EU.Het registratiesysteem dat door de Britse regering is uitgewerkt om dit uit te rollen, laat veel burgers in de kou staan. Zo’n 2,5 miljoen Europeanen hebben intussen een verblijfsaanvraag ingediend, maar velen krijgen voorlopig slechts een tijdelijke, minder zekere status. We blijven daarom aandringen op een automatische erkenning van die burgers. Die problemen moeten aangepakt worden, voordat het Europees Parlement op 29 januari 2020 het licht op groen moet zetten voor het brexitakkoord. Twee dagen later vertrekken de Britten uit de Europese instellingen.
2020/01/15
European Parliament's position on the Conference on the Future of Europe (B9-0036/2020, B9-0037/2020, B9-0038/2020)

De Conferentie over de toekomst van Europa, die op 9 mei 2020 van start gaat, moet in de eerste plaats over de bezorgdheden en betrokkenheid van de burger gaan, niet louter over experts of posten.Er moet een uitgebreide luisterfase komen, waarbij burgers online, via rondetafeldiscussies en in thematische werkgroepen voorstellen kunnen lanceren over Europese thema’s zoals klimaatbeleid, armoedebestrijding of de Europese verkiezingen, net als specifieke fora voor jongeren. Het is belangrijk dat de stem van de burger telt, en dat we de populisten van repliek dienen door een conferentie van onderuit op te starten.
2020/01/15
Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community (A9-0004/2020 - Guy Verhofstadt)

Na het Britse Lagerhuis heeft nu ook het Europees Parlement het brexitakkoord met het Verenigd Koninkrijk goedgekeurd. Drie jaar na datum is het vertrek van het VK uit de Europese Unie daarmee een feit. Dat is geen reden tot opluchting of euforie, want een harde brexit is nog steeds niet afgewend. Beide kanten van het kanaal hebben nu elf maanden de tijd - tot eind 2020 - om een goed akkoord te bereiken over de toekomstige banden. Zowel voor het dagelijks leven van 3,2 miljoen Europeanen in het VK als voor 32 miljard EUR aan Belgische export, goed voor een tiende van het jaarlijkse totaal, wordt dat akkoord cruciaal. De beslissing om uit de Europese Unie te stappen moeten we respecteren, maar de Europese Raad en de 27 EU-lidstaten moeten nu aan één zeel trekken om tot het best mogelijke akkoord voor onze burgers en ondernemingen te komen.
2020/01/29
Gender pay gap (B9-0069/2020, B9-0073/2020, B9-0083/2020, B9-0084/2020)

Europese vrouwen verdienen per uur gemiddeld 16% minder dan mannen, wat oploopt tot 37% bij hun pensioen. Het grootste deel daarvan kan niet verklaard worden door de verschillende posities van vrouwen en mannen op de arbeidsmarkt, wat wijst op discriminatie.Doordat vrouwen op die manier afhankelijk worden van anderen, zijn ze beperkt in hun keuzes. Dit maakt hen kwetsbaar voor geweld en zorgt voor een groter risico om in armoede terecht te komen. Omdat de pensioenkloof nog groter is, neemt de ongelijkheid toe met de levensjaren. De overgrote meerderheid van de 75-plussers die rond de armoedegrens leven, bestaat uit vrouwen.Daarom is het belangrijk dat er een Europese richtlijn komt die loondiscriminatie ten opzichte van vrouwen kan blootleggen, zodat we concrete maatregelen kunnen nemen om de loonkloof te dichten. Ik steun dus de komst van bindende loontransparantiemaatregelen die in nauw overleg met de sociale partners tot stand zullen worden gebracht.
2020/01/30
Conclusion of the EU-Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement (A9-0003/2020 - Geert Bourgeois)

Het handelsakkoord met Vietnam geeft Europa de mogelijkheid om de handel die er vandaag al is ook aan duidelijke afspraken te koppelen, op het vlak van arbeidsnormen, maar bijvoorbeeld ook wat namaakproducten betreft.In het kader van het akkoord heeft Vietnam al het belangrijke IAO-verdrag over de vrijheid van vereniging aangenomen, de nationale arbeidswetgeving hervormd en het recht op collectieve onderhandeling en vrijheid van vereniging ingevoerd. Met de vrijheid van vereniging kan eindelijk een onafhankelijk middenveld ontstaan. Het gaat telkens om stappen die volgens de Internationale Arbeidsorganisatie ondenkbaar waren zonder het handelsakkoord.Er kunnen en moeten op vlak van arbeidsnormen en mensenrechten nog veel stappen gezet worden, maar zonder akkoord hebben we helemaal niets in de hand en zijn we beperkt tot niet-bindende resoluties. Dit handelsakkoord is een concreet instrument om afspraken te maken, op te volgen, en zaken in de goede richting te sturen.
2020/02/12
Objection pursuant to Rule 111: Union list of projects of common interest (B9-0091/2020)

Verschillende projecten op de “vierde lijst van projecten van gemeenschappelijk belang” spelen een cruciale rol in de energietransitie in Vlaanderen in de richting van hernieuwbare energie, zoals de Nautilus-link die kabels tussen het Verenigd Koninkrijk en Antwerpen legt voor de invoer van hernieuwbare energie van windmolens op zee. Bijna 70 % van de projecten op de lijst die in aanmerking komen voor Europese steun, zorgen voor betaalbare en duurzame elektriciteitsverbindingen tussen de EU-lidstaten. Het aantal gasprojecten dat in aanmerking komt voor Europese steun is daarmee fors gedaald in vergelijking met de derde projectlijst. De Europese Commissie moet de richtlijn eind 2020 bovendien volledig herzien, om ze volledig in lijn te brengen met de energie- en klimaatdoelstellingen van de Green Deal.
2020/02/12
Objection pursuant to Rule 112: Lead and its compounds (B9-0089/2020)

Lood is bijzonder schadelijk voor de gezondheid en is kankerverwekkend. Daarom wordt het sinds 2015 niet meer verwerkt in nieuwe pvc-materialen in de EU. We kunnen niet met twee maten en gewichten wegen: het Parlement verzet zich daarom tegen de toelating voor oud lood in gerecycleerde pvc-materialen én de import van loodhoudende pvc-materialen van buiten de EU. Dat betekent in beide gevallen de achterdeur opnieuw openzetten, terwijl loodhoudende materialen zo snel mogelijk uit circulatie genomen moeten worden. Dat kan, bijvoorbeeld via chemische recyclage of veilige stockage. We vragen daarom dat de Commissie met een nieuw, beter voorstel komt voor de volksgezondheid en de concurrentiepositie van de Europese bedrijven.
2020/02/12
An EU strategy to put an end to female genital mutilation around the world (B9-0090/2020, B9-0092/2020)

Genitale verminking van vrouwen en meisjes is niet enkel een globaal probleem, maar ook een Europees. Volgens de meest recente cijfers zijn maar liefst 600 000 vrouwen in Europa genitaal verminkt en lopen nog eens minstens 180 000 meisjes een hoog risico. Dit werd al internationaal beschouwd als een ernstige en systematische schending van de mensenrechten. Ik diende dan ook deze resolutie mee in, die de Commissie vraagt om met concrete maatregelen te komen om vrouwelijke genitale verminking streng aan te pakken. In combinatie met de duurzameontwikkelingsdoelstellingen (SDG’s) van de Verenigde Naties moet de Europese Unie genitale verminking volledig uitbannen tegen 2030.
2020/02/12
The EU priorities for the 64th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (B9-0093/2020, B9-0095/2020)

Gendergelijkheid stopt niet bij de grenzen van de Europese Unie. Vijfentwintig jaar na de Verklaring van Peking naar aanleiding van de Vierde Wereldvrouwenconferentie krijgen vrouwen en meisjes wereldwijd nog steeds niet de kansen die ze verdienen. De CSW64 dwingt ons tot bijzondere aandacht voor vrouwen in kwetsbare posities: vrouwen in armoede, vrouwen met een beperking, vrouwen als slachtoffers van oorlogsgeweld, uitbuiting van huishoudelijk personeel.Ik steun dan ook deze resolutie, die de EU oproept om het voortouw te nemen op het vlak van gendergelijkheid wereldwijd. We moeten met een krachtige en eenduidige stem spreken over thema’s als gendergerelateerd geweld, vrouwelijk ondernemerschap, internationaal huishoudelijk personeel en vrouwen in armoede. Werk aan de winkel!
2020/02/13
Specific measures to mobilise investments in the health care systems of the Member States and in other sectors of their economies in response to the COVID-19 outbreak (Coronavirus Response Investment Initiative)

De Europese Unie moet alle zeilen bijzetten om de Europese lidstaten bij te staan in het antwoord op de coronacrisis. Onze gezondheidszorgsystemen staan onder ongekende druk en werknemers worden hard getroffen door de noodzakelijke maatregelen. Het Investeringsinitiatief voor de Coronavirusrespons, dat 37 miljard euro aan Europese fondsen vrijmaakt, is een eerste belangrijke stap in deze richting. De lidstaten moeten dit geld nu zo snel mogelijk inzetten daar waar de nood het hoogst is: in de gezondheidszorgsystemen en op de arbeidsmarkt. Door onder meer de aankoop van medische apparatuur, beschermend materiaal en testkits te faciliteren, zorgen we er niet alleen voor dat we de druk op onze gezondheidszorg aankunnen, maar beschermen we ook onze gezondheidswerkers. De fondsen moeten prioritair gaan naar maatregelen voor de bescherming en ondersteuning van de zwaarst getroffen werknemers en sectoren.
2020/03/26
Financial assistance to Member States and countries negotiating their accession to the Union that are seriously affected by a major public health emergency

Een virus stopt niet aan de grenzen. Het coronavirus heeft ons meer dan ooit doen beseffen dat de Unie een project is van solidariteit en dat we elkaar in noodsituaties moeten bijstaan. In die gedachte is het logisch om het EU-Solidariteitsfonds, dat oorspronkelijk bedoeld was voor natuurrampen, ook bij grote volksgezondheidcrises toepasbaar te maken. Bovendien worden de drempels om beroep te doen op het fonds verlaagd. Daarnaast zorgt het verhogen van de voorschotten ervoor dat de centen sneller ter plaatse geraken en dus sneller ingezet kunnen worden. Ik stem dan ook voor deze wijzigingen in het Solidariteitsfonds dat lidstaten in nood gemakkelijker en sneller moet ondersteunen. Solidariteit is nog steeds dé fundamentele (christendemocratische) waarde waarop de hele Europese Unie gestoeld is.
2020/03/26
Specific measures to provide exceptional flexibility for the use of the European Structural and Investments Funds in response to the COVID-19 outbreak

Net zoals het eerste pakket CRII van de Commissie, met tal van maatregelen om deze coronacrisis in solidariteit en verenigd aan te pakken, kan ook dit tweede pakket CRII+ op mijn steun rekenen. Dit voorstel volgt op het eerste pakket, dat de niet-gebruikte prefinanciering uit de cohesiefondsen herschikte. Naast een medefinancieringsgraad van 100 % kan er onder meer flexibel geschoven worden tussen de fondsen onderling. De verdeelsleutel wordt hierdoor niet gewijzigd. Wel maakt de Commissie de lidstaten verantwoordelijk om op een even solidaire en verenigde manier flexibel met de hun toegewezen middelen om te gaan.
2020/04/17
Introduction of specific measures for addressing the COVID-19 crisis

De huidige coronacrisis treft in het bijzonder de meest behoeftigen. De wijzigingen in de richtlijnen voor het Fonds voor Europese hulp aan de meest behoeftigen (FEAD) moeten ertoe leiden dat het FEAD-fonds op een heel snelle, veilige en efficiënte manier kan werken en kan voorzien in voedsel- en materiële hulp. Door een tijdelijke versoepeling van de voorwaarden wordt het administratief proces tot een minimum beperkt, zonder afbreuk te doen aan de regelgeving die in normale omstandigheden geldt.Naast een snellere werkwijze in crisistijd, wordt ook tijdelijk de medefinancieringsgraad opgetrokken van 85 % naar 100 %, en kan het fonds tijdelijk gebruikt worden voor de aankoop van beschermingsmateriaal dat dringend nodig is voor de bescherming van de vrijwilligers bij de verdeling van voedsel- en materiële hulp.Ik stem dan ook voor deze wijzigingen in de richtlijnen van het FEAD-fonds, opdat de voedsel- en materiële hulp sneller terecht zou kunnen komen bij diegenen die deze hulp het meest nodig hebben.
2020/04/17
Medical devices (C9-0098/2020)

Ook met betrekking tot het uitstel van de nieuwe regels voor medische hulpmiddelen heb ik voor gestemd.In 2017 werd de verordening betreffende medische hulpmiddelen herzien. Deze moest volledig geïmplementeerd zijn op 26 mei 2020. Daarom heeft de Commissie voorgesteld om de nieuwe regels tijdelijk uit te stellen, zodat de medische industrie al haar energie kan steken in het vervaardigen van de vereiste producten. Vertragingen in de toevoer van medische hulpmiddelen kunnen we in deze tijden missen.
2020/04/17
EU coordinated action to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences

De resolutie die we vandaag goedkeuren, toont dat het Europees Parlement een geharmoniseerd antwoord wil op de coronacrisis. In dit antwoord is het belangrijk dat de EU met één stem optreedt en zich daadkrachtig toont. De juiste accenten worden gelegd, zowel in de noodmaatregelen die we moeten nemen als in de plannen die we maken voor de sociaal-economische heropbouw. Denk bijvoorbeeld aan fiscale solidariteit, extra steun aan de gezondheidszorg, de gezondheidswerkers en andere essentiële sectoren en getroffen werknemers.De oprichting van een nieuw coronavirus-solidariteitsfonds zou hier een goed voorbeeld van zijn. Zowel in de crisismaatregelen als in de heropbouw moeten we rekening houden met de meest kwetsbaren in de maatschappij. In de economische heropleving zal de Green Deal centraal moeten staan. Op deze manier zorgen we voor een duurzame, weerbare, autonome en solidaire economie en Europese Unie in het algemeen. Daarnaast blijven we ook het belang van sociaal overleg benadrukken wanneer er nieuwe maatregelen worden genomen. Ons antwoord op deze crisis zal groen en sociaal moeten zijn.
2020/04/17
Discharge 2018: EU general budget - European Parliament (A9-0021/2020 - Maria Grapini)

Elk jaar moet het Europees Parlement ook kwijting verlenen voor zijn eigen uitgaven van twee jaar voordien. Ik steunde deze kwijting voor de uitgaven van 2018 en de bijbehorende resolutie, waarin een aantal bijkomende transparantiemaatregelen worden gevraagd. Zo stemde ik voor de vraag om zowel onze stemhoudingen als alle afspraken met belangengroepen optimaal bij te houden en makkelijk publiek toegankelijk te maken op de website. Ook de maatregelen om de ecologische voetafdruk van het Parlement te verminderen, zoals het vergoeden van de CO2-compensatie door het Parlement en het afschaffen van de verplaatsingen naar Straatsburg, keurde ik goed. Verder kon ook de volledige transparantie van de uitgaven van de algemene kostenvergoeding op mijn steun rekenen, net zoals een sterkere controle daarop.
2020/05/14
Discharge 2018: European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (A9-0040/2020 - Joachim Stanisław Brudziński)

Elk jaar moet het Europees Parlement kwijting verlenen voor de begroting van het Europees Centrum voor de ontwikkeling van de beroepsopleiding (Cedefop). Ik heb voor de kwijting voor de begroting van 2018 gestemd en ook een resolutie met aanbevelingen kon op mijn steun rekenen.In deze resolutie worden de werkzaamheden van Cedefop opgesomd. Het Centrum heeft de voorbije jaren sterk ingezet op de digitalisering van zijn activiteiten (met online-instrumenten op zijn website om zijn bereik nog te kunnen vergroten naar een breder publiek) en op de verdere ontwikkeling van zijn “European Skills Index”.Ik heb voor een amendement gestemd om een haalbaarheidsstudie voor een eventuele fusie tussen Cedefop en Eurofound (Europese Stichting tot verbetering van de levens- en arbeidsomstandigheden), zoals beschreven in paragraaf 8 van de resolutie, te verwijderen uit de resolutie. Ik ben ervan overtuigd dat Cedefop zijn specifieke rol als kenniscentrum inzake de ontwikkeling van levenslang leren en het beleid inzake beroepsonderwijs en -opleiding en kwalificaties en vaardigheden die zijn afgestemd op de behoeften van de arbeidsmarkt, goed heeft ingevuld.Cedefop heeft nu reeds goed lopende samenwerkingen met andere EU-agentschappen zoals Eurofound en ETF. Een zelfstandig agentschap voor beroepsopleiding en levenslang leren is noodzakelijk.
2020/05/14
Discharge 2018: European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (A9-0051/2020 - Joachim Stanisław Brudziński)

Elk jaar moet het Europees Parlement kwijting verlenen voor de begroting van de Europese Stichting tot verbetering van de levens- en arbeidsomstandigheden (Eurofound) van twee jaar ervoor. Ik heb voor de kwijting voor de begroting van 2018 gestemd en ook een resolutie met aanbevelingen kon op mijn steun rekenen.In deze resolutie worden de werkzaamheden van Eurofound opgesomd: Eurofound monitorde onder meer de uitvoering van de Europese pijler van sociale rechten, het evenwicht tussen werk en privéleven, de kwaliteit van leven en de toekomst van werk, productie, digitalisering en platformwerk.Ik heb voor een amendement gestemd om een haalbaarheidsstudie voor een eventuele fusie tussen Eurofound en Cedefop (Europees Centrum voor de ontwikkeling van de beroepsopleiding), zoals beschreven in paragraaf 7 van de resolutie, te verwijderen uit de resolutie. Ik ben ervan overtuigd dat Eurofound haar specifieke rol als kenniscentrum ten behoeve van de ontwikkeling van een beter sociaal, arbeidsgerelateerd en werkgelegenheidsbeleid goed heeft ingevuld. Eurofound heeft nu reeds goede samenwerkingen met andere EU-agentschappen zoals Cedefop en ETF. Een zelfstandig agentschap voor een sociaal, arbeidsgerelateerd en werkgelegenheidsbeleid is noodzakelijk.
2020/05/14
Discharge 2018: European Institute for Gender Equality (A9-0058/2020 - Ryszard Czarnecki)

Elk jaar moet het Europees Parlement kwijting verlenen voor de begroting van het Europees Instituut voor Gendergelijkheid (EIGE) van twee jaar ervoor. Ik heb voor de kwijting voor de begroting van 2018 gestemd en ook een resolutie met aanbevelingen kon op mijn steun rekenen.In deze resolutie worden de goede werkzaamheden van het EIGE opgesomd: onder andere de herbevestiging van het EIGE om het Verdrag van Istanbul te monitoren voor de EU en de uitwisseling van data en onderzoek met de FEMM-commissie van het Europees Parlement. We juichen ook toe dat het EIGE vanaf 2020 jaarlijks een nieuwe gendergelijkheidsindex zal publiceren. Maar anderzijds hebben we ook onze bezorgdheden geuit over een lopende rechtszaak van tijdelijke werknemers tegen het EIGE.Ik heb voor een amendement gestemd om een haalbaarheidsstudie voor een eventuele fusie tussen het EIGE en het FRA, zoals beschreven in paragraaf 4 van de resolutie, te verwijderen uit de resolutie. Ik ben ervan overtuigd dat het EIGE zijn eigen opdrachten en zijn rol als kenniscentrum van gendergelijkheid in de EU op een goede manier blijft invullen. Daarenboven is er een absolute noodzaak om een apart agentschap te hebben voor gendergelijkheid, zodat gelijke rechten tussen vrouwen en mannen hoog op de politieke agenda blijven.
2020/05/14
Discharge 2018: EU general budget – Commission and executive agencies (A9-0069/2020 - Monika Hohlmeier)

Elk jaar moet het Europees Parlement kwijting verlenen voor de uitgaven van de Europese Commissie van twee jaar voordien. Ik steunde deze kwijting voor de uitgaven van 2018 en de bijbehorende resolutie, waarin een aantal bijkomende transparantiemaatregelen worden gevraagd. In de resolutie wijst het Parlement op een aantal kwesties die aangepakt moeten worden, zoals het misbruik met betrekking tot EU-fondsen. Meer transparantie en een betere opvolging van het gebruik van de EU-fondsen zijn dan ook noodzakelijk. In de resolutie wijst het Parlement ook op het gebrek aan bijdragen uit Horizon 2020 dat ingezet wordt voor klimaat- en duurzaamheidsuitgaven en het vraagt daarvoor een extra inspanning in het kader van de Europese Green Deal. Ook de adviezen van de commissies FEMM, EMPL en ENVI konden eerder al op mijn steun rekenen.
2020/05/14
Request for funding for biomedical research on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (B9-0186/2020)

Vandaag vragen we meer financiële steun uit de Europese fondsen voor biomedisch onderzoek naar het chronischevermoeidheidssyndroom. In de EU lijden er naar schatting meer dan twee miljoen mensen aan deze ziekte met verregaande sociale, menselijke en economische gevolgen. Er is nog steeds te weinig geweten over de oorzaken en mogelijke behandelingen van CVS, waardoor deze patiënten extra hard getroffen worden. Meer wetenschappelijk onderzoek, met steun uit het nieuwe Europees onderzoeksprogramma Horizon Europa, moet helpen de ziekte beter in kaart te brengen. Daarnaast moeten we ook inzetten op het vergroten van het bewustzijn rond de ziekte, zowel bij het grote publiek als bij zorgverstrekkers. Publieke informatiecampagnes en specifieke aandacht tijdens de opleiding zijn een eerste stap in de goede richting. We mogen onze inspanningen echter niet stoppen bij CVS, maar moeten de toegevoegde waarde van de Europese samenwerking ook ten volle inzetten voor wetenschappelijk onderzoek naar de meer dan 7 000 zeldzame ziektes die er bestaan. Met bijkomende financiering en schaalvergroting kunnen we een eerste stap zetten in het versnellen van diagnoses en het verbeteren van behandelingen. Elke patiënt heeft hier baat bij.
2020/06/17
Recommendations on the negotiations for a new partnership with the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (A9-0117/2020 - Kati Piri, Christophe Hansen)

Tot op heden brachten de onderhandelingen met het Verenigd Koninkrijk weinig zoden aan de dijk. De vooruitgang na vier onderhandelingsronden is onvoldoende en op bepaalde aspecten zijn de standpunten tussen het VK en de EU zeer uiteenlopend. Vooral het gelijk speelveld en de visserij zijn punten die nog op tafel liggen. Deze resolutie steunt de aanpak van de Commissie om een alomvattend akkoord te sluiten met het VK, in plaats van afzonderlijke overeenkomsten zoals het VK wil. Zowel voor de burgers van de Unie als voor de inwoners van het VK moeten we koste wat kost een harde brexit zonder akkoord vermijden. Ook het vrijwaren van de rechten van EU-burgers die in het VK wonen is belangrijk, net zoals de toekomstige samenwerking rond Erasmus-uitwisselingsprojecten voor studenten. Op 15 juni hebben het VK en de EU een gezamenlijke verklaring uitgebracht die een nieuw momentum moet bieden en het onderhandelingstempo moet opdrijven. Dit geeft hoop. Deze resolutie kon op mijn steun rekenen.
2020/06/18
Conference on the Future of Europe (B9-0170/2020, B9-0179/2020)

Tien jaar na de inwerkingtreding van het Verdrag van Lissabon en zeventig jaar na de Schumanverklaring is het tijd om stil te staan bij de werking van de huidige Europese Unie. De COVID-19-pandemie heeft bepaalde pijnpunten in de huidige Unie blootgelegd en de nood aan de conferentie over de toekomst van Europa alleen maar groter gemaakt. Ik stemde voor deze resolutie die vraagt dat de Raad snel een standpunt inneemt en die ervoor ijvert dat de conferentie zo spoedig mogelijk in het najaar van 2020 van start kan gaan. De resolutie benadrukt ook dat er rekening moet worden gehouden met de reeds bestaande herstelinstrumenten en solidariteitsmechanismen van de EU, en dat ecologische duurzaamheid, economische ontwikkeling, sociale vooruitgang, veiligheid en democratie moeten worden gewaarborgd. Daar kan ik alleen maar mee instemmen. Ten slotte benadruk ik ook het belang van een grondig debat over de rol van de Europese Unie bij grensoverschrijdende gezondheidscrises, zodat we in de toekomst beter voorbereid zijn op dergelijke virussen en de EU daadkrachtiger kan optreden als dat wenselijk is.
2020/06/18
EU disability strategy post 2020 (B9-0123/2020)

In 2010 is de eerste EU-strategie voor personen met een handicap aangenomen voor de periode 2010-2020. Eind dit jaar moet de Europese Commissie een nieuwe EU-strategie voorstellen voor personen met een handicap voor de periode na 2020. Ik heb voor een resolutie gestemd om de Europese Commissie sterk aan te moedigen om met een nog ambitieuzere en omvangrijkere strategie te komen voor de toekomst. De Europese Unie moet toonaangevend zijn in het versterken van de rechten van personen met een handicap. Zij dient zich hierbij te baseren op de verdere implementatie van het VN-Verdrag inzake de rechten van personen met een handicap en op het principe van een inclusieve maatschappij waar personen met een handicap integraal deel van uitmaken. Ik roep de Europese Commissie dan ook op om bij het opmaken van de nieuwe strategie in te zetten op maximale betrokkenheid van de middenveldorganisaties, en in het bijzonder de verenigingen die de rechten van personen met een handicap behartigen. Andere belangrijke punten uit de resolutie die ik onderschrijf zijn: gelijke toegang voor personen met een handicap tot gezondheidszorg, werkgelegenheid, openbaar vervoer en huisvesting en het opnemen van rechten van personen met een handicap in alle beleidsdomeinen.
2020/06/18
Setting up a special committee on beating cancer, its responsibilities, numerical strength and term of office (B9-0188/2020)

. – Ik heb vandaag met veel enthousiasme mijn ja-stem gegeven voor de oprichting en het mandaat van de Bijzondere Commissie kankerbestrijding. Het Parlement zet hiermee een belangrijke stap. Jaarlijks worden in de EU 3,5 miljoen kankerdiagnoses gesteld en sterven 1,3 miljoen Europeanen aan deze verschrikkelijke ziekte. Met de Bijzondere Commissie willen we in het komende jaar onderzoeken welke maatregelen noodzakelijk zijn om deze vreselijke ziekte, die rechtstreeks of onrechtstreeks ieder van ons treft, aan te pakken en het toekomstige EU-beleid te versterken. We moeten daarbij volop inzetten op preventie, screening, onderzoek, innovatie, toegankelijke en betaalbare medicijnen, e-gezondheid en samenwerking tussen de lidstaten. We moeten ook speciale aandacht hebben voor adolescenten en jongvolwassenen zodat zij de juiste, gespecialiseerde en leeftijdsspecifieke behandeling kunnen krijgen. Bij onze initiatieven moet steeds de patiënt centraal staan.
2020/06/18
Tourism and transport in 2020 and beyond (RC-B9-0166/2020, B9-0166/2020, B9-0175/2020, B9-0177/2020, B9-0178/2020, B9-0180/2020, B9-0182/2020, B9-0184/2020)

De toeristische sector werd hard getroffen door de coronacrisis. Niet alleen werden allerlei bedrijven zoals reisorganisatoren geconfronteerd met de gevolgen, maar ook kregen consumenten te maken met onzekerheid over geannuleerde reizen en de terugbetaling van hun tickets. Daarom zetten we met de EU zowel de consument als het behouden van jobs centraal in het herstelplan voor de sector. Het is belangrijk dat we de maatregelen op een gecoördineerde en stapsgewijze manier loslaten, zodat ook de meest getroffen landen zo snel mogelijk weer toeristen kunnen ontvangen. De rechten en bescherming van de consument moeten steeds centraal staan. Dit moeten we verzekeren met maatregelen zoals eenvormige en vrijwillige tegoedbonnen en een verplichte terugbetaling. Daarnaast willen we de sector en de duizenden jobs beschermen door onmiddellijke financiële steun, maar ook door een herstelplan op de langere termijn. Deze aanpak biedt ons ook de kans om nog meer in te zetten op duurzaam toerisme binnen de EU, in sterke dialoog met de sociale partners. Zo zorgen we voor een duurzame, toekomstgerichte, sociale en veerkrachtige toeristische sector.
2020/06/19
European protection of cross-border and seasonal workers in the context of the COVID-19 crisis (B9-0172/2020)

Om een gelijke behandeling en bescherming tegen het COVID-19-virus te verzekeren heb ik voor een resolutie gestemd die tot betere werk- en leefomstandigheden moet leiden voor grens- en seizoenarbeiders. De voorbije maanden hebben grens- en seizoenarbeiders in de Europese Unie in vaak moeilijke omstandigheden moeten werken tijdens de COVID-19-pandemie. De Europese Commissie heeft daarom op 2 april richtlijnen opgesteld met betrekking tot de EU-wetgeving die verschillende aspecten van mobiliteit regelt, waaronder vrij verkeer, detachering van werknemers en coördinatie van de sociale zekerheid, om ervoor te zorgen dat grens- en seizoenarbeiders hun werkplek kunnen bereiken. Ondanks reeds bestaande EU-regelgeving inzake het recht op gelijk loon voor gelijk werk en coördinatie van de socialezekerheidsregels tussen de lidstaten is gebleken dat de uitvoering door de lidstaten niet altijd correct is verlopen. Daarom onderschrijf ik een resolutie die de Europese Commissie oproept om de bestaande Europese wetgeving af te dwingen bij de lidstaten en om in het kader van de COVID-19-crisis extra richtlijnen op te stellen voor grenswerkers en seizoenarbeiders met betrekking tot vrij verkeer, gedegen huisvesting, normale arbeids- en werkomstandigheden en duidelijke voorschriften om de sociale bescherming, gezondheid en veiligheid van de betrokken werknemers te verzekeren.
2020/06/19
Objection pursuant to Rule 112(2) and (3): Certain uses of chromium trioxide (B9-0202/2020)

De Europese wetgeving die bepaalt of een chemische stof op de markt mag gebracht worden, is er voor een reden. De bescherming van de volksgezondheid en het milieu staan hier steeds voorop, en daardoor worden er terecht ook strenge eisen gesteld. Het is dan wel belangrijk dat deze wetgeving ook gevolgd wordt in aanvragen om een bepaalde stof toe te laten. Enkel zo kan de Europese Commissie een correcte en gefundeerde keuze maken over de toelating van een bepaalde stof.In het geval van dit dossier voor chroomtrioxide is dit niet het geval. We vragen dan ook dat het dossier vervolledigd wordt, zodat de Commissie met een nieuw voorstel voor autorisatie kan komen. De gevolgen van de vertraging die dit met zich zou meebrengen zijn miniem: economisch gezien kan de industrie de stof blijven gebruiken, en sinds januari 2020 is de bescherming van de werknemer tegen de schadelijke gevolgen van de stof al gevoelig aangescherpt.Vanwege de onduidelijkheid over de eventuele beschikbaarheid van alternatieven is een onthouding meer gepast dan een tegenstem. We vragen dat de aanvrager hierover zo snel mogelijk duidelijkheid verschaft en een volledig dossier indient, zodat de Commissie met een nieuw voorstel kan komen.
2020/07/10
Objection pursuant to Rule 112(2) and (3): Active substances, including flumioxazine (B9-0203/2020)

De Europese procedure om een werkzame stof goed te keuren, stelt terecht belangrijke eisen over de veiligheid van de stof. Dit om zowel de volksgezondheid als het milieu zo veel mogelijk te beschermen. Voor elke stof moet de laatste stand van zaken van het wetenschappelijk onderzoek meegenomen worden. In het geval van flumioxazine is dit niet het geval. De laatste vermoedens over de hormoonverstorende eigenschappen zijn niet mee in rekening genomen.Door telkens jaar na jaar een procedurele en automatische verlenging toe te staan, omzeilt de Commissie de Europese wetgeving. Voor deze stof is dit niet de eerste keer, maar is dit al sinds 2015 het geval. Op deze manier kan de verlenging tot in de eeuwigheid verlengd worden, zonder enige vorm van controle. Wanneer stoffen schadelijke eigenschappen hebben, kan het niet dat de wetgeving buitenspel gezet wordt en dat de laatste stand van het wetenschappelijk onderzoek niet in aanmerking genomen wordt. Daarom vragen we de Commissie de beslissing om de toelating van flumioxazine met één jaar te verlengen in te trekken.
2020/07/10
Chemicals strategy for sustainability (B9-0222/2020)

Met deze resolutie doet het Parlement een ambitieus voorstel voor de toekomstige chemische strategie die de Europese Commissie na de zomer zal presenteren.Kankerverwekkende en hormoonverstorende stoffen horen niet thuis in onze producten, voeding of leefomgeving in het algemeen. Het is hoog tijd dat we hormoonverstoorders eindelijk als dusdanig in de Europese wetgeving erkennen, zodat we de aanwezigheid ervan drastisch kunnen terugdringen. Door de wetenschappelijke analyse over een andere boeg te gooien, kunnen we hele families van chemische stoffen tegelijk beoordelen en indien nodig verbieden. Schandalen zoals met PFAS-stoffen, waarbij de ene schadelijke variant de andere vervangt, tonen aan dat dit broodnodig is.Ook in de evolutie naar een circulaire economie moeten we erover waken dat schadelijke stoffen geen tweede leven krijgen in gerecycleerde producten. Voor mij moet de circulaire economie een niet-toxische circulaire economie zijn, in het belang van de gezondheid van de werknemers en consumenten. Nu moeten we er ook voor zorgen dat deze eisen worden omgezet in concrete wetgevingsvoorstellen.
2020/07/10
Conduct of clinical trials with and supply of medicinal products for human use containing or consisting of genetically modified organisms intended to treat or prevent coronavirus disease (C9-0185/2020)

De sociale, maatschappelijke, menselijke en economische impact van de COVID-19-crisis is ongezien. Na maanden van strenge maatregelen evolueren we stilaan terug naar een normale gang van zaken. Meteen werd echter ook duidelijk dat enkel een vaccin een oplossing zal bieden op lange termijn. Daarom moeten we nu alle zeilen bijzetten in de zoektocht naar dit vaccin en al het mogelijke doen om het onderzoek te ondersteunen en te versnellen.Sommige veelbelovende vaccins maken gebruik van een techniek die onder de Europese ggo-wetgeving valt. Omdat er grote nationale verschillen zijn bij de implementatie van de wetgeving kan het onderzoek gevoelig vertraagd worden. Daarnaast is het niet mogelijk de nodige flexibiliteit toe te passen om een snelle opstart van klinische proeven mogelijk te maken. Daarom passen we deze wetgeving nu aan, specifiek en uitzonderlijk voor onderzoek naar een behandeling of vaccin tegen COVID-19 én voor een beperkte tijd. Zo kunnen klinische proeven zo snel mogelijk opgestart worden. Het is wel belangrijk dat er op geen enkele manier ingeboet wordt op de veiligheid voor mens en milieu.In crisistijden moeten we daadkrachtig optreden, en daarvoor is op dit ogenblik meer harmonisering en flexibiliteit nodig. Uitzonderlijke omstandigheden vereisen uitzonderlijke maatregelen.
2020/07/10
The EU’s public health strategy post-COVID-19 (RC-B9-0216/2020)

De coronapandemie moet een gamechanger zijn voor onze visie op gezondheidszorg in de Europese Unie. Het is duidelijk dat we lessen moeten trekken uit de voorbije periode. Niet alleen voor een volgende crisis, maar ook structureel. Dit momentum moeten we aangrijpen om voor echte verandering te zorgen.Ik steunde deze resolutie volmondig, waarin wordt voorgesteld om een Europese gezondheidsunie te vormen. “Gezondheid op alle beleidsgebieden” moet daarbij het uitgangspunt vormen. Een van de concrete voorstellen in de resolutie is Europese wetgeving met minimumnormen voor kwaliteitsvolle gezondheidszorg. Deze wetgeving moet de veiligheid van de patiënt en degelijke arbeidsomstandigheden voor zorgkundigen centraal zetten. We vragen de Commissie ook om welzijnsindicatoren en -streefcijfers, en voldoende financiering van de zorgstelsels door de lidstaten, op te nemen in de landspecifieke aanbevelingen in het kader van het Europees Semester.Een welzijnsgerichte economie zet de mens centraal en gezondheid op alle beleidsgebieden veronderstelt volksgezondheid als maatstaf in alle beleidsbeslissingen. Daar moeten we naartoe evolueren. Samenwerking moet het uitgangspunt zijn. Het wordt tijd om het Europese schaalvoordeel uit te spelen door deskundigheid en middelen te poolen, en de Unie in de cockpit te plaatsen bij een volgende volksgezondheidscrisis.
2020/07/10
Just Transition Fund (A9-0135/2020 - Manolis Kefalogiannis)

De klimaatdoelstellingen die voor ons liggen zijn duidelijk. In 2050 moeten we in een klimaatneutraal Europa leven. Deze klimaatomslag kan echter alleen maar succesvol zijn als we er ook een sociale omslag van maken. Daarom vragen we vandaag een veel ruimer budget van het Fonds voor een rechtvaardige transitie. De maatregelen die we zullen nemen zijn broodnodig en ambitieus, ze verdienen dan ook een even ambitieus budget. Dit fonds moet extra steun verlenen aan de meest kwetsbare burgers die het hardst getroffen zullen worden door de noodzakelijke maatregelen. Het is belangrijk dat we iedereen meenemen in onze plannen, daarom moet sociale cohesie voor mij steeds centraal staan. We mogen de sociale kloof niet vergroten. Integendeel. We moeten onder meer inzetten op stadsvernieuwing, de bestrijding van energiearmoede en opleidingen voor duurzame tewerkstelling. Zo bouwen we een draagvlak op voor de klimaatmaatregelen. En nog belangrijker: zo zorgen we ervoor dat elke Europeaan meekan op de weg naar een klimaatneutrale en sociaal rechtvaardige samenleving.
2020/09/16
Strategic approach to pharmaceuticals in the environment

De laatste maanden hebben ons nog maar eens duidelijk gemaakt hoe belangrijk geneesmiddelen zijn voor de volksgezondheid. Terwijl we werken aan een nieuwe farmaceutische strategie over de productie en aanvoer van medicijnen, moeten we ook nadenken over hoe we op een duurzame manier kunnen omgaan met deze geneesmiddelen. Het grootschalige gebruik ervan bij mens en dier heeft immers voor verhoogde residuwaarden van actieve stoffen in ons leefmilieu gezorgd. Dit heeft een onmiskenbaar negatief effect op het milieu en op onze gezondheid, bijvoorbeeld door een toename in antimicrobiële resistentie. De gevaren hiervan zijn bekend. Daarom pleiten we vandaag voor een strategische en duurzame aanpak om deze negatieve gevolgen terug te dringen. Minder verspilling, betere opleidingen, duidelijke etikettering en EU-brede bewustwordingscampagnes zijn hierin essentieel. Tegelijk pleit ik ervoor het probleem aan de bron aan te pakken: in de nieuwe farmaceutische strategie moeten we werken aan geneesmiddelen die intrinsiek minder schadelijk zijn voor het milieu door nog meer in te zetten op innovatie. We hebben groenere geneesmiddelen nodig, die niet toxisch zijn voor het milieu, betaalbaar en beschikbaar blijven en het welzijn van de patiënt verzekeren. Dit is hoognodig, voor de gezondheid van onze planeet en alle burgers.
2020/09/17
Shortage of medicines - how to address an emerging problem

De afgelopen jaren is het aantal tekorten van medicijnen exponentieel toegenomen, met aanzienlijke risico’s voor de gezondheid en de zorg van de patiënten tot gevolg. Veertig procent van de afgewerkte geneesmiddelen die in de Europese Unie in de handel worden gebracht, zijn afkomstig uit derde landen. Nochtans hebben we in Europa een sterke productiecapaciteit, maar de toeleveringsketen is te afhankelijk van grondstoffen van buiten de Unie. Als dan een wereldwijde crisis zoals corona deze landen teistert, dan leidt dit tot immense tekorten, wat een gevaar voor de volksgezondheid betekent.Daarom is het belangrijk dat we de productie van medicijnen deels terug naar Europa halen. De Commissie moet maatregelen nemen die nodig zijn om de continuïteit in de voorziening van medische producten te waarborgen. De lokale farmaceutische productie moet ondersteund worden, zodat onze afhankelijkheid van deze derde landen vermindert. De industrie moet samen met de stakeholders over een gediversifieerde bevoorradingsketen beschikken en een plan uitwerken dat het risico’s op tekorten beperkt. Verder zijn er strategische reserves aan medicijnen nodig, zoals een Europese noodapotheek, waarop we in uitzonderlijke tijden een beroep kunnen doen. De belangen en de veiligheid van patiënten moeten wel steeds voorop staan in dit gezondheidsbeleid.
2020/09/17
Covid-19: EU coordination of health assessments and risk classification and the consequences on Schengen and the single market (RC-B9-0257/2020)

COVID-19 blijft onze lidstaten teisteren en de maatregelen tussen de lidstaten onderling zijn nog steeds erg verschillend. Ik steun dan ook deze resolutie die oproept om de maatregelen onderling consistent te maken, zodat de burgers ze beter begrijpen en zo ook eerder geneigd zullen zijn om ze te volgen. Controles aan de binnengrenzen blijven een laatste redmiddel en alle genomen maatregelen moeten noodzakelijk, gecoördineerd en evenredig zijn.Ook de rol van het Europees Centrum voor ziektepreventie en -bestrijding (ECDC) is ontzettend belangrijk. De manier van gegevensverzameling en -rapportage tussen de lidstaten moet meer geharmoniseerd worden, zodat we een duidelijk en volledig beeld krijgen van de verspreiding van het virus in Europa. De vraag voor een sterkere rol voor het ECDC, met meer middelen en meer personeel, kan dan ook op mijn steun rekenen. De gemeenschappelijke kleurencode door het ECDC is een belangrijke vooruitgang.Meer harmonisatie en meer Europese samenwerking en coördinatie is cruciaal in deze crisistijden.
2020/09/17
The importance of urban and green infrastructure - European Year of Greener Cities 2022 (B9-0243/2020)

Tegen 2050 moeten we van Europa een klimaatneutraal continent maken. Om aandacht te vestigen op het belang van het vergroenen van onze steden in deze ambitie, roepen we op om 2022 het Europees Jaar van groenere streden te maken. Om onze uitstoot van broeikasgassen te verlagen, moet de energie-efficiënte de hoogte in. Een groene renovatiegolf is hierbij een belangrijke eerste stap. De meest kwetsbare bevolkingsgroepen verdienen extra steun. Groenere steden zijn echter niet enkel essentieel in de strijd tegen de klimaatopwarming, maar ook in ons streven naar een gezonde leefomgeving. Ieder jaar sterven er in de EU 430 000 mensen vroegtijdig als gevolg van het inademen van vervuilde lucht. We moeten dringend verder werk maken van de chemische vervuiling van onze leefomgeving. Daarom ondersteun ik vandaag dan ook de oproep om het gebruik van pesticiden in de omgeving van woongebieden af te bouwen en te stoppen. Gezonde lucht en voldoende natuur in de steden bevorderen zowel de mentale als de fysieke gezondheid van de burgers. De uitdagingen zijn groot, maar laten we nu starten met de omslag. Een omslag waarin we iedereen meenemen.
2020/09/17
Implementation of the common commercial policy – annual report 2018 (A9-0160/2020 - Jörgen Warborn)

Het Europees Parlement maakt jaarlijks een verslag over het gemeenschappelijk handelsbeleid van de Europese Unie. Voor mij is het belangrijk om sterke handelsakkoorden te hebben met robuuste bepalingen rond duurzaamheid, mensenrechten en arbeidsnormen. Daarbij laat ik me leiden door het kader van de Europese Green Deal, mensenrechtenverdragen en de conventies van de IAO.Dit jaarverslag over het handelsbeleid 2018 kan op mijn steun rekenen, omdat de voornoemde voorwaarden sterk aan bod komen (zie bijvoorbeeld §49). Ook bepaalde amendementen, zoals AM35 over bindende en afdwingbare bepalingen rond handel en duurzame ontwikkeling met doeltreffende beslechtingsmechanismen, steun ik volmondig.Ik doe echter niet mee aan een opbod van stoer taalgebruik. Integendeel, voortbouwend op deze sterke passages rond duurzaamheid en normen op vlak van arbeidsvoorwaarden, ben ik ervan overtuigd dat een handelsakkoord het partnerland van binnenuit, stap per stap, richting onze Europese normen brengt. Denk bijvoorbeeld aan Vietnam, dat ondertussen in juni 2020 IAO-Verdrag nr. 105 geratificeerd heeft. Dit is een kleine stap voorwaarts, die er dankzij het handelsakkoord gekomen is. Als we alle handelsakkoorden opschorten, springen andere werelddelen in dat gat, die overeenkomsten zullen sluiten zonder enige vorm van bescherming of normen. Dat moeten we te allen tijde vermijden.
2020/10/07
European Climate Law (A9-0162/2020 - Jytte Guteland)

De klimaatwet waarover we stemden is een reuzestap in onze strijd tegen de klimaatverandering. Voor het eerst is de ambitie voor een klimaatneutraal Europa tegen 2050 in wetgeving verankerd. Hiermee toont het Parlement zich zeer ambitieus. Indien we deze doelstelling willen halen, moet ook het tussentijdse doel voor het reduceren van emissies in 2030 naar omhoog. Wanneer we onhaalbare doelstellingen stellen en geen rekening houden met de sociale en economische gevolgen, zullen we er echter niet geraken. Daarom pleit ik ook voor een ambitieus realisme: ten minste 55% broeikasgasemissiereductie tegen 2030. Dit cijfer is gesteund door een brede wetenschappelijke en maatschappelijke studie van de Commissie.Wij gaan niet mee in het opbod van percentages door andere politieke fracties. We moeten immers steeds oog hebben voor de sociale impact van de nieuwe maatregelen. Enkel zo worden de meest kwetsbaren niet opnieuw de dupe van de noodzakelijke maatregelen. Zo gaan we samen op een sociaal rechtvaardige manier naar een gezond en klimaatneutraal continent in 2050. Ik reken nu op de lidstaten om een zo ambitieus mogelijk, maar realistisch doel te stellen.
2020/10/07
Objection pursuant to Rule 112(2) and (3) and (4)(c): Specifications for titanium dioxide (E 171) (B9-0308/2020)

Titaniumdioxide wordt als voedingssupplement E171 aan allerlei voedingsmiddelen toegevoegd. Denk bijvoorbeeld aan kauwgom, snoep, chocolade, ijs, suiker, ... Dit zijn allemaal producten die zeer populair zijn bij kinderen. De enige reden om de stof te gebruiken als voedingssupplement is het langer behouden van de witte kleur van producten.Titaniumdioxide is mogelijk een kankerverwekkende stof wanneer je deze inademt. Volgens de Commissie is het gebruik ervan in voeding dus veilig, want voeding adem je niet in. Hier ga ik niet mee akkoord. Denk bijvoorbeeld aan poedersuiker op een donut, waar iedereen zich al wel eens in verslikt heeft. Daarbij heeft E171 geen enkele bijkomende nutritionele waarde en hebben verschillende grote bedrijven het gebruik ervan al uitgefaseerd. Er zijn dus alternatieven beschikbaar.Een niet-essentiële stof die mogelijk kankerverwekkend is, hoort niet thuis in onze voeding. Zeker niet wanneer het gaat om snoepgoed dat vaak door kinderen geconsumeerd wordt. Daarom stem ik ook tegen de verdere toelating van E171 als voedingssupplement.
2020/10/07
Objection pursuant to Rule 112(2) and (3) and (4)(c) : Maximum levels of acrylamide in certain foodstuffs for infants and young children (B9-0311/2020)

Acrylamide is een kankerverwekkende stof die ontstaat bij allerlei verhittingsprocessen. Europese burgers komen er dus dagelijks mee in aanraking en de schadelijkheid ervan staat als een paal boven water. Het is dus niet meer dan logisch dat we hier beschermende maatregelen moeten nemen. Daarom is het goed dat er reeds referentiewaarden voor de aanwezigheid van acrylamide in verschillende soorten voeding bestaan.We weten echter dat de risico’s bij baby’s en kleine kinderen veel groter zijn dan bij volwassenen bijvoorbeeld. Zij verdienen dus extra bescherming. De Commissie zit hier op dezelfde lijn en stelt voor om voor bepaalde voedingsmiddelen die specifiek bedoeld zijn voor baby’s en jonge kinderen nieuwe maximumwaarden in te voeren. Dit streven kunnen we natuurlijk alleen maar toejuichen. Het is dan wel belangrijk dat deze maximumwaarden lager liggen dan de huidige referentiewaarden en rekening houden met de huidige productieprocessen. Dit is in dit voorstel niet het geval. Daarom gaan we niet akkoord met het huidige voorstel en vragen we de Commissie om lagere limietwaarden voor acrylamide voor te stellen.
2020/10/07
Reinforcing the Youth Guarantee (B9-0310/2020)

Als schaduwrapporteur namens de PPE-Fractie steun ik de resolutie over een versterkte jongerengarantie. Deze jongerengarantie werd in 2013 in het leven geroepen als antwoord op de hoge jeugdwerkloosheid in Europa na de economische crisis van 2008. In juni 2020 presenteerde de Commissie een nieuw voorstel om deze aan te passen, waarover het Parlement nu ook haar standpunt heeft ingenomen.Deze versterkte jongerengarantie is van cruciaal belang om de jeugdwerkloosheid aan te pakken in de grootste economische crisis sinds de Tweede Wereldoorlog. De jongerengarantie is een politiek engagement waarbij de lidstaten zich ertoe verbinden om jongeren van 15 tot 24 jaar een job, een nieuwe opleiding of een stage aan te bieden, binnen de vier maanden nadat zij werkloos worden of met school stoppen.Het Parlement heeft in deze resolutie enkele verbeterpunten opgenomen. Zo wordt onder andere de leeftijdsgrens opgetrokken naar 29 jaar, zijn er hogere kwaliteitscriteria voor het aanbod in lijn met de Europese pijler van sociale rechten, de Green Deal en de digitale transformatie, voorzien we in een betere monitoring van de jongeren, meer aanbod voor kansengroepen en een versterking van de samenwerking tussen de aanbieders van de jongerengarantie en de sociale partners.
2020/10/08
Recommendation to the VPC/HR and to the Council in preparation of the 10th Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons Treaty (NPT) review process, nuclear arms control and nuclear disarmament options (A9-0020/2020 - Sven Mikser)

Het Verdrag inzake de niet-verspreiding van kernwapens (NPV) is de afgelopen 50 jaar het belangrijkste internationale instrument geweest voor het reguleren van het nucleair stelsel. Ik steun deze tekst volmondig, waarin wordt herhaald dat dit NPV de hoeksteen vormt van de regeling voor nucleaire non-proliferatie en ontwapening. Het NPV is gebaseerd op drie elkaar wederzijds versterkende pijlers, zijnde non-proliferatie, ontwapening en het gebruik van kernenergie voor vreedzame doeleinden. Verder steunde ik een aantal amendementen, zoals amendement 31 dat erop gericht is op te roepen om no-first-use-doctrines te gaan hanteren en de Europese Dienst voor extern optreden (EDEO) ook aan te moedigen om deze aanpak expliciet te bevorderen.
2020/10/21
Gender Equality in EU’s foreign and security policy (A9-0145/2020 - Ernest Urtasun)

Het buitenlands en veiligheidsbeleid van de Europese Unie en haar lidstaten kan nog verbeterd worden op vlak van de rechten voor vrouwen en meisjes. Deze tekst pleit voor een geïntegreerde gendervisie en voortdurende gendermainstreaming in het buitenlands beleid om deze rechten te vrijwaren. Ik steun deze tekst volmondig die er bij de Commissie, de hoge vertegenwoordiger en de lidstaten op aandringt om gendergelijkheid en de volledige uitoefening van de mensenrechten door vrouwen te ondersteunen.
2020/10/23
Common agricultural policy - support for strategic plans to be drawn up by Member States and financed by the EAGF and by the EAFRD (A8-0200/2019 - Peter Jahr)

In 2050 moet Europa het eerste klimaatneutrale continent zijn. Om deze doelstelling te bereiken zal elke sector zijn steentje moeten bijdragen, ook de landbouwsector. Enerzijds zal de uitstoot van de sector lager moeten, anderzijds moeten we ook het potentieel voor de opslag van broeikasgassen omarmen. We evolueren meer en meer naar lokaal geteelde producten en moeten de voedselzekerheid garanderen. Hierbij verdienen onze boeren steun voor een degelijke levensstandaard. Deze herziening van het Europees landbouwbeleid is essentieel om al deze ambities te combineren. Daarom bepalen we dat een minimumaandeel van het bedrag naar klimaatgerelateerde maatregelen moet gaan, en introduceren we een groene conditionaliteit voor het hele budget. Aan de hand van ecoregelingen zorgen we voor een positieve aanmoediging voor landbouwers om extra klimaatvriendelijke maatregelen te nemen. Voor mij dient dit nog uitgebreid te worden met sociale conditionaliteit. Wie Europees geld krijgt, moet zich ook aan sociale en arbeidswetgeving houden. De financiële steun moet naar actieve boeren gaan en kleine landbouwers verdienen extra steun. Door de nodige flexibiliteit in te bouwen, kunnen nationale of regionale overheden op maat gemaakte plannen opstellen. Het bereikte akkoord is niet perfect, maar plaveit de weg richting een groenere en sociaal rechtvaardige landbouw.
2020/10/23
Common agricultural policy – amendment of the CMO and other Regulations (A8-0198/2019 - Eric Andrieu)

In de Europese Unie produceren we heel wat hoogwaardige producten, die omwille van hun herkomst of productiewijze beschermde benamingen of speciale bepalingen verdienen. Het is belangrijk om deze producten te onderscheiden van andere, gelijkaardige voedingsmiddelen. Wetgeving om bepaalde producten te identificeren en geografische benamingen vast te leggen is in bepaalde gevallen dus zeker nodig. Maar het is ook belangrijk dat we niet aan overregulering doen. Onnodige regels zorgen niet voor meer duidelijkheid voor de consument, integendeel. Het is helemaal niet nodig om te verbieden dat termen die traditioneel gebruikt worden voor vleesbenamingen ook gebruikt mogen worden voor de benaming van vegetarische alternatieven. Zowel vlees als vegetarische producten hebben hun plaats in een gezond voedingspatroon. Voor consumenten is het daarom belangrijk dat zij een duidelijke keuze kunnen maken tussen beide alternatieven. De huidige situatie, waar termen als “worst”, “burger” of “steak” voorafgegaan worden door de verduidelijking dat het om een vegetarische variant gaat, is voldoende duidelijk om een geïnformeerde keuze mogelijk te maken. Daarom is het niet nodig bepaalde termen te beschermen of om extra etiketteringsvereisten op te leggen.
2020/10/23
Programme for the Union's action in the field of health for the period 2021-2027 (“EU4Health Programme”) (A9-0196/2020 - Cristian-Silviu Buşoi)

. – In de nasleep van de eerste golf van de coronacrisis lanceerde de Europese Commissie een speciaal begrotingsprogramma voor de gezondheidszorg. Voor het eerst in de geschiedenis wil Europa zo hard inzetten op gezondheidszorg. We moeten dit moment dus aangrijpen en de juiste nadruk leggen om de verschillende gezondheidssystemen van de lidstaten weerbaar en toekomstgericht te maken. Ik sta dan ook achter deze tekst die naar mijn mening de juiste prioriteiten naar voren schuift: meer aandacht voor preventie, bevordering van een gezonde levensstijl en terugdringing van sociale ongelijkheden.Verder sta ik achter de vraag om extra investeringen, gezondheid op alle beleidsgebieden en een versterkte rol voor het Europees Geneesmiddelenbureau en het Europees Centrum voor ziektepreventie en -bestrijding. Daarnaast moet in de gezondheidszorg worden ingezet op innovatie, digitalisering en digitale geletterdheid.Als PPE-coördinator van de Bijzondere Commissie kankerbestrijding ben ik bovendien uitermate tevreden dat er uitdrukkelijk wordt ingezet op de bestrijding van kanker en de afstemming op Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan. Ten slotte wordt ook een sterke nadruk gelegd op het wegwerken van geneesmiddelentekorten, wat in de komende jaren een belangrijke uitdaging zal vormen.
2020/11/13
Tackling homelessness rates in the European Union (B9-0363/2020)

Elke nacht bevinden zich 700 000 mensen in de Europese Unie zonder dak boven hun hoofd. Ze slapen op straat, bij kennissen, in gekraakte panden… Daklozen hebben niet alleen minder toegang tot basisvoorzieningen zoals voedsel, gezondheidszorg, onderwijs, werk en sociale bescherming, maar worden ook geconfronteerd met geweld en discriminatie, des te meer tijdens de huidige COVID-19-pandemie en de lockdownmaatregelen in verschillende lidstaten. Dakloosheid kan en mag geen vanzelfsprekendheid zijn in de Europese Unie. Enkel door samenwerking tussen de Europese instellingen, de lidstaten, nationale, regionale en lokale overheden en het maatschappelijk middenveld, kunnen we dakloosheid aanpakken. Ik steun dan ook ten volle deze resolutie, waarin dakloosheid vanuit verschillende hoeken belicht wordt, waarin gewezen wordt op een correct gebruik van de verschillende Europese fondsen en vooral waarin samenwerking centraal staat. Zodat elke Europeaan een leven in waardigheid kan leiden.
2020/11/23
Towards a more sustainable single market for business and consumers (A9-0209/2020 - David Cormand)

De omslag naar een circulaire economie staat centraal in ons streven naar een duurzamere samenleving en de Europese klimaatplannen. Zowel het efficiënter omgaan met onze grondstoffen als de afvalberg verkleinen zijn hierbij essentieel. Daarom moeten producten langer meegaan, dat staat als een paal boven water. Praktijken die ervoor zorgen dat producten op een gepland ogenblik stuk gaan, moeten we meteen verbieden en de reparatiegraad moet gevoelig omhoog. Op basis van een gemeenschappelijke methode moeten we beter schatten hoe lang een product in bepaalde omstandigheden meegaat. Samen met een indicatie over de reparatiemogelijkheden en de beschikbaarheid van reserveonderdelen moet deze informatie overgebracht worden aan de consument. Een verplicht label is echter nog niet aan de orde. Er zijn nog te veel verschillende labels op de markt en we hebben nog geen gezamenlijke methode om de verwachte levensduur van een product te berekenen. Daarom zetten we in een eerste fase in op verdere harmonisering, om in een tweede fase eventueel te evolueren naar een verplicht duurzaamheids- of reparatielabel. Met dit rapport zetten we een eerste stap naar een duurzaam productbeleid. We verwachten nu ambitieuze voorstellen van de Commissie in deze richting.
2020/11/25
Addressing product safety in the single market (A9-0207/2020 - Marion Walsmann)

In onze Europese interne markt is het uiterst belangrijk dat we kunnen vertrouwen op de veiligheid van de producten die we kunnen kopen. Daarvoor zijn duidelijke, strenge en eenvormige veiligheidsvoorschriften nodig. Voor een heel aantal productcategorieën bestaan deze op dit ogenblik nog niet. Dit gebrek aan harmonisering is nefast voor de veiligheid van de producten die vrij binnen de interne markt circuleren. Met dit rapport roepen we op om hier een einde aan te maken. Europeanen hebben recht op veilige producten, dat principe staat voor mij altijd voorop. Maar dan moeten we dit veiligheidsbeginsel ook wel doortrekken naar de toekomst. Nieuwe technologieën en producten overspoelen onze markt nu reeds in sneltempo. Daarom is het essentieel dat we het voorzorgsbeginsel, dat we ook bij traditionele producten centraal stellen, in acht nemen bij het opstellen van de regels voor nieuwe technologieën en producten. Hierbij moet de bewijslast voor het aantonen van de veiligheid naar mijn mening bij de producenten zelf liggen. Op deze manier zorgen we zowel nu als in de toekomst voor veilige producten gedurende de hele levenscyclus. Deze tekst legt de juiste accenten en het belang van het voorzorgsbeginsel is duidelijk. Daarom kan dit rapport in haar huidige vorm op mijn volledige steun rekenen.
2020/11/25
A New Industrial Strategy for Europe (A9-0197/2020 - Carlo Calenda)

Europa heeft een sterk industrieel verleden. Midden in de grootste economische crisis sinds de Tweede Wereldoorlog is dit rapport voor “een nieuwe industriële strategie” dan ook tweeledig van aard. Zo focust het rapport in een eerste fase op het herstel op korte- en middellange termijn, maar legt het ook de nadruk op het industriebeleid van de toekomst. Het moet de leidraad worden voor toekomstige beslissingen voor onze industrie en tevens inspelen op de versnelling van twee ingrijpende transities: de digitale- en milieutransitie.Ik heb voor het rapport gestemd omdat er een evenwicht wordt gevonden tussen enerzijds de uitdagingen van deze tijd, anderzijds flankerende maatregelen om geen al te bruuske overgang te forceren in deze crisistijd. Het is daarom belangrijk dat het toekomstig industriebeleid van de EU een sterke sociale en milieudimensie omvat en in overeenstemming is met de Europese pijler van sociale rechten en de doelstellingen van de Green Deal en de Overeenkomst van Parijs.
2020/11/25
Objection pursuant to Rule 112: Lead in gunshot in or around wetlands (B9-0365/2020)

Ieder jaar belandt er tot wel 30 000 ton lood in ons milieu, afkomstig van verschillende bronnen. 85% hiervan is afkomstig van het gebruik van lood in munitie. Wat betreft de vervuiling van watergebieden zou het gaan om ongeveer 4000 ton per jaar. Lood heeft extreem schadelijke eigenschappen, zowel voor de volksgezondheid als voor het milieu en voor de biodiversiteit. Sinds 1999 is internationaal afgesproken om het gebruik van loodhoudende munitie boven watergebieden af te schaffen. In navolging van deze internationale afspraak hebben verschillende Europese lidstaten het gebruik van loodhoudende munitie in de jacht al deels of volledig aan banden gelegd. Wanneer we naar België kijken bijvoorbeeld, is in Vlaanderen elk gebruik van loodhoudende hagel op het hele grondgebied reeds verboden. In Wallonië geldt hetzelfde verbod boven watergebieden. De Europese Commissie stelt nu voor dit beginsel in de hele EU toe te passen. Voor mij is het voorstel duidelijk, proportioneel en hoogstnodig. Daarom steun ik het verzet ertegen ook niet. Schadelijke stoffen zoals lood horen simpelweg niet thuis in ons milieu. We moeten er dan ook alles aan doen om dit te voorkomen.
2020/11/25
A strong social Europe for Just Transitions (A9-0233/2020 - Dennis Radtke, Agnes Jongerius)

Het Europees Parlement heeft deze week het verslag over een sterk sociaal Europa voor rechtvaardige transities goedgekeurd. Dit verslag bevat richtlijnen voor een actieplan voor de implementatie van de Europese pijler van sociale rechten. De Europese Commissie zal dit actieplan in het voorjaar van 2021 presenteren. De sociale pijler is een initiatief uit 2018 van toenmalige commissaris Marianne Thyssen en is een soort van sociaal kompas voor Europa. Ik heb voor dit verslag gestemd omdat we behoefte hebben aan een sterk sociaal Europa om uit de huidige coronacrisis te geraken en om ervoor te zorgen dat niemand achterblijft. Het verslag voorziet in heel wat sociale initiatieven zoals een adequaat EU-minimumloon, betere bescherming inzake de gezondheid en veiligheid op de werkvloer, een sterkere rol voor de sociale partners, terugdringen van ongelijkheid met speciale aandacht voor armoede onder werkenden, een Europees systeem voor de herverzekering van werkloosheidsuitkeringen en een Europees sociaal zekerheidsnummer.
2020/12/17
The need for a dedicated Council configuration on gender equality (B9-0402/2020, B9-0404/2020)

Momenteel wordt er nog onvoldoende aandacht besteed aan het thema gendergelijkheid in de huidige Raadsconfiguraties. In principe zou dit in elke Raadsconfiguratie moeten gestroomlijnd worden, maar dit is niet altijd het geval. Ministers bevoegd voor gendergelijkheid komen niet vaak samen en het contact met de commissaris voor gelijkheid Helena Dali is tot een minimum beperkt. Ik steun dan ook dit verzoek vanuit het Europees Parlement om een afzonderlijke Raadsconfiguratie gendergelijkheid. Ook de amendementen die het toepassingsgebied van de nieuwe configuratie willen uitbreiden naar andere vormen van discriminatie en gelijkheid konden op mijn steun rekenen.
2020/12/17
Agreement for co-operation in dealing with pollution of the North Sea by oil and other harmful substances (Bonn Agreement): extension of its material and geographical scope of application (A9-0268/2020 - Pascal Canfin)

De Noordzee is een van de drukst bevaren gebieden en grenst bovendien aan verschillende Europese lidstaten. Daarom is het essentieel dat we zo veel mogelijk samenwerken bij de controle en de bescherming van het gebied om zo vervuiling van de zee en kustgebieden door olie en andere schadelijke stoffen tegen te gaan. Denk bijvoorbeeld aan chronische verontreiniging door schepen of offshore-installaties. Evengoed kan het gaan om het monitoren van de gevolgen van maritieme rampen.Deze samenwerking is al vastgelegd in de Overeenkomst van Bonn, maar wordt nu versterkt. Dat is een goede zaak. Vanaf nu zal ook Spanje betrokken worden, waardoor er een groter zeegebied beschermd kan worden. Daarnaast is het een juiste beslissing om meer in te zetten op het aanpakken van de illegale luchtverontreiniging door schepen. Vaak stoten zij nog te grote hoeveelheden zwavel of stikstof uit, met grote negatieve gevolgen voor de volksgezondheid. Dat kan niet langer. Meer internationale samenwerking zal ons helpen om hier paal en perk aan te stellen.
2021/01/19
Revision of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) guidelines (A9-0251/2020 - Jens Gieseke)

Een goed ontsloten transportnetwerk is essentieel in een eengemaakte markt als de onze. Dat belangrijke transportassen hier een grote rol in spelen, zagen we de laatste maanden nog maar eens. Zelfs wanneer grenzen gesloten werden, konden deze assen aangeduid worden als ‘green lanes’ en zo open blijven voor essentieel vervoer. Daarom moeten we blijven inzetten op het verder uitbouwen van een robuust grensoverschrijdend kernnetwerk, via de weg, het water en het spoor. Essentiële goederen moeten te allen tijde tussen de lidstaten vervoerd kunnen worden.Een goed transportnetwerk speelt ook een belangrijke rol in de duurzame omslag die we in de Europese Unie moeten maken. Meer multimodaal goederentransport over water en spoor zal helpen de uitstoot van broeikasgassen te doen dalen. Daarvoor zijn er wel vlotte grensoverschrijdende verbindingen nodig. Daarnaast is het goed dat we in deze herziening ook de focus verschuiven naar alternatieve brandstoffen. Ook dit zal een steentje bijdragen aan de klimaatinspanningen. Daarom steun ik deze herziening ook volledig.
2021/01/20
Decent and affordable housing for all (A9-0247/2020 - Kim Van Sparrentak)

Huisvesting biedt niet alleen een sleutel voor een leven in waardigheid, maar opent ook de deur naar heel wat andere diensten en voorzieningen. Inzetten op toegang tot betaalbare en kwalitatieve huisvesting voor iedereen is een belangrijke stap in de implementatie van de Europese pijler van sociale rechten, en meer specifiek punt 19 “Toegang tot huisvesting”, maar ook in de realisatie van een sociaal Europa, waarin armoedebestrijding centraal staat. Elke nacht slapen meer dan 700 000 mensen in de Europese Unie buiten. Dit cijfer steeg in het afgelopen decennium met meer dan 70 %. We moeten niet alleen inzetten op het aanpakken van dakloosheid, zoals in dit verslag gedaan wordt met een hernieuwde oproep voor een Europees samenwerkingsplatform rond dakloosheid, maar ook zorgen dat mensen niet in dakloosheid terechtkomen door in te zetten op betaalbare en degelijke huisvesting. Ben ik het eens met elke paragraaf? Neen, maar dit verslag kan wel op mijn volle steun rekenen. Degelijke huisvesting is namelijk een van de belangrijkste hefbomen in de strijd tegen armoede. En bovendien: dakloosheid hoort niet thuis in een welvarend Europa, het hoort thuis in musea.
2021/01/21
The right to disconnect (A9-0246/2020 - Alex Agius Saliba)

Op woensdag 20 januari werd het recht om offline te zijn goedgekeurd in het Europees Parlement. Sinds de uitbraak van de COVID-19-pandemie wordt er bijna 30 % meer thuisgewerkt. Onderzoek van Eurofound heeft aangetoond dat mensen die regelmatig thuiswerken ruim twee keer zo vaak geneigd zijn langer dan het maximum van 48 uur per week te werken. De lange werkuren leiden echter tot meer angststoornissen, depressies, burn-out en andere gezondheidsproblemen. Ik heb voor dit verslag gestemd omdat ik voorstander ben van een Europees kader dat werknemers in staat stelt om buiten de werkuren offline te zijn. Het verslag bevat ook minimumeisen voor telewerk en vraagt duidelijkheid over werk- en rusttijden van werknemers. Dit recht is ook van toepassing op vakanties en andere soorten verlof. Ik roep de Europese Commissie dan ook op om spoedig met een initiatief te komen om dit recht om offline te zijn in de praktijk te brengen.
2021/01/21
Reforming the EU list of tax havens (B9-0052/2021)

We zitten midden in een pandemie die uitmondt in een zware economische crisis. In tijden als deze, wanneer zovelen het water aan de lippen staat, moeten we de strijd voor rechtvaardige fiscaliteit nog hoger op de agenda plaatsen. Door het bestaan van belastingparadijzen lopen overheden in de hele Unie gigantische bedragen mis, die we niet kunnen gebruiken voor de ondersteuning van wie het nodig heeft. Bedrijven die geen belasting betalen, daar betaalt de hele samenleving een prijs voor. We moeten daarom de vele achterpoortjes durven sluiten en de EU-lijst van belastingparadijzen speelt daarin een belangrijke rol. In de resolutie wordt opgeroepen tot strengere en objectieve criteria om de lijst samen te stellen en uit te breiden, alsook tot meer transparantie en democratische controle erover. Ik steun dit volmondig.
2021/01/21
The EU Strategy for Gender Equality (A9-0234/2020 - Maria Noichl)

Afgelopen donderdag 21 januari heeft het Europees Parlement de EU-strategie inzake gendergelijkheid goedgekeurd. Als schaduwrapporteur namens de Europese Volkspartij heb ik mee de kar getrokken voor een strategie die ambitieus, inclusief en sociaal is. Zeker in tijden van corona, waarin vrouwen onevenredig hard worden getroffen, moeten we alle vrouwen aan boord houden, inclusief vrouwen in de meest kwetsbare posities, zoals alleenstaande moeders in armoede of vrouwen met chronische aandoeningen. Ik heb voor dit verslag gestemd omdat de aangenomen genderstrategie voorziet in maatregelen voor de bestrijding van alle vormen van gendergerelateerd geweld, gelijke participatie en gelijke kansen op de arbeidsmarkt, met inbegrip van gelijke beloning via loontransparantie, het bestrijden van genderstereotypes en het tot stand brengen van een genderevenwicht in de besluitvorming.
2021/01/21
New Circular Economy Action Plan: see Minutes (A9-0008/2021 - Jan Huitema)

De omslag naar een circulaire economie speelt een cruciale rol in onze strijd tegen de klimaatverandering. Willen we onze uitstoot beperken, dan moeten we efficiënter omgaan met onze grondstoffen, meer gaan recycleren en de afvalberg drastisch verkleinen. Dit verslag en de bijhorende strategie van de Europese Commissie komt dan ook geen moment te vroeg.De afvalberg verkleinen, betekent de reparatiegraad verhogen. Het kan niet dat producten na bepaalde periodes kapotgaan. Daarom steun ik de oproep om hier een einde aan te maken. Niet enkel via labels maar ook via juridische bepalingen. Zo kunnen consumenten duidelijke keuzes maken en zijn er meer mogelijkheden om te recycleren.Een circulaire economie moet echter ook een veilige economie zijn, zeker wat betreft de aanwezigheid van schadelijke stoffen. Die horen niet thuis in onze producten, of ze nu nieuw geproduceerd of gerecycleerd zijn. Schadelijke stoffen die nu reeds circuleren, mogen geen tweede leven krijgen in gerecycleerde producten. Secundaire grondstoffen moeten even veilig zijn als primaire grondstoffen. Tegelijk mogen we niet langer toelaten dat bijkomende schadelijke stoffen in onze interne markt terechtkomen, ook niet via handel uit derde landen.Dit verslag geeft de juiste speerpunten aan en daarom steun ik het ook ten volle.
2021/02/09
Reducing inequalities with a special focus on in-work poverty (A9-0006/2021 - Özlem Demirel)

Het Europees Parlement heeft op dinsdag 9 februari een verslag goedgekeurd over het verminderen van ongelijkheden met een focus op inkomensongelijkheid.Een job zou de beste garantie moeten zijn om uit de armoede te blijven. De meest recente cijfers van Eurostat stellen echter dat meer dan 20 miljoen Europese werkenden, inclusief 230 000 Belgen, in 2018 een armoederisico liep. Dit aantal zal de komende jaren door de gevolgen van de coronacrisis en door de toename van nieuwe onbeschermde precaire jobs, zoals bij platformwerknemers, jammer genoeg alleen maar stijgen.Daarom steun ik het verslag, dat oproept tot maatregelen zoals een fatsoenlijk minimumloon, een actieplan voor de implementatie van de Europese Pijler van sociale rechten, waarbij beginsel 6 voorziet in een aanpak van armoede onder werkenden, en een betere sociale bescherming voor platformwerknemers.
2021/02/09
Challenges ahead for women’s rights: more than 25 years after the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (B9-0114/2021)

Afgelopen donderdag 11 februari heeft het Parlement een resolutie aangenomen over de toestand van de vrouwenrechten in Europa. De balans is, 26 jaar na de vierde vrouwenconferentie in Peking, voorzichtig positief. Maar uit onderzoek van het Europees Instituut voor Gendergelijkheid (EIGE) blijkt dat de vooruitgang onaanvaardbaar traag verloopt. Aan het huidige tempo zou het maar liefst 60 jaar duren alvorens we complete gendergelijkheid kunnen bereiken in de Europese Unie.Ik steun daarom de resolutie, omdat ze de Europese Commissie en de lidstaten oproept om dringend enkele tanden bij te steken om eindelijk werk te maken van het bestrijden van gendergerelateerd geweld, met onder meer de ratificatie van het Verdrag van Istanbul, het dichten van de genderloonkloof via loontransparantie, het bestrijden van genderstereotypen, het tot stand brengen van genderevenwicht in de besluitvorming en de snelle omzetting van de richtlijn betreffende het evenwicht tussen werk en privéleven.
2021/02/11
Programme for the Union's action in the field of health for the period 2021-2027 (“EU4Health Programme”) (A9-0196/2020 - Cristian-Silviu Buşoi)

De laatste maanden toonden aan dat er meer Europese samenwerking op het vlak van gezondheidszorg nodig is. Er is dringend nood aan een Europese gezondheidsunie. De goedkeuring van dit EU4Health-programma is een volgende belangrijke stap in deze richting. We moeten er ten eerste voor zorgen dat we beter voorbereid zijn op de uitdagingen bij toekomstige gezondheidscrisissen. Tegelijk gaat een gezondheidsunie ook verder dan enkel crisissituaties. We moeten bestaande gezondheidsongelijkheden tussen de verschillende lidstaten wegwerken, verder inzetten op digitalisering van de sector en de Europese autonomie in de productie van geneesmiddelen en medisch materiaal opvoeren. Verder zal het nieuwe programma een belangrijke rol spelen in de financiering van het Europees kankerbestrijdingsplan. Elke Europeaan heeft recht op een zo goed mogelijke gezondheidszorg. De COVID-19 crisis heeft nogmaals bewezen dat we gezondheid op de eerste plaats moeten zetten. En hogere ambities, daar hoort ook een hoger budget bij. Daarom keur ik dit akkoord volmondig goed. Sterkere samenwerking en een betere gezondheidszorg, dat komt alle Europeanen ten goede.
2021/03/09
A WTO-compatible EU carbon border adjustment mechanism (A9-0019/2021 - Yannick Jadot)

Een mechanisme voor koolstofcorrectie aan de grens zal een essentieel onderdeel zijn voor de verwezenlijking van de nieuwe klimaatdoelstellingen van de Europese Unie en de Green Deal. We moeten ervoor zorgen dat er geen koolstof weglekt doordat bedrijven de productie verplaatsen naar derde landen omdat daar minder strenge regels gelden.Tegelijk moeten we onze Europese bedrijven en jobs beschermen. Een koolstofheffing aan de grens zal hier zeker bij helpen. We staan volledig achter dit principe. Het is echter belangrijk dat het nieuwe systeem verenigbaar is met de bestaande regels van het Europese emissiehandelssysteem (ETS). Ook dit systeem willen we in de toekomst herzien en de afbouw van de huidige gratis uitstootrechten maakt hier zeker deel van uit.Het is op dit moment echter nog te vroeg om al aan te geven welke specifieke modaliteiten van het ETS-systeem vervangen zullen worden. We kunnen nog niet vooruitlopen op aanpassingen van het huidige systeem, wanneer we niet weten wat het nieuwe systeem zal inhouden. Daarom moet de Commissie zo snel mogelijk met een voorstel komen. De wereldwijde emissies moeten dalen en een koolstofcorrectie zal hier een belangrijke rol in spelen, zoveel is duidelijk. Daarom steun ik dit verslag volledig.
2021/03/10
Objection pursuant to Rule 112(2) and (3): Active substances, including dimoxystrobin (B9-0162/2021)

Dimoxystrobine is een stof die gebruikt wordt als actief bestandsdeel in bepaalde gewasbeschermingsmiddelen. Sinds 2015 staat dimoxystrobine juist omwille van haar schadelijke eigenschappen op de kandidaatlijst van stoffen waarvan het gebruik uitgefaseerd dient te worden. Bij het beoordelen van de toelating van chemische stoffen op de Europese markt is het essentieel dat we de laatste stand van zaken van het wetenschappelijk onderzoek meenemen. Dit geldt altijd, maar zeker bij dergelijke gevaarlijke stoffen. Dat de toelating voor dimoxystrobine al sinds 2016 automatisch verlengd wordt omdat de wetenschappelijke analyse ontbreekt, is simpelweg onaanvaardbaar. De oorzaak van deze vertraging doet er dan eigenlijk zelfs niet toe. Een dergelijke stof hoort niet thuis in ons milieu. Laat staan dat de toelating al vijf jaar automatisch verlengd wordt. De Commissie moet deze beslissing terugdraaien, de volksgezondheid vooropstellen en de weg naar een niet-toxisch milieu verder inslaan. Dit is een integraal onderdeel van het nieuwe Europees kankerbestrijdingsplan. Daarom steun ik dit bezwaar.
2021/03/10
Declaration of the EU as an LGBTIQ Freedom Zone (B9-0166/2021, B9-0167/2021)

Elke mens telt en elke mens moet zichzelf kunnen zijn. We moeten daarom strijden voor het recht om in vrijheid te leven en om je genderidentiteit en seksuele voorkeur te kunnen uiten zonder vervolging of discriminatie.Het is triest dat een tekst als deze überhaupt noodzakelijk is, maar we stellen vast dat er in verschillende Europese landen een strijd aan de gang is tegen de LGBTIQ-gemeenschap. Die gaat zelfs zo ver dat sommige landen “homovrije” zones uitroepen. Dat soort intolerantie kan ik niet verzoenen met de Europese waarde van inclusie. Daarom steun ik met overtuiging deze resolutie. Het is een krachtig signaal dat we iedereen verwelkomen, in alle verscheidenheid.
2021/03/11
Children's Rights (B9-0164/2021)

Met de nieuwe EU-strategie voor de rechten van het kind, die de Europese Commissie heeft aangekondigd, kunnen en moeten we in de komende jaren volop blijven inzetten op de 3 P’s: protection (bescherming tegen alle vormen van geweld), participation en provision (recht op onderwijs, gezondheidszorg, ontspanning enz.).De Europese kindergarantie zal hierbij van groot belang zijn. Ik ben ervan overtuigd dat dit instrument ervoor kan zorgen dat we kinderen uit armoede of sociale uitsluiting kunnen halen, door het recht op onderwijs, opvang, huisvesting, gezonde voeding en gezondheidszorg voor elk kind te garanderen. Ook een betere bescherming online moet een prioriteit zijn.De huidige coronacrisis heeft de kwetsbaarheid van kinderen nog duidelijker gemaakt. Als we niet dringend actie ondernemen dreigen nog meer kinderen in armoede terecht te komen. Dit mogen we absoluut niet laten gebeuren. We moeten investeren in onze kinderen en hun families en hun de nodige steun geven, zodat ze alle kansen krijgen in het leven.
2021/03/11
Implementation of the Ambient Air Quality Directives (A9-0037/2021 - Javi López)

Luchtverontreiniging is een belangrijke doodsoorzaak en draagt bij tot 400 000 vroegtijdige sterfgevallen per jaar. Zo bestaat er bijvoorbeeld een zeer sterk verband met longkanker, hartziekten en beroertes. Uit een studie van het Europees Geneesmiddelenagentschap uit 2019 blijkt dat een op de acht sterfgevallen in Europa verband houdt met slechte luchtkwaliteit. Daarom hebben we nood aan een alomvattende benadering. Een grondige herziening van deze twee richtlijnen is dan ook essentieel. Goede bescherming van de volksgezondheid gaat gepaard met duidelijke, wetenschappelijk onderbouwde limietwaarden voor de schadelijkste stoffen. Daarom moeten we de richtsnoeren van de Wereldgezondheidsorganisatie overnemen. Gezondheid moet op de eerste plaats komen, en duidelijke drempelwaarden zijn hierin een eerste stap. Dat stellen we voorop. Tegelijk moeten we ook kijken naar de nodige randvoorwaarden bij het nemen van maatregelen die dienen om de strengere normen te halen.
2021/03/25
2019-2020 Reports on Kosovo (A9-0031/2021 - Viola Von Cramon-Taubadel)

We stemden in met dit verslag omdat het in overeenstemming is met het geostrategische en geconditioneerde uitbreidingsbeleid van de EU. De EU moet Kosovo, samen met de andere landen van de Westelijke Balkan, op het spoor van de Europese integratie houden door grondige hervormingen af te dwingen. Er is nog veel werk te verrichten maar de bereidheid en inzet zijn aan beide kanten aanwezig. Essentieel is alvast dat de Kosovaarse autoriteiten daadwerkelijk de door de EU gekoesterde waarden delen, zoals democratie en rechtsstatelijkheid en eerbiediging van fundamentele vrijheden en mensenrechtenWe stemden tegen de terechtwijzing dat de opening van een Kosovaarse ambassade in Jeruzalem ingaat tegen het standpunt van de EU over de tweestatenoplossing voor het conflict tussen Israël en Palestina, niet omdat wij dit Europese standpunt in twijfel trekken – integendeel –, maar omdat deze terechtwijzing hier niet aan de orde is: de locatie van ambassades is een louter nationale bevoegdheid en de verplaatsing van ambassades in Israël heeft nooit echt ter discussie gestaan onder de lidstaten.
2021/03/25
2019-2020 Reports on Serbia (A9-0032/2021 - Vladimír Bilčík)

We stemden in met dit verslag omdat het in overeenstemming is met het geostrategische en geconditioneerde uitbreidingsbeleid van de EU. De EU moet Servië, samen met de andere landen van de Westelijke Balkan, op het spoor van de Europese integratie houden door grondige hervormingen af te dwingen. Er is nog veel werk te verrichten maar de bereidheid en inzet zijn aan beide kanten aanwezig. Essentieel is alvast dat de Servische autoriteiten daadwerkelijk de door de EU gekoesterde waarden delen, zoals democratie en rechtsstatelijkheid en eerbiediging van fundamentele vrijheden en mensenrechten.Twee preciseringen:• We stemden tegen de terechtwijzing dat de verplaatsing van de Servische ambassade van Tel Aviv naar Jeruzalem ingaat tegen het standpunt van de EU over de tweestatenoplossing voor het conflict tussen Israël en Palestina, niet omdat wij dit Europese standpunt in twijfel trekken – integendeel –, maar omdat deze terechtwijzing hier niet aan de orde is: de locatie van ambassades is een louter nationale bevoegdheid en de verplaatsing van ambassades in Israël heeft nooit echt ter discussie gestaan onder de lidstaten.• We stemden overeenkomstig onze overtuiging tegen een amendement waarmee de oproep aan de Servische regering zou worden afgezwakt om partnerschappen tussen mensen van hetzelfde geslacht en naams- en genderwijzigingen voor transgenders bij wet te regelen.
2021/03/25
Establishing Horizon Europe – laying down its rules for participation and dissemination (A9-0122/2021 - Dan Nica)

Het onderzoeks- en innovatieprogramma 2021-2027 bedraagt 95,5 miljard euro en wil onze industrie vernieuwen, digitaliseren en vooral vergroenen. Met korte- en langetermijnfinanciering voor onderzoek en innovatie inzake wereldwijde uitdagingen, zoals de strijd tegen klimaatverandering, digitalisering en de COVID-19-pandemie, is Horizon Europa één van de kernprogramma's van de Europese Unie. Door de krachten te bundelen in onderzoek en innovatie staan we stukken sterker om de vermelde uitdagingen het hoofd te bieden. We hebben als Parlement dan ook terecht geijverd voor meer geld voor onderzoek tijdens de onderhandelingen met de Raad en dat is grotendeels gelukt. Gezien de tijdsdruk was Horizon Europa al voorlopig van toepassing sinds januari, maar hebben we dat nu formeel goedgekeurd en dat heeft mijn volle steun.
2021/04/27
Specific Programme implementing Horizon Europe – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (A9-0118/2021 - Christian Ehle)

Het onderzoeks- en innovatieprogramma 2021-2027 bedraagt 95,5 miljard euro en wil onze industrie vernieuwen, digitaliseren en vooral vergroenen. Met korte- en langetermijnfinanciering voor onderzoek en innovatie inzake wereldwijde uitdagingen, zoals de strijd tegen klimaatverandering, digitalisering en de COVID-19-pandemie, is Horizon Europa een van de kernprogramma's van de Europese Unie. Door de krachten te bundelen in onderzoek en innovatie staan we stukken sterker om de vermelde uitdagingen het hoofd te bieden. We hebben als Parlement dan ook terecht geijverd voor meer geld voor onderzoek tijdens de onderhandelingen met de Raad en dat is grotendeels gelukt. Gezien de tijdsdruk was Horizon Europa al voorlopig van toepassing sinds januari, maar nu hebben we dat formeel goedgekeurd en dat heeft mijn volle steun.
2021/04/27
Objection pursuant to Rule 112(2) and (3), and (4)(c): Maximum residue levels for certain substances, including lufenuron (B9-0223/2021)

Lufenuron is een pesticide en fungicide dat bijzonder schadelijk is voor het waterleven. Omdat de stof amper afgebroken wordt, blijft ze ook voor extreem lange periodes aanwezig. Tegelijk veroorzaakt ze allergische reacties bij aanraking met de huid en zijn er vermoedens dat ze schadelijk is voor de voortplanting. De markttoelating van de stof in de Europese Unie is in 2019 verlopen. Het gebruik ervan is nog toegelaten tot 30 juni 2021 om de bestaande voorraden op te gebruiken. Daarna mag de stof niet meer gebruikt worden in de Unie. De Commissie wil nu de toegelaten residuniveaus voor import van suikerriet en grapefruits uit Brazilië verhogen. Verhogingen van toegelaten residuwaarden louter omwille van handelsbelangen, dat willen we niet. Zeker niet wanneer het gaat om een stof die niet meer toegelaten is in de Unie zelf. Daarom steun ik dit bezwaar.
2021/04/27
The EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (A9-0128/2021 - Andreas Schieder, Christophe Hansen)

Het politieke brexitakkoord dateert al van 24 december 2020 en wordt voorlopig toegepast sinds 1 januari 2021. Deze voorlopige overgangsperiode liep af op 30 april 2021. Daarom heeft het Parlement de vastgelegde voorwaarden goedgekeurd voor de toekomstige samenwerking tussen het VK en de EU. Ook ik stemde voor, zij het met enige tegenzin. Het akkoord is heel wat beter dan een harde brexit, maar ook dit akkoord zal voor meer administratie zorgen en bijgevolg banen kosten. Brexit blijft dus een historische vergissing. Het is bovendien spijtig dat het onderhandelde akkoord geen sterkere garanties biedt voor sociale rechten: we moeten absoluut vermijden dat er tussen het VK en de EU een concurrentiestrijd ontstaat op sociale verworvenheden. Deze stemming is dus geen eindpunt. We moeten dit nauw blijven opvolgen.
2021/04/27
The outcome of EU-UK negotiations (B9-0225/2021)

Het politieke brexitakkoord dateert al van 24 december 2020 en wordt voorlopig toegepast sinds 1 januari 2021. Deze voorlopige overgangsperiode liep af op 30 april 2021. Daarom heeft het Parlement de vastgelegde voorwaarden goedgekeurd voor de toekomstige samenwerking tussen het VK en de EU. Ook ik stemde voor, zij het met enige tegenzin. Het akkoord is heel wat beter dan een harde brexit, maar ook dit akkoord zal voor meer administratie zorgen en bijgevolg banen kosten. Brexit blijft dus een historische vergissing. Het is bovendien spijtig dat het onderhandelde akkoord geen sterkere garanties biedt voor sociale rechten: we moeten absoluut vermijden dat er tussen het VK en de EU een concurrentiestrijd ontstaat op sociale verworvenheden. Deze stemming is dus geen eindpunt. We moeten dit nauw blijven opvolgen.
2021/04/27
Soil protection (B9-0221/2021)

Op dit ogenblik bestaat er nog geen specifieke overkoepelende Europese wetgeving voor de bescherming van de bodem. Dit terwijl er wel dergelijke regels bestaan voor bijvoorbeeld lucht, water en natuurgebieden. De negatieve gevolgen op de bodem zijn er echter wel: vervuiling, erosie, verlies van vruchtbaarheid en biodiversiteit, woestijnvorming... Verschillende lidstaten hebben goede wetgeving en strikte normen, maar andere niet. Daarom is er een bindend juridisch raamwerk voor de hele Unie nodig, met respect voor de subsidiariteit. We moeten de bodem beschermen, de bestaande natuur behouden en een duurzaam beheer in de hand werken. Tegelijk moeten we ook buiten onze eigen grenzen kijken. Bodembescherming moet in de toekomst deel uitmaken van overeenkomsten die we sluiten met onze internationale handelspartners. Import van producten die gepaard gaan met bodemaantasting en ontbossing in andere landen, dat kan niet langer. We verwachten nu ambitieuze wetgevende voorstellen van de Europese Commissie. Daarom steun ik deze resolutie voluit.
2021/04/28
Digital Green Certificate - Union citizens (C9-0104/2021 - Juan Fernando López Aguilar)

Het voorstel van de Commissie voor een “digitaal groen certificaat” moet dienen om het Europese recht op vrij verkeer tijdens de pandemie opnieuw te waarborgen. Zonder overleg de grenzen sluiten is enkel negatief voor Europese burgers.Ik steun daarom het voorstel, met dien verstande dat het ook een papieren certificaat kan zijn en dat het in geen geval mag leiden tot discriminatie. We herdopen het voorstel daarom tot “Europees Covid-19-certificaat”, maken het tijdelijk (twaalf maanden) en verzekeren dat niet enkel vaccinatie maar ook een recent negatief testresultaat of een recent herstel van een infectie met het virus op het certificaat kan komen. We benadrukken de privacybescherming: er mogen geen persoonlijke gegevens van het certificaat opgeslagen worden en er komt geen Europese centrale databank. Tot slot mag dit certificaat niet afleiden van de belangrijkste opdracht: vaccins, vaccins, vaccins. We moeten vooral inzetten op een grootschalige productie én verdeling van vaccins. In die context drukte ik ook mijn steun uit voor het amendement dat oproept tot een opheffing van de Trips-Overeenkomst, zodat de kennis over de coronavaccins vrijgesteld wordt zolang de pandemie door ons leven raast.
2021/04/28
Digital Green Certificate - third country nationals (C9-0100/2021 - Juan Fernando López Aguilar)

Het voorstel van de Commissie voor een “digitaal groen certificaat” moet dienen om het Europese recht op vrij verkeer tijdens de pandemie opnieuw te waarborgen. Zonder overleg de grenzen sluiten is enkel negatief voor Europese burgers.Ik steun daarom het voorstel, met dien verstande dat het ook een papieren certificaat kan zijn en dat het in geen geval mag leiden tot discriminatie. We herdopen het voorstel daarom naar “Europees Covid-19-certificaat”, maken het tijdelijk (twaalf maanden) en verzekeren dat niet enkel vaccinatie maar ook een recent negatief testresultaat of een recent herstel van een infectie met het virus op het certificaat kan komen. We benadrukken de privacybescherming: er mogen geen persoonlijke gegevens van het certificaat opgeslagen worden en er komt geen Europese centrale databank. Tot slot mag dit certificaat niet afleiden van de belangrijkste opdracht: vaccins, vaccins, vaccins. We moeten vooral inzetten op een grootschalige productie én verdeling van vaccins.
2021/04/28
Rail passengers' rights and obligations (A9-0045/2021 - Bogusław Liberadzki)

De nieuwe regels rond rechten van treinreizigers zijn een verbetering omdat mensen nu langs een andere route kunnen reizen en hulp kunnen ontvangen bij vertragingen en annuleringen. Concreet gesteld kunnen reizigers bij vertragingen van meer dan zestig minuten ervoor kiezen hun ticket volledig terugbetaald te krijgen of hun reis voort te zetten of om te boeken onder vergelijkbare voorwaarden en zonder bijkomende kosten. Ook voor personen met beperkte mobiliteit verbetert de toegang en komt er een sterker recht op hulp. Daarnaast moeten treinen meer ruimte beschikbaar hebben voor fietsen. We moeten reizen met de trein aantrekkelijker maken, willen we onze klimaatdoelstellingen halen. Mede daarom steun ik de nieuwe regels volmondig.
2021/04/29
European Child Guarantee (B9-0220/2021)

Meer dan 1 op 5 kinderen in de EU leeft in armoede of met het risico op sociale uitsluiting. Dat is, anno 2021, totaal onaanvaardbaar. Met het actieplan voor de Europese pijler van sociale rechten willen we tegen 2030 5 miljoen kinderen uit de armoede halen. Dit is zeker een eerste stap, maar de ambitie moet nog groter zijn. Met de realisatie van de kindergarantie zetten we een belangrijke stap vooruit in de ruimere strategie voor de rechten van het kind. Die kinderrechtenstrategie moet gebaseerd zijn op de drie grote pijlers van het VN-Kinderrechtenverdrag:1. Participation: het betrekken van kinderen bij beslissingen die hen aangaan, hetgeen ook structureel verankerd moet worden.2. Protection: het beschermen van kinderen tegen allerhande vormen van misbruik en geweld.3. Provision: het garanderen van de toegang voor kinderen tot onderwijs, opvang, gezondheidszorg, gezonde voeding, huisvesting.Met de Europese kindergarantie willen we deze sociale grondrechten garanderen. We moeten volop inzetten op jonge, kwetsbare kinderen, anders dreigen we een hele generatie te verliezen.
2021/04/29
The impacts of climate change on vulnerable populations in developing countries (A9-0115/2021 - Mónica Silvana González)

Kwetsbare personen worden veel zwaarder getroffen door de gevolgen van de klimaatverandering, hetgeen meer armoede en ongelijkheid tot gevolg heeft. De klimaatverandering vormt een bedreiging voor het recht op leven, water, sanitaire voorzieningen, voedsel, gezondheid en huisvesting, verveelvoudigt het risico op conflicten en belemmert de ontwikkeling.De oplossing ligt niet in een afzonderlijk juridisch statuut voor klimaatvluchtelingen, maar in een grondige aanpak van de onderliggende oorzaken van migratie. We moeten volop inzetten op de bestrijding van de klimaatverandering en moeten ook andere landen daarbij ondersteunen. Ik heb daarom met overtuiging voor het verslag gestemd.
2021/05/18
Human rights protection and the EU external migration policy (A9-0060/2021 - Tineke Strik)

In het verslag wordt opgeroepen tot eerbiediging van de mensenrechten, ook bij de buitenlandse betrekkingen van de EU op het vlak van migratie. Achteruitgang en schendingen op dit gebied kunnen we niet goedpraten.Lidstaten die door hun geografische ligging met een grotere migratiedruk te maken krijgen, dragen nu een onevenredig groot deel van de verantwoordelijkheid. Daarom moeten alle lidstaten zich in het migratiebeleid solidair tonen. Naast die solidariteit is behoefte aan transparanter toezicht om de eerbiediging van de mensenrechten te waarborgen. Ik sta volledig achter deze verscherpte transparantie.
2021/05/19
2019-2020 Reports on Turkey (A9-0153/2021 - Nacho Sánchez Amor)

Het Turkije van president Erdogan verwijdert zich steeds verder van de fundamentele waarden van Europa. Het gaat de verkeerde kant op. Zo heeft Turkije zich onlangs teruggetrokken uit het Verdrag van Istanbul, het eerste bindende internationale verdrag ter bestrijding van geweld tegen vrouwen. Het is onaanvaardbaar dat Turkije de strijd tegen dit geweld niet serieus neemt.Voorts is sprake van een aanhoudend gebrek aan respect, wat onlangs wederom is gebleken uit het “sofagate”-schandaal, evenals veelvuldige schendingen van democratische rechten.De boodschap is duidelijk: dit land hoort niet thuis in de Europese Unie. De toetredingsonderhandelingen moeten worden stopgezet.
2021/05/19
The effects of climate change on human rights and the role of environmental defenders on this matter (A9-0039/2021 - María Soraya Rodríguez Ramos)

De strijd tegen de klimaatverandering staat al jaren hoog op de politieke agenda, maar er moet meer actie worden ondernomen.Klimaatactivisten spelen daarbij zowel in de EU als daarbuiten een belangrijke rol. Het is van groot belang dat hun rechten worden gewaarborgd en dat zij, indien nodig, op voldoende bescherming kunnen rekenen. Dit is helaas nog niet overal het geval. De EU moet op dit gebied haar internationale rol oppakken.Daarnaast moet het recht op een gezonde leefomgeving sterker worden benadrukt, bijvoorbeeld door middel van de opname ervan in het Handvest van de grondrechten van de Europese Unie. Door ecocide te erkennen als internationale misdaad voor het Internationaal Strafhof, kan de doelbewuste vernietiging van ecosystemen ook op internationaal niveau strenger en efficiënter worden bestraft.We moeten blijven werken aan een wereld waarin iedereen in een gezonde omgeving kan leven en oud kan worden. Daarom krijgt deze resolutie mijn volledige steun.
2021/05/19
Accelerating progress and tackling inequalities towards ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 (B9-0263/2021)

We hebben in de wereldwijde strijd tegen aids enorme vooruitgang kunnen boeken dankzij innovaties en internationale samenwerking. Helaas heerst er nog altijd grote ongelijkheid met betrekking tot de toegang tot voorlichting, preventie en behandeling.Een soortgelijke ongelijkheid op gezondheidsgebied zien we ook terug in de huidige vaccinatiecampagne tegen het COVID-19-virus. Deze draait in welvarende landen inmiddels op volle toeren, terwijl in arme landen nog nauwelijks prikken zijn gezet. We moeten sneller vaccineren en hebben daarvoor meer vaccins nodig. Daartoe moeten de octrooirechten voor deze vaccins tijdelijk worden opgeheven.We hebben in het kader van deze tekst over een gematigd amendement gestemd dat dit beoogt door middel van de opheffing van de zogenaamde Trips-Overeenkomst van de Wereldhandelsorganisatie. Daarnaast worden farmaceutische bedrijven in het amendement verzocht hun kennis te delen via de COVID-19 Technology Access Pool (C-TAP), een bestaand internationaal platform dat helaas nauwelijks wordt gebruikt. Het delen van kennis is een goede zaak.De laatste maanden is echter overduidelijk gebleken dat hier niet aan wordt gedaan. Daarom is het tijd voor een duw in de rug in de vorm van een tijdelijke opheffing van octrooirechten. In overeenstemming met het standpunt van mijn partij heb ik dit amendement dan ook volmondig gesteund. Het is hoog tijd om moedige beslissingen te nemen en afgeklopte standpunten te verdedigen.
2021/05/19
The right of information of the Parliament regarding the ongoing assessment of the national recovery and resilience plans (B9-0276/2021)

De Europese faciliteit voor herstel en veerkracht biedt een begroting van 672,5 miljard euro voor leningen en subsidies ter ondersteuning van de hervormingen en investeringen van de lidstaten. De faciliteit vormt daarmee de kern van ons Europees herstelbeleid en moet de economische en sociale gevolgen van de coronapandemie opvangen.De lidstaten krijgen op basis van hun plannen voor herstel en veerkracht toegang tot de financiële middelen. Aangezien het echter over aanzienlijk grote bedragen gaat, moet strikt democratisch toezicht worden gewaarborgd om misbruik te vermijden.Daarom dringen wij bij de Commissie aan op meer transparantie en democratische verantwoordingsplicht. De Commissie moet het Parlement regelmatig, vaker en uitgebreider dan tot nu toe is gebeurd, mondeling en schriftelijk op de hoogte stellen van de stand van zaken met betrekking tot de beoordeling van de nationale plannen voor herstel en veerkracht.
2021/05/20
Liability of companies for environmental damage (A9-0112/2021 - Antonius Manders)

Milieudelicten vormen wereldwijd naar schatting de op vier na grootste categorie van criminele activiteiten, maar worden zelden onderzocht en dus ook zelden veroordeeld.Autoriteiten, waaronder openbare aanklagers en rechters, moeten op dit gebied beter worden opgeleid en de Europese regelgeving moet worden verscherpt zodat milieuschade op doeltreffendere wijze kan worden voorkomen en hersteld.Daarom steun ik met overtuiging de oproep tot herziening van de milieuaansprakelijkheidsrichtlijn in een volledig geharmoniseerde verordening die van toepassing is op alle bedrijven die in de EU actief zijn. Daarnaast moet ook de richtlijn milieucriminaliteit worden herzien en moet het mandaat van het Europees Openbaar Ministerie (EOM) worden uitgebreid tot milieudelicten.
2021/05/20
EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030: Bringing nature back into our lives (A9-0179/2021 - César Luena)

We hebben in de Europese Unie dringend nood aan een ambitieuze biodiversiteitsstrategie. Daarom steunde ik deze resolutie volmondig. Om tot een echte, resultaatgerichte strategie te komen moeten de ambities die we stellen ook bindend en afdwingbaar zijn. We hebben al genoeg niet bindende aanbevelingen. Binnen deze afspraken moet er, net als bij de regels rond emissiereductie, wel ruimte zijn voor flexibiliteit die rekening houdt met de situatie in de verschillende lidstaten. In deze biodiversiteitsstrategie hebben ook bossen een essentiële rol te vervullen. Aan de hand van duurzaam bosbeheer kunnen we de biodiversiteit beschermen, maar tegelijk ook voorzien in de nodige bouwmaterialen die essentieel zijn in het kader van de renovatiegolf en de Green Deal. Wat betreft chemische stoffen en het gebruik van schadelijke pesticiden is het tevens hoog tijd om doelen te stellen, èn waar te maken. De toelating van glyfosaat kan niet na 2022 verlengd worden. Indien EFSA beslist dat er voor bepaalde stoffen te grote risico’s zijn voor het milieu, kan de stof niet worden toegevoegd. Met duidelijke en ambitieuze reductiedoelen voor het gebruik van pesticiden, samen met een toolbox om landbouwers te helpen in de transitie, zullen we zorgen voor een gezonder leefmilieu voor mens en dier.
2021/06/08
Meeting the Global Covid-19 challenge: effects of waiver of the WTO TRIPS agreement on Covid-19 vaccines, treatment, equipment and increasing production and manufacturing capacity in developing countries (RC-B9-0306/2021, B9-0306/2021, B9-0307/2021, B9-0308/2021, B9-0309/2021, B9-0310/2021, B9-0311/2021)

Ik steun in deze belangrijke resolutie een oproep voor de TRIPS waiver. Voor mij blijven patenten altijd de hoeksteen van innovatie en toekomstig onderzoek, maar in deze uitzonderlijke tijden moeten we durven kijken naar uitzonderlijke maatregelen. De laatste maanden bleek overduidelijk dat vrijwillige samenwerking tussen bedrijven onvoldoende is om te voldoen aan de vraag naar vaccins. De vaccinproductie kan de wereldwijde covidbesmettingen simpelweg niet volgen. We moeten niet alleen alle mogelijke bestaande productiecapaciteit gebruiken, tegelijk moeten we investeren in bijkomende productielijnen. Maar capaciteit alleen, dat levert geen vaccins op. We moeten ook kennis delen. En dit gebeurt nu niet. Fabrieken die aanbieden om op korte termijn te helpen met productie, kunnen dit niet omdat de kennis niet gedeeld wordt. Net daarom hebben we nood aan een tijdelijke opheffing van de patenten, voor een beperkte periode, voor zeer specifieke producten en afgesproken binnen de Wereldhandelsorganisatie. Dit is geen wonderoplossing maar wel een eerste essentiële stap om de productie te versnellen.
2021/06/09
Sexual and reproductive health and rights in the EU, in the frame of women’s health (A9-0169/2021 - Predrag Fred Matić)

Seksuele en reproductieve rechten staan zwaar onder druk. Tegen deze achtergrond werd het verslag-Matic opgesteld, dat terecht aandacht vraagt voor vruchtbaarheidsbehandelingen, betere kraamzorg, veilige menstruatieproducten, goede seksuele voorlichting en de strijd tegen gendergerelateerd geweld, waaronder genitale verminking.Het niet-bindende verslag bevat ook verwijzingen naar legale en veilige toegang tot abortus. De framing hieromtrent door zowel de rapporteur zelf als door andere pressiegroepen is grotendeels onterecht, bijvoorbeeld dat het verslag de gewetensclausule miskent, dat er Europese verplichtingen rond abortus zullen komen en dat er een beroepsverbod zal komen voor zorgverleners die de gewetensclausule inroepen. Desondanks zijn de passages over de gewetensclausule voor ons te negatief geformuleerd en te zeer gericht op restrictieve situaties in bepaalde lidstaten. Die passages steunen wij NIET.Voor CD&V is de lijn duidelijk: abortus is geen mensenrecht en er moet een goed evenwicht zijn tussen de beschermwaardigheid van het ongeboren leven en het zelfbeschikkingsrecht van de vrouw. De gewetensclausule moet blijven bestaan voor individuen en instellingen en niemand mag verplicht worden tegen zijn wil aan abortus mee te werken. Dit is de lijn die we blijven aanhouden. Daarom stemmen we VOOR de resolutie van de EVP-Fractie en onthouden we ons van stemming over het verslag-Matic.
2021/06/24
25th anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD25) (Nairobi Summit) (B9-0365/2021, B9-0366/2021)

Iedereen moet overal ter wereld toegang hebben tot de nodige gezondheidszorg en seksuele en reproductieve gezondheid en rechten. Dat staat als een paal boven water, maar helaas is dit vandaag de dag nog niet het geval, met duidelijke gevolgen voor de gendergelijkheid. Hierbij gaat het om aan de leeftijd aangepaste seksuele voorlichting, toegang tot anticonceptie, pre- en postnatale zorg, gezinsplanning en indien nodig ook veilige en legale abortus. In dit alles zijn er op veel plekken in de wereld nog grote stappen te zetten, zeker in ontwikkelingslanden en bij de armere bevolking. Ook in conflictsituaties moet er steeds toegang zijn tot seksuele en reproductieve gezondheid en rechten. Wanneer het gaat om abortus is voor de CD&V de lijn echter duidelijk: er moet steeds een evenwicht zijn tussen de beschermwaardigheid van het ongeboren leven en het zelfbeschikkingsrecht van de vrouw. Ook de gewetensclausule moet te allen tijde blijven bestaan; niemand mag verplicht worden tegen zijn of haar wil mee te werken aan abortus. In deze resolutie stemde ik volledig volgens deze lijn. Omwille van het belang van de eerbiediging van deze gewetenclausule heb ik me bij de eindstemming onthouden van stemming.
2021/06/24
Brexit Adjustment Reserve (A9-0178/2021 - Pascal Arimont)

De “reserve voor aanpassing aan de brexit” moet ondersteuning bieden voor werknemers en bedrijven die getroffen worden door de negatieve gevolgen van de brexit. Het fonds is goed voor 5,5 miljard euro, waarvan België met een totaalbedrag van 386 miljoen euro een van de grootste bijdragen zal ontvangen. Ik steun het akkoord volledig, in de hoop dat het geld nu zo snel mogelijk geraakt bij al die mensen die het nodig hebben.
2021/09/15
European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (A9-0253/2021 - Joanna Kopcińska)

We hebben een sterker Europees Centrum voor ziektepreventie en -bestrijding nodig, zoveel is na de coronacrisis wel duidelijk. Daarvoor heeft het Centrum een uitgebreid mandaat nodig, zodat het de epidemiologische situatie beter kan monitoren, de voorbereidingsplannen van de lidstaten kan beoordelen en tijdens crisissen een ‘EU health taskforce’ naar lidstaten in een noodsituatie kan sturen. Dit alles moet ons in de toekomst in staat stellen sneller te reageren bij een gezondheidscrisis.Belangrijk is ook dat we aandacht hebben voor niet-overdraagbare ziektes. Een pandemie of soortgelijke crisis heeft een enorme impact op de behandeling van deze ziektes. Daarom moet het Centrum voor mij ook de invloed van ziektes zoals COVID-19 op niet-overdraagbare ziektes zoals kanker identificeren en monitoren. Zo kunnen we preventief optreden, goede plannen maken en meer samenwerken zodat essentiële zorg niet meer uitgesteld dient te worden.
2021/09/15
Serious cross-border threats to health (A9-0247/2021 - Véronique Trillet-Lenoir)

Het laatste jaar heeft overduidelijk aangetoond dat we in ons antwoord op grensoverschrijdende gezondheidscrisissen niets hebben aan een lappendeken van maatregelen. Meer Europese coördinatie is nodig. Daarom is het ook goed dat we deze week over nieuwe wetgeving stemmen, net met dit als doel. We moeten beter voorbereid zijn, sneller kunnen samenwerken en de Unie meer bevoegdheden geven wanneer we te maken krijgen met een volgende pandemie of andere gezondheidscrisis. Dit verslag bevat de juiste bijkomende krachtlijnen: informatie delen over zowel Europese als nationale reservevoorraden van medisch materiaal, de mogelijkheid om gezamenlijk te onderhandelen over de aankoop van materiaal of geneesmiddelen, enz. Belangrijk is ook dat de continuïteit van reguliere zorg behouden moet blijven. Denk bijvoorbeeld aan de uitgestelde kankerzorg en -screening. Het is essentieel dat hieromtrent duidelijke plannen en afspraken op nationaal en Europees niveau worden gemaakt voor de toekomst. Dit zal levens redden. Daarom steun ik deze volgende stap naar de Europese gezondheidsunie dan ook volledig.
2021/09/15
Objection pursuant to Rule 111(3): Criteria for the designation of antimicrobials to be reserved for the treatment of certain infections in humans (B9-0424/2021)

Jaarlijks sterven er als direct gevolg van de toenemende antimicrobiële resistentie 33 000 mensen in de EU. Wanneer we geen actie ondernemen, lopen deze cijfers tegen 2050 internationaal op tot 10 miljoen. Grootschalig antibioticagebruik bij dieren heeft bijgedragen aan de toename van antimicrobiële resistentie en kan dus niet langer door de beugel. Antibiotica die kritiek zijn voor menselijk gebruik kunnen we niet langer zomaar aan dieren geven. Het voorstel van de Commissie voor de criteria die nodig zijn om een lijst van die antibiotica op te stellen, riep echter veel vragen op. Menselijke gezondheid moet altijd vooropstaan, maar dit was niet duidelijk in het voorstel. Dankzij de nodige verduidelijking van de Commissie kon ik voorlopig toch akkoord gaan met haar voorstel. Er komt een duidelijke ambitie van 50 % minder antibioticagebruik bij dieren tegen 2030, indien nodig komen er extra stappen en de huidige criteria zullen spoedig worden geëvalueerd. De actie die we nu nemen, is een eerste stap in de goede richting, die veel te lang op zich heeft laten wachten. Er moet nu verandering komen. Daarom ga ik op dit ogenblik niet akkoord met het bezwaar. Nu is het wel zaak om het vervolg verder kritisch op te volgen.
2021/09/15
Fair working conditions, rights and social protection for platform workers - New forms of employment linked to digital development (A9-0257/2021 - Sylvie Brunet)

In de EU werken 24 miljoen werknemers voor onlineplatformen zoals Uber, Deliveroo of Bolt. Het gebruik van onlinedeelplatformen is sinds de pandemie enorm gestegen. We hebben niets tegen nieuwe technologieën, op voorwaarde dat hun medewerkers dezelfde sociale rechten genieten als traditionele werknemers. Vaak werken ze immers als schijnzelfstandigen, waardoor ze minder sociale rechten opbouwen, hun verloning beduidend lager ligt en het sociaal overleg wordt ondermijnd. Dit ambitieuze verslag pleit er onder meer voor dat platformbedrijven zelf bewijzen dat hun medewerkers daadwerkelijk zelfstandig zijn, en ijvert voor een sterk sociaal overleg. Ik heb voor dit verslag gestemd omdat deze omgekeerde bewijslast een doorbraak is in de strijd tegen sociale dumping door de platformbedrijven.
2021/09/15
Identifying gender-based violence as a new area of crime listed in Article 83(1) TFEU (A9-0249/2021 - Malin Björk, Diana Riba i Giner)

Een op drie vrouwen in de EU krijgt te maken met een of andere vorm van geweld. De jaarlijkse kosten van gendergerelateerd geweld worden geschat op 290 miljard euro. Achter al die andere cijfers schuilen steeds verhalen, gebroken levens, ontnomen levens van vrouwen, moeders, dochters en vriendinnen.Gendergerelateerd geweld moet daarom dringend toegevoegd worden aan de lijst van criminele feiten in artikel 83 VWEU zodat de Europese Commissie een wet voor de strijd tegen gendergerelateerd geweld kan voorstellen. Ik steun dan ook volmondig het hoofddoel van dit verslag en beschouw de strijd tegen gendergerelateerd geweld als één van mijn topprioriteiten. De aangekondigde wet moet zeker de internationale normen van het Verdrag van Istanbul omzetten.Dit parlementair verslag overschrijdt echter nationale bevoegdheden en ondermijnt zo ons gezamenlijk doel. Voor de toevoeging van gendergerelateerd geweld aan artikel 83 hebben we unanimiteit in de Raad nodig. Dat gaat niet gebeuren als we tegelijk eisen dat het weigeren van abortus bestempeld wordt als gendergerelateerd geweld. Ondanks mijn grote steun voor de politieke doelstelling, heb ik me daarom onthouden bij de stemming over het verslag.
2021/09/16
The role of development policy in the response to biodiversity loss in developing countries, in the context of the achievement of the 2030 Agenda (A9-0258/2021 - Michèle Rivasi)

Dat we vanuit de Europese Unie invloed hebben op biodiversiteitsverlies in andere werelddelen, kunnen we niet ontkennen. Zowel onze handelsverdragen als de ontwikkelingssamenwerking spelen hier een rol in. Daarom moeten we het in de toekomst beter doen. Naar mijn mening moet iedereen het recht hebben op een veilig, proper, gezond en duurzaam leefmilieu. Dit moeten we dan ook universeel erkennen. Tegelijk is er behoefte aan betere afspraken in onze handelsverdragen. Door hier duidelijke, ambitieuze en afdwingbare duurzaamheidsafspraken te maken, hebben we een stevige stok achter de deur om de situatie in derde landen te helpen verbeteren. Om uitwassen tegen te gaan en ook effectief strafbaar te maken, moeten de EU en de lidstaten er ook op aandringen ecocide te erkennen als misdaad onder het Internationaal Strafhof. Deze tekst roept op tot duidelijke actie, daarom steun ik ze dan ook volmondig.
2021/10/05
Artificial intelligence in criminal law and its use by the police and judicial authorities in criminal matters (A9-0232/2021 - Petar Vitanov)

Artificiële intelligentie biedt in alle sectoren kansen, ook op het gebied van rechtshandhaving. De realiteit is dat steeds meer criminelen hun werkterrein digitaal verleggen om misdaden te plegen. Het is dan ook zinloos om in het huidige digitale tijdperk politiediensten te verbieden om deze misdaden sneller, efficiënter en meer gericht te bestrijden met behulp van AI. We dienen inderdaad te kijken naar alle mogelijke negatieve effecten, maar moeten de opportuniteiten durven benutten en voldoende vrijheid geven aan de verdere ontwikkeling. Ja, ook gezichtsherkenning. Dit is absoluut geen carte blanche die toelaat om AI in het wilde weg te gebruiken om mensen te controleren en te onderdrukken en om situaties zoals in China te laten ontstaan. Juist daarom trachtte ik aan de hand van amendementen verder te gaan dan het louter pleiten voor een verbod of moratorium op gezichtsherkenning, maar binnen een sterk kader van garanties elk gebruik in die specifieke context te toetsen aan een aantal beginselen en principes zoals proportionaliteit, noodzakelijkheid, beperkt in tijd en ruimte, een sterk democratisch toezicht en waar nodig voorafgaande rechterlijke toestemming. Enkel zo vinden we een juiste balans tussen het gebruik van nieuwe technologieën en de bescherming van onze grondrechten. AI ten dienste van de mens.
2021/10/05
The impact of intimate partner violence and custody rights on women and children (A9-0254/2021 - Elena Kountoura, Luisa Regimenti)

De bestrijding van geweld tegen vrouwen en kinderen in al zijn vormen is voor mij een absolute prioriteit. Het is alarmerend dat een derde van de vrouwen in de EU vanaf de leeftijd van 15 jaar te maken heeft gehad met een of andere vorm van fysiek en/of seksueel geweld. De COVID-19-pandemie heeft bovendien geleid tot een betreurenswaardige stijging van huiselijk geweld. Geweld tegen vrouwen is een misdaad die je niet kan goedpraten en ik pleit er dan ook sterk voor dat alle lidstaten het Verdrag van Istanbul ratificeren. Dat eerste juridisch bindende internationale instrument ter voorkoming en bestrijding van geweld tegen vrouwen, gaat de situatie voor velen verbeteren. Daarnaast steun ik volop de aangekondigde wet tegen gendergerelateerd geweld.
2021/10/05
EU Road Safety Policy Framework 2021-2030 – Recommendations on next steps towards "Vision Zero" (A9-0211/2021 - Elena Kountoura)

Elk jaar gebeuren er bijna 1 miljoen ongevallen in de EU. Alleen al in 2019 vielen er 23 000 doden en 12 0000 zwaargewonden. Met dit verslag over verkeersveiligheid stellen we daarom ‘Vision Zero’ voorop. Dat is de doelstelling die ik volmondig steun om tegen 2050 te streven naar nul verkeersdoden in de Europese Unie. Daarvoor moet ons wagenpark veiliger, onze infrastructuur beter, onze regels voor weggebruik voorzichtiger en onze zorg na ongevallen sneller.
2021/10/05
Objection pursuant to Rule 112(2) and (3): Active substances, including chlorotoluron and difenoconazole (B9-0481/2021)

Chlorotoluron is gecatalogiseerd als vermoedelijk kankerverwekkend. Daarnaast is de stof ook schadelijk voor de voortplanting, zijn er sterke vermoedens voor hormoonverstorende eigenschappen en is chlorotoluron zeer schadelijk voor het waterleven. Kortom, een stof die we niet in onze leefomgeving of op ons voedsel willen aantreffen. Desondanks is de toelating voor deze stof ondertussen al sinds 2017 automatisch verlengd, zonder dat de laatste stand van zaken van het wetenschappelijk onderzoek in aanmerking is genomen. Dit kan simpelweg niet. Een procedurele verlenging van een dergelijke gevaarlijke stof is onverdedigbaar. Het wordt hoog tijd dat we de volksgezondheid op de eerst plaats zetten. En dat wil zeggen dat we deze gevaarlijke stoffen niet langer toelaten. Reeds viermaal uitte het Europees Parlement hier kritiek op, het is hoog tijd dat de Commissie hier rekening mee houdt.
2021/10/05
Objection pursuant to Rule 111(3): Technical screening criteria for determining the conditions under which an economic activity qualifies as contributing substantially to climate change mitigation or climate change adaptation and for determining whether that economic activity causes no significant harm to any of the other environmental objectives (B9-0476/2021, B9-0477/2021)

De gedelegeerde handeling die de Commissie voorstelt over de bepaling van duurzame investeringen is een duidelijke stap in de goede richting. Deze eerste lijst van activiteiten zal een duidelijke leidraad vormen voor investeerders om te bepalen waarin zij investeren. Nog niet alle sectoren zijn gedekt, dat klopt. Voor de gassector, de sector van de kernenergie en voor de landbouw moet de beslissing nog vallen. We blijven het belang hiervan dan ook benadrukken in de toekomst en we zullen nieuwe voorstellen ook kritisch bekijken. Het voorstel waarover we vandaag stemmen maakt echter deel uit van een zeer complex compromis dat bereikt werd na lange onderhandelingen. De financiële markten hebben behoefte aan zekerheid en duidelijkheid. Hoe sneller we meer kunnen inzetten op duurzame investeringen, hoe beter voor het klimaat. Daarom steun ik dit bezwaar op dit moment dan ook niet.
2021/10/05
The future of EU-US relations (A9-0250/2021 - Tonino Picula)

Ik ben verbolgen over wat er gebeurt in Texas. De Texas Abortion Act gaat op een veel te restrictieve manier om met abortus (bijvoorbeeld door een verbod op abortus bij incest of verkrachting) en zet burgers tegen elkaar op met een mensonterend verkliksysteem. Daarom steunde ik ook de veroordeling van de Texas Abortion Act in het verslag over de relaties met de VS (Picula, AM3) bij een eerdere stemming op deze plenaire vergadering. Spijtig genoeg bevat deze resolutie over de Texas Abortion Act passages die voor ons als christendemocraten niet door de beugel kunnen. De resolutie roept op om abortus te schrappen uit het strafrecht en beschouwt het weigeren van abortuszorg als een vorm van gendergerelateerd geweld. Voor CD&V is de lijn duidelijk: abortus is geen mensenrecht en er moet een goed evenwicht zijn tussen de beschermwaardigheid van het ongeboren leven en het zelfbeschikkingsrecht van de vrouw. De gewetensclausule moet voor ons blijven bestaan en niemand mag verplicht worden tegen zijn wil aan abortus mee te werken.
2021/10/06
The protection of persons with disabilities through petitions: lessons learnt (A9-0261/2021 - Alex Agius Saliba)

Ik heb voor de resolutie "Bescherming van personen met een handicap via verzoekschriften: geleerde lessen" gestemd. Deze resolutie pleit voor een betere ondersteuning van personen met een handicap op het vlak van mobiliteit, onderwijs en huisvesting. Specifiek gaat de resolutie dieper in op onder andere een flexibelere begeleiding van treinreizigers met een handicap, een uitbreiding van de EU-gehandicaptenkaart en de EU-parkeerkaart opdat personen met een handicap zich zonder obstakels kunnen verplaatsen. De resolutie haalt ook de hoge werkloosheid aan van personen met een handicap en verzoekt de lidstaten om hun beleid aan te passen om de deelname van personen met een handicap te bevorderen.Op het vlak van onderwijs geeft de resolutie concrete aanbevelingen voor een inclusief onderwijs en inclusieve beroepsopleidingsprogramma’s. Dit zijn twee cruciale voorwaarden richting een meer inclusieve arbeidsmarkt. Ten slotte pleit de resolutie voor de integratie van de intersectie van gender en handicap in de Europese strategie inzake handicap 2021-2030.
2021/10/06
Reforming the EU policy on harmful tax practices (including the reform of the Code of Conduct Group) (A9-0245/2021 - Aurore Lalucq)

De onthullingen van de Pandora-Papers zijn de nieuwste in een lange reeks van onderzoekerswerk dat belastingontwijking en -ontduiking blootlegt. Belastingontduiking zorgt ervoor dat wie wel eerlijk bijdraagt, gestraft wordt. Het is dan ook niet goed te praten dat een doeltreffend beleidsantwoord op Europees niveau al tien jaar lang uitblijft. De mazen van het belastingnet moeten dringend dicht. De huidige niet-bindende Code of Conduct volstaat niet en moeten we dringend omvormen tot een bindend mechanisme om de belastingparadijzen te sluiten. Om te vermijden dat de persoonlijke belangenconflicten van enkelingen de hele Europese Unie weerhouden van een eerlijkere fiscaliteit, wil CD&V dan ook afstappen van het vetorecht op fiscale dossiers.
2021/10/07
Farm to Fork Strategy (A9-0271/2021 - Anja Hazekamp, Herbert Dorfmann)

De nieuwe “van boer tot bord”-strategie zet de lijnen uit voor de noodzakelijke hervorming van ons landbouw- en voedingssysteem. In de strijd tegen klimaatverandering moet iedereen en elke sector dringend actie ondernemen. Dit geldt niet alleen voor de landbouwsector zelf, maar evengoed voor de consument.De strategie moet zowel voor gezondere en klimaatvriendelijkere voeding als voor een eerlijk inkomen voor de landbouwers zorgen. Om echt voor verandering te zorgen, zijn wel bindende doelstellingen nodig, zeker wat betreft het verminderen van het gebruik van schadelijke pesticiden.De uitdagingen voor de sector zijn echter enorm, dat weten we. Daarom hebben we ook behoefte aan voldoende flankerende maatregelen om de landbouwers te ondersteunen in deze transitie. Tegelijk vragen we ook om bijkomende impactbeoordelingen bij nieuwe wetgevende voorstellen. Zo gaan we voor een gezond, klimaatvriendelijk, maar ook sociaal landbouwmodel. Voor mij legde deze tekst de juiste accenten, daarom steunde ik die volmondig.
2021/10/19
Protecting workers from asbestos (A9-0275/2021 - Nikolaj Villumsen)

Op woensdag 20 oktober werd het verslag “De bescherming van werknemers tegen asbest” met een grote meerderheid goedgekeurd. Jaarlijks sterven 88.000 Europeanen aan de gevolgen van asbest. Als medeonderhandelaar van dit verslag heb ik de kar helpen trekken voor een verslag dat verdergaat dan de bescherming van werknemers. We moeten het momentum van de Green Deal met de bijhorende renovatiegolf aangrijpen.Ongeveer 35% van de gebouwen in de EU is meer dan 50 jaar oud. Om de klimaatdoelstellingen te halen, willen we tegen 2030 35 miljoen gebouwen renoveren. Bij deze renovaties zullen grote hoeveelheden asbest vrijkomen. Dit verslag roept op tot een Europese gecoördineerde aanpak inzake asbestverwijdering, omdat er momenteel veel te grote verschillen zijn in de verschillende lidstaten.Naast Europese normen voor asbestverwijdering of afvalbeheer, vragen we in het rapport ook extra middelen voor asbestverwijdering, om huiseigenaren te compenseren, en extra inspecties en opleiding om de nieuwe regelgeving te kunnen afdwingen. Enkel via een gecoördineerde Europese aanpak inzake asbestverwijdering kunnen we een einde maken aan de duistere erfenis van asbest.
2021/10/19
General budget of the European Union for the financial year 2022 - all sections (A9-0281/2021 - Karlo Ressler, Damian Boeselager)

Met de stemming over de Europese begroting voor 2022, die een bedrag van 171,8 miljard EUR omvat, geven we als Parlement het duidelijke signaal dat er voldoende budget moet gaan naar die sectoren die essentieel zijn voor het herstel na de coronapandemie, zoals het EU-kaderprogramma voor onderzoek en innovatie Horizon Europe, de Connecting Europe Facility (voor investeringen in vervoerinfrastructuur) en het milieu- en klimaatactieprogramma LIFE. Ook steun aan jongeren, door middel van Erasmus+, de Europese kindergarantie, waarmee we voor elk kind dat in armoede leeft toegang tot onderwijs, opvang, huisvesting en gezondheidszorg willen garanderen, en het EU4Health-programma, waarmee een sterke gezondheidsunie kan worden uitgebouwd, zijn voor ons prioritair. Om deze doelstellingen te bereiken vragen we als Parlement om de door de Raad voorgestelde besparingen terug te draaien. Bij hoge ambities hoort immers ook een performante begroting.
2021/10/20
EU transparency in the development, purchase and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines (B9-0519/2021, B9-0520/2021)

Inmiddels is de vaccinatiecampagne in de Europese Unie over het algemeen een succes. We hadden snel werkbare vaccins, ze werden eerlijk verdeeld tussen de lidstaten en ook snel toegediend. Nu het zwaartepunt van de campagne achter ons ligt, is het tijd om de goede zaken mee te nemen. Maar tegelijk moeten we leren van onze fouten. Deze fouten waren er wel degelijk. Het hele proces, van onderzoek tot aankoop en verdeling moet nog transparanter zijn om ware controle mogelijk te maken. Dit geldt ook voor de Commissie, maar vooral voor de farmaceutische bedrijven. Zij weigerden halsstarrig informatie te delen.Afsluitend moeten de EU en de bedrijven meer doen om internationaal meer te vaccineren. De vaccinongelijkheid blijft enorm groot en dit kan niet. De COVID-19 vaccins moeten daarom dringend gezien worden als een gemeenschappelijk goed dat beschikbaar is voor iedereen, overal ter wereld. Enkel zo zullen we echt uit deze crisis geraken.
2021/10/21
An EU strategy to reduce methane emissions (A9-0277/2021 - Maria Spyraki)

Wanneer we het hebben over de klimaatverandering richten we ons vaak op de CO2-uitstoot. Maar tegelijk hebben we ook een langetermijnstrategie nodig om de uitstoot van andere broeikasgassen te reduceren. Methaan is hier één van. Een groot deel van de methaanuitstoot is afkomstig uit menselijke activiteiten zoals de landbouwsector, de afvalsector en de energiesector. Deze uitstoot reduceren is een van de efficiëntste maatregelen die we kunnen nemen om het klimaat en onze volksgezondheid te beschermen. Daarom heeft elke sector specifieke en bindende doelstellingen nodig, evenals een verplicht registratie- en monitoringsysteem.In de landbouwsector moeten we gebruikmaken van innovatieve oplossingen zoals de productie en het gebruik van biogas om te voorzien in hernieuwbare energie. Om voor een gelijk speelveld te zorgen en tegelijkertijd internationale actie te bevorderen, vragen we dat de COP26 overeenstemming bereikt over de reductiedoelstellingen en dat ingevoerde producten aan dezelfde eisen voldoen als producten die we zelf produceren.
2021/10/21
UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, the UK (COP26) (B9-0521/2021)

De strijd tegen klimaatverandering blijft bovenaan de politieke agenda staan. Het is goed dat de Europese Unie met de Green Deal en het “Fit for 55”-pakket de internationale handschoen heeft opgenomen en een voortrekkersrol speelt. Steeds meer internationale partners gaan mee in dit verhaal, maar we moeten de druk op de ketel houden en hoger blijven mikken.Juist daarom zijn de VN-klimaatconferenties zo belangrijk. Zeker de grote industrielanden moeten uiterlijk in 2050 klimaatneutraal zijn. Daarvoor zijn nieuwe, ambitieuze en internationale afspraken nodig. Ontwikkelde landen moeten internationaal ook een ondersteunende rol spelen, bijvoorbeeld door meer financiële klimaatsteun te geven aan ontwikkelingslanden. Naast die internationale rol kijken we ook naar onszelf. Om de vinger aan de pols te houden en de vooruitgang echt goed te beoordelen vragen we om de omvorming van een tienjarenplan naar een vijfjarenplan voor alle lidstaten.Met deze tekst trekt het Europees parlement met een duidelijk en ambitieus mandaat naar de COP26. Dit is nodig, want de strijd tegen de klimaatverandering kan enkel gewonnen worden wanneer iedereen, elk land en elke sector, zijn bijdrage levert.
2021/10/21
Pandora Papers: implications on the efforts to combat money laundering, tax evasion and avoidance (B9-0527/2021, RC B9-0530/2021, B9-0530/2021, B9-0531/202)

De recente onthullingen in de Pandora Papers tonen aan dat de internationale strijd tegen belastingontduiking nog steeds tekortschiet. We lopen jaarlijks enorme sommen aan belastingen mis. We moeten het hier met het oog op een rechtvaardig belastingsysteem echt beter doen. Liefst internationaal, maar de Europese Unie moet hier een voortrekkersrol in spelen.Verschillende maatregelen kunnen we intern al nemen. Om hervormingen vlotter te laten verlopen, moeten we korte metten maken met de unanimiteit in de Raad. De zwarte lijst van belastingparadijzen moet worden uitgebreid met meer derde landen en meer praktijken. Strenge regels betekenen overigens niets zonder goede handhaving. Lidstaten moeten hier meer op inzetten.Ten slotte vragen we de Commissie ook om te onderzoeken of bijkomende regelgeving nodig is, en of er juridische stappen genomen moeten worden. Elke steen moet dringend omgedraaid worden in dit onderzoek. Daarom stemde ik voor deze tekst.
2021/10/21
Disclosure of income tax information by certain undertakings and branches (A9-0305/2021 - Evelyn Regner, Ibán García Del Blanco)

Na vijf jaar van blokkering door bepaalde regeringen hebben we eindelijk de regels voor winstrapportage en transparantie van bedrijven kunnen verscherpen.Grote bedrijven in de EU met een jaarlijks inkomen van meer dan 750 miljoen euro moeten voortaan dankzij deze richtlijn openbaar maken hoeveel belasting zij in elke lidstaat betalen. Die informatie moet ook op het internet kunnen worden geraadpleegd. Deze extra informatie over de winsten en verliezen van bedrijven voor aftrekking van de winstbelasting moet het makkelijker maken om misbruik en belastingontduiking op te sporen. Ook derde landen die op de grijze en zwarte lijsten staan van landen die geen belastinggegevens uitwisselen, moeten transparantieverslagen opmaken.Het is hoog tijd dat we ons belastingstelsel eerlijker maken en belastingontduiking aanpakken. De herziene richtlijn krijgt daarom mijn volledige steun.
2021/11/11
Serious cross-border threats to health (A9-0247/2021 - Véronique Trillet-Lenoir)

Het afgelopen jaar heeft overduidelijk aangetoond dat we bij grensoverschrijdende gezondheidscrises niets hebben aan een lappendeken van maatregelen en juist meer Europese coördinatie nodig hebben. Daarom hebben we eerder al gestemd over nieuwe wetgeving die ons in staat moet stellen beter op crises als deze voorbereid te zijn en sneller te kunnen samenwerken. Bovendien zal de EU bij een volgende pandemie of andere gezondheidscrisis meer bevoegdheden krijgen.De nieuwe Autoriteit voor paraatheid en respons inzake noodsituaties op gezondheidsgebied (HERA) zal hierbij een cruciale rol spelen, bijvoorbeeld door de ontwikkeling, productie en verspreiding van geneesmiddelen en vaccins te coördineren. HERA zal er, nog voordat crises zich voordoen, mede voor zorgen dat de nationale zorgstelsels paraat staan en zal tevens dreigingsanalysen uitvoeren en de industriële capaciteit in de EU helpen verhogen.Met het oog op de samenhang met het reeds goedgekeurde beleid waren nog enkele aanpassingen nodig. We moeten nu vooruit om de Europese gezondheidsunie verder op te bouwen. Daarbij moeten we de optie openhouden om van HERA in de toekomst een afzonderlijk Europees agentschap te maken. Deze tekst krijgt daarom mijn volmondige steun.
2021/11/11
Strengthening democracy, media freedom and pluralism in the EU (A9-0292/2021 - Tiemo Wölken, Roberta Metsola)

‒ In Europa wordt te vaak getracht journalisten en activisten met rechtszaken te intimideren. Deze zogenaamde SLAPP-rechtszaken (strategische rechtszaken ter ontmoediging van publieksparticipatie) berusten vaak op overdreven en onterechte aanklachten en zijn niet bedoeld om te winnen, maar louter om journalisten en activisten de mond te snoeren. Bijzonder zorgwekkend zijn door overheden gefinancierde SLAPP-rechtszaken die tot doel hebben onafhankelijke media te ondermijnen.We moeten hieraan een einde maken om ons rechtsstelsel en onze democratie te beschermen. Ik onderschrijf daarom volledig de oproep tot vaststelling van Europese wetgeving inzake SLAPP-rechtszaken die voorziet in bescherming voor slachtoffers en sancties voor het lichtzinnig aanspannen van dergelijke rechtszaken.
2021/11/11
The first anniversary of the de facto abortion ban in Poland (B9-0543/2021, B9-0544/2021)

De seksuele en reproductieve rechten staan zwaar onder druk en nergens in Europa wordt dit zo hard gevoeld als in Polen, waar onlangs nog een dertigjarige zwangere vrouw tragisch overleed omdat de artsen wachtten op het overlijden van de foetus.Voor CD&V is de lijn duidelijk: er moet een goed evenwicht bestaan tussen de beschermwaardigheid van het ongeboren leven en het zelfbeschikkingsrecht van de vrouw. Wij zijn daarom voorstander van legale toegang tot abortus en zien de situatie in Polen op dit vlak graag verbeteren. Wij beschouwen abortus echter niet als mensenrecht en willen geen Europese regels zoals verplichte gratis toegang tot abortus. Daarnaast zijn wij van mening dat de gewetensclausule moet blijven bestaan, omdat niemand mag worden verplicht om tegen zijn wil aan abortus mee te werken. Wij onthouden ons daarom van stemming over deze resolutie over het de facto abortusverbod in Polen.
2021/11/11
Strengthening Europe in the fight against cancer (A9-0001/2022 - Véronique Trillet-Lenoir)

De Europese Unie kan en moet meer doen in de strijd tegen kanker. Na anderhalf jaar luisteren naar wetenschappers, zorgverleners, patiënten en hun families stemmen we vandaag over hoe dit juist kan gebeuren. Het kan niet dat overlevingskansen afhangen van het land waar je woont of van je socio-economische status. Om deze gezondheidskloven te verkleinen hebben we nood aan een alomvattende aanpak die alle stadia van de ziekte behelst: van preventie en screening over snelle diagnose, toegang tot de best mogelijke behandeling en helemaal tot nazorg. We vragen een beter en op wetenschap gebaseerd preventiebeleid waarin zowel een gezonde leefomgeving als een gezonde levensstijl centraal staan. Via gerichte samenaankoop van kankergeneesmiddelen kunnen we de beschikbaarheid verhogen en de prijs laten dalen. Een Europees “recht om te worden vergeten” zal een verschil betekenen voor talloze jonge patiënten. Onderzoek naar innovatieve behandelingen zal de komende jaren opgedreven worden, zeker wat betreft kinderkankers. Europa moet in de cockpit zitten van wetenschappelijke vernieuwing. Dit verslag bevat enorm veel aanbevelingen die echt een verschil kunnen maken voor patiënten uit alle lidstaten. Daarom steun ik dit dan ook volledig.
2022/02/16
Empowering European youth: post-pandemic employment and social recovery (B9-0091/2022)

Het Europees Parlement heeft op woensdag 16 februari een resolutie over de empowerment van Europese jongeren: werkgelegenheid en sociaal herstel na de pandemie goedgekeurd.De COVID-19-pandemie houdt onze maatschappij nu al bijna twee jaar in haar greep. De gevolgen voor onze jongeren zijn gigantisch. Er is eerst en vooral de sluiting van onderwijsinstellingen met grote gevolgen inzake leerachterstand, maar ook de sluiting van sectoren waar veel jongeren werken. Zo steeg de jongerenwerkloosheid van 11,9 % in 2019 tot 13,3 % in 2020. Beperkingen van sociale activiteiten hebben gevolgen voor het mentaal welzijn van onze jongeren. Een op de drie gaf aan het moeilijk te hebben met de COVID-19-maatregelen. Ik ben dan ook heel tevreden dat 2022 werd omgedoopt tot het Europees Jaar van de jeugd. Europa maakt van de jongeren een absolute prioriteit en investeert meer dan ooit in de toekomst van ons continent. De resolutie focust, via het nieuwe ALMA-initiatief, ook op kansarme jongeren. Ten slotte heb ik voor een amendement gestemd dat een einde maakt aan onbetaalde stages buiten het kader van een opleiding. Het is ontoelaatbaar dat jonge mensen als onbetaalde arbeidskrachten worden uitgebuit door middel van onbetaalde stages die geen onderdeel uitmaken van een opleiding.
2022/02/16
Protection of workers from the risks relating to exposure to carcinogens, mutagens and reprotoxins at work (A9-0114/2021 - Stefania Zambelli)

. – Op donderdag 17 februari werd de vierde herziening goedgekeurd van de richtlijn ter beperking van de blootstelling aan kankerverwekkende stoffen op de werkplek. Elk jaar sterven 80 000 werknemers in de EU aan beroepskankers. In 2022 zou niemand nog mogen sterven als gevolg van blootstelling aan kankerverwekkende stoffen op de werkvloer. Als medeonderhandelaar ben ik enorm trots op deze herziening, die een mijlpaal is in de strijd tegen beroepskankers. Naast de blootstellingsgrenzen voor 28 kankerverwekkende chemische stoffen, wordt de richtlijn uitgebreid met stoffen die schadelijk zijn voor de voortplanting en met gevaarlijke medische producten. Deze producten worden vaak gebruikt bij de behandeling van kanker. Sommige kankermedicatie vormt paradoxaal genoeg een gevaar voor het gezondheidspersoneel bij de toediening ervan. Dit kan leiden tot vruchtbaarheidsproblemen of miskramen. Die noodzakelijke kankerbehandelingen moeten uiteraard beschikbaar zijn. Ons gezondheidspersoneel verdient de best mogelijke bescherming tegen eventuele negatieve effecten ervan. Door de blootstelling verder te beperken en nog meer in te zetten op opleiding, zullen naar schatting 14 miljoen gezondheidsmedewerkers, waarvan 7 miljoen verpleegkundigen, beter beschermd worden tegen kanker op de werkvloer.
2022/02/17
The EU priorities for the 66th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (B9-0099/2022)

Op donderdag 17 februari heeft het Europees Parlement in een ambitieuze resolutie zijn prioriteiten voor de jaarlijkse zitting van de VN-Commissie voor de positie van de vrouw goedgekeurd. Het thema van de zitting van dit jaar is: “Gendergelijkheid en empowerment van alle vrouwen en meisjes in de context van beleid en programma’s inzake klimaatverandering, milieu en risicobeperking bij rampen”. Volgens cijfers van de VN zijn sinds 2010 jaarlijks gemiddeld 21,5 miljoen mensen ontheemd geraakt als gevolg van natuurrampen die voortkomen uit de klimaatverandering. Maar liefst 80 % van de ontheemden zijn vrouwen en meisjes. In de resolutie roept het Parlement op om onmiddellijk actie te ondernemen tegen de klimaatverandering met concrete maatregelen tegen ontheemding, armoede, mensenhandel, gendergerelateerd geweld en voedselonzekerheid.Aangezien de klimaatverandering vrouwen in verhouding harder treft en vrouwen nog steeds ondervertegenwoordigd zijn in de nationale besluitvormingsorganen inzake klimaatverandering en zij wereldwijd slechts 32 % van de beroepsbevolking voor hernieuwbare energie vertegenwoordigen, dienen vrouwen ook een prominentere rol te spelen bij het debat over en de aanpak van klimaatverandering.
2022/02/17
A new EU strategic framework on health and safety at work post 2020 (A9-0023/2022 - Marianne Vind)

Op woensdag 9 maart heeft het Europees Parlement een verslag over een nieuw strategisch EU-kader voor gezondheid en veiligheid op het werk goedgekeurd. Het verslag bundelt de belangrijkste uitdagingen inzake gezondheid en veiligheid op het werk voor meer dan 170 miljoen werknemers in Europa. De covid-pandemie heeft nogmaals gewezen op het belang van een goede bescherming voor onze werknemers. Hoofdprioriteit blijft de aanpak van beroepsziektes en arbeidsongevallen. Jaarlijks sterven immers 200 000 Europeanen aan beroepsziektes, waarvan de helft aan beroepskankers. We pleiten daarom voor een snelle uitbreiding van de richtlijn kankerverwekkende stoffen met de 25 meest gevaarlijke substanties.Het verslag zet ook in op nieuwe trends op de arbeidsmarkt, zoals het mentale welzijn, telewerk of platformwerk. Ik ben, als schaduwrapporteur voor dit verslag, dan ook tevreden dat het Parlement extra aandacht vraagt voor mentale gezondheid op het werk.Ten slotte voorziet het verslag in hogere risicopreventie, ambitieuzere veiligheidsstandaarden, Europese coördinatie van veiligheidsregels en extra arbeidsinspecties om de doelstellingen ook effectief waar te maken.
2022/03/09
Need for an urgent EU action plan to ensure food security inside and outside the EU in light of the Russian invasion of Ukraine (RC-B9-0160/2022, B9-0160/2022, B9-0162/2022, B9-0163/2022, B9-0164/2022, B9-0165/2022, B9-0166/2022, B9-0167/2022)

De oorlog in Oekraïne vormt een nieuwe uitdaging voor de mondiale positie van de Europese unie en de strategische onafhankelijkheid, ook op vlak van voedselzekerheid. Voedingstekorten kunnen potentieel niet alleen tot grote problemen binnen de Unie leiden. Ook in andere regio’s waar de voedselzekerheid nu reeds onder druk staat, zijn de gevolgen mogelijk dramatisch.Om dit te voorkomen moeten we inderdaad actie ondernemen. Onze landbouwers verdienen hierbij alle mogelijke steun. We moeten tegelijk onze eigen voedingssector versterken en de aanvoerketens van derde landen diversifiëren. Deze situatie mag echter niet worden gebruikt om de klok terug te draaien en nieuwe, noodzakelijke voorstellen om de landbouw te verduurzamen, tegen te houden. Een duurzaam, robuust en onafhankelijk landbouwsysteem is immers ook een klimaatvriendelijk systeem.Dit is niet het moment om de doelstellingen van de Green Deal uit te stellen of terug te draaien, zeker niet wanneer het gaat om onze volksgezondheid en de blootstelling aan schadelijke chemische stoffen. Enkel wanneer er een echt tekort aan voeding ontstaat, wanneer er hongersnood uitbreekt of wanneer het geopolitieke evenwicht verstoord dreigt te geraken, mogen we nieuwe wetgevende initiatieven tijdelijk uitstellen, totdat de voedselzekerheid weer gewaarborgd is.
2022/03/24
Strengthening the application of the principle of equal pay for equal work or work of equal value between men and women (A9-0056/2022 - Samira Rafaela, Kira Marie Peter-Hansen)

Het Europees Parlement heeft met een ruime meerderheid het in maart tussen de commissies FEMM en EMPL bereikte akkoord goedgekeurd.De gemiddelde loonkloof tussen mannen en vrouwen bedraagt in de EU 16 %. België doet het relatief beter, maar ook in ons land bedraagt volgens het EIGE de gemiddelde loonkloof 9,6 %. Het grootste deel daarvan kan niet worden verklaard door de verschillende posities van vrouwen en mannen op de arbeidsmarkt, wat duidelijk wijst op discriminatie. Ik stemde daarom voor deze richtlijn, die onder andere voorziet in een informatieplicht over gemiddelde uurlonen, ook met genderverschil, en een omgekeerde bewijslast waarbij bedrijven een loonkloof van meer dan 2,5 % moeten kunnen rechtvaardigen. Zij voorziet ook in een sterke rol voor de sociale partners en ondersteunende maatregelen voor bedrijven, zoals een gratis onlinetool voor bedrijven om hun loontransparantieverplichtingen na te komen.Voor de werknemers uit 17 lidstaten zonder wet op de loonkloof zal deze richtlijn een kwantumsprong betekenen. Voor België, dat al sinds 2012 de loonkloofwet heeft, betekent de richtlijn een mooie versnelling. Er zijn grote sectorale verschillen, maar aan het huidige tempo duurt het gemiddeld nog 84 jaar voordat alle vrouwen voor hetzelfde werk een gelijke beloning krijgen.
2022/04/05
Amending Annexes IV and V to Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 on persistent organic pollutants (A9-0092/2022 - Martin Hojsík)

Persistente organische verontreinigende stoffen zijn zeer schadelijke stoffen die niet vergaan, nauwelijks afgebroken worden en zich zeer gemakkelijk verplaatsen, zoals het bekende pfos. We moeten daarom uiterst voorzichtig met deze stoffen omgaan, ook wanneer ze in oude producten zitten. Ze mogen namelijk niet weer in de afvalstromen of in gerecycleerde producten terechtkomen, zodat we burgers en werknemers er niet tweemaal aan blootstellen.Nu we steeds meer inzetten op recyclage moet ook de circulaire economie gifvrij zijn. Hiertoe moeten duidelijke en strenge grenswaarden worden vastgesteld voor de aanwezigheid van persistente organische verontreinigende stoffen. Ik steun deze herziening dan ook volmondig, aangezien zij een eerste stap in de juiste richting vormt.Er ligt niettemin nog veel werk op de plank. Om een gezonde leefomgeving tot stand te brengen, moeten we niet-essentiële toepassingen van schadelijke stoffen zo spoedig mogelijk verbieden en schadelijke stoffen niet langer per stof maar per groep reguleren.De volksgezondheid moet altijd vooropstaan.
2022/05/03
The follow up of the Conference on the Future of Europe (B9-0228/2022, B9-0229/2022, B9-0235/2022)

Het Europees Parlement heeft een follow-upresolutie goedgekeurd over het eindverslag van de Conferentie over de toekomst van Europa.Deze Conferentie is vorig jaar gestart met burgerpanels van 800 Europeanen uit 27 lidstaten en heeft vorige week 49 voorstellen aangenomen voor de verbetering van de werking van de Europese Unie. Het Europees Parlement heeft deze aanbevelingen ondersteund met een resolutie waarin het onder meer pleit voor een verdragswijziging om de uitkomst van de Conferentie te eerbiedigen.Verder voorziet de resolutie in meer Europese samenwerking op het gebied van migratie, gezondheidszorg, veiligheid, fiscaal beleid, defensie, klimaatverandering en milieu, buitenlands beleid, de aanpak van ongelijkheden en sociaal beleid. In de resolutie wordt eveneens gepleit voor de afschaffing van de unanimiteitsregel bij sommige beslissingen in de Europese Raad. Zo zouden belangrijke Europese dossiers niet langer geblokkeerd kunnen worden, ten bate van het welzijn van 450 miljoen Europeanen.Ik heb voor deze resolutie gestemd omdat de uitkomst van deze vorm van burgerparticipatie moet worden geëerbiedigd. Enkel door de bezorgdheden van Europeanen mee te nemen in de werking van de Europese Unie, kunnen we streven naar een veilig, sociaal en welvarend Europa waarin niemand aan zijn lot wordt overgelaten.
2022/05/04
The impact of the war against Ukraine on women (B9-0219/2022)

Het Europees Parlement heeft een resolutie aangenomen over de gevolgen van de agressie van Rusland voor vrouwen in Oekraïne.Er wordt steeds vaker bericht dat vrouwen in Oekraïne het slachtoffer worden van verkrachting. In totaal zijn meer dan vijf miljoen vluchtelingen uit Oekraïne naar de EU gekomen, van wie negentig procent vrouwen en kinderen. In de resolutie pleiten we daarom voor concrete maatregelen om het risico op mensenhandel en seksuele uitbuiting te beperken, alsmede het gevaar dat vrouwen lopen om het slachtoffer te worden van verkrachting als oorlogswapen. Ik steun de resolutie, omdat hierin wordt gepleit voor meer gespecialiseerde gezondheids- en traumazorg, die nodig is voor vrouwen en meisjes die het slachtoffer zijn geworden van geweld en seksueel misbruik.Voorts is een gecoördineerdere aanpak nodig voor de opsporing en hereniging van niet-begeleide minderjarigen.Ten slotte moeten we alles in het werk stellen om de waardigheid en de veiligheid van Oekraïense vluchtelingen zo goed mogelijk te beschermen.
2022/05/05
Impact of Russian illegal war of aggression against Ukraine on the EU transport and tourism sectors (B9-0223/2022)

De oorlog in Oekraïne heeft voor veel sectoren verstrekkende gevolgen, met name in Oekraïne en in de omliggende landen. Het Oekraïense vervoersnetwerk wordt continu gebombardeerd, er worden tonnen aan hulpgoederen en humanitair materieel naar Oekraïne vervoerd en miljoenen vluchtelingen verlaten het land op zoek naar veiligere oorden. Europese vervoersmaatschappijen hebben reeds een belangrijke rol gespeeld bij het vervoer van deze vluchtelingen. Het is een goede zaak dat de vluchtelingen nog altijd toegang hebben tot gratis vervoer. De vervoerssector verdient hiervoor dan ook alle nodige steun.Voorts moeten we ervoor waken dat de rechten van werknemers worden uitgehold, zowel op de korte als op de lange termijn.Ten slotte heeft de oorlog een grote impact op de vervoersprijzen. Op dit vlak doen we op dit moment nog altijd te weinig. Het is zowel aan de lidstaten als aan de Unie om de prijzen met aanvullende maatregelen te drukken. In dit kader zijn meer coördinatie en samenwerking nodig met het oog op gerichte maatregelen. We moeten inzetten op nieuwe vormen van mobiliteit: gediversifieerde energiebronnen en meer duurzame energie zullen daadwerkelijk een verschil maken voor de betaalbaarheid van het vervoer voor onze burgers.
2022/05/05
Minimum level of taxation for multinational groups (A9-0140/2022 - Aurore Lalucq)

Het internationale OESO-akkoord om een minimumbelasting van 15 % voor multinationals in het leven te roepen, is een enorm belangrijke stap richting meer rechtvaardige fiscaliteit. Het kan niet dat bedrijven die de grootste winsten maken geen of nauwelijks belastingen betalen. Het is essentieel dit akkoord zo snel en ambitieus mogelijk om te zetten in Europese wetgeving, en daarom steun ik deze tekst dan ook volledig.We moeten wel blijven benadrukken dat deze 15 % voor ons slechts een startpunt is. Op dit moment bleek dit het hoogst haalbare, maar wat ons betreft mag de ambitie binnen het internationale kader in de toekomst nog hoger liggen. Daarnaast zou het ook mogelijk moeten zijn voor lidstaten om verder te gaan wanneer zij dit willen, al dan niet in samenwerking met verschillende landen. Dergelijke belasting gebeurt natuurlijk het best op internationaal of Europees niveau. Maar wanneer hier in de toekomst de nodige ambitie ontbreekt, mag een veto van enkelen de ambitie van anderen niet tegenhouden.
2022/05/19
Social and economic consequences for the EU of the Russian war in Ukraine – reinforcing the EU’s capacity to act (RC-B9-0267/2022, B9-0267/2022, B9-0271/2022, B9-0273/2022, B9-0278/2022, B9-0279/2022, B9-0280/2022)

Op 19 mei heeft het Europees Parlement een resolutie goedgekeurd over de sociale en economische gevolgen voor de EU van de Russische oorlog in Oekraïne. De invasie van Rusland in Oekraïne en de gerechtvaardigde westerse sancties tegen Rusland hebben een negatief effect op de Europese economie. De toenemende inflatie en vooral de snelle stijging van de voedsel- en energieprijzen in de gehele EU treffen vooral de kwetsbaarste bevolkingsgroepen. De sociale ongelijkheid en energiearmoede nemen toe en de koopkracht van werknemers daalt. Dit zal een groot effect hebben op het sociaal beleid in de verschillende lidstaten.In de resolutie roepen we de Europese Commissie en de lidstaten dan ook op om met maatregelen te komen om de economische en sociale gevolgen van de sancties te verzachten, in te zetten op de verlichting van de hoge energieprijzen en de koopkracht te vrijwaren. We hebben daarom dringend nood aan een follow-up van de sociale top van Porto en een actualisering van het actieplan voor de Europese pijler van sociale rechten om ervoor te zorgen dat de gestelde doelen worden gehaald door waar nodig aanvullende voorstellen en/of financiële middelen goed te keuren.
2022/05/19
Revision of the EU Emissions Trading System (A9-0162/2022 - Peter Liese)

De herziening en uitbreiding van het Europees emissiehandelssysteem zijn van essentieel belang en vormen de hoeksteen van het Europees klimaatbeleid, dat ons verder op weg zal helpen onze klimaatdoelstellingen te halen: een 55 % lagere uitstoot in 2030 en een klimaatneutraal continent in 2050. We moeten er niettemin voor zorgen dat we daarbij met iedereen rekening houden, ook met onze burgers en bedrijven.Ik heb gestemd voor een geleidelijke verlaging van het aantal emissierechten op de markt, omdat het in één keer uit de markt halen van een groot aantal rechten een te grote schok zou vormen voor onze bedrijven, die reeds onder druk staan.Voorts pleit ik voor de geleidelijke afbouw van de bescherming tegen oneerlijke buitenlandse mededinging. Het volstaat niet dat de nieuwe koolstofcorrectie aan de grens verenigbaar is met de regels voor internationale handel. We moeten er zeker van zijn dat de correctie daadwerkelijk werkt voordat we de oude bescherming in de vorm van gratis uitstootrechten afschaffen. Het nieuwe emissiehandelssysteem stelt ons bovendien in staat de uitstoot ook meer te verlagen voor gebouwen en vervoer.Om deze redenen heb ik het eindresultaat gesteund, dat helaas geen meerderheid heeft gevonden.
2022/06/08
Social Climate Fund (A9-0157/2022 - David Casa, Esther de Lange)

Het Europees klimaatbeleid mag geen nieuwe kloof slaan tussen bemiddelden en onbemiddelden. Het moet er voor iedereen zijn; ook voor mensen die niet de financiële ruimte hebben om in een elektrische auto of een dure woningrenovatie te investeren. Daarom sta ik achter de oprichting van een sociaal klimaatfonds.De middelen uit het klimaatfonds moeten op basis van per lidstaat opgestelde sociale klimaatplannen gaan naar mensen die ze daadwerkelijk nodig hebben. Huishoudens met een laag en gemiddeld inkomen lopen het grootste risico op energie- en vervoersarmoede. Deze huishoudens moeten een duwtje in de rug krijgen om de nodige investeringen te kunnen doen. Zo zorgen we niet alleen voor een sociaal klimaatbeleid, maar versnellen we ook de noodzakelijke verlaging van de uitstoot.Ook micro-ondernemingen die niet de nodige slagkracht hebben, moeten een beroep kunnen doen op het fonds. Kmo’s vallen daar naar mijn mening niet onder; daarvoor zijn andere steunpotjes beschikbaar. De middelen uit het klimaatfonds moeten efficiënt worden ingezet voor de mensen die ze daadwerkelijk nodig hebben. Ons klimaatbeleid moet sociaal zijn.Dit belangrijke fonds zal bij de eindstemming mijn volle steun krijgen.
2022/06/08
CO2 emission standards for cars and vans (A9-0150/2022 - Jan Huitema)

Iedereen is het erover eens dat de CO2-uitstoot van de Europese vervoerssector dringend omlaag moet. De uitstoot van bestelwagens en -busjes in deze sector is zeer hoog. Er moeten voor deze specifieke voertuigen daarom ambitieuze doelstellingen worden vastgesteld om de uitstoot te verlagen. Daarom sta ik achter het idee dat alle nieuwe auto’s en bestelwagens die vanaf 2035 in de Europese Unie worden verkocht, klimaatneutraal moeten zijn.In bepaalde lidstaten en regio’s worden al eerder maatregelen genomen. Om er echter voor te zorgen dat deze maatregelen daadwerkelijk efficiënt zijn, moeten afspraken worden gemaakt op Europees niveau. Daarbij moet ten volle worden ingezet op elektrische voertuigen. Alternatieve vervoermiddelen die op biobrandstoffen lopen stoten niet alleen meer uit, maar zijn bovendien duurder. Hoe meer elektrische voertuigen er op de markt zijn, hoe goedkoper ze voor de consument worden. Ook daarom moet er een einde worden gemaakt aan de verkoop van auto’s met een verbrandingsmotor.Ambitieuze, afdwingbare doelstellingen zorgen voor een lagere uitstoot, een snellere technologische omslag en betaalbaardere elektrische voertuigen. Daarom heb ik voor dit verslag gestemd.
2022/06/08
A new trade instrument to ban products made by forced labour (B9-0291/2022)

Het Europees Parlement heeft een resolutie aangenomen over een nieuw handelsinstrument om producten die met behulp van dwangarbeid zijn vervaardigd te verbieden. De resolutie stoelt op de elf indicatoren van de IAO voor dwangarbeid.Er zijn wereldwijd 25 miljoen mensen, van wie 61 % vrouwen en meisjes, in dwangarbeid verzeild geraakt. De COVID-19-pandemie heeft deze situatie nog eens verergerd. Ik heb voor deze resolutie gestemd, omdat wij niet mogen aanvaarden dat producten voor Europese bedrijven met behulp van dwangarbeid worden vervaardigd.In de resolutie wordt ervoor gepleit bovengenoemde producten door middel van een invoer- en uitvoerverbod uit de eengemaakte markt te weren. Daartoe wordt een nieuw handelsinstrument ingevoerd om producten te blokkeren op basis van zaken als productielocatie, importeur, bedrijf, vervoerder of, in het geval van door de staat gesponsorde dwangarbeid, specifieke regio.Deze resolutie vormt een aanvulling op de eerder voorgestelde ontwerprichtlijn inzake passende zorgvuldigheid, in het kader waarvan de waardeketen van bedrijven wordt gescreend om uitbuiting van mens en milieu tegen te gaan. Het is duidelijk dat wij als Europese Unie onze waarden moeten uitdragen en het juiste voorbeeld moeten geven.
2022/06/09
Revision of the EU Emissions Trading System (A9-0162/2022 - Peter Liese)

De herziening van het Europees emissiehandelssysteem vormt de hoeksteen van ons klimaatbeleid. Deze nieuwe regels zetten ons op weg om onze klimaatdoelen te halen: 55% minder uitstoot in 2030 en een klimaatneutraal continent in 2050. We moeten er wel voor zorgen dat iedereen mee is in dit verhaal, de mensen en onze bedrijven. Daarom stemde ik voor een gefaseerde reductie van het aantal emissierechten dat op de markt is. In één keer enorm veel rechten uit de markt halen, zou een te grote schok betekenen voor onze bedrijven terwijl ze al onder druk staan.Daarnaast pleit ik ook voor een graduele afbouw van de bescherming tegen oneerlijke buitenlandse concurrentie. De nieuwe koolstofheffing aan de grens moet niet alleen compatibel zijn met de internationale handelsregels, ze moet ook werken alvorens de oude bescherming in de vorm van gratis uitstootrechten wordt afgeschaft.Via het nieuwe emissiehandelssysteem voor gebouwen en transport reduceren we ook hier meer uitstoot. Het is goed dat er deze week een akkoord bereikt werd dat in deze lijn ligt. Daarom steunde ik het volledig.
2022/06/22
Social Climate Fund (A9-0157/2022 - David Casa, Esther de Lange)

Ons Europees klimaatbeleid mag geen nieuwe kloof tussen bemiddeld en onbemiddeld veroorzaken. Het moet er juist voor iedereen zijn, ook voor hen die geen financiële ruimte hebben om te investeren in een elektrische auto of een dure renovatie van hun woning. Daarom steun ik de oprichting van een sociaal klimaatfonds.Het geld uit dit fonds moet op basis van sociale klimaatplannen per lidstaat gaan naar hen die het echt nodig hebben. De lage- en lagermiddeninkomens lopen het grootste risico op energie- en vervoersarmoede. Zij zijn het die een duwtje in de rug moeten krijgen om de nodige investeringen te doen. Zo zorgen we niet alleen voor een sociaal klimaatbeleid, maar versnellen we ook de noodzakelijke emissiereductie. Wanneer micro-ondernemingen niet de nodige slagkracht hebben, kunnen ook zij een beroep doen op hulp uit het fonds. Voor mij is dit niet het geval voor kmo’s. Dit geld moet efficiënt worden ingezet voor hen die het echt nodig hebben. Voor de nodige steun aan kmo’s zijn er andere potjes beschikbaar. Ons klimaatbeleid zal sociaal zijn, of het zal niet zijn. Juist daarom kreeg dit belangrijke fonds mijn volle steun toen we er deze week eindelijk over stemden.
2022/06/22
Objection pursuant to Rule 112(2) and (3): Antimicrobials or groups of antimicrobials reserved for treatment of certain infections in humans (B9-0327/2022)

Jaarlijks sterven er in de Europese Unie naar schatting 33 000 mensen als gevolg van antimicrobiële resistentie. Dit zijn sterfgevallen die te voorkomen waren indien de antibiotica die we voorhanden hebben nog zouden werken. Het gaat vaak om kankerpatiënten met een lagere weerstand of om mucoviscidose-patiënten. Om dit tegen te gaan moet het antibioticagebruik bij mensen zeker omlaag. Maar een lager gebruik is vooral nodig in de dierengeneeskunde.Antibiotica die cruciaal zijn voor menselijk gebruik – dat wil zeggen dat er geen ander alternatief beschikbaar is – moeten voorbehouden worden voor menselijk gebruik. Deze antibiotica zou je enkel mogen gebruiken bij dieren op individuele basis en in uitzonderlijke situaties. De lijst die de Commissie hier nu heeft voorgesteld, schiet duidelijk tekort. Slechts een van de vijf antibiotica die de WHO beschouwt als cruciaal voor menselijk gebruik staat op de lijst. Bij een vorig bezwaar genoot de Commissie nog het voordeel van de twijfel. Nu niet meer. Deze lijst moet ambitieuzer en moet de menselijke gezondheid echt centraal stellen. Dat is nu niet het geval en daarom heb ik het bezwaar gesteund.
2022/06/23
Implementation and delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals (A9-0174/2022 - Barry Andrews, Petros Kokkalis)

Het Europees Parlement heeft op donderdag 23 juni een verslag goedgekeurd over “de tenuitvoerlegging en verwezenlijking van de duurzame ontwikkelingsdoelstellingen (SDG’s)”. Het is een belangrijk signaal vanuit het Parlement dat de EU opnieuw haar engagement bevestigt om de SDG’s uiterlijk in 2030 te behalen. Uit analyses is immers gebleken dat de langetermijnplanning voor de verwezenlijking van de SDG’s niet langer realistisch is. Er moet dringend een tandje worden bijgezet. Met nog minder dan acht jaar om de doelstellingen van de Agenda 2030 voor duurzame ontwikkeling te halen, is het van belang dat de EU onmiddellijk haar mondiale inspanningen opvoert. De grootste uitdagingen van onze tijd – klimaatverandering, pandemieën, conflicten, massale ontheemding, extreme armoede – zijn allemaal zeer complex en vereisen wereldwijde antwoorden.Ik heb voor dit verslag gestemd omdat de Agenda 2030 het enige kader is dat een dergelijke respons mogelijk maakt. Het verslag roept op tot een coherentere financiering. Het vraagt ook om één enkele strategie op het hoogste niveau aan te nemen en om de follow-up van de SDG’s te herzien door kwesties als leiderschap, streefdoelen, monitoring en financiering aan te pakken.
2022/06/23
Women’s poverty in Europe (A9-0194/2022 - Lina Gálvez Muñoz)

Het is schrijnend dat nog steeds zoveel vrouwen in Europa een armoederisico lopen. Uit cijfers van Eurostat blijkt dat het armoederisico voor vrouwen in de EU significant hoger is: 51,4 miljoen vrouwen lopen een armoederisico, tegenover 45 miljoen mannen. Dit aandeel zal de komende jaren nog stijgen door de nasleep van de coronapandemie en de toenemende energiearmoede door de oorlog in Oekraïne. Om de doelstellingen inzake armoedebestrijding van het actieplan van de sociale pijler te halen, zullen we een tandje moeten bijsteken, samen met de lidstaten en de sociale partners.Met dit verslag, dat ik ten volle ondersteun, dringt het Parlement aan op extra maatregelen om de meest kwetsbaren te beschermen, o.a. door de strijd tegen onzekere contracten en tegen intimidatie op de werkvloer, een betere combinatie van werk en gezin, de aanpak van energie-armoede, de aanpak van dakloosheid bij vrouwen, het integreren van de genderdimensie in alle initiatieven over dakloosheid en de uitrol van “Housing First”-projecten in alle lidstaten. Verder wordt in het verslag ook het belang van gendermainstreaming bij toekomstig beleid benadrukt. Ik sta hier 100 % achter. Enkel met de integratie van een gendersperspectief in onze beleidsbeslissingen, kunnen we evolueren naar een gendergelijk beleid dat niemand aan zijn lot overlaat.
2022/07/05
Common European action on care (A9-0189/2022 - Milan Brglez, Sirpa Pietikäinen)

De voorbije twee jaar stonden onze zorgverleners met veel engagement, professionalisme en volharding paraat om iedereen de best mogelijke zorg aan te bieden. Het is duidelijk dat kwaliteitsvolle zorg, zowel voor de zorgverleners als voor de zorgbehoevenden, een absolute prioriteit moet zijn. De sector verdient meer dan alleen maar applaus.Het aantal personen in de EU dat langdurige zorg nodig heeft, zal naar verwachting stijgen van 30,8 miljoen in 2019 tot 38,1 miljoen in 2050. Het Europees Parlement keurde daarom dit ambitieuze verslag goed dat ijvert voor een langetermijnstrategie voor onze zorgsector.Ik steun dit verslag volledig, met bijzondere aandacht voor het aantrekkelijker maken van de jobs in de zorgsector: meer Europese steun voor infrastructuur, betere arbeidsomstandigheden en een betere bescherming tegen schadelijke stoffen op de werkvloer. Dit verslag is ook baanbrekend omdat het mantelzorg erkent. 80 % van alle langdurige zorg in Europa wordt verleend door onbetaalde mantelzorgers. Dit zijn 40 tot 50 miljoen Europeanen die zorgen voor familie of vrienden. Ze doen dit vaak zonder officieel statuut, zonder een vast aantal verlofdagen, een zorgpremie of duidelijke pensioenregels. Ik ben dan ook heel tevreden dat dit verslag voorziet in een statuut op basis van ambitieuze Europese normen.
2022/07/05
Mental health in the digital world of work (A9-0184/2022 - Maria Walsh)

Het Europees Parlement heeft deze week een verslag goedgekeurd over mentale gezondheid in de digitale arbeidswereld. 41 % van de Belgen telewerkt sinds de pandemie in maart 2020 is losgebarsten. Dit is ruim 22 % telewerkers meer dan in 2019. Het telewerken heeft onmiskenbaar heel wat voordelen, zoals het uitsparen van de pendeltijd en een forse vermindering van de CO2-uitstoot. Toch zegt 59 % van de telewerkende Belgen dat ze moeilijkheden ondervinden bij een gezonde scheiding van werk en privéleven. Het constant verbonden zijn met het werk heeft bijgedragen tot een slechtere geestelijke gezondheid.Het verslag pleit daarom voor maatregelen zoals een richtlijn betreffende psychosociale risico’s en welzijn op het werk. Naast preventie van de risico’s op de werkplek is er ook behoefte aan sensibiliseringscampagnes voor mentale gezondheid op het werk. Ik steun de oproep om van 2023 het Europees jaar van geestelijke gezondheid te maken. Uit studies is gebleken dat sociaal overleg een positieve impact heeft op de gezondheid van werknemers. Daarom roepen we in dit verslag ook op om het sociaal overleg nog te versterken.Het is duidelijk dat we van mentale gezondheid een topprioriteit moeten maken door onze bestaande wetgeving aan te passen aan de nieuwe realiteit van de arbeidsmarkt.
2022/07/05
Objection pursuant to Rule 111(3): Amending the Taxonomy Climate Delegated Act and the Taxonomy Disclosures Delegated Act (B9-0338/2022)

In het kader van onze klimaatinspanningen hebben we heel duidelijke en ambitieuze emissiereductiedoelstellingen. In deze klimaatomslag zullen hernieuwbare energiebronnen zoals zonne- en windenergie een essentiële rol spelen, dat is zeker. Op dit moment zijn deze hernieuwbare energiebronnen echter nog niet in staat om volledig te voorzien in onze energiebehoeften. De energieonzekerheid wordt verder alleen nog maar vergroot door de internationale geopolitieke context.Daarom hebben we ook nog andere bronnen nodig. Gascentrales die werken op niet-Russisch gas kunnen gebruikt worden om meer vervuilende steenkoolcentrales te vervangen. Nucleaire energie maakt voor sommige landen een groot deel uit van hun energiemix en vertoont in een nieuwe generatie een groot potentieel om als afval- en emissiearme energiebron te fungeren.Daarom ga ik akkoord met de beslissing van de Commissie om een handboek voor investeringen in zowel gas als nucleaire energie vast te leggen. Dit moet van tijdelijke aard zijn en hierbij horen zeer duidelijke en strenge randvoorwaarden, zodat het geen vrijgeleide is voor het gebruik van gas. Deze taxonomie zorgt voor meer investeringszekerheid en transparantie, en kan dan ook op mijn steun rekenen.
2022/07/06
EU action plan for the social economy (A9-0192/2022 - Jordi Cañas)

Het Europees Parlement heeft afgelopen week een verslag over een actieplan voor de sociale economie goedgekeurd. Het Parlement bouwt daarmee voort op het actieplan dat de Europese Commissie lanceerde in december 2021.Het verslag voorziet in een duidelijke Europese definitie van sociale economie, bevordering van sociale clausules in openbare aanbestedingen, soepelere regels inzake staatssteun en een makkelijkere toegang tot Europese fondsen. Door de snelle groei van de sector en het toenemend belang van sociaal ondernemen in de samenleving was er behoefte aan een herziening van de bestaande Europese regelgeving. De huidige Europese regels zetten vaak een rem op de werking van sociale ondernemingen met (deels) gesubsidieerde tewerkstelling van personen met een afstand tot de arbeidsmarkt, die niet aan de slag kunnen op de reguliere arbeidsmarkt. Het Parlement roept de Europese Commissie dan ook op om de beperkende uitzonderingsregels voor staatssteun, die in 2023 aflopen, te wijzigen.Ik steun dit verslag omdat mensen die vaak in de reguliere arbeidsmarkt niet aan bod komen via deze duurzame banen op een zinvolle en volwaardige manier kunnen participeren aan onze samenleving. Dit actieplan moet een boost geven aan de sector.
2022/07/06
National vetoes to undermine the global tax deal (RC-B9-0339/2022, B9-0339/2022, B9-0340/2022, B9-0341/2022, B9-0342/2022, B9-0343/2022, B9-0344/2022)

De internationale deal voor een minimumbelasting voor multinationals die binnen de Organisatie voor Economische Samenwerking en Ontwikkeling werd gesloten, is een belangrijke stap in de richting van een meer rechtvaardige fiscaliteit. Dit is een essentiële eerste stap.Voor ons dient de afgesproken 15 % echter een startpunt te zijn. Internationaal was dit op dit ogenblik het hoogst haalbare om zoveel mogelijk landen aan boord te krijgen. In de toekomst mag dit ons er niet van weerhouden een hogere belasting in te voeren. Liefst op internationaal niveau, indien dat niet lukt op Europees niveau.Om de deal geen dode letter te laten zijn en om de start ervan in 2023 te halen, is het essentieel dat we dit akkoord zo snel mogelijk kunnen omzetten in Europese wetgeving. Het is onaanvaardbaar dat één enkele lidstaat dit in de Raad blokkeert vanwege andere onenigheden. Zolang we beslissingen op het vlak van belastingbeleid blijven nemen bij unanimiteit, geeft dit individuele lidstaten de mogelijkheid om de hele Unie te gijzelen. Daarom moeten we hier een einde aan maken, en ik steun deze resolutie dan ook volledig.
2022/07/06
Deforestation Regulation (A9-0219/2022 - Christophe Hansen)

Tussen 1990 en 2020 ging er wereldwijd een gebied groter dan de oppervlakte van de EU verloren door ontbossing. Dat komt overeen met ongeveer 420 miljoen hectare bos. Via allerlei producten die we importeren en consumeren in de Europese Unie zijn we verantwoordelijk voor 10% hiervan. Dit kan niet langer. Het is hoog tijd dat de Unie de internationale handschoen opneemt en haar verantwoordelijkheid neemt.Burgers moeten er zeker van zijn dat de producten die zij kopen geen verband houden met ontbossing in andere landen elders in de wereld. Bedrijven moeten zich ervan vergewissen dat hun producten niet van recent ontbost gebied komen en geproduceerd zijn met eerbiediging van de mensenrechten en de inheemse bevolking.Naast gewone bedrijven is het voor mij ook belangrijk dat financiële instellingen onder deze wetgeving vallen. Zij moeten er zeker van zijn dat ze geen directe of indirecte investeringen doen die bijdragen tot ontbossing. Kortom, deze wet is een belangrijke stap in de goede richting. Het is nu aan de onderhandelaars om een even ambitieus akkoord te vinden.
2022/09/13
The impact of COVID-19 closures of educational, cultural, youth and sports activities on children and young people in the EU (A9-0216/2022 - Hannes Heide)

Op dinsdag 13 september heeft het Europees Parlement een resolutie aangenomen over de impact van de stopzetting wegens COVID-19 van onderwijs-, culturele, jeugd- en sportactiviteiten op kinderen en jongeren in de EU. De COVID-19-pandemie heeft onze maatschappij gedurende twee jaar stevig in haar greep gehouden. Door de sluiting van scholen en de kinderopvang en de stopzetting van vrijetijdsbestedingen werd kinderen en jongeren de kans ontnomen om deel te nemen aan activiteiten die essentieel zijn voor hun algemene ontwikkeling.Dit heeft onder andere geleid tot een verslechtering van de mentale gezondheid van onze jongeren en kinderen. In het voorjaar van 2021 liep 64 % van de jongeren tussen de 18 en 34 jaar het risico op een depressie. Ik steun de resolutie, die oproept tot een EU-brede campagne om het bewustzijn over geestelijke gezondheid te vergroten en het bestaande taboe te bestrijden. De resolutie pleit ook voor extra ondersteuning van het onderwijs om de leerachterstand in te halen en voor een versterking van het jeugdwerk.
2022/09/13
Energy efficiency (recast) (A9-0221/2022 - Niels Fuglsang)

De goedkoopste energie is de energie die je niet verbruikt. In tijden waarin de energieprijzen enorm hoog liggen en we de energierekening lager willen maken, is het verminderen van het energieverbruik belangrijker dan ooit. Energiezuinigere woningen zorgen voor een lagere rekening voor onze Europese burgers. Tegelijk helpt een grotere energie-efficiëntie ons ook verder op weg naar het halen van onze klimaatdoelstellingen door een daling van de uitstoot. Kortom, ambitieuzere doelstellingen zijn goed voor zowel onze planeet als onze portemonnee. Daarom steun ik ook de oproep om de doelstelling te verhogen naar 40 % minder energieverbruik in 2030 ten opzichte van 2007.Om dat doel te halen vragen we ook dat elk land op maat gemaakte, maar bindende doelstellingen vaststelt. Voor mij is het belangrijk dat elk beleidsniveau de handschoen opneemt, zowel Europees, nationaal, regionaal als lokaal. Het is belangrijk dat we iedereen meenemen in deze transitie, enkel zo zal ze sociaal rechtvaardig zijn. Een lager energieverbruik is goed voor de klimaatverandering, onze onafhankelijkheid van andere landen en zorgt ervoor dat mensen meer overhouden aan het einde van de maand. Daarom steun ik dit verslag volmondig.
2022/09/14
Adequate minimum wages in the European Union (A9-0325/2021 - Dennis Radtke, Agnes Jongerius)

Op woensdag 14 september heeft het Europees Parlement het uiteindelijke akkoord over toereikende Europese minimumlonen goedgekeurd. Ik ben, als onderhandelaar van het dossier namens de Commissie vrouwenrechten, heel tevreden over de goedgekeurde richtlijn.Uit de recentste cijfers van Eurostat blijkt dat meer dan 20 miljoen Europese werknemers in 2018 het risico op armoede liepen. Dit aantal zal de komende jaren door de gevolgen van de inflatie, de hoge energieprijzen en door de toename van nieuwe onbeschermde, precaire jobs, zoals jobs van platformwerkers, alleen maar toenemen. De richtlijn is een grote stap voorwaarts in de strijd tegen lage lonen en armoede onder werkenden in Europa.Uit onderzoek is gebleken dat landen met een sterke traditie inzake collectieve onderhandelingen hogere minimumlonen en minder loonongelijkheid hebben. De richtlijn wil dit proces verder uitbouwen via een versterking van de betrokkenheid van de sociale partners in alle lidstaten. Zoals de voorzitter van de Europese Commissie, Ursula von der Leyen, in 2020 zei: “Deze richtlijn moet ervoor zorgen dat iedereen toegang heeft tot een eerlijk minimumloon en dat werken loont.” Met volle overtuiging heb ik voor dit dossier gestemd.
2022/09/14
Renewable Energy Directive (A9-0208/2022 - Markus Pieper)

We moeten in de Europese Unie meer inzetten op hernieuwbare energie. Dat is een integraal onderdeel van de Green Deal en de weg naar een klimaatneutraal continent. Maar hernieuwbare energie is ook energie die we zelf produceren. Hoe meer we dat doen, hoe minder afhankelijk we worden van andere landen om onze energie in te voeren.Tegelijk is hernieuwbare energie ook goedkoper dan energie uit fossiele brandstoffen. Tegen 2030 moet 45 % van onze energie daarom uit hernieuwbare bronnen komen. Elke sector zal hiertoe moeten bijdragen en krijgt ook aparte, op maat gemaakte doelstellingen. Investeringen in hoogtechnologische oplossingen en een uitgebreid waterstofnetwerk zijn essentieel. Ook moeten we onze energienetwerken beter met elkaar verbinden, over de grenzen heen. Hoe meer hernieuwbare energie, hoe beter dit is voor het klimaat, hoe beter voor onze strategische onafhankelijkheid en hoe beter voor de portemonnee van de mensen. Dit verslag zet de juiste lijnen uit, nu is er behoefte aan een ambitieus akkoord met de lidstaten.
2022/09/14
Objection pursuant to Rule 112 (2) and (3): Active substances, including 8-hydroxyquinoline, chlorotoluron and difenoconazole (B9-0460/2022)

Chloortoluron is gecatalogiseerd als vermoedelijk kankerverwekkend. Daarnaast is de stof ook schadelijk voor de voortplanting, zijn er sterke vermoedens voor hormoonverstorende eigenschappen en is chloortoluron zeer schadelijk voor het waterleven. Kortom, een stof die we niet in onze leefomgeving of op ons voedsel willen aantreffen. Desondanks is de toelating voor deze stof ondertussen al sinds 2017 automatisch verlengd, zonder dat de laatste stand van zaken van het wetenschappelijk onderzoek in aanmerking is genomen. De nieuwe richtlijnen voor het beoordelen van de hormoonverstorende eigenschappen van een stof werden niet toegepast. Dit kan simpelweg niet. Een procedurele verlenging van een dergelijke gevaarlijke stof is onverdedigbaar. Het wordt hoog tijd dat we in het toelatingsbeleid de volksgezondheid op de eerste plaats zetten. Dat wil zeggen dat we het gebruik van deze gevaarlijke stoffen niet langer toelaten.
2022/10/18
Sustainable maritime fuels (FuelEU Maritime Initiative) (A9-0233/2022 - Jörgen Warborn)

Als we ons doel van een klimaatneutraal continent tegen 2050 willen halen, moet onze uitstoot drastisch naar beneden. Elke sector zal hieraan moeten bijdragen. De uitstoot van de maritieme sector steeg wereldwijd nog. Dat kan niet langer, daarom hebben we duidelijke en ambitieuze regels nodig. Een van de manieren om minder uit te stoten is het gebruiken van hernieuwbare en koolstofarme brandstoffen. In 2035 moet de uitstoot van schepen 20 % lager liggen. In 2050 willen we een vermindering van 80 %. Het is goed dat ook verkeer van en naar niet-EU-havens deels onder deze regels vallen. De Europese Unie neemt weer eens de internationale handschoen op. Dat containerschepen en passagiersschepen in grote havens ook aangesloten moeten zijn op walstroom is niet alleen goed voor het klimaat, maar zorgt ook voor gezondere lucht. Deze doelstellingen helpen ons verder op weg naar de uitvoering van de Green Deal. Ik steun ze dan ook volledig. Het is nu aan de onderhandelaars om zo snel mogelijk tot een even ambitieus akkoord te komen.
2022/10/19
Deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure (A9-0234/2022 - Ismail Ertug)

De transportsector is in de EU nog steeds verantwoordelijk voor een groot deel van onze broeikasgasuitstoot. Als we tegen 2030 55 % minder willen uitstoten en tegen 2050 klimaatneutraal willen zijn, moet ook deze sector een drastische verlaging doorvoeren. Daarom stemden we eerder al over de verplichting om na 2035 enkel nog elektrische wagens te verkopen. Natuurlijk moet de oplaadinfrastructuur dan ook volgen. Elektrisch rijden moet zo vlot mogelijk gebeuren, maar tegelijk mag het ook geen privilege van gegoede burgers zijn. Meer oplaadpunten zijn daarom essentieel. We verzoeken de lidstaten om tegen 2026 op de belangrijkste verkeersassen elke 60 kilometer minstens één elektrische oplaadpaal te voorzien. Daarnaast moeten we bijvoorbeeld ook meer investeren in waterstofopslag en de bijhorende oplaadpunten, net als in walstroom in de belangrijkste havens. Deze tekst legt de lat hoog, en dat is goed. Op dit moment zijn er 377 000 oplaadstations in de EU, wat maar de helft is van het eerder beoogde aantal. We moeten dus dringend een versnelling hoger schakelen.
2022/10/19
Towards equal rights for persons with disabilities (A9-0284/2022 - Anne-Sophie Pelletier)

Nog te vaak worden mensen met een handicap geconfronteerd met discriminatie, bijvoorbeeld bij de toegang tot de arbeidsmarkt, verzekeringen of het openbaar vervoer. Dat is uiteraard niet aanvaardbaar. Het Parlement roept er daarom, in het kader van de uitvoering van de EU-strategie inzake de rechten van personen met een handicap, toe op de sociale participatie te versterken. Een belangrijk onderdeel van deze strategie is de Europese gehandicaptenkaart. Momenteel is deze kaart in slechts acht EU-landen geldig maar dit moet worden uitgebreid tot alle lidstaten. De grensoverschrijdende erkenning van iemands handicap in de EU is een belangrijke mijlpaal voor personen die reizen of verhuizen naar het buitenland, en vormt tegelijk ook een administratieve vereenvoudiging. Daarnaast is een absolute prioriteit van de nieuwe strategie de toegang tot de arbeidsmarkt. Slechts 50 % van de mensen met een handicap heeft werk, maar dat cijfer kan hoger. Zo beschermen we hen ook tegen armoede of sociale uitsluiting. Het risicocijfer voor armoede is immers 11 % hoger dan bij personen zonder handicap. Om deze redenen steun ik dit verslag ten volle.
2022/12/13
Digital divide: the social differences created by digitalisation (B9-0550/2022)

Niet iedereen beschikt over dezelfde digitale vaardigheden. Nochtans gaat de digitale wereld er enorm snel op vooruit, en zorgde de COVID-19-pandemie voor een nog grotere versnelling. In de ijver om te digitaliseren, moet men voorkomen dat een aantal groepen afhaakt en afgezonderd geraakt. Veel dienstverleners stellen hun informatie vandaag alleen online ter beschikking en vaak via kanalen die uitsluitend toegankelijk zijn met smartphones. Daardoor worden ouderen, personen met een handicap, personen met een laag inkomen, niet digitaal geschoolde personen en personen met een beperkte internettoegang te vaak benadeeld. Ook worden mensen te vaak jobs ontzegd door hun gebrek aan digitale vaardigheden. Op die manier leidt de technologische discriminatie zelfs tot een vorm van armoede. Ten slotte speelt ook financiële uitsluiting een grote rol. Zonder mobiele telefoon is het tegenwoordig onmogelijk om elementaire bankdiensten te gebruiken. Daarnaast wordt het betalen met contant geld almaar meer uitgesloten. Deze resolutie benadrukt dat het regelgevend kader van de EU moet garanderen dat mensen nog steeds op de eerste plaats staan bij digitalisering. In de digitale economie moeten de grondrechten, in het bijzonder die van werknemers, volledig worden geëerbiedigd. Deze resolutie legt de juiste klemtonen, die ik volmondig onderschrijf.
2022/12/13
Renewable Energy, Energy Performance of Buildings and Energy Efficiency Directives: amendments (REPowerEU) (A9-0283/2022 - Markus Pieper)

Het REPowerEU-plan moet de Europese Unie helpen om sneller over te schakelen op hernieuwbare energiebronnen. Dit zal ons op korte termijn minder afhankelijk maken van de invoer van fossiele brandstoffen vanuit Rusland en tegelijk significant bijdragen aan het halen van onze klimaatdoelstellingen. Hernieuwbare energieproductie op Europese bodem maakt ons dus onafhankelijker en groener. Om deze drastische opschaling te faciliteren, hebben we nood aan flexibelere regels. Wanneer lidstaten een bepaald gebied aanduiden om een project voor hernieuwbare energie te realiseren, moet dit project ook snel goedgekeurd geraken. Nu de nood zo hoog is, mogen er voor ons tegelijk ook geen energiebronnen worden uitgesloten. Het is aan de lidstaten om te bepalen welke vorm van energieopwekking het best op hun grondgebied past. Actie is nu nodig. Met dit akkoord wordt de nodige flexibiliteit geboden en de juiste prioriteit gelegd. Daarom steun ik deze herziening volmondig.
2022/12/14
Suspicions of corruption from Qatar and the broader need for transparency and accountability in the European institutions (B9-0580/2022, RC-B9-0581/2022, B9-0581/2022, B9-0582/2022, B9-0583/2022, B9-0584/2022, B9-0585/2022, B9-0587/2022)

Naar aanleiding van het corruptieschandaal rond Qatar, roept het Europees Parlement op tot een volledig intern onderzoek, samenwerking met de Belgische autoriteiten en aanvullende maatregelen om soortgelijke gevallen in de toekomst te voorkomen. Het betreft onder meer betere transparantieregels, de opname van derde landen in het lobbyregister van de EU, de strikte toepassing van de ethische regels en de oprichting van een onafhankelijk ethisch orgaan van de EU en een aparte onderzoekscommissie. Daarom steunde ik deze resolutie.
2022/12/15
Upscaling the 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework (A9-0281/2022 - Jan Olbrycht, Margarida Marques)

Sinds we twee jaar geleden het meerjarig financieel kader voor de periode 2021-2027 hebben goedgekeurd, is er heel wat gebeurd. Door een opeenvolging van crisissen en onverwachte gebeurtenissen is de ingebouwde budgettaire flexibiliteit zo goed als opgebruikt. Tegelijk staken nieuwe prioriteiten de kop op die niet in dit budget waren ingecalculeerd. Daarom dringt een grondige herziening van dit MFK zich op. Door de gevolgen van de oorlog in Oekraïne zullen we bijvoorbeeld meer moeten investeren in onze defensiecapaciteit. De energiecrisis toonde nogmaals het belang van ambitieuze sociale budgetten. Om kinderen in armoede of met armoederisico beter te beschermen, hebben we bijvoorbeeld nood aan een sterke kindergarantie met middelen uit het ESF+. Tegelijk mogen we zaken zoals de strijd tegen klimaatverandering, wetenschappelijk onderzoek en de verdere industriële evolutie niet vergeten. We hebben een Europees budget nodig zonder onnodige barrières, dat efficiënt ingezet kan worden op verschillende beleidsdomeinen. Eén ding is duidelijk: een veranderde realiteit vraagt een gewijzigd en performant budget. Daarom steun ik dit verslag.
2022/12/15
Shipments of waste (A9-0290/2022 - Pernille Weiss)

In 2020 werd er bijna 33 miljoen ton afval vanuit de Europese Unie naar derde landen geëxporteerd. Dit afval heeft niet alleen een grote milieu-impact door het vervoer en de verwerking ervan in niet-Europese landen, maar de aanwezigheid ervan zorgt tegelijk ook vaak voor schade aan de gezondheid in deze verwerkende landen. Zowel op het vlak van de impact op het milieu als voor de bescherming van de volksgezondheid gelden er in die verwerkende landen immers vaak veel minder strenge regels dan in de EU. Door afval zomaar uit te voeren, schuiven we de verantwoordelijkheid van ons weg. Hier moeten we een einde aan maken. Via deze herziening willen we dat bij afvalverwerking buiten de EU gelijkaardige regels gelden als binnen de EU, zowel op het vlak van milieubescherming als op het vlak van de bescherming van de volksgezondheid. Gevaarlijk afval en plastic mogen niet langer uitgevoerd worden naar niet-OESO-landen. Binnen vier jaar moet er dan een einde komen aan alle uitvoer van plastic afval. Tegelijk moeten we binnen de EU nog meer gaan inzetten op het recycleren van afvalstromen en de verdere uitbouw van een veilige, niet-toxische circulaire economie. Nu moeten de onderhandelaars tot een even ambitieus akkoord komen.
2023/01/17
30th Anniversary of the Single Market (B9-0004/2023)

Het Europees Parlement heeft afgelopen week over een resolutie gestemd naar aanleiding van het dertigjarig bestaan van de Europese interne markt. De interne markt is een succesverhaal gebleken. In de voorbije drie decennia kende de marktintegratie een enorme boost en werden de economische mogelijkheden van Europa versterkt. Vrij verkeer van goederen, diensten, mensen en kapitaal deed landsgrenzen verdampen en maakte van de euro een bindmiddel. Een Duits onderzoeksbureau becijferde in 2019, na een groots opgezet onderzoek, dat dankzij de interne markt het inkomen van de Europese burger met gemiddeld 840 euro per jaar is gestegen. Voor lidstaten zoals België betekent dit zelfs dat we jaarlijks 1 600 euro meer verdienen dan wanneer we net in de interne markt zouden zitten. Maar de interne markt kent ook een keerzijde. Ondanks de enorme welvaarscreatie lopen 95 miljoen Europeanen – waarvan 18 miljoen kinderen – het risico op armoede en sociale uitsluiting. Daarom onderkent de resolutie ook dat we in de toekomst onze interne markt moeten verbeteren. We moeten meer inzetten op de sociale en duurzame component. Een koppeling van een sterk sociaal en duurzaam luik moet ertoe leiden dat de interne markt een inclusiever succesverhaal wordt.
2023/01/18
Revision of the European Works Councils Directive (A9-0295/2022 - Dennis Radtke)

Op 2 februari werd in de plenaire zitting van het Europees Parlement gestemd over een wetgevend initiatiefverslag over een herziening van een richtlijn over Europese ondernemingsraden. Die richtlijn verplicht de bedrijfsleiding om de Europese ondernemingsraad voorafgaand aan belangrijke beslissingen te informeren en te raadplegen. In tegenstelling tot de nationale wetgeving inzake ondernemingsraden, gaat het hier specifiek over multinationals met meer dan 1 000 werknemers die in minstens 2 Europese lidstaten actief zijn. Op dit moment zijn er 1 100 Europese ondernemingsraden in de EU.In een evaluatieverslag uit 2018 over de uitvoering van de richtlijn concludeerde de Europese Commissie dat de handhaving van de rechten van de Europese ondernemingsraden in veel lidstaten zwak is. Dit verslag vraagt daarom aan de Europese Commissie om met een herziening te komen van de huidige richtlijn. Er wordt gevraagd de afdwingbaarheid ervan te verhogen en aan te passen aan de huidige tijdsgeest. Dit kan onder andere via financiële sancties bij niet-naleving van de wetgeving, betere regels bij disputen of via de introductie van genderquota in Europese ondernemingsraden.
2023/02/02
REPowerEU chapters in recovery and resilience plans (A9-0260/2022 - Eider Gardiazabal Rubial, Siegfried Mureşan, Dragoş Pîslaru)

Het REPowerEU-plan moet de Europese Unie helpen om sneller over te schakelen op hernieuwbare energiebronnen. Dit zal ons op korte termijn minder afhankelijk maken van de invoer van fossiele brandstoffen vanuit Rusland en tegelijk significant bijdragen aan het halen van onze klimaatdoelstellingen. Hernieuwbare energieproductie op Europese bodem maakt ons dus tegelijk onafhankelijker en groener.Om deze drastische opschaling te faciliteren, hebben we flexibelere regels en voldoende financiering nodig. Daarom kunnen energiemaatregelen nu nog meer opgenomen worden in de nationale herstelplannen. Om fondsen efficiënt in te zetten en verder te bouwen aan een echte energie-unie, willen we dat landen Europees geld deels ook investeren in grensoverschrijdende projecten. De focus moet ook liggen op hernieuwbare energieproductie, waarbij elk land beslist welke energievorm het best op zijn grondgebied past. De EU maakt hiervoor 20 miljard euro aan fondsen vrij via het ETS-emissiehandelssysteem en het innovatiefonds. Dit akkoord zorg voor meer groene energie en een grotere strategische onafhankelijkheid. Ik steun het dan ook volmondig.
2023/02/14
CO2 emission standards for cars and vans (A9-0150/2022 - Jan Huitema)

In 2020 was ongeveer 15 % van de uitstoot in Europa afkomstig van het wegvervoer. Iedereen is het erover eens dat de CO2-uitstoot van de Europese vervoerssector dringend omlaag moet. Een eerste stap is om de uitstoot van wagens en bestelwagens drastisch te gaan reduceren. Daarom sta ik achter het idee dat alle nieuwe auto’s en bestelwagens die vanaf 2035 in de Europese Unie worden verkocht, klimaatneutraal moeten zijn. Bepaalde lidstaten en regio’s nemen al soortgelijke maatregelen en hanteren soms zelfs een snellere tijdlijn. Om er echter voor te zorgen dat deze maatregelen daadwerkelijk efficiënt zijn en de uitstotende wagens niet zomaar in een ander land verkocht worden, moeten afspraken worden gemaakt op Europees niveau. Daarbij moet ten volle worden ingezet op elektrische voertuigen. Hoe meer elektrische voertuigen er op de markt zijn, hoe goedkoper ze voor de consument worden. Nu moeten we ook zorgen voor voldoende laadinfrastructuur, een sterk elektriciteitsnet en een strategisch onafhankelijke productie. Ambitieuze en afdwingbare doelstellingen zorgen voor een lagere uitstoot, een snellere technologische omslag en betaalbaardere elektrische voertuigen. Daarom heb ik voor deze nieuwe wet gestemd.
2023/02/14
Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence: EU accession (A9-0021/2023 - Łukasz Kohut, Arba Kokalari)

Het Europees Parlement heeft woensdag gestemd over een voortgangsverslag over het Verdrag van de Raad van Europa inzake het voorkomen en bestrijden van geweld tegen vrouwen en huiselijk geweld, ook wel bekend als het Verdrag van Istanbul. Dat trad in 2014 in werking. Intussen zijn we bijna tien jaar verder en moeten nog enkele lidstaten en de EU dit verdrag ratificeren.Ik ben zeer tevreden dat het Parlement oproept tot de ratificatie van het verdrag. Wie immers het verdrag bekrachtigt, verplicht zich ertoe om misdrijven tegen vrouwen ook strafbaar te maken. Dat is zeer belangrijk: gendergerelateerd geweld treft 1 op de 3 Europeanen. Met de COVID-pandemie is het fysiek, psychologisch en seksueel geweld in heel Europa nog toegenomen. Alle lidstaten behandelen geweld tegen vrouwen en huiselijk geweld in hun wetgeving, maar de mate waarin ze dat doen, verschilt. Daardoor ontstaat voor slachtoffers van dergelijk geweld rechtsonzekerheid over welke hun rechten zijn in de EU. Ook bestaande EU-wetgevingsteksten dragen al bij aan deze doelstelling, maar deze zijn niet doeltreffend genoeg. Alleen een omvattend rechtsinstrument dat op alle onderdelen van het probleem is gericht, zal verandering teweegbrengen en daadwerkelijk bijdragen tot de uitbanning van geweld tegen vrouwen.
2023/02/15
The EU priorities for the 67th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (B9-0100/2023, B9-0103/2023)

In de plenaire vergadering heeft het Europees Parlement een resolutie aangenomen over de EU-prioriteiten voor de 67e zitting van de “VN-Commissie inzake de positie van de vrouw”. Het kernthema van de jaarlijkse VN-vrouwenconferentie, die in maart zal plaatsvinden, is “innovatie en technologische verandering, en onderwijs in het digitale tijdperk ter verwezenlijking van gendergelijkheid en empowerment van alle vrouwen en meisjes”.Ik steun de resolutie omdat we als EU een sterke positie moeten innemen over het belang van gendergelijkheid in de digitale transitie. Positief is dat de digitale kloof tussen mannen en vrouwen weliswaar overal ter wereld kleiner wordt, maar jammer genoeg zien we dat vrouwen in veel van de armste landen en vooral in afgelegen en landelijke gebieden nog altijd digitaal gemarginaliseerd zijn. Zo hebben minstens 1,7 miljard vrouwen in het zuidelijk halfrond geen toegang tot het internet. Het dichten van de digitale genderkloof leidt niet alleen tot meer gendergelijkheid, het leidt ook tot economische groei. Volgens cijfers van de Internationale Telecommunicatie-unie zou het online brengen van 600 miljoen extra vrouwen en meisjes het wereldwijde bruto binnenlands product met maar liefst 18 miljard dollar kunnen doen stijgen.
2023/02/15
Transitional provisions for certain medical devices and in vitro diagnostic medical devices (C9-0003/2023)

Medisch materiaal is essentieel om de gezondheid van onze burgers te vrijwaren. Tegelijk moet dit materiaal ook veilig zijn wanneer het op de markt komt. Daarom bestaan er duidelijke en strenge regels, die recent nog aangescherpt werden, waaraan voldaan moet worden. Doordat ook materiaal dat reeds toegelaten is, een nieuwe analyse moet ondergaan, zorgt dit voor heel wat werk. Hierdoor lopen de instellingen die controles moeten uitvoeren, achterstand op, wat voor tekorten zorgt. Wanneer dokters de nodige ingrepen niet meer kunnen doen bij gebrek aan materiaal, moeten we actie ondernemen.Via deze versnelde wetgevende procedure zorgen we ervoor dat de tekorten op korte termijn niet groter worden en tegelijk snel verminderen. Voor die producten waar het schoentje knelt, zorgen we voor een langere transitieperiode. Dokters kunnen deze producten dan blijven gebruiken, zonder dat er een bijkomende controle gebeurd is. Het gaat hier om producten die reeds voldeden aan de oude regels en dus perfect veilig zijn. Zo lossen we het meest acute probleem op. Nu moeten we ook bekijken of er meer diepgaande hervormingen nodig zijn om de beschikbaarheid van medisch materiaal in de hele EU en voor alle burgers te garanderen.
2023/02/16
Mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund – application EGF/2022/002 BE/TNT - Belgium (A9-0043/2023 - Olivier Chastel)

De plenaire zitting van het Europees Parlement heeft dinsdag de steunaanvraag van het logistieke bedrijf TNT Express bij het Europees Fonds voor aanpassing aan de globalisering goedgekeurd. Het bedrijf diende een aanvraag in voor een steunpakket van 1,9 miljoen euro voor 559 ontslagen werknemers in hun zoektocht naar een nieuwe baan. De betrokken werknemers verloren hun baan nadat TNT Express had besloten om zijn activiteiten op de luchthaven van Luik te verhuizen naar de luchthaven van Parijs. Als onderhandelaar namens de Europese Volkspartij heb ik voor de steunaanvraag gestemd. Met het geld van het Europees Fonds voor aanpassing aan de globalisering kunnen de ontslagen werknemers van TNT Express individuele steun krijgen voor de zoektocht naar een nieuwe baan, zoals carrièreadvies, bijscholing, herscholing, coaching en ondernemerschap. Dit is een mooi voorbeeld van hoe Europese solidariteit het verschil kan maken voor mensen in moeilijkheden.
2023/03/14
Binding annual greenhouse gas emission reductions by Member States (Effort Sharing Regulation) (A9-0163/2022 - Jessica Polfjärd)

Onze doelstellingen zijn duidelijk: tegen 2030 willen we 55 % minder uitstoten, om tegen 2050 klimaatneutraal te zijn. Een groot deel van deze reductie wordt bereikt door een strenger emissiehandelssysteem. Maar ook voor sectoren die hier niet onder vallen, zoals vervoer, landbouw, gebouwen, afvalbeheer, kleine industriële installaties en verwarming, hebben we ambitieuzere doelstellingen nodig. Die keuren we vandaag goed. We verhogen de doelstelling voor de hele EU naar 40 % minder broeikasgasuitstoot tegen 2030. Om dit bredere doel te halen krijgt elke lidstaat een aparte doelstelling op maat, bepaald op basis van het bbp en de kosteneffectiviteit van maatregelen. Zo zorgen we voor haalbare doelstellingen voor alle landen. We vragen ook aan de lidstaten om een eerlijke en sociaal rechtvaardige omslag te garanderen. Dit is een goed akkoord dat een duidelijke en ambitieuze weg uitzet voor de komende jaren. Daarom steun ik het volmondig.
2023/03/14
Energy performance of buildings (recast) (A9-0033/2023 - Ciarán Cuffe)

In Europa vertegenwoordigen alle gebouwen vandaag nog ongeveer 36 % van onze broeikasgasuitstoot. Als we onze klimaatdoelstellingen tegen 2030 en 2050 willen halen, zal de uitstoot ook in deze sector tegen 2050 naar nul moeten. Dit vergt heel wat inspanningen en duidelijke tussentijdse doelstellingen. We vragen daarom dat nieuwe gebouwen vanaf 2028 emissievrij zijn. Voor gebouwen die grondig gerenoveerd worden, stellen we een datum van 2032 in. Verwarming zal moeten gebeuren met klimaatvriendelijke alternatieven. We geven gebouwen ook een energieprestatieklasse, waarbij de slechtst presterende klasse gradueel moet verdwijnen. Zo moedigen we renovaties aan. Renovaties van privéwoningen kosten echter heel wat geld en het kan niet dat de lasten op de zwakste schouders terechtkomen. Daarom moeten lidstaten in hun nationale renovatieplannen extra steun voorzien door middel van gerichte toelagen en subsidies voor kwetsbare huishoudens. Tegelijk mogen landen uitzonderingen voorzien wanneer de doelstellingen economisch niet haalbaar blijken, de (huur)prijzen te hard zouden stijgen of sociale huisvesting disproportioneel getroffen zou worden.Het Parlement heeft na deze stemming een ambitieuze positie. Nu moet er zo snel mogelijk een akkoord komen met de Commissie en de lidstaten.
2023/03/14
Adequate minimum income ensuring active inclusion (B9-0099/2023, B9-0116/2023)

Afgelopen woensdag 15 maart hebben we over een resolutie gestemd waarin wordt opgeroepen tot een Europees toereikend minimuminkomen. In 2021 liepen 95 miljoen Europeanen een armoederisico, waarvan 18 miljoen kinderen. De Europese Commissie heeft de ambitie om in samenwerking met de lidstaten tegen 2030 het aantal mensen in armoede met minstens 15 miljoen te verlagen. Daarvoor hebben we de voorbije jaren al heel wat initiatieven genomen, zoals de loontransparantie, de adequate minimumlonen, de kindergarantie, het sociaal klimaatfonds, het Europees Platform voor de bestrijding van dakloosheid en het lopende dossier voor een betere sociale bescherming van platformwerkers. Maar dat is onvoldoende, want door de energiecrisis en hoge inflatie rijzen de kosten voor levensonderhoud inzake energie, huisvesting, voeding... de pan uit. Mensen kunnen nauwelijks overleven. Steeds meer gezinnen geraken in moeilijkheden, ook gezinnen met lage inkomens en lage middeninkomens.Ik steun de resolutie, die, in lijn met de beginselen 12 en 13 van het Europees Sociaal Handvest en beginsel 14 van de Europese pijler van sociale rechten, voorziet in een minimuminkomen voor de meest kwetsbaren.
2023/03/15
Strengthening the application of the principle of equal pay for equal work or work of equal value between men and women (A9-0056/2022 - Kira Marie Peter-Hansen, Samira Rafaela)

Het Europees Parlement heeft met een ruime meerderheid het bereikte akkoord voor bindende loontransparantieregels goedgekeurd. De gemiddelde loonkloof tussen mannen en vrouwen bedraagt in de EU nog steeds 13 %. België doet het relatief beter, maar ook in ons land bedraagt de gemiddelde loonkloof volgens statistiekbureau Statbel ongeveer 5 %. Het grootste deel daarvan kan niet worden verklaard door de verschillende posities van vrouwen en mannen op de arbeidsmarkt, wat duidelijk wijst op discriminatie. Ik stemde daarom voor deze richtlijn, die onder andere voorziet in een informatieplicht over gemiddelde uurlonen, ook met genderverschil, en een omgekeerde bewijslast waarbij bedrijven een loonkloof van meer dan 5 % moeten kunnen rechtvaardigen. Wanneer dit niet kan, moeten ze actie ondernemen om die kloof te verkleinen. De richtlijn voorziet ook in een sterke rol voor de sociale partners en ondersteunende maatregelen voor bedrijven. Bedrijven vanaf 100 werknemers moeten verplicht rapporteren, kleinere mogen dit vrijwillig doen. Voor de werknemers uit 17 lidstaten zonder wet op de loonkloof zal deze richtlijn echt een kwantumsprong betekenen. Zonder loontransparantie verdwijnt de loonkloof nooit, daarom steunde ik dit akkoord ook volmondig.
2023/03/30
Fluorinated Gases Regulation (A9-0048/2023 - Bas Eickhout)

Gefluoreerde broeikasgassen, ook wel F-gassen genoemd, zijn door de mens gemaakte broeikasgassen die tot wel 25 000 keer schadelijker zijn voor het klimaat dan CO2. Ze worden bijvoorbeeld gebruikt in koelsystemen, airconditioning en warmtepompen. Omwille van hun schadelijke eigenschappen stemmen we vandaag over een voorstel dat de uitfasering ervan moet versnellen. Tegen 2050 willen we het gebruik van F-gassen stoppen. In deze transitie houden we wel rekening met de haalbaarheid en de beschikbaarheid van alternatieven. Waar er reeds andere opties op de markt zijn, vragen we een strakke deadline. Wanneer dit niet het geval is, stemde ik voor een flexibelere einddatum. Hetzelfde geldt voor medische toepassingen wanneer dit vanuit medisch oogpunt essentieel is. Voor mij is het ook belangrijk dat we tegelijk wel vervangstukken voor reparatie van bestaande systemen blijven produceren. Het kan niet dat mensen die net een investering in een nieuw systeem gedaan hebben dit binnen enkele jaren niet meer kunnen repareren. Dit is een ambitieus, haalbaar maar vooral broodnodig plan om onze klimaatdoelstellingen te halen. Daarom steunde ik het volmondig.
2023/03/30
Revision of the EU Emissions Trading System (A9-0162/2022 - Peter Liese)

Het herziene Europees emissiehandelssysteem dat we vandaag goedkeuren vormt de hoeksteen van ons klimaatbeleid. Dankzij de onderhandelde verscherping zal de uitstoot van de betrokken sectoren tegen 2030 verminderen met 62 %. Tegelijk zal het systeem nu ook van toepassing zijn op bijkomende sectoren, zoals de maritieme sector. Voor de verwarming van gebouwen en transport, twee sectoren waar de uitstoot nog steeg, wordt er een nieuw apart systeem opgericht. Dit alles zal bijdragen aan onze doelstelling om tegen 2030 in het totaal 55 % minder uit te stoten.Als we dit doel willen bereiken, moeten we er wel voor zorgen dat we iedereen meenemen in deze omslag. Zowel de burgers als onze bedrijven. Daarom is het goed dat we voldoende flankerende maatregelen, zoals het sociaal klimaatfonds, goedkeuren en de nodige veiligheid inbouwen. Het kan niet dat de nieuwe regels voor een onredelijke stijging van verwarmings- of transportkosten zorgen. Voor bedrijven bouwen we tegelijk de nodige ademruimte in, zonder te raken aan de finale ambitie. Dit akkoord zorgt voor een evenwicht tussen de noodzakelijke klimaatinspanningen, de bescherming van banen en de nodige steun voor wie die het meest nodig heeft. Daarom steun ik het dan ook volledig.
2023/04/18
Social Climate Fund (A9-0157/2022 - David Casa, Esther de Lange)

Ons Europees klimaatbeleid mag geen nieuwe kloof tussen bemiddeld en onbemiddeld veroorzaken. De klimaat- en energietransitie moet er komen voor iedereen, niet alleen voor zij die het zich kunnen veroorloven. Dit sociaal klimaatfonds zal ons hierbij helpen. Het fonds moet dienen om burgers in alle lidstaten te steunen bij investeringen in klimaatvriendelijke maatregelen. De steun moet gaan naar de lage inkomens en lage middeninkomens, die het grootste risico lopen op energie- of transportarmoede. Op die manier financieren we noodzakelijke renovaties of bijvoorbeeld de omslag naar elektrisch rijden voor zij die dit normaal niet zomaar zouden kunnen betalen. Zij krijgen op die manier een duwtje in de rug en tegelijk versnellen we de noodzakelijke emissiereductie in de gebouwen- en transportsector. De bal ligt na deze goedkeuring in het kamp van de lidstaten, die ervoor moeten zorgen dat de steun snel terechtkomt bij wie die echt nodig heeft. Dit akkoord zet de juiste lijnen uit voor een sociaal rechtvaardig klimaatbeleid. Daarom steun ik het volmondig.
2023/04/18
Deforestation Regulation (A9-0219/2022 - Christophe Hansen)

Tussen 1990 en 2020 ging er wereldwijd een gebied groter dan de oppervlakte van de EU verloren door ontbossing. Dat komt overeen met ongeveer 420 miljoen hectare bos. Via allerlei producten die we in de Europese Unie importeren en consumeren, zijn we verantwoordelijk voor 10 % hiervan.Het akkoord dat we vandaag finaal goedkeuren, zal helpen hier mee een einde aan te maken. Bedrijven zullen vanaf nu moeten verzekeren dat de producten die zij in de EU invoeren, niet bijgedragen hebben aan ontbossing na 31 december 2020. Daarnaast moeten ze ook nagaan of bij productie de mensenrechten gerespecteerd werden. De nieuwe regels zullen van toepassing zijn op vee, cacao, koffie, palmolie, soja, hout, rubber, houtskool en papierproducten. Op termijn kan de Commissie onderzoeken of ook ander natuurgebied onder deze verordening moet vallen. Dit akkoord zet alvast een enorme stap in de goede richting in onze strijd tegen de wereldwijde ontbossing. Daarom steun ik het ook volledig.
2023/04/19
Combating discrimination in the EU - the long-awaited horizontal anti-discrimination directive (B9-0201/2023, B9-0202/2023)

Afgelopen woensdag heeft het Europees Parlement in de plenaire zitting de lidstaten opgeroepen om de onderhandelingen over de antidiscriminatierichtlijn te deblokkeren. Het Europees Parlement heeft zijn mandaat reeds in 2009 goedgekeurd, nadat de Europese Commissie een voorstel lanceerde in 2008. De onderhandelingen zijn geblokkeerd door de terughoudendheid van enkele lidstaten. Zij maken gebruik van hun vetorecht om het wetgevingsproces te blokkeren, aangezien unanimiteit is vereist in de Raad.Ik heb voor deze resolutie gestemd omdat de huidige Europese regels ter bestrijding van discriminatie te gefragmenteerd zijn. Momenteel geldt bescherming tegen bepaalde vormen van discriminatie alleen op de werkplek en de arbeidsmarkt. Er is een nieuwe geharmoniseerde richtlijn nodig die de wettelijke bescherming tegen discriminatie op EU-niveau over alle domeinen zou uitbreiden, ook op grond van geslacht, ras of etnische afstamming, godsdienst of overtuiging, handicap, leeftijd en seksuele geaardheid.
2023/04/19
Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence – EU accession: institutions and public administration of the Union (A9-0169/2023 - Łukasz Kohut, Arba Kokalari)

Op woensdag 10 mei heeft het Europees Parlement gestemd voor de toetreding van de Europese Unie tot het Verdrag inzake de voorkoming en bestrijding van geweld tegen vrouwen, het zogenaamde Verdrag van Istanbul. Zes jaar nadat de EU het Verdrag van Istanbul – het eerste juridisch bindende internationale instrument ter voorkoming en bestrijding van geweld tegen vrouwen en meisjes – heeft ondertekend, is het nog steeds niet geratificeerd vanwege de weigering van enkele lidstaten, ondanks de vele oproepen van het Europees Parlement. Door een recent advies van het Europees Hof van Justitie kan de EU het verdrag toch ratificeren zonder instemming van alle lidstaten.Ik heb voor de ratificatie gestemd, omdat dit een enorme stap voorwaarts is in de strijd tegen geweld ten aanzien van vrouwen in Europa. België ratificeerde het verdrag reeds in 2016. Het is de eerste internationale tekst waarin geweld tegen vrouwen juridisch wordt gedefinieerd en een alomvattend kader van wettelijke en beleidsmaatregelen wordt vastgesteld om dergelijk geweld te voorkomen, slachtoffers te steunen en daders te bestraffen. Na het akkoord van het Europees Parlement moeten de lidstaten nog hun finale goedkeuring geven om het ratificatieproces af te ronden.
2023/05/10
Empowering consumers for the green transition (A9-0099/2023 - Biljana Borzan)

Vandaag stemde het Europees Parlement over nieuwe regels die de duurzaamheid van producten moeten verbeteren.Volgens de huidige regels kunnen bedrijven nu nog verwarrende milieu- of klimaatclaims aan hun producten verbinden. Dit is verwarrend voor de consument. Tegelijk zien we dat bedrijven hun producten na verloop van tijd met opzet laten verouderen, zodat consumenten sneller een nieuw product zouden kopen. Aan de hand van scherpere regels willen we deze geplande veroudering en gelijkaardige praktijken een halt toeroepen. Bedrijven zullen ook geen misleidende reclame meer kunnen maken of algemene en vage milieuclaims meer mogen gebruiken. Dat zal enkel nog kunnen wanneer bijvoorbeeld het hele product milieuvriendelijk is en dit gedetailleerd aangetoond kan worden. Aan de hand van duidelijke en op voorhand gecommuniceerde informatie zullen consumenten producten kunnen kiezen die makkelijk te repareren zijn. Dit verkleint onze afvalberg en is tegelijk goed voor het milieu, het klimaat en de portefeuille van de burgers.Met deze stemming bepaalt het Parlement een goede en ambitieuze onderhandelingspositie. Ik steun deze dan ook volledig. Het is nu aan de onderhandelaars om een even ambitieus akkoord te vinden.
2023/05/11
Roadmap on a Social Europe: two years after Porto (B9-0235/2023, B9-0236/2023)

Op donderdag 11 mei heeft de plenaire vergadering van het Europees Parlement een resolutie goedgekeurd die pleit voor een ambitieuze sociale agenda. De resolutie maakt een eerste balans op twee jaar na de Porto-verklaring, die pleitte voor een sterker sociaal Europa.De resolutie erkent de vooruitgang die de voorbije jaren is geboekt met de loontransparantie, de richtlijn die eindelijk de loonkloof moet dichten, en de richtlijn adequate minimumlonen, die er moet voor zorgen dat werken loont en sociale dumping wordt aangepakt. Maar ook de betere bescherming tegen gevaarlijke stoffen op de werkvloer, de kindgarantie, het sociaal klimaatfonds, het Europees Platform voor de bestrijding van dakloosheid en nog lopende dossiers zoals een betere bescherming tegen blootstelling van werknemers aan asbest en lood en een beter statuut voor platformwerkers.Door de energiecrisis en hoge inflatie rijzen de kosten voor levensonderhoud inzake energie, huisvesting, voeding enz. echter de pan uit. Meer en meer gezinnen geraken in moeilijkheden, ook de gezinnen met een laag inkomen en een lager middeninkomen die normaal meer financiële ruimte hebben. Daarom roept de resolutie op om bijkomende maatregelen te nemen om de Porto-doelstelling te halen om tegen 2030 het aantal mensen in armoede met minstens 15 miljoen te verlagen, waarvan 5 miljoen kinderen.
2023/05/11
Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence (A9-0184/2023 - Lara Wolters)

Op donderdag stemden we over het onderhandelingsmandaat van het Europees Parlement inzake de invoering van een nieuwe zorgplicht voor bedrijven. Die nieuwe regels moeten ervoor zorgen dat Europese bedrijven in de toekomst verplicht worden om arbeidsrechten, milieunormen en mensenrechten centraal te stellen tijdens hun internationale activiteiten. Ze zullen waar nodig mogelijke inbreuken moeten voorkomen of beperken.Het kan niet dat multinationals wegkomen met kinderarbeid, uitbuiting van werknemers of bijvoorbeeld ontbossing. Zowel de financiële sector als gewone bedrijven moeten onder deze nieuwe regels vallen. Om kleinere bedrijven de nodige tijd te geven zich aan te passen, pleiten we wel voor een trapsgewijze invoering.Met deze regels hebben we in de EU een stok achter de deur om misbruiken buiten de EU te voorkomen en mee te zorgen voor kwaliteitsvolle en duurzame jobs. Om de werking van de interne markt niet te verstoren, is het essentieel dat deze regels op een geharmoniseerde, Europese manier worden afgesproken. Dit standpunt is een goed vertrekpunt voor een ambitieus eindresultaat. Nu moeten de onderhandelaars samen met de lidstaten en de Commissie zo snel mogelijk een akkoord vinden.
2023/06/01
Strengthening social dialogue (B9-0259/2023)

De sociale dialoog vormt voor mij de hoeksteen van de sociale markteconomie in de Europese Unie. Tijdens veranderende werkomstandigheden door bijvoorbeeld de transitie naar een klimaatneutrale en digitale economie wordt het belang van de sociale dialoog alleen maar groter. Helaas zien we dat het aandeel werknemers dat onder een collectieve arbeidsovereenkomst valt in de EU zienderogen daalt. In 2000 was dit nog voor 66 % van de werknemers het geval, in 2018 nog maar 56 %. In België bedraagt dit cijfer meer dan 90 %.Met de resolutie waar we vandaag over stemmen, geeft het Europees Parlement een belangrijk signaal af om het belang van de sociale dialoog te benadrukken. We willen dat de lidstaten ervoor zorgen dat tegen 2030 80 % van de werknemers onder een collectieve arbeidsovereenkomst valt. Tegelijk moeten antivakbondpraktijken overal doorheen de EU dringend worden aangepakt. Gemeenschappen die een goed werkende sociale dialoog kennen, beschikken over meer competitieve en weerbare economieën met duurzamere en eerlijkere jobs. Hier moeten we naar streven, in alle lidstaten. Deze resolutie roept hier luid toe op. Daarom steun ik de tekst volledig.
2023/06/01
Coordinated action to address antimicrobial resistance (B9-0258/2023)

Antimicrobiële resistentie behoort tot de top drie van gezondheidsgevaren in de EU. Elk jaar sterven er naar schatting 35 000 Europeanen als gevolg van de toegenomen resistentie. Deze cijfers nemen alleen maar toe. Bijkomende actie dringt zich dus echt op.In de strijd tegen antimicrobiële resistentie is het essentieel dat we een alomvattende aanpak hanteren. Zo’n aanpak begint bij een verminderd gebruik bij zowel mensen als dieren. Tegelijk moeten we meer inzetten op wetenschappelijk onderzoek naar nieuwe antibiotica. We vragen dat elke lidstaat een nationaal actieplan met maatregelen opmaakt en dit ook regelmatig vernieuwt.Belangrijk is dat het Parlement nu ook vraagt dat antibiotica die door de Wereldgezondheidsorganisatie als essentieel voor menselijk gebruik gezien worden, in de toekomst ook voorbehouden blijven voor mensen. Het kan niet de bedoeling zijn dat antibiotica die een laatste kans betekenen voor mensen, ook zomaar bij dieren gebruikt worden.Deze resolutie bevat een breed pakket aan maatregelen die we kunnen en dringend moeten nemen tegen de toenemende antimicrobiële resistentie. Daarom steun ik de tekst volmondig.
2023/06/01
Mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund: application EGF/2023/001 BE/LNSA - Belgium (A9-0228/2023 - Eleni Stavrou)

Afgelopen dinsdag heeft de plenaire vergadering van het Europees Parlement de EGF-steunaanvraag van het logistieke bedrijf “Logistics Nivelles SA” uit Nijvel goedgekeurd. Het bedrijf diende een aanvraag in voor een steunpakket van 2,15 miljoen EUR voor 603 ontslagen werknemers in hun zoektocht naar een nieuwe baan. De betrokken werknemers verloren hun baan nadat “Logistics Nivelles SA” had besloten om zijn activiteiten op de locatie in Nijvel stop te zetten. Als onderhandelaar namens de Europese Volkspartij heb ik voor de steunaanvraag gestemd. Met het geld van het Europees Fonds voor aanpassing aan de globalisering kunnen de ontslagen werknemers van “Logistics Nivelles SA” individuele steun krijgen voor de zoektocht naar een nieuwe baan, zoals carrièreadvies, bijscholing, herscholing, coaching en ondernemerschap. Dit is een mooi voorbeeld van hoe Europese solidariteit het verschil kan maken voor mensen in moeilijkheden.
2023/07/11
Objection pursuant to Rule 112 (4): The food additives nitrites (E 249-250) and nitrates (E 251-252) (B9-0307/2023)

Nitraten en nitrieten zijn stoffen die als additieven worden toegevoegd aan verschillende vormen van vlees of kaas. Ze zorgen er vooral voor dat de bacteriën die botelisme of salmonella veroorzaken, zich niet kunnen ontwikkelen in de verschillende producten. Daarnaast zorgen ze voor een langere bewaartijd of het behoud van kleur.Ze hebben echter ook een andere eigenschap: wanneer nitrieten binden met bepaalde eiwitten ontstaan kankerverwekkende nitrosamines. Naast kankerverwekkend zijn nitrosamines ook schadelijk voor het DNA. Kortom, stoffen die niet in onze voeding thuishoren. Zeker niet wanneer het gebruik ervan niet essentieel is. De Commissie heeft een voorstel ingediend om de toegestane hoeveelheid nitraten en nitrieten te verlagen. Dit voorstel ging echter niet ver genoeg.Er zijn reeds andere landen, zoals Denemarken, die strengere regels hebben. Verschillende producenten van vlees stopten ook al uit eigen beweging met het gebruik van nitrieten en nitraten. Allemaal redenen voor het Parlement om bezwaar aan te tekenen tegen het besluit van de Commissie. Het bezwaar vraagt om een nieuw voorstel dat het gebruik van nitrieten en nitraten uitfaseert. Een oproep die ik volledig ondersteun.
2023/07/11
Industrial Emissions Directive (A9-0216/2023 - Radan Kanev)

Dinsdag stemde het Europees Parlement over het onderhandelingsmandaat om de bestaande regels voor het beperken van de industriële uitstoot aan te scherpen. Fabrieken en andere industriële installaties stoten allerlei stoffen uit die schadelijk zijn voor de volksgezondheid, het klimaat of ons milieu. Dat willen we dus zo veel mogelijk beperken. Dankzij de strengere regels worden bedrijven verplicht om de vervuiling van de lucht-, water- en bodemkwaliteit verder terug te dringen. Voor het Parlement moeten nu voor het eerst ook installaties zoals mijnen en grote batterijfabrieken onder de wetgeving vallen. Zowel werknemers als omwonenden moeten beschermd worden tegen de uitstoot van schadelijke stoffen.We verhogen de transparantie door het opzetten van een EU-portaal voor industriële emissies, waarop burgers toegang hebben tot alle gegevens over een vergunning en de vervuilende activiteiten van bedrijven. Ze hebben het recht om te weten welke stoffen een fabriek uitstoot.Ik stemde ook voor het beginsel van de omgekeerde bewijslast. Het zou aan de bedrijven moeten zijn om aan te tonen dat zij niet schuldig zijn met betrekking tot de gezondheidseffecten van hun emissies op omwonenden, niet omgekeerd. Helaas vond dit beginsel geen meerderheid. Desondanks is deze onderhandelingspositie een enorme stap in de goede richting.
2023/07/11
Fostering and adapting vocational training as a tool for employees' success and a building block for the EU economy in the new industry 4.0 (A9-0232/2023 - Anna Zalewska)

Op dinsdag heeft de plenaire vergadering over een verslag gestemd dat inzet op het aantrekkelijker maken van beroepsonderwijs en -opleiding. Meer dan drie van de vier bedrijven in de EU hebben momenteel moeite om het juist geschoolde personeel te vinden. Er is een groeiend tekort aan vakmensen, aangezien een loopbaan in die richting al jaren als tweede keuze wordt beschouwd.Het belang van levenslang leren is cruciaal om nieuwe vaardigheden te leren en zou moeten worden gestimuleerd bij iedereen, zonder enige vorm van leeftijdsdiscriminatie. In de nasleep van de pandemie kende de digitalisering een enorme groei. Het aantal banen in de digitale sector zal de komende jaren nog verder toenemen. Om hierop in te spelen is het belangrijk om nieuwe en digitale vaardigheden aan te vullen en verder te ontwikkelen.In het verslag wordt onder andere opgeroepen tot beroepsopleidingen tijdens de werkuren en een verbod op onbetaalde stages. Ik heb voor dit verslag gestemd omdat we ons als maatschappij moeten aanpassen aan de veranderende arbeidsmarkt, zonder daarbij in te boeten op de kwaliteit van de banen en de arbeidsomstandigheden.
2023/07/11
COVID-19 pandemic: lessons learned and recommendations for the future (A9-0217/2023 - Dolors Montserrat)

Met de stemming van deze resolutie komt er een einde aan de werkzaamheden van de COVI-commissie in het Europees Parlement. Terwijl we verder bouwen aan de Europese gezondheidsunie moeten we lessen trekken en kijken welke maatregelen werkten en welke niet. Meer samenwerking in de gezondheidszorg op Europees niveau redt levens. Niet alleen tijdens een pandemie, maar ook bij andere gezondheidsuitdagingen. We vragen dat de Unie in de toekomst de touwtjes strakker in handen krijgt om noodmaatregelen efficiënter te kunnen coördineren.Verder moeten we bouwen aan het succes van de gezamenlijke aankoop van vaccins door deze uit te breiden naar zeer dure geneesmiddelen of behandelingen van zeldzame ziektes. Uit de vele hoorzittingen bleek ook dat we nog meer moeten inzetten op onze strategische onafhankelijkheid in de productie van geneesmiddelen en medisch materiaal.We onderzochten daarnaast de impact van de pandemie op de arbeidsmarkt. Het Europese SURE-instrument bleek een succesvolle manier om lidstaten te ondersteunen bij het voorzien in een systeem van tijdelijke werkloosheid. Ik pleit ervoor om dit in de toekomst bij een volgende noodsituatie eveneens snel in te kunnen schakelen. Dit verslag bevat een schat aan goede aanbevelingen voor de toekomst. Daarom steunde ik het volmondig.
2023/07/12
Standards of quality and safety for substances of human origin intended for human application (A9-0250/2023 - Nathalie Colin-Oesterlé)

Jaarlijks vinden er in de Europese Unie 25 miljoen bloedtransfusies, 1 miljoen behandelingen in het kader van medisch begeleide voortplanting en 35 000 stamceltransplantaties plaats. Om de veiligheid voor zowel donors als patiënten te garanderen, zijn strenge kwaliteitsvereisten voor het gebruik van dergelijke stoffen van menselijke oorsprong nodig. Met deze stemming willen we de bestaande wetgeving actualiseren op basis van de laatste stand van zaken van wetenschap en techniek. Tegelijk moeten de nieuwe regels onze autonomie verhogen. Vandaag zijn we nog te afhankelijk van import uit derde landen waar andere regels gelden. Voor mij is het belangrijk dat zowel donors als patiënten beschermd worden en dat donatie vrijwillig blijft. Een compensatie voor bijvoorbeeld niet-gewerkte uren of verplaatsingskosten kan, maar financieel gewin mag nooit de basis zijn voor donors. Het is goed dat hiervoor overal in de EU dezelfde regels gelden. Deze wetgeving is een volgende bouwsteen voor het uitbouwen van de Europese gezondheidsunie. Nu is het aan de onderhandelaars om tot een goed akkoord te komen met de lidstaten.
2023/09/12
Surface water and groundwater pollutants (A9-0238/2023 - Milan Brglez)

We moeten ons grond- en oppervlaktewater beschermen tegen vervuiling met chemische stoffen. Deze doelstelling is een integraal deel van de Europese Green Deal en de doelstelling om tegen 2050 een niet-toxische omgeving te hebben. Met deze stemming geven we de bestaande wetgeving een ambitieuze update die hier mee voor moet zorgen. De lijst van stoffen die gemonitord en gecontroleerd moeten worden, breiden we gevoelig uit. We vragen nieuwe parameters voor de meest voorkomende vormen van PFAS. Daarnaast moet er ook een nieuwe parameter komen voor de aanwezigheid van de hele PFAS-familie. Samen met aangescherpte standaarden voor verschillende pesticiden, waaronder glyfosaat, residuen van farmaceutische stoffen en microplastics zal dit de kwaliteit van zowel ons oppervlakte- als ons grondwater ten goede komen. Dit verslag is een goed onderhandelingsmandaat waar de volksgezondheid in centraal staat. Ik steun het dan ook volmondig.
2023/09/12
Ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe (A9-0233/2023 - Javi López)

Luchtvervuiling wordt vandaag nog steeds gelinkt aan 300 000 vroegtijdige sterfgevallen per jaar in de Europese Unie. Hoewel de luchtkwaliteit in de EU er al fors op vooruit is gegaan, tonen de cijfers dus aan dat we het nog beter moeten doen. En daarvoor hebben we nieuwe en ambitieuzere Europese luchtkwaliteitsnormen nodig. Dit kan via een stappenplan met tussentijdse doelstellingen in 2030, zoals de Europese Commissie voorstelde. Daarna moeten we zo snel mogelijk de advieswaarden van de Wereldgezondheidsorganisatie overnemen. Vandaag werd hiervoor het jaar 2035 als doelstelling genomen. Of dit haalbaar is, moet nog blijken; dit zal afhangen van beslissingen die we nemen op vlak van transport, industrie en verwarming. Ik ben ervan overtuigd dat ook na 2030 nog verdere inspanningen nodig zullen zijn. Daarom steun ik principieel dit 2035-streefdoel. Dit onderhandelingsmandaat van het Parlement omvat verder nog verschillende belangrijke elementen zoals een vijfjaarlijkse evaluatie van de wetenschappelijke data, de erkenning van een gezonde leefomgeving als mensenrecht, duidelijk gedefinieerde bepalingen voor meetpunten, een makkelijkere juridische toegang voor burgers in geval van inbreuken en een recht op compensatie. Iedereen heeft recht op gezonde lucht en bijkomende actie is nodig, daarom steun ik dit mandaat.
2023/09/13
Protection of workers from asbestos (A9-0160/2023 - Véronique Trillet-Lenoir)

. – Het Europees Parlement heeft op dinsdag 3 oktober het trialoogakkoord over de herziening van de asbestrichtlijn uit 2009 goedgekeurd. In het akkoord is bepaald dat uiterlijk binnen zes jaar in heel Europa de asbestblootstellingswaarde voor werknemers 50 keer lager moet liggen dan de huidige limiet. Het creëert ook extra beschermende maatregelen, zoals decontaminatieprocedures voor werknemers, om secundaire blootstelling aan asbest te voorkomen. Verder zet het akkoord in op extra opleiding en sensibilisering voor werknemers die werken in de asbestverwijdering. Er wordt ook Europees geld vrijgemaakt voor de lidstaten om een succesvolle transitie naar de lagere limietwaarde te verzekeren. Ten slotte zet de nieuwe richtlijn ook in op betere informatieverstrekking over de aanwezigheid van asbest in gebouwen voor brandweer en hulpdiensten.Ik heb als EVP-verantwoordelijke mee over dit dossier onderhandeld en steun het dan ook volledig. Dit akkoord is een grote stap voorwaarts om ons voor eens en altijd te ontdoen van de duistere erfenis van asbest, zeker nu de bouwsector voor een grote renovatiegolf staat.
2023/10/03
Classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures (A9-0271/2023 - Maria Spyraki)

. – We werken stap per stap verder aan de herziening van de chemische wetgeving in de EU. Deze herziening van de regels rond indeling, etikettering en verpakking van chemische stoffen zal ervoor zorgen dat iedereen beter beschermd wordt tegen potentiële schadelijke eigenschappen. Chemische stoffen moeten zo snel mogelijk de juiste indeling krijgen op basis van onafhankelijk wetenschappelijk onderzoek. De nieuwe indelingen voor hormoonverstorende stoffen moeten zo snel mogelijk gebruikt worden. Duidelijkere etiketten zullen consumenten beter waarschuwen en beschermen wanneer zij een gevaarlijk product in handen hebben.Het is wel belangrijk dat deze regels geen onbedoelde effecten hebben op stoffen die helemaal niet schadelijk zijn. Daarom voorzien we in een uitzondering voor etherische oliën met stoffen van plantaardige oorsprong. Dit mandaat is een goed uitgangspunt voor de komende onderhandelingen met de lidstaten. Ik steun het dan ook volledig.
2023/10/04
Urban wastewater treatment (A9-0276/2023 - Nils Torvalds)

. – In onze strijd tegen watertekorten en de bescherming van de gezondheid van onze burgers hebben we schoon water nodig. Hoe meer water we hergebruiken, hoe beter. Denk bijvoorbeeld aan industriële processen of koelsystemen. Tegelijk kan het niet dat burgers blootgesteld worden aan schadelijke stoffen via hergebruikt afvalwater. Daarom hebben we in de EU strenge regels, die we nu nog aanscherpen. We vragen om een betere monitoring van de aanwezige chemische stoffen, zoals PFAS, microplastics en verschillende virussen en bacteriën. Daarnaast introduceren we bijkomende vereisten voor het verwijderen van allerlei micropolluenten uit het afvalwater. De kosten die hiermee gepaard gaan, moeten grotendeels door de industrie zelf gedragen worden. Tegelijk dragen ook overheden een deel van deze lasten. Dit zal ervoor zorgen dat er nog meer naar een bronaanpak gekeken wordt, waarbij er steeds minder schadelijke stoffen in ons afvalwater zullen terechtkomen. Afsluitend zetten we in op nog betere waterinfrastructuur zodat iedereen toegang heeft tot schoon water. Hierbij moeten we expliciet aandacht hebben voor kwetsbare groepen. Dit is een goed en ambitieus verslag waarmee de onderhandelaars nu aan de slag kunnen.
2023/10/05
The new European strategy for a better internet for kids (BIK+) (B9-0386/2023)

. – Het Parlement heeft zijn goedkeuring gegeven aan de nieuwe strategie voor een beter internet voor kinderen. Het is een goede zaak dat kinderen steeds meer toegang hebben tot internet, maar we moeten hen wel beschermen en wapenen tegen schadelijke en illegale online-inhoud zoals cyberpesten en grooming. We vragen daarom dat dit mee zou worden opgenomen in lesprogramma’s op school, zodat kinderen van jongs af aan leren om te gaan met de gevaren van het internet en sociale media. Daarnaast zal er vanaf 2024 een Europese norm voor leeftijdsverificatie komen en zal een gedragscode worden opgesteld. Sociale mediaplatforms zullen bijkomende inspanningen moeten leveren wat de ouderlijke toestemming betreft. Ook het verlenen van steun aan slachtoffers en openbare anonieme meldpunten zijn uiteraard van groot belang in de strategie.
2023/10/05
Strengthening the CO2 emission performance targets for new heavy-duty vehicles (A9-0313/2023 - Bas Eickhout)

In ons streven naar klimaatneutraliteit moeten alle sectoren hun deel doen en hun emissies terugdringen. Dat geldt ook voor wegtransport. Nadat we eerder stemden over nieuwe regels over de uitstoot van personenvervoer, is het nu de beurt aan vrachtwagens, bussen en andere zware voertuigen. Die groep is vandaag immers nog verantwoordelijk voor een kwart van de broeikasgasemissies van wegtransport in de EU, of voor 6 % van de totale Europese broeikasgasemissies. Daarom vraagt het Europees Parlement een gradueel stijgende emissiereductie die tegen 2040 voor een vermindering met 90 % moet zorgen.Stadsbussen daarentegen moeten al in 2030 volledig emissievrij en dus elektrisch zijn. Dit is niet alleen goed voor onze strijd tegen de klimaatverandering, het zorgt tegelijk ook voor gezondere lucht in onze steden.Om die twee redenen moeten we bij zwaar wegvervoer vooral inzetten op elektrificatie. Waar dit niet kan, laten we ook nog andere voertuigen met lage emissies toe. Dit onderhandelingsmandaat zoekt het evenwicht tussen ambitie en haalbaarheid. Daarom steun ik het ook volmondig.
2023/11/21
EU framework for the social and professional situation of artists and workers in the cultural and creative sectors (A9-0304/2023 - Antonius Manders, Domènec Ruiz Devesa)

Het Europees Parlement heeft op dinsdag 21 november een wetgevend initiatiefverslag goedgekeurd om de levens- en arbeidsomstandigheden van de culturele en creatieve werknemers (CCS) in de EU te verbeteren. Het verslag wil de precaire arbeidsomstandigheden en de onzekere juridische status van kunstenaars en andere professionals in de culturele en creatieve sectoren aanpakken. Het verslag roept de Europese Commissie op om met een richtlijn te komen over fatsoenlijke arbeidsomstandigheden voor CCS-professionals.Verder pleit het verslag voor een Europees platform voor de uitwisseling van beste praktijken tussen de lidstaten om de arbeids- en socialezekerheidsomstandigheden te verbeteren, met de betrokkenheid van de sociale partners. Verder wil het sociale conditionaliteiten toevoegen aan EU-programma’s die kunstenaars financieren, zoals “Creative Europa”.Ik heb voor dit verslag gestemd omdat kunstenaars en professionals uit de creatieve sector in de EU een betere sociale bescherming verdienen.
2023/11/21
Reducing inequalities and promoting social inclusion in times of crisis for children and their families (A9-0360/2023 - Sandra Pereira)

Op dinsdag 21 november 2023 heeft het Europees Parlement een verslag goedgekeurd over “het verminderen van ongelijkheid en het bevorderen van sociale integratie in tijden van crisis voor kinderen en de gezinnen waarin zij leven”. Ik heb voor dit verslag gestemd, omdat een goede ontwikkeling van kinderen van essentieel belang is voor een eerlijkere, gelijkere en betere toekomst. De eerste levensjaren zijn beslissend voor de optimale ontwikkeling van kinderen, aangezien zij in de eerste jaren essentiële vaardigheden ontwikkelen.Het verslag roept de lidstaten op om de openbare socialezekerheidsstelsels te versterken, aangezien 25 % van de kinderen in de EU een armoederisico loopt. Het verslag zet verder ook in op de naleving van moederschaps- en vaderschapsrechten. Deze rechten moeten niet alleen worden gewaarborgd tijdens zwangerschap en de kraamperiode, maar ook bij borstvoeding, ziekte of in andere gerechtvaardigde situaties.
2023/11/21
Children first - strengthening the Child guarantee, two years on from its adoption (B9-0462/2023)

Op 21 november, n.a.v. de Internationale Dag voor de Rechten van het Kind (op 20 november), heeft het Parlement de resolutie over een versterkte Kindergarantie goedgekeurd. Met de Europese Kindergarantie, die twee jaar geleden werd opgericht, willen we garanderen dat elk kind dat in armoede leeft, toegang heeft tot opvang, onderwijs, gezondheidszorg, gezonde voeding en degelijke huisvesting. We rekenen daarbij op de lidstaten om hun nationale actieplannen uit te voeren, en zelfs de ambitie te verhogen.Het is onaanvaardbaar dat vandaag nog steeds een op de vier kinderen met armoede of met het risico op sociale uitsluiting wordt bedreigd. Een goede monitoring in de lidstaten, een EU-brede monitoring en een betere koppeling aan het sociaal scorebord zijn belangrijk om de ambities hoog te houden en de nationale plannen uit te voeren. Het Parlement roept ook op tot een alomvattende en geïntegreerde armoedebestrijdingsstrategie met een specifieke armoedereductiedoelstelling, ook voor kinderarmoede, en vraagt extra budget te voorzien om de ambities van de Europese Kindergarantie waar te maken. We mogen hier niet op toegeven. We moeten ervoor zorgen dat elk kind kan opgroeien in goede omstandigheden, met toegang tot essentiële diensten, en zo alle kansen krijgt in het leven.
2023/11/21
Mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund – application EGF/2023/002 BE/Makro - Belgium (A9-0351/2023 - Petri Sarvamaa)

De plenaire zitting van het Europees Parlement heeft woensdag de steunaanvraag van de Makro Groep bij het Europees Fonds voor aanpassing aan de globalisering goedgekeurd. Het bedrijf diende een aanvraag in voor een steunpakket van 2,8 miljoen euro voor 421 ontslagen werknemers in hun zoektocht naar een nieuwe baan. De betrokken werknemers verloren hun baan nadat Makro het faillissement aanvroeg op 10 januari 2023. Als onderhandelaar namens de Europese Volkspartij heb ik voor de steunaanvraag gestemd. Met het geld van het Europees Fonds voor aanpassing aan de globalisering kunnen de ontslagen werknemers van Makro individuele steun krijgen voor de zoektocht naar een nieuwe baan, zoals carrièreadvies, bijscholing, herscholing, coaching en ondernemerschap. Dit is een mooi voorbeeld van hoe Europese solidariteit het verschil kan maken voor mensen in moeilijkheden.
2023/11/22
Sustainable use of plant protection products (A9-0339/2023 - Sarah Wiener)

Voor mij is het duidelijk: wanneer we zowel de volksgezondheid als de biodiversiteit willen beschermen moet ons pesticidengebruik drastisch naar beneden. Daarom is het ook goed dat de Commissie een voorstel lanceerde dat zowel voor het algemene gebruik van gewasbeschermingsmiddelen als voor het gebruik van de meest schadelijke stoffen een reductie van 50% vroeg. Voor mij zijn dit ambitieuze maar haalbare doelstellingen, die we moeten koppelen aan een duidelijke definitie van wat een gevoelig gebied is en een beperking van de toegelaten stoffen in die gebieden. Dit zou een enorme stap vooruit zijn voor de bescherming van de gezondheid van landbouwers en omwonenden, zonder onze voedselproductie in gevaar te brengen. Hoewel de tekst voor mij uiteindelijk op sommige punten ambitieuzer mocht, steunde ik het eindresultaat toch. Beter een gematigde verhoging van de ambitie dan stilstand zonder nieuwe regels. Helaas werden er in dit dossier door verschillende fracties politieke spelletjes gespeeld. Het gevolg hiervan is dat de nieuwe regels geen meerderheid kregen, met de bescherming van de gezondheid van onze burgers als eerste slachtoffer. Dat is onaanvaardbaar.
2023/11/22

Written questions (159)

Shortages of medicines in the European Union
2019/09/25
Documents: PDF(38 KB) DOC(19 KB)
Working conditions of non-EU workers in the EU's road transport sector
2019/09/26
Documents: PDF(41 KB) DOC(18 KB)
Better access to public transport for wheelchair users
2019/10/18
Documents: PDF(39 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Measures against carcinogens in baby milk
2019/10/24
Documents: PDF(39 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Lack of up-to-date data on violence against women
2019/10/28
Documents: PDF(39 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Prices of train tickets
2019/11/26
Documents: PDF(39 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Exploitation of tomato pickers in southern Italy
2019/11/26
Documents: PDF(39 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Shortages of medicinal products in the European Union
2019/12/11
Documents: PDF(40 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Measures against carcinogens in baby milk
2019/12/12
Documents: PDF(39 KB) DOC(9 KB)
European measures against exposure to harmful substances in the workplace
2019/12/18
Documents: PDF(37 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Combating homelessness
2019/12/19
Documents: PDF(39 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Development of a unified EU brain health strategy
2020/01/23
Documents: PDF(47 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Evacuation of people with disabilities in case of fire
2020/02/04
Documents: PDF(38 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Harmful substances in bamboo eating utensils
2020/02/04
Documents: PDF(39 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Fighting child labour in cobalt mines and battery production
2020/02/19
Documents: PDF(38 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Monitoring of posted workers from countries outside the European Union
2020/02/21
Documents: PDF(39 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Social security contributions of seasonal workers in agriculture and horticulture
2020/03/02
Documents: PDF(38 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Monitoring of the issuing of A1 documents for posted workers
2020/03/02
Documents: PDF(39 KB) DOC(10 KB)
Transparency in the pricing of medicines
2020/03/09
Documents: PDF(40 KB) DOC(10 KB)
Inclusion of adolescents and young adults as a separate group in Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan
2020/03/10
Documents: PDF(38 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan and a non-toxic circular economy
2020/03/10
Documents: PDF(38 KB) DOC(9 KB)
The need for coordinated European travel advice when disasters occur
2020/03/25
Documents: PDF(41 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Possible impact of wind turbines on health
2020/03/25
Documents: PDF(40 KB) DOC(10 KB)
Homelessness and Covid-19
2020/04/08
Documents: PDF(38 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Use of European funds in Belgium
2020/04/08
Documents: PDF(39 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Use of ESF and ERDF in Belgium
2020/04/08
Documents: PDF(38 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Impact of COVID-19 on citizens and families facing energy poverty
2020/04/16
Documents: PDF(41 KB) DOC(10 KB)
Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan and coronavirus
2020/04/28
Documents: PDF(39 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Rare diseases and employability
2020/04/28
Documents: PDF(47 KB) DOC(10 KB)
Sustainable food systems in developing countries
2020/04/29
Documents: PDF(38 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Rise in domestic violence due to COVID-19 measures
2020/04/29
Documents: PDF(40 KB) DOC(10 KB)
Forest fires in the Chernobyl region
2020/05/04
Documents: PDF(38 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Mental health and the new Occupational Health and Safety Strategy
2020/05/05
Documents: PDF(47 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Digital taxes – trade war
2020/06/16
Documents: PDF(40 KB) DOC(10 KB)
The impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the Erasmus+ programme
2020/06/16
Documents: PDF(39 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Decent work in the retail sector — including after the impact of COVID-19
2020/06/16
Documents: PDF(39 KB) DOC(10 KB)
Zero tolerance for child labour
2020/06/16
Documents: PDF(39 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Counterfeit medicines in the European Union
2020/06/23
Documents: PDF(40 KB) DOC(10 KB)
Disability focal points
2020/07/01
Documents: PDF(53 KB) DOC(11 KB)
Disability focal points
2020/07/01
Documents: PDF(53 KB) DOC(11 KB)
Action plan for asbestos-free Union
2020/07/03
Documents: PDF(39 KB) DOC(10 KB)
Exposure to asbestos fibres.
2020/07/03
Documents: PDF(38 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Increased cancer risk from sunbeds
2020/07/03
Documents: PDF(37 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Traceability of chemical substances in the event of serious fires or accidents
2020/07/10
Documents: PDF(38 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Supporting innovation and ensuring a level playing field for European companies that substitute substances of very high concern
2020/07/23
Documents: PDF(41 KB) DOC(10 KB)
Assessment of botanicals under Article 8 of Regulation (EC) No 1925/2006
2020/07/28
Documents: PDF(38 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Teleworking for people with disabilities
2020/09/23
Documents: PDF(39 KB) DOC(10 KB)
Impact of air pollution on public health
2020/09/28
Documents: PDF(39 KB) DOC(10 KB)
Implementation of Directive (EU) 2018/957 concerning the posting of workers
2020/09/30
Documents: PDF(39 KB) DOC(10 KB)
Task Force on Equality
2020/10/12
Documents: PDF(50 KB) DOC(11 KB)
Inappropriate terms used by Eurostat
2020/10/13
Documents: PDF(51 KB) DOC(11 KB)
International sanctions imposed on Cuba during the COVID-19 pandemic
2020/10/19
Documents: PDF(45 KB) DOC(10 KB)
Creation of an EU access board
2020/10/27
Documents: PDF(50 KB) DOC(10 KB)
Mainstream homelessness programmes
2020/11/19
Documents: PDF(37 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Ratification and implementation of the Istanbul Convention
2020/11/25
Documents: PDF(38 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Revision of directive on carcinogens and mutagens
2020/11/27
Documents: PDF(41 KB) DOC(10 KB)
Protection against reprotoxic substances
2020/11/27
Documents: PDF(39 KB) DOC(10 KB)
Raising awareness during the renovation wave of the dangers of asbestos
2020/11/27
Documents: PDF(41 KB) DOC(10 KB)
Data on people with disabilities in the EU
2020/11/29
Documents: PDF(48 KB) DOC(10 KB)
The impact of COVID-19 on cancer diagnoses and screening in the EU
2020/11/30
Documents: PDF(40 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Implications of the Indian Government decision to amend the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA)
2020/12/03
Documents: PDF(40 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Transparency of research and development costs of medicines
2020/12/04
Documents: PDF(39 KB) DOC(10 KB)
The Commission’s most recent plans to strengthen European health and the European Health Union
2020/12/09
Documents: PDF(48 KB) DOC(10 KB)
Follow-up parliamentary question: letter of formal notice regarding transposition by the Member States of Directive (EU) 2018/957 amending the directive on the posting of workers
2020/12/11
Documents: PDF(39 KB) DOC(9 KB)
The European Schools
2020/12/21
Documents: PDF(53 KB) DOC(11 KB)
Phthalates in toys on the European market
2021/01/07
Documents: PDF(41 KB) DOC(10 KB)
The presence of phthalates in toys from third countries
2021/01/07
Documents: PDF(41 KB) DOC(10 KB)
Need for the mainstreaming of policies to tackle homelessness
2021/02/16
Documents: PDF(39 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Support for Member State projects from the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF)
2021/02/19
Documents: PDF(38 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Istanbul Convention - preventing and combating violence against women
2021/02/19
Documents: PDF(38 KB) DOC(10 KB)
Transparency of vaccine purchase contracts
2021/02/19
Documents: PDF(40 KB) DOC(10 KB)
Questions for written answer to the Commission (Rule 138)
2021/02/19
Documents: PDF(38 KB) DOC(9 KB)
European social security number
2021/02/25
Documents: PDF(36 KB) DOC(9 KB)
European Globalisation Adjustment Fund applications
2021/02/25
Documents: PDF(38 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Second revision of the Carcinogens Directive
2021/02/25
Documents: PDF(38 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Harmful substances in face masks
2021/03/03
Documents: PDF(39 KB) DOC(10 KB)
European Disability Card
2021/04/08
Documents: PDF(38 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Political advertising
2021/04/09
Documents: PDF(40 KB) DOC(10 KB)
Digital levy
2021/04/09
Documents: PDF(38 KB) DOC(10 KB)
Sustainability impact assessment of the EU-Mercosur trade agreement
2021/04/09
Documents: PDF(38 KB) DOC(10 KB)
Poverty reduction objectives for 2030
2021/04/09
Documents: PDF(40 KB) DOC(10 KB)
CO2 emissions from cars
2021/04/09
Documents: PDF(39 KB) DOC(10 KB)
Providing equal possibilities for the sequencing of coronavirus genomes in the Member States
2021/04/12
Documents: PDF(49 KB) DOC(10 KB)
The temporary Support to mitigate Unemployment Risks in an Emergency (SURE) instrument and the European unemployment benefit reinsurance scheme
2021/04/26
Documents: PDF(46 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Immediate adoption of a tax on financial speculation by pioneering countries to win climate, employment and health battles
2021/04/27
Documents: PDF(47 KB) DOC(10 KB)
Teleworking cross-border workers
2021/05/17
Documents: PDF(40 KB) DOC(10 KB)
Transposition of Biological Agents Directive 2000/54/EC
2021/05/17
Documents: PDF(39 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Recognition of breast cancer in men as a rare disease
2021/05/17
Documents: PDF(40 KB) DOC(10 KB)
Risk management regarding the use of electric vehicles
2021/05/26
Documents: PDF(40 KB) DOC(10 KB)
Updating the information requirements for endocrine‑disrupting chemicals
2021/06/07
Documents: PDF(46 KB) DOC(10 KB)
Protection of persons with disabilities from discrimination outside employment
2021/06/14
Documents: PDF(46 KB) DOC(10 KB)
Situation of women and girls with disabilities
2021/06/14
Documents: PDF(45 KB) DOC(10 KB)
Industrial accidents involving posted workers
2021/06/24
Documents: PDF(37 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Minimum ergonomic standards for workstations at home
2021/06/24
Documents: PDF(39 KB) DOC(9 KB)
PFAS pollution
2021/06/30
Documents: PDF(42 KB) DOC(10 KB)
Third revision of the Carcinogens Directive
2021/07/14
Documents: PDF(39 KB) DOC(9 KB)
EU web accessibility for persons with disabilities
2021/07/15
Documents: PDF(50 KB) DOC(10 KB)
Use of hazardous substances such as FBSA in the EU
2021/09/23
Documents: PDF(39 KB) DOC(10 KB)
Discharges of hazardous substances such as FBSA
2021/09/23
Documents: PDF(40 KB) DOC(10 KB)
Follow-up parliamentary question: letter of formal notice regarding transposition by the Member States of Directive (EU) 2018/957 amending the directive on the posting of workers
2022/01/10
Documents: PDF(39 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Transposition of the second revision of Directive (EU) 2019/130
2022/01/10
Documents: PDF(37 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Transposition of the first revision of Directive (EU) 2019/130
2022/01/10
Documents: PDF(38 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Transposition of the third revision of Directive (EU) 2019/130
2022/01/10
Documents: PDF(38 KB) DOC(9 KB)
EGF support in 2021
2022/01/10
Documents: PDF(35 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Revision of Biological Agents Directive
2022/01/10
Documents: PDF(37 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Booster shots for 12- to 17-year-olds and possible obstruction of free movement of persons
2022/01/24
Documents: PDF(38 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Protection against hearing damage at work - review of Directive 2003/10/EC
2022/03/08
Documents: PDF(38 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Social dumping by P&O Ferries
2022/03/23
Documents: PDF(38 KB) DOC(9 KB)
EU-ratification of the ILO Violence and Harassment Convention, 2019 (No. 190)
2022/04/21
Documents: PDF(38 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Ratification of the protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
2022/04/21
Documents: PDF(38 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Gender gap regarding pensions
2022/04/21
Documents: PDF(37 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Presence of harmful substances in perfumes
2022/04/25
Documents: PDF(39 KB) DOC(10 KB)
Follow-up question on teleworking for cross-border workers
2022/04/26
Documents: PDF(40 KB) DOC(10 KB)
Monitoring Regulation (EU) 2020/1054 on driving times and rest periods
2022/04/27
Documents: PDF(38 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Monitoring of Regulation (EU) 2020/1055 concerning rules for access to the profession of road transport operator
2022/04/27
Documents: PDF(37 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Transposition of Directive (EU)2020/1057
2022/04/27
Documents: PDF(37 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Fight against poverty 2030
2022/04/27
Documents: PDF(37 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Child oncological refugees from Ukraine
2022/05/11
Documents: PDF(48 KB) DOC(10 KB)
Rising demand for food aid
2022/05/30
Documents: PDF(36 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Housing First
2022/06/07
Documents: PDF(42 KB) DOC(10 KB)
Pursuit of 2030 target for increasing number of adults in training
2022/06/16
Documents: PDF(37 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Need to assess implementation of Web Accessibility Directive
2022/06/16
Documents: PDF(38 KB) DOC(9 KB)
AccessibleEU – state of play
2022/06/16
Documents: PDF(37 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Inventory of accessibility infrastructure on the railways
2022/06/16
Documents: PDF(36 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Clarifications on the uptake of NAMs in the context of the update of REACH information requirements
2022/06/30
Documents: PDF(49 KB) DOC(10 KB)
Request for information on Draft Commission Implementing Act D080345 (SANTE/10146/2022)
2022/07/01
Documents: PDF(43 KB) DOC(10 KB)
EU restriction on harmful chemicals in single-use diapers
2022/07/01
Documents: PDF(43 KB) DOC(10 KB)
Action plan to eliminate all non-essential uses of per- and polyfluoroalkyl compounds (PFAS)
2022/07/01
Documents: PDF(42 KB) DOC(10 KB)
Transposition of the Work-Life Balance Directive
2022/08/23
Documents: PDF(38 KB) DOC(10 KB)
Follow-up concerning the objective of increasing the employment rate by 2030
2022/08/23
Documents: PDF(37 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Chromium (VI) and interpretation of what constitutes hazardous waste
2022/08/23
Documents: PDF(39 KB) DOC(10 KB)
European tracking service for pensions
2022/09/26
Documents: PDF(37 KB) DOC(9 KB)
European care strategy
2022/09/26
Documents: PDF(37 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Transposition of the directive on accessibility
2022/10/05
Documents: PDF(38 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Follow-up question regarding the lack of data on violence against women
2022/10/05
Documents: PDF(38 KB) DOC(9 KB)
European funds allocated to Belgium
2022/10/05
Documents: PDF(38 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Follow-up question on access to public transport for wheelchair users
2022/10/05
Documents: PDF(39 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Need for academic pathway for cell therapy cancer treatment
2022/10/06
Documents: PDF(40 KB) DOC(9 KB)
European disability card (EDC)
2022/10/17
Documents: PDF(38 KB) DOC(9 KB)
European social security card
2022/10/17
Documents: PDF(36 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Follow-up question on social security contributions of seasonal workers in agriculture and horticulture
2022/10/24
Documents: PDF(39 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Revision of the directive on safety and health for the workplace
2022/10/25
Documents: PDF(39 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Ratification of ILO Conventions 155 and 187
2022/10/25
Documents: PDF(37 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Revision of the directive on chemical agents at work to incorporate new limit values for diisocyanates and lead
2022/10/25
Documents: PDF(38 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Revision of the directive on safety and health regarding work with display screen equipment
2022/10/25
Documents: PDF(38 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Occupational safety and health summit in 2023
2022/10/25
Documents: PDF(38 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Campaign on psychosocial and ergonomic risks
2022/10/25
Documents: PDF(36 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Revising public procurement legislation to stop the publicly financed race to the bottom on working conditions
2022/12/16
Documents: PDF(51 KB) DOC(10 KB)
Ratification of ILO Convention No 190 on violence and harassment (2019)
2023/09/13
Documents: PDF(38 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Follow-up question (E-001534/2022): Ratification of the protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
2023/09/13
Documents: PDF(38 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Follow-up question (E-003484/2022): Ratification of ILO Conventions 155 and 187
2023/09/13
Documents: PDF(38 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Transposition of the fourth revision of Directive (EU) 2022/431
2023/09/13
Documents: PDF(38 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Follow-up question: E-000923/2022 (E-000923/2022(ASW)): Protection against hearing damage at work - review of Directive 2003/10/EC
2023/09/13
Documents: PDF(39 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Follow-up question (E-000088/2022): Transposition of the third revision of Directive (EU) 2019/130
2023/09/13
Documents: PDF(38 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Follow-up question (E-003482/2022): Revision of the directive on safety and health regarding work with display screen equipment
2023/09/13
Documents: PDF(39 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Follow-up question to the Council (E-001535/2022) on the ratification by the EU of ILO Convention No 190 on violence and harassment
2023/09/13
Documents: PDF(38 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Follow up to question P-003289/2022 on the transposition of the directive on accessibility
2023/09/13
Documents: PDF(38 KB) DOC(9 KB)
Follow up to question E-003485/2022 on the revision of the directive on safety and health for the workplace
2023/09/13
Documents: PDF(38 KB) DOC(9 KB)
The international fight against poliomyelitis
2023/10/12
Documents: PDF(37 KB) DOC(9 KB)

Individual motions (1)

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on a European Union Fire Safety day
2020/03/13
Documents: PDF(134 KB) DOC(43 KB)

Amendments (940)

Amendment 51 #

2023/2811(RSP)


Recital E
E. whereas the European Child Guarantee is a high-quality and innovative policy instrument with the potential to deliver significant improvements to the everyday reality of millions of children in the EU in a multidimensional way; whereas more needs to be done to achieve a more comprehensive, inter-sectoral approach to tackling children’s risk of vulnerability and to ensure genuine implementation by removing the policy, political, administrative and financial barriers and guaranteeing the effective take up of rights;
2023/09/22
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 150 #

2023/2811(RSP)


Paragraph 15
15. Calls on the Member States to promote outreach activities and raise awareness of the European Child Guarantee and the key services that children and families can benefit from, to ensure the effective take up of rights;
2023/09/22
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 190 #

2023/2811(RSP)


Paragraph 22
22. Calls on the Commission to lift administrative burdens in order to ensure direct, adequate and easily accessible funding at regional and local level to boost investment in social infrastructure and increase the capacity of local services to pilot new models and solutions to reduce child poverty;
2023/09/22
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 194 #

2023/2811(RSP)


Paragraph 23
23. Calls on the Member States to involve all relevant stakeholders at all levels in the revision and implementation of their NAPs in order to build solid partnerships that can strengthen and expand ownership and commitment; highlights the importance of involving civil society and children in developing and implementing the monitoring and evaluation framework; Stresses in this respect the important role of the European Platform on Combatting Homelesness in sharing experiences and policy recommendations in the fight against homelessness.
2023/09/22
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 18 #

2023/2586(RSP)


Recital B
B. whereas the EPSR was proclaimed in 2017 in Goteborg, setting out 20 principles and establishing a social rulebook towards a strong social Europe that is fair, inclusive and full of opportunity in the 21st century; whereas at the Porto Social Summit in May 2021, the Council committed to three headline targets for 2030 on employment, training and poverty; whereas at least 78 % of the population between 20 and 64 years old should be in employment by 2030; whereas at least 60 % of all adults should participate in training every year; whereas the number of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion should be reduced by at least 15 million, of which 5 million children, by 2030; whereas the three headline targets do not cover the full implementation of the EPSR;
2023/03/23
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 118 #

2023/2586(RSP)


Paragraph 9
9. Highlights that, according to principle 19, access to social housing or housing assistance of good quality should be provided for those in need; urges the Commission to develop an ambitious action plan to achieve accessible and green social housing to meet the housing needs of all EU citizens and to progressively eradicate homelessness by 2030; Highlights in this respect the importance of the European Platform on combatting homelessness and stresses the need to further realise its work and ambitions.
2023/03/23
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 11 #

2023/2075(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 a (new)
– having regard to the report of the Special Committee on Beating Cancer on strengthening Europe in the fight against cancer: towards a comprehensive and coordinated strategy (2020/2267(INI)),
2023/09/08
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 225 #

2023/2075(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
2. Welcomes the Healthier together – EU non-communicable diseases (NCD) initiative, Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, EU4Health work programme and the Commission Communication entitled ‘A comprehensive approach to mental health’; calls on the Commission to strengthen the ‘Healthier together – EU NCD’ initiative by introducing a holistic EU strategy on NCDs complemented by action plans for specific NCDs; welcomes national plans and actions already taken against NCDs by Member States; believes however that a special cardiovascular strategy is needed in the light of cardiovascular disease being the number one cause of death in the Union;
2023/09/08
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 265 #

2023/2075(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Acknowledges the complex and multifactorial causes of NCDs and that NCDs cannot always be prevented, and that even among preventable NCDs, there are many cases that cannot be explained by preventable risk factors and that many NCDs display a high degree of hereditary risk;
2023/09/08
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 295 #

2023/2075(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 – point a
a. implement measures to help tobacco users quit, reduce the rate of new tobacco users, and prevent tobacco use among minors;
2023/09/08
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 315 #

2023/2075(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 – point b a (new)
ba. evaluate, in the framework of the Tobacco Products Directive, which flavours in e-cigarettes are in particular attractive to minors and non-smokers, and to propose a ban on these, and furthermore, to propose a ban on all characteristic flavours in heated tobacco products and novel tobacco products;
2023/09/08
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 398 #

2023/2075(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 – point a
a. encourage and help consumers to make informed and healthy choices about food products, for example by adopting a harmonised EU front-of-pack nutritional label based on robust and independent scientific evidence or by implementing fiscal measures at a national level to make healthy food more affordable; promote behavioural changes via communication and mass media campaigns for healthy diets; encourage public food procurement and service policies for healthy and sustainable diets;
2023/09/08
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 402 #

2023/2075(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 – point a
a. encourage and help consumers to make informed and healthy choices about food products; promote behavioural changes via communication and mass media campaigns for healthy diets; encourage public food procurement and service policies for healthy and sustainable diets; mainstream physical activities such as walking, cycling, and the practice of sports in urban planning, and put an increased emphasis on physical activity in schools;
2023/09/08
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 512 #

2023/2075(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
13. Regrets the slow implementation of the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability, and, in particular, expects the REACH Regulation18 to be revised in order to be able to identify all substances of concern manufactured or imported in the EU and to ban their use in the EU if necessary; _________________ 18 Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006 concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006 concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), OJ L 396, 30.12.2006, p. 1.
2023/09/08
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 515 #

2023/2075(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Reiterates that chemical exposure is linked to several NCDs; therefore, supports the measures planned in the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability and the Zero-Pollution Action Plan to reduce citizens’ exposure to harmful chemical products such as carcinogenic, reprotoxic, mutagenic and endocrine-disrupting substances through all different exposure pathways; stresses the need to ensure occupational health for all workers in the EU; calls on the European Commission to propose a revision of all relevant consumer product legislation to ensure these products do not contain chemicals that have any adverse effect on citizens’ health;
2023/09/08
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 525 #

2023/2075(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)
13b. Supports the ambition of the Farm to Fork Strategy in reducing the use and risk of chemical pesticides by 50% in 2030; calls on the Commission to ensure that the common agricultural policy helps farmers to reduce the use of pesticides and to substitute harmful active substances;
2023/09/08
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 556 #

2023/2075(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
15. Highlights the importance of identifying people with a high risk of developing NCDs and diagnosing people as early as possible to improve disease management, prevent complications and save downstream costs for healthcare systems; calls for the systematic exchange at the European level of best practice regarding screening for and early detection of NCDs, such as prostate and cervical cancer; welcomes the updated Council recommendation on cancer screening and calls on Member States to implement it diligently;
2023/09/08
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 583 #

2023/2075(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
16. Encourages Member States to reduce undiagnosed NCDs by introducing targeted health checks for high-risk individuals and individuals belonging to vulnerable and marginalised groups, addressing the main shared metabolic risk factors, ensuring quality care and support NCD patients’ self- management; highlights the importance of privacy and medical confidentiality in this regard;
2023/09/08
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 603 #

2023/2075(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Highlights the link between oral health, including pariodental disease and caries, and some NCDs, such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, and the potential positive effects on NCDs of improved oral health;
2023/09/08
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 634 #

2023/2075(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Stresses the importance of cost- effective healthcare, so that limited resources are put to the best use and to the use of patients in most need;
2023/09/08
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 662 #

2023/2075(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Notes that NCDs can have a significant negative effect on mental health, and stresses the need for integrated healthcare for concerned patients; stresses that negative stereotypes related to certain NCDs, notably obesity, can be counterproductive in healthcare and prevention while recalling individual responsibility for certain risk factors;
2023/09/08
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 704 #

2023/2075(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
20. Recalls that patient empowerment and, health literacy, and treatment adherence are crucial for an EU NCD strategy and that treatment and care should be patient- centred; encourages the promotion of well- informed patients who are actively involved in their own treatment and calls for the therapeutic training of caregivers and patients and their empowerment in the care programmes; underlines the importance of therapeutic adherence, in order to lower hospitalisation and mortality rates as well as optimise the impact of medical investments; encourages Member States to provide healthcare professionals with training regarding patient therapeutic education;
2023/09/08
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 737 #

2023/2075(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
22. Welcomes the pharmaceutical package and calls for the strengthening of the European medicines market to ensure access to affordable medicines and alleviate medicine shortages, reduce barriers to cross-border business, while strengthening incentives for investment in innovation; underlines that data protection and intellectual property rights are crucial to ensure competitiveness in the EU by incentivising innovators to develop new products and further ongoing research efforts;
2023/09/08
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 762 #

2023/2075(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23a. Highlights that publicly funded research should prioritise promising products and methods characterised by limited commercial interest, non- patentability, and low benefits in scaleability;
2023/09/08
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 765 #

2023/2075(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
24. Calls on the Commission to strengthen support and investment in the development of new innovative medical devices; believes that new technologies can lead to new and better treatments for NCDs; notes the slow uptake of medical devices under the current Medical Devices Regulation and In Vitro Diagnostic Devices Regulation, and welcomes the postponement of application of certain provisions; calls on the Commission to evaluate the specific needs for the pediatric and orphan medical devices sectors, and propose any legislative amendments necessary to ensure the continuous supply for these patient groups;
2023/09/08
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 149 #

2023/2074(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
1. Highlights that, at any point in their life, any person can become more susceptible to poorer mental health and thus become part of a vulnerable group in society; stresses that addressing mental health conditions requires a thorough understanding of the different determinants of mental health and that an intersectional approach is necessary to prevent and mitigate the impacts on individuals, communities and societies; Underlines the importance of considering biological factors, past traumas, and early childhood experiences in mental health assessments;
2023/09/08
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 205 #

2023/2074(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Recognises that mental health disorders, and associated chronic physical conditions, including chronic pain or inflammation, frequently co-occur; Highlights the pervasive inadequacy and general scarcity of scientific knowledge on how these conditions can be prevented and calls for research into the factors that lead to severe mental health conditions as well as factors that offer resilience to these conditions;
2023/09/08
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 207 #

2023/2074(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Stresses that people living with chronic non communicable diseases (NCDs), often characterised by permanent pain or disability, are particularly vulnerable in developing mental health disorders; Calls on the European Commission and Member States to adequately address the effects of NCDs or other chronic diseases and disabilities in all mental health prevention policies;
2023/09/08
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 214 #

2023/2074(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses the importance of bio- psychosocial approach to mental health and the importance of social policies that tackle social exclusion, poverty, homelessness, substance-related disorders, unemployment and economic vulnerabilities in order to prevent mental health conditions and address their root causes; underlines the need to provide better instruments to help people to cope with problems;
2023/09/08
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 247 #

2023/2074(INI)

4. Considers mental health information systems an important tool to collect data and measure the effectiveness of mental health interventions, and calls for them to be systematically improved and updated; Emphasizes the importance of data privacy and the need to ensure that the data collected is used ethically;
2023/09/08
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 270 #

2023/2074(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
6. Is deeply concerned that, despite progress in some countries, people with mental health conditions frequently experience discrimination and stigma and often do not have access to adequate healthcare, which can lead to severe human rights violations, increased risk of complications and poorer health conditions; Calls on the European Commission to support cultural change in all Member States, to reduce stigma, through awareness campaigns targeted at healthcare professionals, caregivers, educators, patients and the general public;
2023/09/08
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 287 #

2023/2074(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
7. Calls for the EU and the Member States to raise awareness of the importance of promoting good mental health in a coordinated and timely manner, through a mental-health-in- all-policies approach;
2023/09/08
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 290 #

2023/2074(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Calls on the European Commission and Member States to invest in mental health literacy and include mental health in school curricula and the curricula of teaching staff; Stresses the importance of providing training for educators and psychoeducation for families to enable early intervention for children and adolescents facing mental health challenges and to better integrate them in the school environment; Recommends Member States to ensure that students have direct access to psychological help when they seek it;
2023/09/08
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 317 #

2023/2074(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Recognises that harnessing digital health or telehealth services can cater to a broader population, including population in remote arears, and reduce waiting times;
2023/09/08
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 321 #

2023/2074(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8b. Recognises that self-management can help develop essential skills to take care and cope with long-term mental health conditions;
2023/09/08
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 352 #

2023/2074(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Calls for better collaboration and exchange of information between private and public mental healthcare services in the Member States;
2023/09/08
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 409 #

2023/2074(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
13. Calls on the Member States to improve access to treatment and support for mental health and associated chronic conditions by implementing multidisciplinary care;
2023/09/08
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 430 #

2023/2074(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Training for healthcare professionals Stresses the need for better trained professionals in the EU; Calls for the European Commission and the Member States to promote best practices of cross- speciality training to better understand the connection between physical and mental health, and to increase the awareness and expertise in detecting and coordinating psychosocial support; and particularly in children and young adolescents;
2023/09/08
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 436 #

2023/2074(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)
15b. Supports that harnessing of digital technologies for mental health has the potential to contribute substantially to the Member States' efforts to achieve European mental health coverage; Calls on the European Commission and the Member States to promote best practices for digital mental health, driven by ethical principles, privacy, safety and accountability;
2023/09/08
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 443 #

2023/2074(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
16. Urges the Member States to ensure that people on medical leave because of mental health and associated chronic conditions do not face discrimination; urges the Member States to implement national plans that promote the integration of people with mental health conditions into the labour market, in order to reduce inequities and tackle social determinants;
2023/09/08
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 450 #

2023/2074(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Advocates for policies that support good mental health in the workplace, and promote a balanced lifestyle and a culture of acceptance.
2023/09/08
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 454 #

2023/2074(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 c (new)
16c. Recognises that disabled people or people living with chronic diseases are more likely to present mental health issues and experience higher rates of workplace exclusion; Recommends that Member States introduce measures to provide flexible work practices and support to employees who suffer from a disease, physical pain, stress or other health crisis;
2023/09/08
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 477 #

2023/2074(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Invites the Commission and the Member States to invest in further research on digital technologies and mental health and to share best practices used in digital mental health;
2023/09/08
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 492 #

2023/2074(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Supports the adaptation of training programs on cultural sensitivity for professionals dealing with diverse populations;
2023/09/08
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 495 #

2023/2074(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Invites the European Commission to dedicate a European Year of Brain Health, to address the challenges deriving from mental and neurological conditions.
2023/09/08
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 500 #

2023/2074(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
21. Invites the Commission to further develop its Mental Health Strategy and draw up concrete targets and goals for the future, including more in-depth initiatives, from a bottom-up perspective, such as national mental health action plans;
2023/09/08
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 524 #

2023/2074(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23a. Calls on the European Commission to convert the flagship initiatives, introduced in the comprehensive approach, into concrete actions with adequate financial support for vulnerable groups, people living with chronic diseases, existing health conditions, rare diseases and disabilities; further calls for the development of policies and programmes that enhance the wellbeing of their families and caregivers;
2023/09/08
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 130 #

2023/0311(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 22
(22) Mutual recognition of the European Disability Card and the European Parking Card for persons with disabilities should facilitate and guarantee persons with recognised disability status in a Member State, access to special conditions or preferential treatment offered by private operators or public authorities (including hospitals, health care institutions and emergency services) in a variety of services, activities and facilities, including when not provided for remuneration, as well as access to parking conditions and facilities reserved for persons with disabilities, on equal terms and conditions as those provided for on the basis of national certificates, disability cards or other formal documents recognising disability status and parking cards for persons with disabilities issued by the competent authorities in the host country.
2023/11/23
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 136 #

2023/0311(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 24
(24) Examples of special conditions or preferential treatment include free access, reduced tariffs, reduced fees or user charges for toll roads/bridges/tunnels, priority access, designated seats in parks and other public areas, accessible seating in cultural or public events, personal assistance, assistance animals, assistance on the beach to enter the water, support (such as access to braille, audio guides, sign language interpretation), provisions of aids or assistance, loan of a wheelchair, loan of a floating wheelchair, obtaining tourist information in accessible formats, using a mobility scooter on roads or a wheelchair in bike lanes without a fine, etc. Parking conditions and facilities include extended parking or reserved parking spaces. With respect to passenger transport services, in addition to the special conditions or preferential treatment offered to persons with disabilities, in accordance with national legislation or practices, assistance animals, personal assistants or other persons accompanying or assisting persons with disabilities (or reduced mobility) may travel free of charge or be seated, where practicable next to the person with disabilities. Persons accompanying or assisting persons with disabilities are designated by the persons with disabilities themselves and can change on an ad hoc basis depending on their needs.
2023/11/23
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 167 #

2023/0311(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 31 a (new)
(31 a) There is a need for the Commission to develop guidelines for common universally recognized pictograms for different types of assistance required by persons with disabilities.
2023/11/23
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 196 #

2023/0311(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – indent 3
– other activities and facilities, , including where not provided for remuneration, including hospitals, care institutions and emergency services.
2023/11/23
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 293 #

2023/0311(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 6 – paragraph 4
4. The European Disability Card shall be issued or renewed by the Member State of residence directly or upon application by the person with disabilities. It shall be issued and renewed within the same periodfree of charge for the beneficiary and within a reasonable period from the date of the application set in the applicable national legislation for issuing disability certificates, disability cards or any other formal document recognising the disability status of a person with disabilities.
2023/11/23
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 327 #

2023/0311(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 7 – paragraph 4
4. The European Parking Card for persons with disabilities shall be issued or renewed by the Member State of residence upon application by the person with disabilities. It shall be issued or renewed free of charge for the beneficiary and within a reasonable period from the date of the application which shall not exceed 60 days.
2023/11/23
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 361 #

2023/0311(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 2
2. Member States shall take appropriate measures to raise awareness among the public and inform persons with disabilities, including in accessible ways, about the existence and conditions to obtain, use, or renew the European Disability Card and the European Parking Card for persons with disabilities. The Commission shall undertake a European awareness raising campaign in cooperation with the Member States.
2023/11/23
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 370 #

2023/0311(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. The Commission shall ensure that appropriate funding is made available to the Member States to address costs related to the information provision and awareness raising obligations under this Article and Article 15 of the Directive.
2023/11/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 450 #

2023/0311(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Annex I – paragraph 2
BACK SIDE National information in the national language or national languages to be decided by the issuing Member State. Encourages Member States to include a graphic, digital or written indication such as a pictogram illustrating the nature of assistance required by the card holder, on a voluntary basis upon the request of the beneficiary and without disclosing the nature of their disability to prevent stigmatisation of any nature, on the back of the European Disability Card. The Commission shall develop guidelines for common pictograms for different types of assistance.
2023/11/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 96 #

2023/0250(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 6
(6) Crime reporting in the Union should be improved to fight impunity, avoid repeated victimisation and ensure safer societies. It is necessary to fight public insensitivity towards crime, by encouraging people who witness the crime to report crimes and assist victims and by creating safer environments for victims to report crime. To avoid deterring a victim from reporting the crime, it is necessary for victims to be able to invoke the protection of their own personal data vis- à-vis the opposing party in the criminal file. For victims who are irregular migrants in the Union, safe environment to report crime means reducing fear of return procedures being launched as a result of contacts with law enforcement authorities. The personal data of victims who are irregular migrants in the Union should not be transferred to the competent migration authorities at least until the completion of the first individual assessment as referred to in Article 22 of Directive 2012/29/EU. Reporting the crime and participating in criminal proceeding under Directive 2012/29/EU do not create any rights regarding the residence status of the victim, neither have any suspensive effect when determining their residence status. All vulnerable victims, such as child victims or victims in detention, who are in a situation of intimidation, or are otherwise dependent from the offender or whose mobility is limited should be able to report crime in conditions that take into account their particular situation and in line with protocols specifically set up for this purpose.
2023/12/18
Committee: LIBEFEMM
Amendment 126 #

2023/0250(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 9
(9) For victims to sense that justice is done and to be able to defend their interest, it is important that they are present and able to actively participate in the criminal proceedings. That is why all victims in the Union, independently of their status in the criminal proceeding, which is established by the national law, should at least have the same right to free legal aid as the person accused in the same criminal proceeding. Likewise, they should have a right to an effective remedy under national law in the event of a breach of their rights under this Directive. In addition, all victims in the Union, independently of their status in the criminal proceeding, should have a right to request a review of decisions that were taken during court proceedings and affect them directly. Such decisions should include at least decisions on interpretation during court hearings and decisions on special protection measures available to victims with special protection needs. The procedural rules under which victims may request a review of such decisions taken during court proceedings should be determined by national law which should provide for the necessary guarantees that such a possibility of revision would not disproportionally prolong the criminal proceeding.
2023/12/18
Committee: LIBEFEMM
Amendment 235 #

2023/0250(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 a (new)
Directive 2012/29/EU
Article 6 – paragraph 1 - introductory part
(2a) Article 6, paragraph 1 is amended as follows "Member States shall ensure that victims are notified without unnecessary delay of their right to receive the following information about the criminal proceedings instituted as a result of the complaint with regard to a criminal offence suffered by the victim and that, upon request, they receive such information: automatically, unless they have explicitly indicated otherwise:"
2024/01/08
Committee: LIBEFEMM
Amendment 238 #

2023/0250(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 b (new)
Directive 2012/29/EU
Article 6 – paragraph 2
(2b) Article 6, paragraph 2 is amended as follows: in "Member States shall ensure that, in accordance with their role in the relevant criminal justice system, victims are notified without unnecessary delay of their right to receive the following information about the criminal proceedings instituted as a result of the complaint with regard to a criminal offence suffered by them and that, upon request, they receive such information: automatically, unless they have explicitly indicated otherwise:"
2024/01/08
Committee: LIBEFEMM
Amendment 304 #

2023/0250(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 5
Directive 2012/29/EU
Article 9a – paragraph 5 (new)
5. Member States shall ensure that each child victim is granted free legal aid, at least to the extent that this right is also granted to child suspects. If criminal proceedings are still ongoing, legal aid shall remain free of charge even if the victim comes of age during the proceedings.
2024/01/08
Committee: LIBEFEMM
Amendment 441 #

2023/0250(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 14
Directive 2012/29/EU
Article 26a - paragraph 1 - point a
(a) victims receive information that is adapted to their changing individual needs; whereas such information shall be simple and easy to understand, provided in an active and timely manner, repeated over time, in multiple formats including orally, in writing and digitally;
2023/12/18
Committee: LIBEFEMM
Amendment 22 #

2023/0155(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8
(8) More flexibility in the scheduling of breaksTo ensure adequate rest time for drivers engaged in occasional road passenger transport services should not prevent those drivers from taking breaks of the minimum duration necessary to enable them to rest properly. Therefore, it is appropriate to set a minimum duration for each break. Therefore, dDrivers engaged in occasional road passenger transport services should be allowed to split their obligatory break into threemaximum two separate breaks of at least 15 minutes each, in addition to the other possibility of splitt. More flexibility in the scheduling of these breaks, however, should not prevent drivers from having a breaks longer than the required minimum duration.
2023/09/26
Committee: TRAN
Amendment 27 #

2023/0155(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8
(8) More flexibility in the scheduling of breaksTo ensure adequate rest time for drivers engaged in occasional road passenger transport services should not prevent those drivers from taking breaks of the minimum duration necessary to enable them to rest properly. Therefore, it is appropriate to set a minimum duration for each break. Therefore, dDrivers engaged in occasional road passenger transport services should be allowed to split their obligatory break into threemaximum two separate breaks of at least 15 minutes each, in addition to the other possibility of splitt. More flexibility in the scheduling of these breaks, however, should not prevent drivers from having a breaks longer than the required minimum duration.
2023/09/21
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 39 #

2023/0155(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 4
For a driver engaged in an occasional passenger service the break referred to in the first paragraph may also be replaced by three breaks of at least 15 minutes each, distributed over the driving period referred to in the first paragraph, in such a way as to comply with the first paragraph.;deleted
2023/09/21
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 42 #

2023/0155(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Regulation 2006/561/EC
Article 7 – paragraph 3 a (new)
For a driver engaged in an occasional passenger service the break referred to in the first paragraph may also be replaced by three breaks of at least 15 minutes each, distributed over the driving period referred to in the first paragraph, in such a way as to comply with the first paragraph.;deleted
2023/09/26
Committee: TRAN
Amendment 54 #

2023/0155(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point a
Regulation (EC) No 561/2006
Article 8 – paragraph 2a – subparagraph 1 – point b
(b) postponing the daily rest period by at most 2 hours, provided that the total accumulated driving time for that day has not exceeded 5 hours.deleted
2023/09/21
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 59 #

2023/0155(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point a
Regulation (EC) No 561/2006
Article 8 – paragraph 2a – subparagraph 2
EaSuch of the derogations referred to in the first subparagraph, points (a) and (b), may be used only once during the journey referred to in the first subparagraph.
2023/09/21
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 63 #

2023/0155(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point a
Regulation 2006/561/EC
Article 8 – paragraph 2 a – subparagraph 1 – point b
(b) postponing the daily rest period by at most 2 hours, provided that the total accumulated driving time for that day has not exceeded 5 hours.deleted
2023/09/26
Committee: TRAN
Amendment 64 #

2023/0155(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point b
Regulation (EC) No 561/2006
Article 8 – paragraph 6a – introductory part and point a
(b) in paragraph 6a, the introductory phrase and point (a) are replaced by the following: By way of derogation from paragraph 6, a driver engaged in a single occasional passenger service may postpone the weekly rest period for up to 12 consecutive 24-hour periods following a previous regular weekly rest period, provided that: (a) the service lasts at least 24 consecutive hours;.deleted
2023/09/21
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 68 #

2023/0155(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point a
Regulation 2006/561/EC
Article 8 – paragraph 2 a – subparagraph 2
EaSuch of thea derogations referred to in the first subparagraph, points (a) and (b), may be used only once during the journey referred to in the first subparagraph.
2023/09/26
Committee: TRAN
Amendment 75 #

2023/0155(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point b
Regulation 2006/561/EC
Article 8 – paragraph 6 a – subparagraph 1 and point a
By way of derogation from paragraph 6, a driver engaged in a single occasional passenger service may postpone the weekly rest period for up to 12 consecutive 24-hour periods following a previous regular weekly rest period, provided that: (a) the service lasts at least 24 consecutive hours;.deleted
2023/09/26
Committee: TRAN
Amendment 417 #

2023/0132(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1
1. By way of derogation from Article 1(1), only this Article shall apply to advanced therapy medicinal products prepared on a non-routine basis in accordance with the requirements set in paragraph 3 and used within the same Member State in a hospital under the exclusive professional responsibility of a medical practitioner, in order to comply with an individual medical prescription for a custom-made product for an individual patient (‘advanced therapy medicinal products prepared under hospital exemption’). The scale of non-routine basis use cannot exceed the treatment capacity of a hospital. Member States shall ensure that only hospitals are granted hospital exemptions.
2023/11/21
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 423 #

2023/0132(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Whenever a hospital exemption exceeds preparation on a non-routine basis, holders of this exemption are granted a transition period of 5 years to obtain a centralised marketing authorisation for the advanced therapy medicinal product under the hospital exemption. For the duration of this transition period, the holder may exceed preparation on non-routine basis in order to guarantee patient access. Member States shall ensure that the use remains focused on unmet medical needs in situations when similar treatment is not available and/or affordable.
2023/11/21
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 429 #

2023/0132(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Without prejudice to the requirements of Articles 2(3), 2(4), 2,(5) and 2(6), Member States may allow for cross-border exchange of advanced therapy medicinal products prepared under hospital exemption in case of unmet needs, under the condition that preparation on a non-routine basis is maintained and following approval of the importing Member States' competent authority. Competent authorities should share information on hospital exemption approvals on their territory and upon request also share the evidence used for such approvals after approval of the exemption holder.
2023/11/21
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 454 #

2023/0132(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 6
6. The competent authority of the Member State shall transmit the data related to the use, safety and efficacy of an advanced therapy medicinal product prepared under the hospital exemption approval to the Agency annually. The Agency shall, in collaboration with the competent authorities of Member States and the Commission, set up and maintain a repository of that data. The Agency shall ensure that an overview of approved advanced therapy medicinal products prepared under hospital exemption is made public.
2023/11/21
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 1013 #

2023/0131(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 60 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
1. The Agency may offer enhanced scientific and regulatory support, including as applicable consultation with other bodies as referred to in Articles 58 and 59 and accelerated assessment mechanisms, for certain medicinal products that, based on preliminary evidence submitted by the developer fulfil any of the following conditions:
2023/11/21
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 1108 #

2023/0131(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 68 – paragraph 2
2. Medicinal products designated as orphan medicinal products under the provisions of this Regulation shall be eligible for incentives made available by the Union and by the Member States to support research into, and the development and availability of, orphan medicinal products and in particular aid for research for small- and medium-sized undertakings and not-for-profit entities provided for in framework programmes for research and technological development.
2023/11/21
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 1139 #

2023/0131(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 70 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) the use of the orphan medicinal product results in a meaningful reduction in disease morbidity or mortality or in a meaningful positive impact on quality of life for the relevant patient population.
2023/11/21
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 1624 #

2023/0131(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 125 – paragraph 1 – point f
(f) inform the Agency of the causes and of the end date of the critical shortage.
2023/11/21
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 464 #

2023/0053(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 10 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 6
Member States shall reduce theWhile respecting the principle of subsidiarity, Member States may also set different periods of administrative validity set outas referred to in the first subparagraph to five years or less forfor holders of driving licences of holders residing on their territory and having reached the age of 70, in order toset individually by a Member State while reflecting upon their medical fitness condition and ability to drive safely, in order to further improve road safety measures by applying an increased frequency of medical checks or other specific measures, including refresher courses. This reduced period of administrative validity shall only be applied upon renewal of the driving licence.
2023/09/26
Committee: TRAN
Amendment 35 #

2023/0033(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 1 a (new)
(1a) The employers' obligations laid down in this Directive should take into account the fact that microenterprises and SMEs, which represent a large majority of enterprises in the Union, have limited financial, technical and human resources. In order to ensure the highest possible protection of workers in all companies, Member States should assess the impact of the implementation of this Directive and the related administrative burden on those enterprises, in order to ensure that they are not disproportionately affected, with specific focus on microenterprises, and to publish the results of such assessments. In doing so, Member States should maintain equal protection for all workers and facilitate compliance of microenterprises and SMEs. Against that background, specific measures, such as financial and administrative support, could help SMEs and microenterprises further to comply with the obligations laid down in Directive 2004/37/EC and progress towards the elimination of risks relating to exposure to carcinogens, mutagens or reprotoxic substances at the workplace, therefore benefitting all workers.
2023/06/08
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 37 #

2023/0033(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 1 b (new)
(1b) Cobalt and cobalt compounds meet the criteria for classification as carcinogenic (category 1B) in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 and are therefore carcinogens within the meaning of Directive 2004/37/EC. It is possible, on the basis of the available information, including scientific and technical data, to set limit values for those carcinogens. Exposure to cobalt and cobalt compounds at workplaces may result in dermal sensitisation and sensitisation of the respiratory tract. It is therefore appropriate to urgently establish limit values for both the inhalable and respirable fractions of cobalt and of cobalt compounds in the context of Directive 2004/37/EC.
2023/06/08
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 46 #

2023/0033(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 6 a (new)
(6a) Lead is used in several sectors of strategic importance for reaching the goals set out in the European Green Deal and in Regulation (EU) 2021/11191, such as for example the batteries sector. Advancing the green transition, stimulating the circular economy and maintaining and enhancing the international strategic autonomy in raw materials are all priorities of the Union. __________________ 1 Regulation (EU) 2021/1119 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 June 2021 establishing the framework for achieving climate neutrality and amending Regulations (EC) No 401/2009 and (EU) 2018/1999 (‘European Climate Law’)
2023/06/08
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 47 #

2023/0033(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 6 b (new)
(6b) Because of the harmful properties of lead and its inorganic compounds, relocation of lead-processing companies to third countries with less stringent occupational safety and health regulations needs to be avoided at all times.
2023/06/08
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 68 #

2023/0033(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 8 a (new)
(8a) Because of the current use of both a higher OEL and BLV for lead and its inorganic compounds and taking into account historical exposure of workers, health surveillance can show that workers are exceeding the new biological limit value of 15 µg/100ml blood. Given the fact that breaking down existing blood lead level is highly individual and can take several years, these workers should be granted temporary derogation to the new BLV for as long as their lead blood level exceeds the new BLV and be allowed to continue their work activities. To avoid layoffs, employers should relocate these workers to alternative functions with less exposure to lead. During this derogation, workers should be subject to enhanced medical surveillance to ensure a downward trend in their blood lead level. Whenever such relocation to alternative functions is not possible or medical surveillance shows a lack of downward trend, the European Commission should, after consultation with social partners, develop guidelines and recommendations for practical implementation by the Member States to ensure that their social safety net for workers is covering them, for example by supporting the reskilling of these workers.
2023/06/08
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 76 #

2023/0033(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 9 a (new)
(9a) Further to the use of this biological guidance value (BGV) and to improve protection of female workers of childbearing age to adverse effects of exposure to lead and its inorganic compounds, the Commission needs to consult with the social partners and evaluate if Council Directive 92/85/EEC1 and its provisions on protection against lead exposure are fit for purpose and consider the inclusion of women of childbearing age, and, if appropriate, put forward a legislative proposal to amend this Directive; __________________ 1 Council Directive 92/85/EEC of 19 October 1992 on the introduction of measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health at work of pregnant workers and workers who have recently given birth or are breastfeeding (tenth individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16 (1) of Directive 89/391/EEC), OJ L85, 26/07/2019)
2023/06/08
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 78 #

2023/0033(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 9 b (new)
(9b) Some of the substances covered by this Directive, such as lead, are deemed necessary for the restoration of cultural heritage or certain cultural activities. For these substances and only when no suitable alternative exists, the Commission should assess the socio- economic benefits derived from the use of such substances against the risk posed to workers in these specific sectors or these activities. Based on this assessment and in consultation with the social partners, the Commission should consider targeted and limited exemptions for the cultural sector and heritage-related activities to existing OELs and BLVs.
2023/06/08
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 81 #

2023/0033(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 9 c (new)
(9c) There is a need for in-depth knowledge on the long-term effect of lead and its inorganic compounds. Member States authorities should ensure, in particular, that the measures on the prevention and reduction of exposure measures for workers set out in Article 5 of Directive 2004/37/EC, as well as the information and training requirements provided for in Articles 11 and 12 and hygiene and individual protection measures set out in Article 10 of that Directive take into consideration the vulnerable situation of women in childbearing age.
2023/06/08
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 82 #

2023/0033(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 9 d (new)
(9d) Union-wide data from work- related health problems due to lead exposure are often lacking, unreliable or insufficient. The European Commission should develop guidelines and recommendations for data collection by the Member States to improve the reporting and exposures registries.
2023/06/08
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 93 #

2023/0033(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 15
(15) The limit values established in this Directive shouldare to be kept under regular scrutiny and reviewstrictly reviewed at least every five years on the basis of advances in knowledge and technologies, in order to ensure ongoing consistency with Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 and with social, economic and technological developments.
2023/06/08
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 96 #

2023/0033(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 15 a (new)
(15a) Following the adoption of the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/7071a and the introduction of a new hazard class for endocrine disruptors, such substances should be covered by Union health and safety law. It is therefore necessary to consider extending the scope of Directive 2004/37/EC to endocrine disruptors, which have the ability to interfere with the hormonal system and can therefore induce adverse health effects. __________________ 1a Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/707 of 19 December 2022 amending Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 as regards hazard classes and criteria for the classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures (OJ L 93, 31.3.2023, p. 7)
2023/06/08
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 102 #

2023/0033(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 15 c (new)
(15c) The World Health Organization classified the occupational exposure of firefighter as carcinogenic to humans (Group 1). Occupational exposure as a firefighter includes a variety of hazards resulting from fires and non-fire events. Firefighters can be exposed to combustion products from fires, building materials, chemicals in firefighting foams, flame- retardants and diesel exhaust. The uptake of fire effluents or other chemicals can occur via inhalation and dermal absorption and possibly via ingestion. Such workers should therefore be better protected from such exposure.
2023/06/08
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 105 #

2023/0033(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 15 c (new)
(15c) In the workplace, workers are often exposed to a cocktail of hazardous substances, which can increase risks and cause adverse health effects. In the case of exposure to a combination of substances acting by the same mode of action or at the same target cell or tissue, it is necessary to adapt the implementation of their possible limit values to take into account the combined effects.
2023/06/08
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 127 #

2023/0033(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph -1 – point 1 (new)
Directive 2004/37/EC
Article 2 –point b
(1) in Article 2(1), point (b) is replaced by the following: "(b) ‘mutagen’ means: (i) a substance or mixture which meets the criteria for classification as a category 1A or 1B germ cell mutagen set out in Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008; (ii) a substance, mixture or process referred to in Annex I to this Directive as well as a substance or mixture released by a process referred to in that Annex;"
2023/06/08
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 131 #

2023/0033(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph -1 – point 3 (new)
Directive 2004/37/EC
Article 2 – point e a (new)
(3) in Article 2(1), the following point is added: “(ea) 'hazardous medicinal products’ or HMP’ means medicinal products that contain one or more substances that meet the criteria for classification as carcinogenic (category 1A or 1B), mutagenic (category 1A or 1B) or toxic for reproduction (category 1A or 1B) in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008.”
2023/06/08
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 139 #

2023/0033(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph -1 – point 4 (new)
Directive 2004/37/EC
Article 5 – paragraph 4 a (new)
(4) in Article 5, the following paragraph 4a is inserted: “4a. In the case of exposure to a combination of substances acting by the same mode of action or at the same target cell or tissue, the implementation of the possible limit values of those substances shall be adapted to take into account the combined effects."
2023/06/08
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 142 #

2023/0033(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 b (new)
Directive 2004/37/EC
Article 14 – paragraph 4 a (new)
In Article 14, the following paragraph is added: "4a. In case medical surveillance shows that a current or recently updated biological limit value is exceeded because of historical exposure, these workers should be granted a temporary derogation to this biological limit value and be allowed to continue to work. To avoid layoffs, employers should relocate these workers to alternative functions with less exposure. For the duration of this derogation, workers should be subject to enhanced medical surveillance to ensure a downward trend in their blood level. Whenever the continuation of work is not possible, Member States should, based on guidelines developed by the European Commission, ensure their social safety net for workers is covering affected workers, for example by supporting their reskilling."
2023/06/08
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 147 #

2023/0033(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph -1 – point 6 (new)
Directive 2004/37/EC
Article 18 a – paragraph 7 a (new)
(6) in Article 18a, the following paragraph is added: "By ... [twelve months after the date of entry into force of this amending Directive], the Commission shall, after consulting the ACSH, develop guidelines on how to further protect women of childbearing age from exposure to lead. These guidelines should include better information sharing and awareness- raising of the harmful effects of exposure to lead on the long term, support to employers on relocation to alternative functions with less exposure to lead within the company or incentives and support to enable reskilling of female workers if relocations proves impossible."
2023/06/08
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 148 #

2023/0033(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph -1 – point 7 (new)
Directive 2004/37/EC
Article 18 a – paragraph 7 b (new)
(7) in Article 18a, the following paragraph is added: “By ... [twelve months after the date of entry into force of this amending directive], the Commission shall consult with the social partners and evaluate if the Council Directive 92/85/EEC and its provisions on protection against lead exposure are fit for purpose and consider the inclusion of women of childbearing age, and, if appropriate, put forward a legislative proposal to amend this Directive;"
2023/06/08
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 149 #

2023/0033(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph -1 – point 8 (new)
Directive 2004/37/EC
Article 18 a – paragraph 7 c (new)
(8) in Article 18a, the following paragraph is added: “By ... [twelve months after the date of entry into force of this amending directive], the Commission shall review the implementation of this Directive. In the context of that review, it shall consider whether further amendments to this Directive are appropriate, shall assess the feasibility of including endocrine disrupters within the scope of this Directive and, where appropriate, shall present a legislative proposal.”
2023/06/08
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 150 #

2023/0033(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 f (new)
Directive 2004/37/EC
Article 18 a – paragraph 7 d (new)
In Article 18a, the following paragraph is added: “No later than 31 December 2023, the Commission shall, after consulting the ACSH and taking into account the RAC opinion of 2018 and the latest developments in scientific knowledge, present a legislative proposal to introduce the limit value for cobalt and cobalt compounds.”
2023/06/08
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 168 #

2023/0033(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Annex II – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Annexes I, III and IIIa to Directive 2004/37/EC are amended as follows:
2023/06/08
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 173 #

2023/0033(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Annex II – paragraph -1 a (new)
Directive 2004/37/EC
Annex I – point 8 a (new)
(-1a) in Annex I, the following point is added: "8a. Work involving exposure to hazardous medicinal products.”
2023/06/08
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 44 #

2023/0000(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 10
10. RegretNotes the further decrease in the allocation for the Budget line 07 20 04 06 (Specific competences in the area of social policy, including social dialogue); highlights that strong social dialogue is a key feature of the European social model; recalls the commitment of the Union to promote the role of social partners and to facilitate social dialogue, in line with Article 152 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union; stresses the necessity to ensure adequate support for social dialogue and to develop and improve the capacity of social partners and to increase the allocation for this budget line, also in consideration of inflation; also, recalls that it is key to guarantee adequate support for information and training measures for workers’ organisations, taking also into account the impact of inflation on staff expenditure in the budgets of the trade union institutes; in this framework, calls for increases to be included in budget line 07 20 04 09 (Information and training measures/or workers' organisations);
2023/07/05
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 6 #

2022/2050(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital A a (new)
A a. whereas focus should be directed towards the situation of women and girls in conflict-affected areas, and most particularly the consequences of the use of rape as a weapon of war or other forms of violence against women that are among the gravest effects on women in conflict- affected areas;
2022/09/15
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 8 #

2022/2050(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital A b (new)
A b. whereas women face multiple difficulties in conflict-affected areas, such as negative effects on their livelihood, lack of infrastructure and difficult circumstances to care for their home, children and other family members in situations where the care responsibility still often falls on women;
2022/09/15
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 12 #

2022/2050(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital B
B. whereas the participation of women in peacekeeping and military operations improves outcomes2 and needs to be substantially encouraged and strengthened; _________________ 2 https://giwps.georgetown.edu/wp- content/uploads/2021/05/Gendered- Impacts-on-Operational-Effectiveness-of- UN-Peace-Operations.pdf
2022/09/15
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 16 #

2022/2050(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital B a (new)
B a. whereas the Gender Action Plan III plans, within its implementation plan, an enhanced participation of women in CSDP missions and operations;
2022/09/15
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 26 #

2022/2050(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
1. Stresses that the unjustified Russian invasion of Ukraine underlines amongst others the unequivocal need for security and defence measures to be gender-responsive;
2022/09/15
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 36 #

2022/2050(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Welcomes the EEAS working document ‘Strategy andAction Plan to Enhance Women’s Participation in Civilian CSDP Missions2021-2024’3a and the vision expressed within; _________________ 3a https://www.eeas.europa.eu/sites/default/fi les/documents/Strategy%20and%20Action %20Plan%20to%20Enhance%20Women %20Participation%20in%20Civ- CSDP%20missions.pdf
2022/09/15
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 38 #

2022/2050(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2 b. Underlines the need to end the victimisation of women in conflicts, and instead put them at the core and ensure their participation in peacekeeping, prevention of conflicts, military operations, peace negotiations and rebuilding of societies after conflicts;
2022/09/15
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 54 #

2022/2050(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Recalls the importance of the Civilian CSDP missions and their added value founded on the expertise in different specialised sectors;
2022/09/15
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 71 #

2022/2050(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
6. Calls for ring-fencing of funding for adequate gender-related actions within the CSDP.
2022/09/15
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 73 #

2022/2050(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Calls for further support of security and defence policy research and analysis conducted by female scholars and researchers;
2022/09/15
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 132 #

2022/0344(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point a
2000/60/EC
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point a) – point iv)
(iv) Member States shall implement theprimarily source-based necessary measures to progressively reduceliminate pollution from priority substances and river basin specific pollutants, and to cease or phase out emissions, discharges and losses of priority hazardous substances.;
2023/04/05
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 157 #

2022/0344(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 9 a (new)
2000/60/EC
Article 12 – paragraph 3 a (new)
(9 a) The Commission shall present a legislative framework for a European source-based approach on preventing the pollutions of hazardous substances and persistant chemicals, in order for all Member States to tackle the negative consequences of these hazardous substances and persistant chemicals.
2023/04/05
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 58 #

2022/0298(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 3
(3) Asbestos is a highly dangerous carcinogenic agent, still affecting different economic sectors, such as building and renovation, mining and quarrying, waste management and firefighting, where workers are at high risk of being exposed. Asbestos fibres are classified as carcinogens 1A according to Regulation (EC) 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council65 and are by far the major cause of work-related cancer, with as much as 78% of occupational cancers recognised in the Member States as being related to asbestos. When inhaled, airborne asbestos fibres can lead to serious diseases such as mesothelioma and lung cancer, and the first signs of disease may take an average of 30 years to manifest from the moment of exposure, ultimately leading to work- related deaths. __________________ 65 Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures, amending and repealing Directives 67/548/EEC and 1999/45/EC, and amending Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 (Text with EEA relevance)OJ L 353, 31.12.2008, p. 1.
2023/02/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 61 #

2022/0298(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 4
(4) Following the new scientific and technological developments in the area, there is scope to improve the protection of workers exposed to asbestos and thus to reduce the probability of workers contracting asbestos-related diseases. For asbestos, being a non-threshold carcinogen, it is not scientifically possible to identify levels below which exposure would not lead to adverse health effects. Instead, an exposure-risk relationship (ERR) can be derived, facilitating the setting of an occupational exposure limit (‘OEL’) by taking into account an acceptable level of excess risk. As a consequence, the OEL for asbestos should be revised in order to reduce the risk by lowering exposure levels.
2023/02/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 66 #

2022/0298(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 7
(7) The limit value for asbestos set out in Directive 2009/148/EC should be revised in the light of the Commission’s evaluations and recent scientific evidence and technical data. Its revision is also an effective way to ensure that preventive and protective measures are updated accordinglyStrengthened preventive and protective measures are needed to implement such a revision of the limit value in all Member States.
2023/02/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 72 #

2022/0298(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 9
(9) Taking into account the relevant scientific expertise and a balanced approach ensuring at the same time adequate protection of workers at Union level and avoiding disproportionate economic disadvantages and burdens for the affected economic operators (including SMEs), a revised OEL equal to 0.001 fibres/cm3 as an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) should be established. This balanced approach is underpinned by a public health objective aiming at the necessary safe removal of asbestos. Consideration has also been given to proposing an OEL that takes into account economic and technical considerations to allow an effective removal.
2023/02/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 74 #

2022/0298(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 11
(11) Optical microscopy, although it does not allow a counting of the smallest fibres detrimental to health, is currently the most used method for the regular measuring of asbestos. As it is possible to measure an OEL equal to 0.01 f/cm³ with phase-contrast microscope (PCM), no transition period is needed for the implementation of the revised OEL. In line with the opinion of the ACSH, a more modern and sensitive methodology based on electron microscopy should be used, while taking into account the need for an adequate period of adaptation and for more EU level harmonisation of different electron microscopy methodologies. In light of the fact that thinner asbestos fibres (<0,2 µm) are also carcinogenic, those fibres should be taken into account when measuring exposure in the workplace. Electron microscopy, which allows the detection of such thinner asbestos fibres or similar advanced methods should be used for that purpose. In order to allow for sufficient time to comply with the new requirement, a transposition period of five years should be provided. During that transposition period, Member States can continue to carry out fibre counting by phase-contrast microscopy.
2023/02/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 80 #

2022/0298(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 11 a (new)
(11a) Taking into account the relevant scientific expertise, the need to increase the protection of workers at Union level, a public health objective that aims to remove asbestos, as well as technical considerations with regard to monitoring compliance, a revised OEL equal to 0,001 fibres/cm3 as an 8-hour time-weighted average should be established. Due to the ongoing renovation wave of buildings, it is important to implement that revised OEL as soon as possible. As electron microscopy would allow the detection of thinner asbestos fibres, the revised OEL, combined with the new methodology, is expected to ensure a better a protection of workers against asbestos exposure. In line with the vision-zero approach of the Union strategic framework on health and safety at work, a constant effort to reduce exposure to this strong non-threshold carcinogen is needed. In order to allow for sufficient time to comply with the new requirement, a transposition period of five years should be provided. During that transposition period, Member States can continue to carry out fibre counting by phase-contrast microscopy.
2023/02/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 82 #

2022/0298(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 11 b (new)
(11b) The asbestos sampling should be representative of the worker’s personal exposure to asbestos. Samples should therefore be taken at regular intervals during specific operational phases in representative and realistic situations in which workers are exposed to asbestos dust . If it is not possible for sampling to be representative of the worker’s personal exposure to asbestos, all appropriate protective measures should be applied.
2023/02/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 92 #

2022/0298(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 13
(13) Special control measures and precautions are needed for workers exposed or likely to be exposed to asbestos, such as subjecting workers to a decontamination procedure and related training, in order to significantly contribute to reducing the risks related to such exposureto lower the concentration of asbestos fibres in the air to as low a level as is technically possible below the limit value. Subjecting workers to a decontamination procedure and strengthening the related training requirements are important elements in order to significantly contribute to reducing the risks related to such exposure. In order to ensure a level playing field, an annex to this Directive should provide for minimum training requirements, including specific requirements for workers in specialised asbestos removal undertakings.
2023/02/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 96 #

2022/0298(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 14 a (new)
(14a) The notification system is important to allow the supervision by the competent national authority of works during which asbestos may be disturbed. The information should include the following additional elements to better inform the national competent authority: the areas in which the work is to be carried out, the equipment used for the protection and decontamination of workers, and a plan for waste disposal. Such additional information would allow, where appropriate, the intervention of the competent national authority to ensure the protection of those involved.
2023/02/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 99 #

2022/0298(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 15
(15) Employers should take all necessary steps to identify presumed asbestos-containing materials, if appropriate by obtaining information from the owners of the premises as well as other sources of information, including relevant registers. They should record, before the start of any asbestos removal project, the presence or presumed presence of asbestos in buildings or installations anIf such information is lacking, asbestos screening should be carried out by a certified operator. That operator should record, before the start of any asbestos removal project, demolition or renovation, information relating to the presence or presumed presence of asbestos that is likely to be disturbed during the works in buildings, ships, aircrafts or other installations that were built before the national asbestos ban entered into force. Such screening should be carried out by a qualified and certified operator and should include a diagnosis adopted to the workplace. A report should state either the absence or the presence of asbestos, and its fibre type if present, with a detailed description of the nature of contamination and its precise location and estimated quantities. That operator should communicate thisat information to others who may be exposed to asbestos as a result of its use, of maintenance or of other activities in or on buildings.
2023/02/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 105 #

2022/0298(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 15 a (new)
(15a) The safe removal and disposal of asbestos-containing materials should be a priority, because repair, maintenance, encapsulation or sealing only lead to the postponement of the removal, which can perpetuate the risks for inhabitants and workers for many years. The encapsulation and sealing of asbestos- containing materials which can technically be removed should be prohibited, while not putting poorer households at a disadvantage because of their inability to afford necessary renovations. Appropriate accompanying measures are therefore needed. In that regard, the Union provides significant funding, in particular through the Recovery and Resilience Facility, to be used to support national measures for the removal of asbestos in the context of renovations. Where asbestos is not removed, the relevant structures should be identified, registered and regularly monitored.
2023/02/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 113 #

2022/0298(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 15 c (new)
(15c) There is a need to provide sufficient and focused administrative support to help employers, in particular microenterprises and small and medium- sized enterprises, implement this Directive. In particular, standardised processes for the removal of asbestos- containing materials would help to reduce the levels of asbestos dust, the cost of those operations and facilitate the fulfilment of the notification requirements.
2023/02/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 115 #

2022/0298(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 15 c (new)
(15c) Directive 2009/148/EC should be regularly updated to take into account the latest scientific knowledge and technical developments including an evaluation of different types of asbestos fibres and their adverse health effects. The Commission should start by entry into force of this Directive the consultation process for updating the provisions on fibrous silicates and, in that context, should in particular assess whether riebeckite, winchite, richterite, fluoro-edenite or erionite should be included within the scope of that Directive.
2023/02/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 118 #

2022/0298(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 15 d (new)
(15d) In order to keep pace with technological developments, the Commission should every five years, after consulting the social partners, review the technological and scientific information on asbestos identification, measurement and warning technology and should issue guidelines where such technology is to be used in order to protect workers from exposure to asbestos. A more systematic exchange between Member States of best practices should also be established for that purpose.
2023/02/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 123 #

2022/0298(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 15 e (new)
(15e) In order to support the implementation of this Directive, the Commission should, in cooperation with the ACSH, develop guidelines. Those guidelines should, where appropriate, include sector-specific responses.
2023/02/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 141 #

2022/0298(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 b (new)
Directive 2009/148/EC
Article 3 – paragraph 3
3. Provided that worker exposure is sporadic and of In Article 3, paragraph 3 is replaced by the follow intensity, and if it is clear from the resultsg: "3. By entry into force of the risk assessment referred to in paragraph 2 that the exposure limit for asbestos will not be exceeded in the air of the working area, Articles 4, 18 and 19 may be waived where the work involves: (a) maintenance activities in which only non- friable materials are handled; (b) non-degraded materials in which the asbestos fibres are firmly linked in a matrix; (c) asbestosmending directive, the Commission shall, in consultation with the Advisory Committee on Safety and Health at Work, develop guidelines to support the application of this Directive. Those guidelines shall provide, where appropriate, sector-specific responses." short, non-containing materiuous removals which are in good condition; (d) the collection of samples to ascertain whether a specific material contains asbestos.ithout deterioration of encapsulation or sealing of air monitoring and control, and
2023/02/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 145 #

2022/0298(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 d (new)
Directive 2009/148/EC
Article 4 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 2
In Article 4(3), the second subparagraph is replaced by the following: “The notification mustshall include at least a brief description of: (a) the location of the worksite and the specific areas in which the work will be carried out; (b) the type and quantities of asbestos used or handled; (c) the activities and processes involved; (d) the number of workers involved;involved; (d) the number of workers involved, a list of the workers likely to be assigned to the site, the individual certificates proving their competence and the training received, and the dates of the mandatory medical visits; (e) the starting date and duration of the work and the planned working hours; (f) measures taken to limit the exposure of workers to asbestos; (fa) the characteristics of the equipment used for the protection and decontamination of workers; (fb) the procedure for the decontamination of workers and equipment, durations and working hours; (fc) the characteristics of the equipment used for waste disposal; (fd) a provisional aeraulic balance for work carried out under confinement; (fe) a plan for safe and sustainable waste disposal, including with regard to the destination of asbestos containing waste."
2023/02/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 150 #

2022/0298(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 7 e (new)
Directive 2009/148/EC
Article 4 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 2 a (new)
(7e) In Article 4(3), the following subparagraph is added: “Notifications shall be kept by the responsible authority of the Member State for a minimum of 40 years, in accordance with national law and practice."
2023/02/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 154 #

2022/0298(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 f (new)
(2f) In Article 5, the following paragraph is added: 2a. Asbestos-containing materials already in use shall be safely removed and disposed of when technically feasible. They shall not be sealed or covered. Asbestos-containing materials which cannot be removed in the short term shall be identified, registered and regularly monitored.
2023/02/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 160 #

2022/0298(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3 a (new)
Directive 2009/148/EC
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) work processes shall be designed so as not to produce asbestos dust or, if that proves impossible, to avoid the release of asbestos dust into the air to a level as low as technically possible by implementing at least the following measures: (i) asbestos dust suppression; (ii) the suction of asbestos dust at the source; (iii) the continuous sedimentation of asbestos fibres suspended in the air; (iv) appropriate decontamination;
2023/02/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 164 #

2022/0298(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3 b (new)
Directive 2009/148/EC
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point b a (new)
(3b) In Article 6, paragraph 1, the new point ba is added: (ba) for work carried out under confinement, the work area shall be protected by implementing at least the following measures: (i) setting a minimum pressure difference of minus 10; (ii) supplying clean replacement air from a point further away; (iii) checking the performance of negative pressure units and portable vacuums of local exhaust ventilation systems after the change of a HEPA filter and before the start of asbestos removal or at least once a year, by measuring the removal efficiencies of filters with a direct-reading particle counter.
2023/02/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 168 #

2022/0298(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4 a (new)
Directive 2009/148/EC
Article 7 – paragraph 2
(4a) In Article 7, paragraph 2 is replaced by the following: "2. Sampling must be representative of the real personal exposure of the worker to dust arising from asbestos or materials containing asbestos."
2023/02/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 175 #

2022/0298(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Directive 2009/148/EC
Article 7 – paragraph 6 – subparagraph 1
Fibre counting shall be carried out by phase-contrastelectron microscopey (PCEM) in accordance with and, wherever possible, any other method recommended in 1997 by the World Health Organization (WHO)* or, whegiving equivalent or better results. For the purposes of ensuring compliance with the measures on fibre counting revfer possible, any other method giving equivalent or better results, such as a method based on electron microscopy (EM)red to in this Article, the Commission shall support Member States by providing appropriate technical guidance, including on the technical transition from phase- contrast microscopy to electron microscopy, and information on relevant Union funds which can be used to support that transition.
2023/02/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 183 #

2022/0298(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 5
Employers shall ensure that no worker is exposed to an airborne concentration of asbestos in excess of 0.001 fibres per cm³ as an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA).
2023/02/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 185 #

2022/0298(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6 h (new)
Directive 2009/148/EC
Article 10 – paragraph 1
1. Where the limit value laid down in Article 8 is exceeded, t(6h) In Article 10, paragraph 1 is replaced by the following: "1. Where the limit value laid down in Article 8 is exceeded, or if there is reason to believe that asbestos-containing materials which are not identified prior to the work have been disturbed so as to generate dust, work shall stop immediately. The reasons for the limit being exceeded mustshall then be identified and appropriate measures to remedy the situation must be taken as soon as possible. Work mayshall not be continued in the affected area until adequate measures have been taken for the protection of the workers concerned."
2023/02/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 192 #

2022/0298(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6
Directive 2009/148/EC
Article 11 – paragraph 1
Before beginning demolition or, maintenance work or renovation works on premises built before the year in which the national asbestos ban entered into force, employers shall take, if appropriate by obtaining information from the owners of the premises as well as from other sources of information, including relevant registers, all necessary steps to identify presumed asbestos-containing materials.
2023/02/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 196 #

2022/0298(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6 b (new)
Directive 2009/148/EC
Article 11 – paragraph 1 a (new)
(6b) In Article 11, the following paragraph is added: 1a. In the absence of relevant information available or if the information is not detailed enough for the work planned, the person or body ordering the work shall commission a screening to identify the asbestos- containing materials likely to be affected by the work. The screening shall be conducted by a certified operator and the result shall be communicated to the employer before works can start.
2023/02/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 199 #

2022/0298(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6 c (new)
Directive 2009/148/EC
Article 11 – paragraph 1 b (new)
(6c) In Article 11, the following paragraph is added: 1b. The Member States shall establish public registers of the certified operators authorised to carry out the asbestos screening, in accordance with their national law and practice.
2023/02/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 203 #

2022/0298(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6 a (new)
Directive 2009/148/EC
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
(6a) In Article 12(1), the introductory wording is replaced by the following: “In the case of certain activities such as demolition, asbestos removal work, repairing and maintenance, in respect of which it is foreseeable that the limit value set out in Article 8 will be exceeded despite the use of all possible technical preventive measures for limiting asbestos in air concentrations, the employer shall determine the measures intended to ensure protection of the workers while they are engaged in such activities, in particular the following:
2023/02/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 209 #

2022/0298(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6 e (new)
Directive 2009/148/EC
Article 12 – paragraph 2 a (new)
(6e) In Article 12, the following paragraph is added: “A measurement of asbestos fibres concentration in the air shall be carried out after activities referred to in the first paragraph have been concluded in order to ensure that workers can safely re-enter the workplace."
2023/02/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 215 #

2022/0298(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6 g (new)
Directive 2009/148/EC
Article 14 – paragraph 2
(6g) In Article 14, paragraph 2 is replaced by the following: “2. The content of the training mustshall be easily understandable for workers. It mustshall enable them to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills in terms of prevention and safety, particularly as regards: (a) effects on health, including the synergistic effect of smoking; (b) likely to contain asbestos; (c)in accordance with the national law and practice applicable where the work takes place.” the properations that could result in asbestos exposure and the importance of preventive controls to minimise exposure; (d) protective equipment; (e) selection, limitations and proper use of respiratory equipment; (f) emergency procedures; (g) decontamination procedures; (h) waste disposal; (i) medical surveillance requirements.es of asbestos and its the types of products or materials safe work practices, controls and the appropriate role, choice,
2023/02/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 218 #

2022/0298(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6 h (new)
Directive 2009/148/EC
Article 14 – paragraph 3
3. Practical guidelines for the training of asbestos removal workers shall be developed at Community level.(6h) In Article 14, paragraph 3 is replaced by the following: "3. The minimum requirements with regard to the content, duration, intervals, and documentation of the training provided pursuant to this Article shall be specified in Annex Ia."
2023/02/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 220 #

2022/0298(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6 h (new)
Directive 2009/148/EC
Article 14 – paragraph 3
3. Practical guidelines for the training of asbestos removal workers shall be developed at Community level.(6h) In Article 14, paragraph 3 is replaced by the following: “3. The minimum requirements with regard to the content, duration, intervals, and documentation of the training provided pursuant to this Article shall be specified in Annex Ia."
2023/02/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 226 #

2022/0298(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6 i (new)
Directive 2009/148/EC
Article 15 – paragraph 1
1. Before(6i) In Article 15, paragraph 1 is replaced by the following: “1. Undertakings which intend to carrying out demolition or asbestos removal work, firms must provide evidence of their ability in this field. The evidence shall be established in accordance with national laws and/or practice. shall be required to obtain, before the start of work, a permit from the competent authority. Competent authorities shall grant such permits only if the applicant undertaking provides proof of adequate state-of-the-art technical equipment for emission-free or, where this is not yet technically possible, low-emission work procedures in line with the requirements of Article 6, and training certificates for the individual workers in accordance with Article 14 and Annex Ia.”
2023/02/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 230 #

2022/0298(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6 j (new)
Directive 2009/148/EC
Article 15 – paragraph 1 a (new)
(6j) In Article 15, the following paragraph is added: “1a. Competent authorities shall grant permits to undertakings only if they have no doubt as to the reliability of the undertaking and its management. The permits shall be renewable every five years, in accordance with national law and practice.”
2023/02/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 233 #

2022/0298(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6 k (new)
Directive 2009/148/EC
Article 15 – paragraph 1 b (new)
(6k) In Article 15, the following paragraph is added: “1b. Member States shall establish public registers of the undertakings that have been granted permits to remove asbestos pursuant to paragraph 1."
2023/02/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 240 #

2022/0298(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6 l (new)
(6l) In Article 16(1), point c is replaced by the following: "(c) workers are provided with appropriate working or protective clothing; this as well as protective equipment, in particular respiratory equipment, which is subject to a mandatory individual fitting check; that working or protective clothing remains within the undertaking; it may, however, be laundered in establishments outside the undertaking which are equipped for this sort of work if the undertaking does not carry out the cleaning itself; in that event the clothing shall be transported in closed containers;
2023/02/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 242 #

2022/0298(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6 l (new)
Directive 2009/148/EC
Article 16 – paragraph 1 – point c
(6l) In Article 16(1), point c is replaced by the following: “(c) workers are provided with appropriate working or protective clothing; this as well as protective equipment, in particular respiratory equipment, which is subject to a mandatory individual fitting check; that all working or protective clothing remains within the undertaking; it may, however, be laundered in establishments outside the undertaking which are equipped for this sort of work if the undertaking does not carry out the cleaning itself; in that event the clothing shall be transported in closed containers;
2023/02/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 245 #

2022/0298(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6 m (new)
Directive 2009/148/EC
Article 16 – paragraph 1 – point c a (new)
(6m) In Article 16(1), the following point is inserted: “(ca) regular compulsory breaks with sufficient time for rest are provided for workers wearing respiratory equipment;”
2023/02/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 246 #

2022/0298(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6 m (new)
Directive 2009/148/EC
Article 16 – paragraph 1 – point c a (new)
(6m) In Article 16(1), the following point is inserted: "(ca) regular compulsory breaks with sufficient time for rest are provided for workers wearing respiratory equipment;"
2023/02/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 249 #

2022/0298(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6 n (new)
Directive 2009/148/EC
Article 16 – paragraph 1 – point e
(6n) In Article 16(1), point e is replaced by the following: "(e) workers are provided with appropriate and adequate washing and toilet facilities, including showers in the case of dusty operations;, and are subject to a mandatory decontamination procedure;"
2023/02/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 251 #

2022/0298(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6 n (new)
Directive 2009/148/EC
Article 16 – paragraph 1 – point e
(6n) In Article 16(1), point e is replaced by the following: “(e) workers are provided with appropriate and adequate washing and toilet facilities, including showers in the case of dusty operations;, and are subject to a mandatory decontamination procedure;”
2023/02/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 263 #

2022/0298(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6 s (new)
Directive 2009/148/EC
Article 18 b a (new)
(6s) The following Article is inserted: “Article 18ba 1. By ... [one year after the date of entry into force of this amending Directive], the Commission shall, in cooperation with the Advisory Committee for Safety and Health at Work, develop guidelines to support the application of this Directive. Those guidelines shall provide, where appropriate, sector-specific responses. 2. When entering into force of this amending Directive], the Commission shall start the consultation process for updating the fibrous silicates within the scope of this Directive and, in that context, assess the inclusion of riebeckite, winchite, richterite, fluoro-edenite and erionite. After consulting the social partners, the Commission shall, propose necessary amendments to this Directive in a legislative proposal. 3. By ... [five years after the date of entry into force of this amending Directive] and every five years thereafter, the Commission shall, after consulting the social partners, review the technological and scientific state of asbestos identification, measurement or warning technology and issue guidelines for when such technology is to be used in order to protect workers from exposure to asbestos.”
2023/02/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 270 #

2022/0298(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 7 a (new)
Directive 2009/148/EC
Article 20 a (new)
The following Article is inserted: Article 20a With a view to fulfil the requirements of Council Directive 89/391/EEC, Member States shall improve the number, quality and frequency of labour inspections in line with the International Labour Organisation’s recommendation of minimum one inspector for every 10 000 workers;
2023/02/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 273 #

2022/0298(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 7 a (new)
Directive 2009/148/EC
Article 21
(7a) Article 21 is replaced by the following: “Member States shall keep a register of all recognised cases of asbestosis and mesothelioma. -related occupational diseases. An indicative list of diseases that can be caused by asbestos exposure is set out in Annex I.”
2023/02/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 277 #

2022/0298(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 7 b (new)
Directive 2009/148/EC
Article 21 – paragraph 1 a (new)
(7b) In Article 21, the following paragraph is added: “1a. The term recognised cases referred to in paragraph 1 shall not be limited to cases for which the compensation is granted, but shall refer to all cases of medically diagnosed asbestos-related diseases."
2023/02/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 280 #

2022/0298(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3 c (new)
Directive 2009/148/EC
Article 21a (new)
(3c) The following article is inserted: “Article 21a In the case of fire, existing information, including from relevant registers, regarding the presence and location of asbestos shall be made available to firefighters and the emergency services."
2023/02/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 284 #

2022/0298(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Directive 2009/148/EC
Article 21 b (new)
The following article is inserted: "Article 21b For the purpose of fulfilling the requirements of this Directive, Member States can make use of European Structural Investment (ESI) funds; the Commission shall ensure sufficient and appropriate funds for this purpose to provide technical guidance, administrative and financial support to employers, in order to ensure adequate protection of the workers, in complying with the requirements of this Directive, including accessing and developing measurement technology, protective equipment, training and up- and reskilling of workers."
2023/02/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 287 #

2022/0298(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 2 c (new)

Annex I – point 1
2c. In Annex I, point 1 is replaced by the following: "1. Current knowledge indicates that exposure to free asbestos fibres can give rise to the following diseases: — asbestosis, — mesothelioma, — bronchial carcinoma, — gastro-intestinal carcinoma. — carcinoma of the larynx, — carcinoma of the ovary, — non-malignant pleural diseases. 1a. Positive associations have been noted by the International Agency for Research on Cancer between asbestos exposure and the following diseases: — pharyngeal cancer, — colorectal cancer, — stomach cancer.”
2023/02/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 292 #

2022/0298(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 7 e (new)
7e. Following annex is added: "ANNEX Ia MANDATORY MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR TRAINING All workers who are, or are likely to be, exposed to dust from asbestos or materials containing asbestos, shall receive mandatory training, encompassing at least the following minimum requirements: 1. The training shall be provided at the start of an employment relationship and at intervals not exceeding four years. 2. Each training course shall have a minimum duration of three working days. 3. The training shall be provided by a qualified and certified institution and instructor and carried out by a Member State authority or recognised competent body, in accordance with national law and practice. The training shall be provided in the first or second language of the worker undertaking the training. 4. Every worker who has attended training in a satisfactory manner and has passed the required test shall receive a training certificate indicating: (a) the date of the training; (b) the duration of the training; (c) the content of the training; (d) the language of the training; (e) and the name, qualification, and contact details of the instructor and the institution providing the training. 5. All workers who are, are likely to be, or are at risk of being exposed to dust from asbestos or materials containing asbestos shall at least receive the following training with a theoretical and a practical part regarding: (a) the applicable law of the Member State in which the work is carried out; (b) the properties of asbestos and its effects on health, including the synergistic effect of smoking, as well as the risks linked to secondary and environmental exposure; (c) the types of products or materials likely to contain asbestos; (d) the operations that could result in asbestos exposure and the importance of preventive controls to minimise exposure; (e) safe work practices, including workplace preparation, choice of working methods and planning of work execution, ventilation, point extraction, measurement and control, and regular breaks; (f) the appropriate role, choice, selection, limitations and proper use of protective equipment, with special regard to respiratory equipment; (g) emergency procedures; (h) decontamination procedures; (i) waste disposal; (j) medical surveillance requirements. The training shall be adapted as closely as possible to the characteristics of the profession and the specific tasks and work methods it involves. 6. Workers who engage in demolition or asbestos-removal work shall receive training, in addition to the items listed under paragraph 4, regarding: (a) the use of technological equipment and machines to contain the release and spreading of asbestos fibres during the work processes, in accordance with Directive 2009/104/EC; (b) the newest available technologies and machines for emission-free or, where this is not technically possible yet, low- emission working procedures, to contain the release and spreading of asbestos fibres.
2023/02/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 295 #

2022/0298(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 a (new)
Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with Article 1, point 4, of this Directive by [five years after the date of entry into force of this Directive]. They shall immediately communicate the text of those measures to the Commission. Member States shall, before having brought into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions in accordance with this paragraph, carry out fibre counting by phase-contrast microscopy or, where possible, by any other method giving equivalent or better results. For the purpose of bringing into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive, the Commission could consider to/shall set up a platform for the Member States to exchange best practices.
2023/02/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 296 #

2022/0298(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 b (new)
Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with Article 1, point 5, of this Directive by [five years after the date of entry into force of this Directive]. They shall immediately communicate the text of those measures to the Commission.
2023/02/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 297 #

2022/0298(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. The Commission shall regularly monitor and assess the impact of the implementation of this Directive, after consulting the social partners, and taking into account SMEs and micro-enterprises, and provide sufficient technical guidance and administrative support to fulfil the requirements of this Directive.
2023/02/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 560 #

2022/0195(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 2
2. This Regulation establishes a framework within which Member States shall put in place, without delay, effective and area-based restoration measures which together shall cover, by 2030, at least 20 % of the Union’s land and sea areas and, by 2050, all ecosystems in need of restoration, whereby the specificity of urbanised areas will be taken into account when setting targets per Member State.
2023/01/26
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 689 #

2022/0195(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 15 a (new)
(15a) 'urbanised area' means a country or region with a high degree of urbanisation, population density and hardening rate resulting in higher than average pressure on agricultural land and open space;
2023/01/26
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 873 #

2022/0195(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 8 – point c a (new)
(ca) disproportional impact on the agricultural sector in urbanised areas;
2023/01/26
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 1317 #

2022/0195(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 1
1. Member States shall put in place the restoration measures necessary to enhance biodiversity in agricultural ecosystems, in addition to the areas that are subject to restoration measures under Article 4(1), (2) and (3), taking into account the specifity of urbanised areas.
2023/01/26
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 1636 #

2022/0195(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 2 – point b a (new)
(ba) the quantification takes into account socioeconomic impacts, the potential impact on agricultural production and the specific context of urbanised areas;
2023/01/26
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 1873 #

2022/0195(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 2 – point o a (new)
(oa) an analysis of the impact of the implementation of the restoration plans on agricultural land and agricultural production, in particular the exceptional impact on urbanised areas and the agricultural land under pressure in these areas;
2023/01/26
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 18 #

2021/2255(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital D a (new)
D a. whereas The New European Bauhaus movement will include massive renovation works; whereas although asbestos has been banned in the EU since 2005, it is still often present in administrative buildings, schools, housing, infrastructure and public- transport facilities;
2022/03/23
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 126 #

2021/2255(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8 a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure better recognition and compensation of asbestos-related and other occupational diseases to all exposed workers in order to protect the health of construction and other workers in the green transition and The New European Bauhaus;
2022/03/23
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 131 #

2021/2255(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8 b. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to significantly increase their focus on prevention strategies such, for example by strengthening labour inspectorates, national health and safety services and social partner dialogue to ensure that all employees have a right to the highest level of health and safety protection possible in the implementation of The New European Bauhaus;
2022/03/23
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 16 #

2021/2253(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 7 a (new)
— having regard to the UN Decade on Healthy Ageing 2021-2030 and the WHO Framework for countries to achieve an integrated continuum of long-term care,
2022/04/08
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 47 #

2021/2253(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 23 a (new)
— having regard to the 2021 Long- term care report prepared by the Social Protection Committee (SPC) and the European Commission (DG EMPL) on “Trends, challenges and opportunities in an ageing society”,
2022/04/08
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 72 #

2021/2253(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 38 a (new)
— having regard to its resolution of 16 February 2022 on strengthening Europe in the fight against cancer - towards a comprehensive and coordinated strategy,
2022/04/08
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 74 #

2021/2253(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 38 b (new)
— having regard to Directive (EU) 2022/431of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2022 amending Directive 2004/37/EC on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to carcinogens or mutagens at work,
2022/04/08
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 100 #

2021/2253(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital B
B. whereas care encompasses services to address the physical, psychological and social needs of dependents, as well as support to guarantee the equal exercise of rights, dignity, autonomy, inclusion and well-being for all members of society, provided by either formal or informal carers;
2022/04/08
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 143 #

2021/2253(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas silent age discrimination and unmet, unseen and unrecognized care needs are still a persisting problem in care in Europe;
2022/04/08
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 182 #

2021/2253(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E
E. whereas the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the existing challenges in terms of access to formal care services and the staff shortages in the care sector, as well as the burden and lack of support to informal carers, and whereas across the EU, more than half of COVID-19 related fatalities have been recorded in long-term care settings;
2022/04/08
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 230 #

2021/2253(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Fa. whereas the care sector needs significant investment, resources and reform, especially in elderly care;
2022/04/08
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 234 #

2021/2253(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital G
G. whereas the structures of care need to be changed from centralised institutions to community-based care; whereas that shift has been too slow; whereas patient- centred, community-based and home care can better support the autonomy of persons in need for care and support; whereas residential care often does not meet the standards of supporting independence of persons using these services and are often associated with the end of life, rather than regarded as places to live and strive in dignity, and places of participation in social and cultural life;
2022/04/08
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 256 #

2021/2253(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Ga. whereas the proportion of undeclared work in the care sector remains too high, leading to fewer protections for workers in the sector, and a loss of income for member states;
2022/04/08
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 276 #

2021/2253(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital H a (new)
Ha. whereas quality care work is a skilled occupation, and demand for skilled care workers will only increase in the coming years;
2022/04/08
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 285 #

2021/2253(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital I
I. whereas 6.3 million professionals work in long-term care, among whom women (81 %) are overrepresented and there are increasing numbers of platform workers, as well as migrant and mobile workers; whereas 8 million new jobs are expected to be created over the next decade in both the social care and healthcare sectors;
2022/04/08
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 296 #

2021/2253(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital I a (new)
Ia. whereas 7.7 million women in the EU remain out of the labour market due to their care responsibilities;
2022/04/08
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 311 #

2021/2253(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital K
K. whereas 80 % of all long-term care in Europe is provided by informal carers, overwhelmingly women, mostly unpaid and/or without adequate support, and often with a negative impact on their physical and mental health, well-being and social inclusion, with women providing approximately two-thirds of care, which makes care an extremely gendered issue;
2022/04/08
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 344 #

2021/2253(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital L a (new)
La. whereas the gender pay gap in the EU stands at 14.1% and has only changed minimally over the last decade and the gender pension gap is even wider;
2022/04/08
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 345 #

2021/2253(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital L b (new)
Lb. whereas gender employment, pay and pension gaps lead to an increased risk of poverty as well as reduced taxes paid to Member States, with a €370 billion annual loss of GDP for Europe;
2022/04/08
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 346 #

2021/2253(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital L c (new)
Lc. whereas strong sectoral segregation, unequal share of paid and unpaid work, the glass ceiling and pay discrimination still persist in the EU labour market and equal pay for equal work has not been fulfilled and these serious structural issues have been neglected by all the EU Member States;
2022/04/08
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 357 #

2021/2253(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital M a (new)
Ma. whereas underpaid or non-paid women take care of other women, whereas women live longer than men and represent the majority of the people receiving care, both in formal care institutions and in private homes;
2022/04/08
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 438 #

2021/2253(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Notes that according to the principle 18 in the European Pillar of Social Rights (EPSR) ‘Everyone has the right to affordable long-term care services of good quality, in particular home-care and community-based services’; notes that expanding the care workforce and increasing the provision of care services will be a prerequisite for fulfilling this principle;
2022/04/08
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 444 #

2021/2253(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Notes that care services are of varying types -- from early childhood care and education, to care services for elderly and care for persons with disabilities --, and notes that care and its differing policy approaches need to be developed and recreated according to individuals’ needs;
2022/04/08
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 475 #

2021/2253(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
3. Highlights the need to increase fsecure the sound ing for bothvestment level in the care infrastructure across the EU, both public and private, formal and informal care across the EU, to guarantee equal access for dependants to affordable quality care services, as well as an active professional life for carers, and therefore calls on the Member States to make the best use of the European structural and investment funds, including the ESF+, as well as the Recovery and Resilience Facility, for investing in care;
2022/04/08
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 482 #

2021/2253(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Recognises that models and patterns of organising care are diverse in the Member States and believes that every person has the right to choose quality care services best suitable for their and their family’s individual situation, emphasizes that this right needs to be guaranteed;
2022/04/08
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 491 #

2021/2253(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
4. Emphasises that a substantial proportion of care models, services and facilities are outdated and that care recipients should be placed at the centre of care plan, below the modern quality criteria and does not meet the physical, social and psychological needs and wishes of the people in need of care, and that people in need of care should be placed at the centre of care plans and all stages of the design, implementation and evaluation of care policies and services;
2022/04/08
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 501 #

2021/2253(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Emphasises that there is a need to improve the respect of the right to self- determination of the persons receiving care, to develop autonomy both for care professionals and care recipients, and to add to the use of personalised budgeting and personalised design of care;
2022/04/08
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 504 #

2021/2253(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. Believes that the development of care should take into account all categories of users and their differences and diverse preferences for the types of care services needed; underlines the importance of user-based approach in developing services and the empowerment of different types of service users so that their different needs and preferences are the default in tailoring personal service packages, including social budgeting;
2022/04/08
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 505 #

2021/2253(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 c (new)
4c. Believes that those planning, programming and providing care services have the responsibility to be aware of the users’ needs and that care services for elderly and persons with disabilities must be planned and developed with the participation of the users;
2022/04/08
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 516 #

2021/2253(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
6. Calls on the Commission to set ambitious targets for care services in consultation with the Member States; and to develop harmonized EU and national definitions and indicators to assess accessibility, quality and efficiency of care services for children, persons with disabilities and elderly on the EU level, that are based on the rights of the persons in need for care, the maintenance of their independence and autonomy as well as social inclusion, and focussing on the expected outcomes of long-term care, such as the improvement of well-being of persons in need for long-term care and support, the evolution of healthy life years and other indicators putting entire care experience of a person in need for care in the centre of attention; underlines the need for scoreboard to monitor the implementation of care in public, private, formal and informal context;
2022/04/08
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 543 #

2021/2253(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
7. Calls on the Commission to present an ambitious, robust and future-proof European care strategy that builds on everyone’s right to affordable, accessible and high-quality care, as well as on other principles set out in the EPSR and EU strategic documents, and the individual rights and needs of both care recipients and carers, and that encompasses the entire life course, is based on reliable and comparable data, and includes concrete and progressive goals with a timetable and indicators to evaluate progress;
2022/04/08
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 604 #

2021/2253(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11 a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to integrate the use of telemedicine to increase coverage and effectiveness of the care provided with focus on vulnerable populations and cross-border healthcare; calls for accompanying measures to ensure equal access to telemedicine services across the Member States, and for EU4Health and Digital Europe funding to support and increase digital health literacy of both patients and healthcare professionals;
2022/04/08
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 612 #

2021/2253(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
12. Calls on the Member States to reform and integrate their social services and protection systems in such a way as to provide effective and equal access to care services throughout the life course, taking a personalised and patient-centered approach, in order to enhance access to care, the continuity of care, preventive healthcare, rehabilitation and, whenever possible, independent living and inclusion in the community;
2022/04/08
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 633 #

2021/2253(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
13. Notes that accessibility derives from a combination of cost and flexibility; believes that in this respect different forms of care service provision should be available, such as in in-home and community-based settings, both public and private, care at home and in home-like settings, and that furthermore a family member should either be able to voluntarily provide care or be subsidised to procure the care services;
2022/04/08
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 638 #

2021/2253(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Highlights the need to support the development of online services, the training to increase digital competencies of the cared and their carers, and improving of internet access and connections to improve the quality of care and to benefit from technology in offering quality care in all stages of life; notes that health technology can be the biggest unequalizer or connector depending on its genuine accessibility;
2022/04/08
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 643 #

2021/2253(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)
13b. Calls on the Member States to explore the possibility of integrating in their social protection systems solutions that allow a more personalised approach;
2022/04/08
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 644 #

2021/2253(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 c (new)
13c. Notes that the populations benefitting from long-term care go beyond the elderly and include people living with rare diseases for whom care is provided throughout all lifecycles, with a majority of rare diseases having their onset during childhood;
2022/04/08
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 708 #

2021/2253(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
18. Calls on the Commission to establish a comprehensive set of indicators for long-term care, and corresponding targets and tools for monitoring the accessibility, affordability and quality of care, especially taking into account vulnerable groups such as the elderly and people with disabilities, similar to the Barcelona objectives for childcare;
2022/04/08
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 732 #

2021/2253(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 b (new)
18b. Calls on the Commission to start an initiative on environmentally sustainable care and pay attention and support green care projects and greening of care overall;
2022/04/08
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 735 #

2021/2253(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 c (new)
18c. Notes that care infrastructures have also significant negative environmental impacts that need to be solved and mitigated, for example pharmaceuticals and exceptionally big amounts of disposable waste;
2022/04/08
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 749 #

2021/2253(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
19. Notes that between 40 and 50throughout the EU, 44 million people in the EUare provideing informal care on a regular basislong-term care at least once a week; notes that this work tends to be long term and can hinder formal labour market participation, resulting in a loss of income and aggravating the gender pay and pension gap;
2022/04/08
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 752 #

2021/2253(INI)

19a. Notes that informal care is an extremely gendered issue as women are overrepresented in providing informal care activities, making up around 60% of informal carers, and providing informal care for more hours than men;
2022/04/08
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 756 #

2021/2253(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Calls on the Member States and relevant authorities to recognise the pivotal role of informal carers and to integrate them into regular health and care teams;
2022/04/08
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 758 #

2021/2253(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 b (new)
19b. Notes that of elderly people aged more than 65, 8% or more than 7 million people receive informal care in the EU; for people aged 75 and above, the number relying on informal care amounts to 11%;
2022/04/08
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 760 #

2021/2253(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 c (new)
19 c. Notes that at least 8% of all children in Europe are involved in the provision of informal long-term care, with a negative impact on their physical and mental health, educational experience, employability and social inclusion;
2022/04/08
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 763 #

2021/2253(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 d (new)
19d. Stresses that informal carers must have their needs assessed and addressed in their own right, without being conditional on the services or supports of the cared-for person;
2022/04/08
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 769 #

2021/2253(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
20. Highlights the need forto develop a common European minimum definition for informal care, a commitment by Member States, and Council Recommendations on informal care including national recommendations, including respect for the right to self- determination of persons receiving care;
2022/04/08
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 774 #

2021/2253(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Calls for common European guidelines and status for informal carers as informal care is currently not adequately recognized and acknowledged in terms of different forms of informal care;
2022/04/08
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 784 #

2021/2253(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
21. Urges the Commission to propose a common coherent package of actions at EU level on informal care, to identify and recognise the different types of informal care provided in Europe, and to guaranteeto consider the formalisation of informal care, and to guarantee a certain minimum standard of rights, carers financial support and other additional support services, including time off for carers, and a work-life balance and, rehabilitation services for carers and care recipients and access to specific psychological support for carers;
2022/04/08
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 788 #

2021/2253(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
21. Urges the Commission to propose a common coherent package of actions at EU level oesent to the Council for approval a European Carers programme and individually a European iInformal cCarers programme, to identify and recognise the different types of informal care provided in Europe, and to guarantee carers financial support and other additional support services, including time off for carers, and a work-life balance and rehabilitation services for carers and care recipients;
2022/04/08
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 791 #

2021/2253(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. In that regard, calls on the Member States to fully transpose Directive (EU) 2019/1158 of 20 June 2019 on work- life balance for parents and carers , which introduces leave for carers and the possibility to request flexible working time arrangements so that workers have the right to a minimum amount of officially recognised days of carers’ leave in order to provide personal care or support to a relative or to a person who lives in the same household as the worker and who is in need of significant care or support for a serious medical reason, as defined by each Member State;
2022/04/08
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 797 #

2021/2253(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Urges the Commission and the Member States to support civil society organisations supporting and representing informal carers, in order for these organisations to bring their perspective and contribute to the design, implementation and evaluation of policies concerning informal care;
2022/04/08
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 828 #

2021/2253(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Calls on the Member States to increase investments in care services and their quality, and in special measures that allow carers to maintain an active professional life;
2022/04/08
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 833 #

2021/2253(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 b (new)
22b. Encourages the Member States to reflect periods spent on care responsibilities in pension schemes, with a view to reducing and eventually closing the gender pension gap;
2022/04/08
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 850 #

2021/2253(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23a. 23a new. recalls, in this context, the fourth revision of Directive 2004/37/EC and the inclusion of work involving exposure to hazardous medicinal products meeting the criteria for classification as carcinogenic, mutagenic and/or toxic for reproduction category 1A or 1B as defined in Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008, in order to ensure the best possible general and individual protection measures for workers handling these products;
2022/04/08
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 970 #

2021/2253(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)
28a. Notes that there is a need to recognize and value care also economically in European economies, budgeting and statistics;
2022/04/08
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 971 #

2021/2253(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 b (new)
28b. Stresses the impact of green environments, daily access to different forms of nature and outdoors in good quality living conditions of people needing care, notes that studies show that access to nature has substantial benefits for both physical and mental health of all people, especially those needing care, and highlights the need to facilitate access to nature and outdoors for people dependent on care as well as to support nature-based solutions in the care sector;
2022/04/08
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 995 #

2021/2253(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 a (new)
30a. Calls on the Member States to increase investments and invest EU funds in care services and their quality, including the Recovery and Resilience Facility, the EU4Health Programme and the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF), in care infrastructure and facilitate accessible and affordable services for all;
2022/04/08
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 998 #

2021/2253(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 b (new)
30b. Calls on the Commission to strengthen the provision of funding for all types of care services through the European Social Fund+ and other financial instruments, which aim to fund social infrastructure;
2022/04/08
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 999 #

2021/2253(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 c (new)
30 c. Calls on the European Commission to secure funding for research projects on the social impact of rare diseases, from a patient-perspective, and to EU-wide networks and innovative projects that allow Member States to co- create and transfer good practices and innovative care models;
2022/04/08
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 1002 #

2021/2253(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 d (new)
30d. Calls for a European framework to strategically upskill and reskill workers and to formally recognise carers’ skills through a certification process;
2022/04/08
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 1003 #

2021/2253(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 e (new)
30e. Calls on the Commission to improve research and the collection of harmonized data in the area of long-term care;
2022/04/08
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 1004 #

2021/2253(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 f (new)
30f. Calls on the Commission to set up a European Expert Group on Care, bringing together public authorities, European NGOs representing people who draw on care, service providers, as well as other stakeholders, such as researchers, to create innovative care solutions, to ensure future-proof care systems and to phase out institutionalized care and replace it with community-based or home-based care and/or use of personalized budgets and personalised design of care;
2022/04/08
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 1005 #

2021/2253(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
31. Calls on the Member States to formulate and revise their care policies in permanent dialogue with social partners, experts, civil society and representative organisations of care recipients and carers; and to encourage civil dialogue between civil society NGOs and public authorities at national and EU level to support in creating effective social care policy solutions which fit the needs of the people on the ground;
2022/04/08
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 50 #

2021/2229(INL)


Annex to the motion for a legislative resolution
resolution 1. The number of representatives in the European Parliament elected in each Member State for the 2024-2029 parliamentary term is set as follows: Belgium 213 Bulgaria 17 Czech Republic 21 Denmark 15 Germany 96 Estonia 78 Ireland 145 Greece 21 Spain 61 France 7981 Croatia 12 Italy 76 Cyprus 6 Latvia 9 Lithuania 11 Luxembourg 6 Hungary 21 Malta 6 Netherlands 31 Austria 20 Poland 523 Portugal 21 Romania 33 Slovenia 9 Slovakia 15 Finland 15 Sweden 21
2023/03/24
Committee: AFCO
Amendment 51 #

2021/2229(INL)


Annex to the motion for a legislative resolution

Article 3 – paragraph 1
resolution 1. The number of representatives in the European Parliament elected in each Member State for the 2024-2029 parliamentary term is set as follows: Belgium 213 Bulgaria 17 Czech Republic 21 Denmark 15 Germany 96 Estonia 78 Ireland 145 Greece 21 Spain 61 France 7981 Croatia 12 Italy 76 Cyprus 6 Latvia 9 Lithuania 11 Luxembourg 6 Hungary 21 Malta 6 Netherlands 31 Austria 20 Poland 523 Portugal 21 Romania 33 Slovenia 9 Slovakia 15 Finland 15 Sweden 21
2023/03/24
Committee: AFCO
Amendment 120 #

2021/2179(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
4. Reiterates its call13 for the ‘think small first’ principle to be set as a guiding principle in the drafting of future legislation and the adoption of policies, so as to make the Union’s ecosystem more competitive and supportive of micro, small and medium-sized organisations both within and outside the social economy and hereby including strong workers’ rights and stimulating the process of collective bargaining; _________________ 13 In, inter alia, its resolution of 16 December 2020 on a new strategy for European SMEs and that of 24 June 2021 on European regulatory fitness and subsidiarity principle.
2022/03/09
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 143 #

2021/2179(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
5. Reminds the Member States that the Public Procurement Directive (Directive 2014/24/EU) allows contracting authorities to use public procurement to pursue environmental and social objectives, and, in particular, allows for reserved tender procedures for organisations whose main aim is the integration of persons with disabilities or other disadvantaged groups into the workforce; invites public authorities to consider socially and environmentally responsible public procurement as an investment in the socio-economic fabric with a great potential to combine social and competitive objectives, with a strong emphasis on the non-profit nature of the social economy;
2022/03/09
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 248 #

2021/2179(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
13. Invites the Commission, on the occasion of the next revision of the General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER), to adequately take into account the specific needs of social economy organisations in terms of access to finance and market development, to strengthen the role of State aid in promoting the recruitment of disadvantaged workers, including people with disabilities, persons with a sharply decreased yield deficit and people with a migration background, especially in the context of the post-COVID-19 recovery, and to explore different evidence-based options, after consulting relevant stakeholders, to support the development of social economy organisations;
2022/03/09
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 291 #

2021/2179(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
17. Notes that the full potential of the social economy sector for addressing socio-economic challenges requires a clear identification of social priorities by public authorities, where a wider application of SGEI is important for the activities of social service providers; highlights that social economy projects do generally require a close partnership with public entities, and calls therefore on the Commission and Member States to develop, within the macro- economic governance framework provided at EU level, a social investment strategy where social priorities are clearly identified and which can provide a framework for cooperation between public authorities and social economy organisations;
2022/03/09
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 23 #

2021/2170(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 32 a (new)
— having regard to the work of the EU Platform on Combatting Homelessness, launched in June 2021.
2022/01/13
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 88 #

2021/2170(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital I
I. whereas women have a lowthe average gender employment rate gap stands aret 11,5% with women disproportionally highly represented in low-paid, precarious and dead-end job sectors; whereas women are more affected by flexible work forms, atypical and flexible contracts(part-time work, temporary work).whereas the gender pay gap stands at 14.1 %;
2022/01/13
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 123 #

2021/2170(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital L a (new)
La. Whereas the Action Plan of the European Social Pillar has the specific aim to reduce the number of people at risk of poverty by at least 15 million, of which 5 million children, by 2030.
2022/01/13
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 126 #

2021/2170(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital L b (new)
L b. Whereas the European Social Charter recognises the right of all workers, and thus also female workers, to a fair remuneration sufficient for a decent standard of living for themselves and their families, and the right to equal pay for work of equal value. It establishes the right to protection against poverty and social exclusion, and it contributes to reducing the existing pay gap between men and women.
2022/01/13
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 128 #

2021/2170(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital L c (new)
Lc. whereas only 20.7 % of women with disabilities and 28.6 % of men with disabilities are in full-time employment; whereas in some Member States, persons with disabilities often lose their disability entitlements upon taking up employment, which increases their risk of in-work poverty;
2022/01/13
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 129 #

2021/2170(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
1. Points out that, according to Eurostat, there are currently 64.6 million women and 57.6 million men living in poverty in the Member States, which shows that the impact of poverty on women and men is different. Calls on the Commission to develop an ambitious 2030 European anti- poverty strategy, with concrete targets for reducing poverty and a focus on ending women’s poverty and the risk of intergenerational poverty;.
2022/01/13
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 165 #

2021/2170(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
4. Stresses the pivotal role of women working in the social, care cleaning, education and retail sectors that keep our societies functioning, as shown by the COVID-19 crisis; calls for typically female-dominated work to be reassessed and revaluated and for cross- sector gender- neutral job evaluation tools to be developed and applied in order to better assess and more fairly remunerate female- dominated work;
2022/01/13
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 167 #

2021/2170(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
5. Highlights that in order to tackle the multidimensionality of women’s poverty, it is necessary to overcome the segregation of unpaid domestic care work mainly performed by women and to introduce flexitime in order to allow women and men to better reconcile their professional life with their private life (time use policy);. Stresses that in-work poverty needs to be addressed at its root causes, such as but not limited to education and training. Calls on the Commission to urge Member States to invest in qualitative education and training, to share good practices and to have specific attention for life-long learning.
2022/01/13
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 215 #

2021/2170(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
9. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to mainstream gender into all transport-related legislation, policies, programmes and actions and to include gender criteria and work-life balance in the design of mobility, affordable housing and urban planning;
2022/01/13
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 224 #

2021/2170(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
10. Urges the EU and its Member States to integrate a gender perspective into policies and practices that address homelessness, to develop a specific strategy to combat women’s homelessness and to ensure that services work appropriately and effectively to meet the needs of homeless women; . Calls on all actors to integrate this gender perspective in the EU Platform against homelessness. Is convinced that the principle of housing first can play an important role in fighting homelessness and calls for the roll-out of these projects in all Members States.
2022/01/13
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 301 #

2021/2170(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Is convinced that the axiom that ‘work is the best cure for poverty’ no longer applies today in the face of low- wage sectors, atypical and precarious working conditions and the dismantling of social security systems and that effective collective agreements and minimum wage systems are needed to realise a poverty- free society.
2022/01/13
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 11 #

2021/2165(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 13 a (new)
— having regard to the European Economic and Social Committee opinion SOC/698 “Health & Safety at Work - EU Strategic Framework (2021-2027)”,
2021/11/17
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 14 #

2021/2165(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 16 a (new)
— having regard to its resolution of 20 October 2021 with recommendations to the Commission on protecting workers from asbestos(2019/2182(INL)),
2021/11/17
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 15 #

2021/2165(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 17 a (new)
— having regard to its resolution of 16 September 2021 on fair working conditions, rights and social protection for platform workers - new forms of employment linked to digital development (2019/2186(INI)),
2021/11/17
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 22 #

2021/2165(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital A
A. whereas in 2015, the European Working Conditions’ Survey (EWCS) found that 21 % of jobs in Europe were “high flying jobs“ and 20 % of jobs in Europe are of poor quality and put workers at increased risk regarding their health; whereas 14 % of workers have been exposed to a high level of psychosocial risks4 ; ;whereas 23 % of European workers believe that their safety or their health is at risk because of their work; whereas the fieldwork of the EWCS 2020 was put on halt due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic but was relaunched in July 2021 with a view to be published in the end of 2022; __________________ 4 ‘Sixth European Working Conditions Survey – Overview report (2017 update)’, Eurofound, 2017, Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg.
2021/11/17
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 25 #

2021/2165(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas Eurofound concludes that in 2017-2019, many positive economic and social developments took place with consistent economic growth, new employment highs, rising living standards and convergence of Member States towards better living and working conditions1a; whereas the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in nearly one half of all employees in Europe working at least part of their working time from home1b; whereas some studies suggest the perceptions of remote working have substantially improved since the beginning of the pandemic, which in turn is translated into a generalised preference for hybrid work arrangements1c; __________________ 1aEurofound (2021), Living and working in Europe 2020. Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg, p. 66. 1b Eurofound (2020), Living, working and COVID-19. Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg 1c Microsoft Work Trend Index (2021). “The next great disruption is hybrid work - are we ready?”.
2021/11/17
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 60 #

2021/2165(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Da. whereas work-related stress can significantly increase the risk of triggering and exacerbating musculoskeletal disorders and rheumatic /chronic inflammatory diseases;
2021/11/17
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 64 #

2021/2165(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E
E. whereas the COVID-19 pandemic has caused a rapid increase in teleworking where remote working served as a buffer during the crisis and preserved jobs that might otherwise have been lost9a; whereas remote working is proven to have a strong impact on the organisation of working time by increasing flexibility and workers’ constant availability9 ; whereas it is expected that the uptake of remote working and teleworking will remain higher than before the COVID-19 crisis or that it will even increase further10 ;whereas under normal conditions most employees would prefer a combination of working from home and working from the office with 32 % wanting to work from home several times a week9b; __________________ 9 ‘Working anytime, anywhere: The effects on the world of work’, Eurofound and the International Labour Office, 2017, Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg, and the International Labour Office, Geneva. 9aEurofound and European Commission Joint Research Centre (2021), What just happened? COVID-19 lockdowns and change in the labour market, Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg. 9bEurofound (2021), Living and working in Europe 2020, Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg, p. 43. 10‘Teleworking in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic: enabling conditions for a successful transition’, European Trade Union Institute, 2021, Brussels.
2021/11/17
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 73 #

2021/2165(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital F
F. whereas people who regularly work from home are more than twice as likely to work in excess of the requisite maximum 48 hours per week and are at risk of resting for less than the requisite 11 hours between working days; whereas almost 30 % of teleworkers report working in their free time every day or several times a week11 ; whereas telework also provides workers with the freedom to adapt their working hours and schedule to meet their own personal and family needs11a; __________________ 11‘Telework and ICT-based mobile work: Flexible working in the digital age’, New forms of employment series, Eurofound, 2020, Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg. 11a‘Telework and ICT-based mobile work: Flexible working in the digital age’, New forms of employment series, Eurofound, 2020, Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg.
2021/11/17
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 110 #

2021/2165(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the Commission’s strategic framework and, in particular, the introduction of the Vision Zero approach to work-related accidents and diseases, including the forthcoming new social scoreboard indicator on fatal accidents at work and the stocktaking OSH Summit in 2023; calls on the Commission to expand the Vision Zero approach to other injuries and accidents, as well as physical and mental attrition; calls on the Commission to significantly increase the focus on prevention strategies; calls for the ambitious implementation of the 7-year plan, also in the light of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the labour market and new ways of work, and believes that strong legislative action is needed on several aspects of EU policy on occupational health and safety in order to complement the variety of soft EU measures envisaged in order to make Vision Zero a reality; calls for a clear focus on social dialogue and workers’ participation in the Vision Zero approach;
2021/11/17
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 114 #

2021/2165(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
2. Calls for Directive 2004/37/EC of 29 April 2004 on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to carcinogens or mutagens at work to be updated on a continual basis and in an ambitious timeframe, ensuring that occupational exposure limits containedreiterates its call on the Commission, as a matter of urgency, and following consultation of the ACSH, to present an action plan to achieve occupational exposure limits for at least 25 additional substances in the dDirective exist for a minimum of 50 priority substances by 2024; calls for the inclusion of reprotoxic substances and hazardous medicinal products in the scope of the directive; 2004/37/EC and to consider, based on that action plan, the latest developments in scientific knowledge and after consulting the ACSH, presenting a legislative proposal by 31 December 2024; stresses in that regard the need for the Commission to increase the capacity necessary for reviewing Occupational Exposure Limits (OELs) and adding new ones; reiterates its repeated calls for the inclusion of reprotoxic substances and hazardous medicinal products in the scope of the directive; reiterates its call to revamp the current system to set limit values under the fourth revision of Directive 2004/37/EC and to move towards a new coherent, transparent and risk-based methodology system to be established for setting exposure limits and to better take into account workers' exposure to a combination of substances;
2021/11/17
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 121 #

2021/2165(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Highlights the need for further action to prevent, detect and better recognise occupational cancers related to night shift work and UV radiation (for outdoor workers); points out that the automation and robotisation of certain activities can significantly reduce the risk of workers being exposed to carcinogens in workplaces; encourages constant analyses and research on new substances under suspicion of being carcinogenic, mutagenic and/or reprotoxic (CMRs), the establishment of OELs for those chemical agents for which they do not yet exist, and periodic revisions whenever it becomes necessary in the light of more recent scientific data and technical developments, in close consultation with social partners; welcomes the workers survey prepared by the EU-OSHA on exposure to cancer risk factors; stresses that more systematic human biomonitoring programmes, in full compliance with data protection measures, both in occupational settings and non-occupational settings can be a one of several relevant sources of information on general chemical exposure effects and health impacts;
2021/11/17
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 128 #

2021/2165(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
3. Welcomes the Commission’s commitment to present in 2022 a legislative proposal to further reduce workers’ exposure to asbestos; recalls that asbestos has been banned in the Union since 2005 and that Member States must ensure that asbestos fibres are completely phased-out as soon as possible; calls on the Commission to be ambitious in its endeavours to achieve the total ban of asbestos and with regard to its zero accidents at work vision, and reiterates its call on the Commission to update the exposure limit for asbestos to 0.001 fibres/cm3 (1 000 fibres/m3); stresses the needreiterates its call for an EU framework directive for national asbestos removal strategies, including public national asbestos registers;
2021/11/17
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 146 #

2021/2165(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
4. Believes that Council Directive 89/391/EEC on the introduction of measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health of workers at work hasmay not proven effective enough for the world of work in the 21st century and the latest developments on labour markets and the assessment and management of psychosocial risks; recalls its request that the Commission include in the Strategic Framework for Occupational Safety and Health the right to disconnect and, explicitly, that it develop new psychosocial measures as part of the framework; calls on the Commission, in this regard, to step up the ambition of the Strategic Framework for Occupational Safety and Health; calls on the Commission to propose a directive on psychosocial risks and well-being at work aimed at the efficient prevention in the workplace of, inter alia, anxiety, depression, burnout and stress; calls on the Commission to aim for the recognition of anxiety, depression and burnout as occupational diseases, to establish mechanisms for their prevention and the reintegration into the workplace of affected employees, and to shift from individual- level actions to a work organisation approach;
2021/11/17
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 160 #

2021/2165(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
5. Welcomes the fact that the Commission is strengthening the gender focus on occupational safety and health; calls on the Commission to propose a legal act based on the framework agreement on harassment and violence at work, and calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure that the fight against workplace violence, discrimination and harassment applies regardless of the reason for the harassment and that it is not limited to cases based on discriminatory grounds; calls on the Member States’ governments to ratify ILO Convention No 190 to put in place the necessary laws and policy measures to prevent and address violence and harassment in the world of work;
2021/11/17
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 173 #

2021/2165(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
6. Welcomes the Commission’s intention to present by the end of 2021 a legislative initiative to improve the working conditions of platform workers; calls on the Commission to ensure that the proposal guarantees rights for all platform workers forand to address the specificities of platform work to ensure fair and transparent working conditions and a healthy and safe working environment;
2021/11/17
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 183 #

2021/2165(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
7. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to guarantee that all workers, including non- standard workers, workers in platform companies and the self-employed are covered by occupational safety and health (OSH) legislation and policies;
2021/11/17
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 192 #

2021/2165(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Calls on the European Commission to introduce a right to flexible work schedules for people who are treated for MSDs and rheumatic / chronic inflammatory diseases;
2021/11/17
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 217 #

2021/2165(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
9. Recalls the commitment by the Commission to assess the need for further actions to improve the functioning of the existing EU regulatory framework for health and safety and the need to amend the Biological Agents Directive; calls on the Commission to conduct, without delay, a targeted revision of the Biological Agents Directive, drawing on the lessons learned from the unprecedented pandemic health crisis with a view to better preparedness and response planning on health crises in all workplaces;
2021/11/17
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 220 #

2021/2165(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
10. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to improve research and data collection on the situation of mental health, psychosocial and ergonomic risks across sectors and additional research on the economic costs of health and workplace exclusion and to conduct a detailed assessment of problems with health and safety associated with remote- work and teleworking;
2021/11/17
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 225 #

2021/2165(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Calls on the European Commission and on Member States to contribute to the development of a centralised registry for data collection on the causes and impacts of musculoskeletal disorders and chronic inflammatory diseases;
2021/11/17
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 236 #

2021/2165(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
11. Calls on the Commission, in close consultation with Member States and the social partners, and taking into account existing national and sectorial practices, to propose a legislative framework with a view to establishing minimum requirements for remote work across the Union; stresses that such a framework should clarify working conditions, including the provision, use and liability of equipment, including as regards existing and new digital tools, and that it should ensure that such work is carried out on a voluntary basis and that the rights, workload and performance standards of teleworkers are equivalent to those of comparable workers;
2021/11/17
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 250 #

2021/2165(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
13. Welcomes the Commission’s commitment to revisemodernise the OSH legislative framework by reviewing Directive 89/654/EEC and Directive 90/270/EEC laying down minimum safety and health requirements for the work place and work with display screen equipment; calls on the Commission and the Member States to step up the research and data collection, to be more ambitious in this regard and to propose a directive on work- related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and rheumatic /chronic inflammatory diseases; welcomes in this regard the Commission intention to support awareness raising on MSDs and joins the call on the Member States to address occupational risks related to circulatory diseases;
2021/11/17
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 260 #

2021/2165(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
14. Repeats its call on the Commission to undertake an urgent study of the situation of the employment and health and safety conditions of cross-border and seasonal workers, including the role of temporary work agencies, recruiting agencies, other intermediaries and subcontractors, with a view to identifying protection gaps and the need to revise the existing legislative framework, as well as pandemic-proofinglso considering the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic;
2021/11/17
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 278 #

2021/2165(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
16. Stresses the need to recognise and involve social partners in the implementation and enforcement of the OSH legislative framework; calls on the Commission and the Member States to promote social dialogue and to ensure the involvement of social partners in the formulation of all EU and national OSH policies and in measures taken at all levels;
2021/11/17
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 11 #

2021/2039(INI)

— having regard to Directive (EU) 2019/1158 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 on work-life balance for parents and carers and repealing Council Directive 2010/18/EU;
2021/11/04
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 19 #

2021/2039(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 16 a (new)
— having regard to its resolution of 21 January 2021 on the gender perspective in the COVID-19 crisis and post-crisis period;
2021/11/04
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 24 #

2021/2039(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 18 a (new)
— having regard to Special report N10/2021:"Gender mainstreaming in the EU budget: time to turn words into action.https://www.eca.europa.eu/Lists/E CADocuments/SR21_10/SR_Gender_mai nstreaming_EN.pdf;
2021/11/04
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 59 #

2021/2039(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
E a. whereas the European Parliament can be a leader for other Parliamentary bodies in its promotion of gender equality;
2021/11/04
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 61 #

2021/2039(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E b (new)
E b. whereas the European Parliament can learn from the best practices of businesses, civil society and other parliamentary bodies in gender mainstreaming its structures and processes;
2021/11/04
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 62 #

2021/2039(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E c (new)
E c. whereas work-life balance in the European Parliament was greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, often resulting in longer working hours for both Members and staff facilitated by digital tools; stresses that working from home is not a substitute for childcare;
2021/11/04
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 64 #

2021/2039(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E d (new)
E d. whereas the European Parliament as an employer and a role model institution for society as a whole can benefit from motivated and healthy employees, that should be able to avail of work-life balance throughout their entire career;
2021/11/04
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 78 #

2021/2039(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
3. Welcomes the increasing number of women involved in politics, with the European Parliament showing considerable leadership in this area with 40% of elected Parliamentarians being women, but stresses that we are far from reaching gender parity;
2021/11/04
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 87 #

2021/2039(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
5. Welcomes the adoption of gender action plans by all Parliament committees; notes, however, the lack of monitoring and implementation of these plans; emphasises that the Gender Mainstreaming Network of the European Parliament is responsible for mainstreaming a gender inclusive approach into committees and delegations, and their work;
2021/11/04
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 102 #

2021/2039(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
7. Insists on the need to introduce binding quotas in the upcoming revision of the EU electoral lawEncourages all institutions and EU Member States to take account of the need for a gender inclusive European Parliament when crafting revisions to electoral laws; Further encourages political parties at both national and EU level to introduce quotas when deciding electoral candidates; Calls for support mechanisms and best practices to be shared with political parties to that end;
2021/11/04
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 111 #

2021/2039(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
8. Regrets the lack ofAsks that the European Parliament services advance gender- responsive recruitment procedures in Parliament;
2021/11/04
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 118 #

2021/2039(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9 a. Calls for an impact assessment of the consequences of implementing a fixed gender balance requirement across all parliamentary structures, including committees, delegations and missions; proposes that such a horizontal approach could amount to 40% of either gender to be considered as achieving gender balance in all Parliamentary structures and bodies;
2021/11/04
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 120 #

2021/2039(INI)

10. Calls for gender balance to be ensured at all levels of plenary, committee and delegation work, including when appointing coordinators, rapporteurs and shadow rapporteurs and when distributing speaking time;deleted
2021/11/04
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 129 #

2021/2039(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
11. Calls on the political groups to establish internal rules ensuring gender equality in their internal functioning; calls for best practice guides and advice to be made available to political groups to that end;
2021/11/04
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 143 #

2021/2039(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
13. Requests the collection of data on vertical and horizontal representation of the staff of the political groups and of anonymised data on pay gaps for Members’ assistants, group staff orand administrative staff to ensure pay transparency;
2021/11/04
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 144 #

2021/2039(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13 a. Requests that data be gathered as to the proportion of Parliamentary staff who are working part time, to be broken down by gender; calls for action to be taken on the basis of these figures should they find a significant imbalance to assess whether Parliament can facilitate additional supports should staff wish to return to full time work;
2021/11/04
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 149 #

2021/2039(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 – point b
b. carry out an external evaluation of Parliament’s existing Anti-Harassment Committee dealing with complaints about sexual harassment among staff, making best use of in-house Parliamentary resources; stresses that Members can only be adjudicated on by their peers and voters;
2021/11/04
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 151 #

2021/2039(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 – point c
c. to ensure a more comprehensive and holistic analysis of complaints and remedies, recompose the anti-harassment bodies to include external legal, medical and therapeutic experts as are already working in the European Parliament;
2021/11/04
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 155 #

2021/2039(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 – point d
d. introduce mandatorycalls on the services to ensure that the anti- harassment training for Members by making it a prerequisite for signing the Code of Appropriate Behaviouris easily accessible, including through making the courses available in more languages and through targeted outreach through Heads of Delegation; calls on the political groups to encourage their Members to undertake the anti- harassment training;
2021/11/04
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 168 #

2021/2039(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 c (new)
15 c. Calls for exploration of genuine parental, including maternity, leave for MEPs, including the possibility of temporary replacement while on leave, thus ensuring that constituents are not unrepresented while their Member is on leave and also ensuring that Members are not under pressure to return to work immediately; stresses that the decision to make use of a temporary replacement would be the choice of the relevant Member;
2021/11/04
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 169 #

2021/2039(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 d (new)
15 d. Welcomes the flexible structures and accommodation made for breastfeeding mothers within the European Parliament;
2021/11/04
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 170 #

2021/2039(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 e (new)
15 e. Welcomes the allowances that are available to families of European Parliament employees;
2021/11/04
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 171 #

2021/2039(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 f (new)
15 f. Stresses that amending the functioning of the Parliament in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic should also take into account the work- life balance of both Members and staff; calls therefore for consideration of a more flexible working structure, to be balanced with the requirements of a well- functioning and strong Parliament;
2021/11/04
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 172 #

2021/2039(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 g (new)
15 g. Calls for an examination by the European Parliament services as to the impact that menopause has on the working life of Parliament employees; stresses that this should be evidence-based and include guidance on medical and lifestyle management of midlife and menopausal symptoms using national and international guidelines;
2021/11/04
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 173 #

2021/2039(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 h (new)
15 h. Calls for consideration of menopause in sickness and attendance management policies;
2021/11/04
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 183 #

2021/2039(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
17. Calls for the institutionalisation of the Gender Mainstreaming Network in the Rules of Procedurethrough a standing discussion item in the agendas of Committee meetings;
2021/11/04
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 189 #

2021/2039(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
18. Commits to working more closelyEncourages closer work with the European Institute for Gender Equality toby delivering regular training on gender mainstreaming for Members, group staff, parliamentary assistants, Parliamentary services and staff of committee secretariats;
2021/11/04
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 196 #

2021/2039(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
19. Commits to modifying the Rules of Procedure to include a specific procedure for gStresses that gender mainstreaming amendments in all committees are the responsibility of Members of the Gender mMainstreaming amendmentNetwork; regrets that this work is very ad hoc thus far and should be implemented on a more structured basis;
2021/11/04
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 200 #

2021/2039(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
20. Calls for all missions of the committees and delegations to be gender- balanced and for the gender equality dimension to be examined;deleted
2021/11/04
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 207 #

2021/2039(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
21. Welcomes the commitment in the gender action plan roadmap to ensure that conferences include gender-balanced panels and experts, with the possibility to examine the gender equality dimension in the specific area of focus;
2021/11/04
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 224 #

2021/2039(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
23. Asks the Commission to carry out a gender impact assessment for each legislative proposal; commits to carrying out apublished gender impact assessment for each own initiative legislative reportproposal;
2021/11/04
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 232 #

2021/2039(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
24. Regrets that, overall, gender mainstreaming has not yet been applied across the EU budget; urges the European Commission to act on the recommendations of the European Court of Auditors in this regard;
2021/11/04
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 286 #

2021/2039(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
35. Calls for the establishment of a working group composedincorporation of representatives of each political group and chaired by the gender mainstreaming standing rapporteurs of Parliamentinto the High Level Group on Gender Equality and Diversity to steer the work in that area;
2021/11/04
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 40 #

2021/2035(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 15 a (new)
– having regard to the LGBTIQ Equality Strategy 2020-2025 of 12 November 2020,
2021/06/08
Committee: LIBEFEMM
Amendment 44 #

2021/2035(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 15 b (new)
– having regard to the EU Strategy on victims’ rights (2020-2025),
2021/06/08
Committee: LIBEFEMM
Amendment 47 #

2021/2035(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 15 c (new)
– having regard to the UN brief ‘COVID-19 and Ending Violence Against Women and Girls’, 20201a _________________ 1a https://www.unwomen.org/- /media/headquarters/attachments/sections /library/publications/2020/issue-brief- covid-19-and-ending-violence-against- women-and-girls-en.pdf?la=en&vs=5006
2021/06/08
Committee: LIBEFEMM
Amendment 50 #

2021/2035(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 15 d (new)
– having regard to the legal opinion of the advocate general of the European Court of Justice on the Istanbul Convention, aimed at clarifying the legal uncertainty about if and how the EU can access and ratify the Convention, delivered on March 11, 20211a, _________________ 1a https://curia.europa.eu/juris/document/do cument.jsf?docid=238745&doclang=en
2021/06/08
Committee: LIBEFEMM
Amendment 67 #

2021/2035(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Recital C
C. whereas gender-based violence is violence directed against women because they are women andor it affects women disproportionately; whereas LGBTI persons are also victims of gender-based violence because of their gender, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics; whereas gender-based violence is rooted in gender stereotypes, patriarchal structures and power asymmetriremains one of our societies’ biggest challenges and is deeply rooted in gender inequality and gender stereotypes;
2021/06/08
Committee: LIBEFEMM
Amendment 84 #

2021/2035(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Recital D
D. whereas the European Institute for Gender Equality defines femicide as the killing of women and girls because of their gender; whereas it can take different forms such as the murder of women as a result of intimate partner violence, killing of women and girls because of their gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics, as well as female and intersex genital mutilations and so called "honour killings";
2021/06/08
Committee: LIBEFEMM
Amendment 98 #

2021/2035(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E
E. whereas there is a lack of updated, comprehensive and comparable disaggregated data on all forms of gender- based violence across the Member States;
2021/06/08
Committee: LIBEFEMM
Amendment 119 #

2021/2035(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Fa. whereas in its work programme for 2021, the Commission announced a new legislative proposal to prevent and combat gender-based violence, as well as a specific proposal to extend the list of EU crimes to include all forms of hate crime and hate speech, whereas combatting gender-based violence is among the priorities of the Commission’s President1a; _________________ 1a https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/default/files /political-guidelines-next- commission_en_0.pdf
2021/06/08
Committee: LIBEFEMM
Amendment 122 #

2021/2035(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Recital F b (new)
Fb. whereas the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (the ‘Istanbul Convention’) has been signed by all Member States and ratified by 21; whereas disinformation campaigns to undermine gender equality also block progress on the issue of eliminating violence against women, as has been seen in relation to the Istanbul Convention, leading to public opposition and regrettable political decisions in some Member States;
2021/06/08
Committee: LIBEFEMM
Amendment 123 #

2021/2035(INL)

Fc. whereas a possible addition of gender-based violence to article 83(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) requires to establish that it is a particularly serious crime with a cross-border dimension resulting from the nature of the offence, the impact of the offence, or a special need to combat the offence on a common basis;
2021/06/08
Committee: LIBEFEMM
Amendment 124 #

2021/2035(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Recital F d (new)
Fd. whereas gender-based violence is a huge and structural problem in our society, affecting a significant part of the European population, with EU surveys showing that one in three women has experienced sexual and/or physical violence during her life, and one in two women (55%) has experienced sexual harassment1a; _________________ 1aEuropean Union Agency for Fundamental Rights entitled ‘Violence against women: an EU-wide survey’, published in 2014
2021/06/08
Committee: LIBEFEMM
Amendment 125 #

2021/2035(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Recital F e (new)
Fe. whereas the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an increase in domestic violence across Member States, with women and girls, children and LGBTI+ persons shown to be disproportionately impacted by this form of violence, as they can be exposed to abusers for long periods of time and can be cut off from social and institutional support; whereas community support for these vulnerable groups has been dramatically restricted given the measures taken in response to the pandemic;
2021/06/08
Committee: LIBEFEMM
Amendment 128 #

2021/2035(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
1. Condemns all forms of violence against women and girls and other forms of gender-based violence, such as violence against LGBTI persons, and deplores the fact that women and girls continue to be exposed to psychological, physical, sexual and economic violence, including sexual exploitation and trafficking in human beings, both online and offline online and offline, which is considered to refer to different acts of violence that result in, or are likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering and which common feature is that they are directed against a person because of that person’s gender or that affects them disproportionately;
2021/06/08
Committee: LIBEFEMM
Amendment 136 #

2021/2035(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Recalls that “violence against women” is understood as a violation of human rights and a form of discrimination against women and shall mean all acts of gender-based violence that result in, or are likely to result in, physical, sexual, psychological or economic harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life;
2021/06/08
Committee: LIBEFEMM
Amendment 137 #

2021/2035(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Recalls that “domestic violence” shall mean all acts of physical, sexual, psychological or economic violence that occur within the family or domestic unit or between former or current spouses or partners, whether or not the perpetrator shares or has shared the same residence with the victim; emphasises that the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the volume of gender-based violence experienced by women and girls across the EU, particularly in the form of domestic violence, resulting in an overwhelming need for support services for these victims;
2021/06/08
Committee: LIBEFEMM
Amendment 138 #

2021/2035(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 c (new)
1c. Reminds that according to Article 3(3), second subparagraph, TEU, “the EU shall combat social exclusion and discrimination, and shall promote social justice and protection, equality between women and men, solidarity between generations and protection of the rights of the child”; and that pursuant to Article 5(2)TEU, “under the principle of conferral, the Union shall act only within the limits of the competences conferred upon it by the Member States in the Treaties to attain the objectives set out therein. Competences not conferred upon the Union in the Treaties remain with the Member States”;
2021/06/08
Committee: LIBEFEMM
Amendment 144 #

2021/2035(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
2. Denounces femicide as the morest extreme form of gender-based violence against women and girls and a very severe violation of human rights;
2021/06/08
Committee: LIBEFEMM
Amendment 150 #

2021/2035(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses that violence against women and other forms of gender-based violence are the result of the unequal distribution of power, patriarchal structures, and gender stereotypes, that have led to domination over and discrimination against women by men; underlindeeply rooted in structural inequalities in our society and are still shrouded in silence and continue to be one of the most severe violations of human rights; gender-based violence remains widespread and it has a huge impact on victims, their families, and communities; that thise situation is aggravated by social and economic inequalitiefurther exacerbated by gender biases, stereotypes and the continuous manifestation of historically unequal power relations;
2021/06/08
Committee: LIBEFEMM
Amendment 173 #

2021/2035(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
4. Underlines the wide range of psychological impacts that gender-based violence has on victims, including stress, concentration problems, anxiety, panic attacks, low self-esteem, depression, post- traumatic stress disorder, lack of trust and of sense of control; recalls that gender- based violence also has a social and economic impact; underlines that the mental health impacts can include severe social consequences for the victims regarding, among others, their participation in the society, resulting in their inability to engage as a productive member of a society or fully exercise their rights as EU citizens, and highlights that provision of mental health services for victims of those crimes is often provided as well by NGOs and civil society actors;
2021/06/08
Committee: LIBEFEMM
Amendment 180 #

2021/2035(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Highlights the detrimental economic impacts that gender-based violence and the subsequent mental health issues it causes, can have on victims, including their ability to seek employment and the financial burden imposed on them by taking legal action; taking into account therefore the estimated annual societal costs of gender- based violence (290 billion) exceeding the estimated annual costs of particularly serious crimes listed under art 83(1)1a; _________________ 1aEPRS interim European Added Values Assessment (EAVA) on gender-based violence, p.35
2021/06/08
Committee: LIBEFEMM
Amendment 194 #

2021/2035(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
6. Denounces the fact that the combat against gender-based violence is negatively affected by the attack on women’s rights and gender equality; condemns the actions of anti-gender and anti-women movements in Europe and worldwide that aim to overturn existing laws on women’s rights and LGBTI+ rightsFirmly believes that the EU must make combating gender-based violence in all its forms a policy priority; denounces all movements that undermine this goal;
2021/06/08
Committee: LIBEFEMM
Amendment 208 #

2021/2035(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
7. Insists on actions to prevent gender- based violence by addressing the underlying causes, including counteracting sexism, gender stereotypes and patriarchal values of gender inequality; underlines the need for gender equality to have a central place in education which challenges gender stereotypes and supports the development of non-violent relationships, and the need for an EU-wide awareness-raising campaigns on gender stereotypes, which includes information targeted at educating our younger citizens about gender equality;
2021/06/08
Committee: LIBEFEMM
Amendment 232 #

2021/2035(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
8. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to improve the regular availability and comparability of quality, disaggregated data on all forms of gender- based violence at EU and national level and for the harmonisation of data collection systems among Member States, through cooperation with Eurostat, the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights and the European Institute for Gender Equality; believes that quality data will be essential for clear and measurable targets in the elimination of gender-based violence;
2021/06/08
Committee: LIBEFEMM
Amendment 238 #

2021/2035(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
9. Highlights the need for targeted policies to address the situation of survivorsvictims of gender-based violence who experience intersectional forms of discrimination, such as women refugees, asylum seekers and migrants, indigenous women, racialised women, women from religious and ethnic minorities, lesbian, bisexual and trans women, elderly women and women wibased on several personal characteristics such as race, colour, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, association with a national minority, property, birth, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, state of health, disabilitiey, marital status, migrant or refugee status, or other status;
2021/06/08
Committee: LIBEFEMM
Amendment 245 #

2021/2035(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Regrets that cyber violence disproportionally affects women and girls, including online harassment, cyberbullying and sexist hate speech (the cost of cyber harassment and cyber stalking is estimated between €49.0 and €89.3 billion1a) and is becoming increasingly common; deplores that gender-based cyberviolence reduces the participation of women from public debate which, as consequence, degrades our democratic principles; regrets that this ‘silencing effect’ has been particularly aimed at targeting women politicians, journalists and activists, with the intention of discouraging the presence of women in the political life and decision-making spheres; _________________ 1a https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/ etudes/STUD/2021/662621/EPRS_STU(2 021)662621_EN.pdf
2021/06/08
Committee: LIBEFEMM
Amendment 248 #

2021/2035(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 b (new)
9b. Is deeply worried about the nature, extent and gravity of gender-based violence and harassment in the workplaces; welcomes in this regard the recently adopted ILO Convention 190 on violence and harassment in the world of work and calls on the Member States to ratify and implement it without delay; calls also on the Commission and the Member States to adequately complete the existing framework for effective measures to prohibit violence and harassment in the workplace, as well as preventive measures, effective access to gender- responsive, safe and effective complaint and dispute resolution mechanisms, training and awareness-raising campaigns, psychological support services and remedies;
2021/06/08
Committee: LIBEFEMM
Amendment 252 #

2021/2035(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
10. Recalls that violationEncourages the Commission to promote regular exchanges of good practices between member states and stakeholders ofn sexual and reproductive rights are a form of violence against women and girlshealth rights, within its proposals for additional measures to prevent and combat forms of gender-based violence;
2021/06/08
Committee: LIBEFEMM
Amendment 274 #

2021/2035(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
11. Notes that the Commission must address the particular situation of migrant women’s protection againstmigrant women are particularly vulnerable to gender-based violence, and; recalls that under Directive 2012/29/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council6 access toall victims of gender- based violence deserve to receive appropriate protecinformation, support services and effective remedies must be available to all victims of gender-based violence, independent ofand protection and are able to participate in criminal proceedings, and that all rights must apply in a non-discriminatory manner, including with respect to their residence status5a; _________________ 65aas set out in Directive 2012/29/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 establishing minimum standards on the rights, support and protection of victims of crime, and replacing Council Framework Decision 2001/220/JHA (OJ L 315, 14.11.2012, p. 57).
2021/06/08
Committee: LIBEFEMM
Amendment 287 #

2021/2035(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
12. Calls on Member States to take all necessary measures to promote and ensure the protection of women and girls in all their diversity and all survivorvictims of gender- based violence against all forms of violence;
2021/06/08
Committee: LIBEFEMM
Amendment 293 #

2021/2035(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
13. Underlines the obligation on Member States to ensure that there is support and services for survivorvictims of gender- based violence; recalls the importance, in that context, of support to independent civil society and women’s shelter organisations in particular with regards to the provision of essential psychological and legal consultation supports;
2021/06/08
Committee: LIBEFEMM
Amendment 304 #

2021/2035(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
14. Calls on the Member States to step up their work in order to ensure that victims have access to justice, including restorative justice, and to guarantee that the rights of the victim are placed at the centre in order to avoid discrimination, traumatisation or revictimisation during judicial, medical and police proceedings; underlines with concern that most Member States still have issues with complete/correct transposition and/or practical application of the Victim’s Rights Directive, as reflected in the Commission’s Strategy on victim’s rights, and calls on their due diligence for its complete and correct transposition;
2021/06/08
Committee: LIBEFEMM
Amendment 312 #

2021/2035(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
15. Calls on the Member States to improve the resources and training of practitioners, law enforcement officers and all professionals dealing with victims of gender-based violence; calls on Members States to ensure that victims have the right to state-funded legal aid before and during legal proceedings;
2021/06/08
Committee: LIBEFEMM
Amendment 322 #

2021/2035(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
16. Stresses that gender-based violence is a particularly serious crime and a widespread violation of fundamental rights in the Union which needs to be addressed with greater efficiency and determination on a common basis; stresses that gender-based violence is the result of a patriarchal society that has a cross-border dimension; points, in particular, at the growing anti- gender and anti-women movements, which are well organised and have a cross-border naturewith profound impact on individual fundamental rights and freedoms as well as on the population which needs to be addressed with greater efficiency and determination; stresses the cross-border dimension of gender-based violence, directly stemming from the impact of this offence across the Member States, as well as from the need of a common action at EU level; considers that the great individual, economic and societal impacts across all Member States, taking into account the estimation of the societal cost of 290 billion euros of gender-based violence, reaffirms the need to combat gender-based violence in its multiple dimensions on a common EU basis;
2021/06/08
Committee: LIBEFEMM
Amendment 336 #

2021/2035(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Strongly advocates for all EU Member States and for the EU to ratify the Istanbul Convention; regrets that six Member States have yet to do so; emphasises that both an EU-wide accession to this Convention together with the parallel recognition of gender-based violence under the TFEU are needed in order to adequately address the problem;
2021/06/08
Committee: LIBEFEMM
Amendment 347 #

2021/2035(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
17. Stresses that the special need to combat violence against women and girls and other forms of gender-based violence on a common basis also results from the need to establish minimum rules concerning the definition of criminal offences and sanctions, thus contributing to law enforcement in cross border operations;
2021/06/08
Committee: LIBEFEMM
Amendment 348 #

2021/2035(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
17. Stresses that the special need to combat violence against women and girls in all their diversity and other forms of gender-based violence on a common basis also results from the need to establish minimum rules concerning the definition of criminal offences and sanctions;
2021/06/08
Committee: LIBEFEMM
Amendment 364 #

2021/2035(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
19. Calls on the Commission to propose a directive on gender-based violence that implements the standards of the Istanbul Convention and includes the following elements: prevention, including through gender-sensitive education programming directed at both girls and boys, and empowerment of women and girls; support services and protection measures for survivorvictims; combating all forms of gender-based violence, including violations of women’s sexual and reproductive health and rights; and minimum standards for law enforcement; and minimum standards for law enforcement, cooperation among Member States and the exchange of best practices, information and expertise; stresses that this new directive shall be complementary to existing and upcoming legislative and non-legislative measures in order to achieve a coherent EU action in gender equality, as well as an eventual ratification of the Istanbul Convention; believes that the implementation of these measures could be facilitated by the national equality bodies;
2021/06/08
Committee: LIBEFEMM
Amendment 373 #

2021/2035(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
20. Calls on the Commission to appoint a coordinator against violence against women and other forms of gender-based violence;deleted
2021/06/08
Committee: LIBEFEMM
Amendment 387 #

2021/2035(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Annex I – Recital 5
(5) Gender-based violence is violence directed against women because they are women and it affects women disproportionately. LGBTI persons are also victims of gender-based violence because of their gender, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics. Gender- based violence is rooted in gender stereotypes, patriarchal structures and power asymmetries stereotypes are a root cause of gender inequality and affect all areas of society.
2021/06/08
Committee: LIBEFEMM
Amendment 390 #

2021/2035(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Annex I – Recital 7
(7) Gender-based violence constitutes a violation of fundamental rights such as the right to security and the rights to life and to physical integrity, human dignity, prohibition of torture and inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, prohibition of slavery and forced labour, respect for private and family life enshrined in Articles 61, 2 and 3, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 of the Charter, respectively.
2021/06/08
Committee: LIBEFEMM
Amendment 35 #

2021/2013(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital A
A. whereas health is fundamental to the well-being of Europeans and equitable access to healthcare is a pillar of the EU; whereas safe, affordable medicines are needed to combat all diseases; whereas patients should be at the centre of all health policies, alongside investment and research, and in every aspect of the medicine regulatory lifecycle;
2021/06/10
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 51 #

2021/2013(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
B a. whereas the disruption of the global supply chain ensuing from the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the EU’s dependency on third countries in the health sector; whereas the EU's open strategic autonomy and security of supply should be ensured by diversification of supply chains for essential medicines and medicinal products, including European manufacturing sites, as well as by applying public procurement rules that should not consider price as the sole criterion;
2021/06/10
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 78 #

2021/2013(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
C a. Whereas many innovations of the pharmaceutical industry are not really offering breakthrough improvements for the patients but are either so-called ‘me- too’ pharmaceuticals, which are just another substance for the same indication without major benefits or offer only minor improvements with significantly higher costs; whereas it would be beneficial for patients if the framework for the pharmaceutical industry in Europe would better incentivize real breakthrough innovations;
2021/06/10
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 91 #

2021/2013(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
C a. whereas a competitive and resilient European research-based pharmaceutical industry is more responsive to patients’ needs and to strategic interest for public health, economic growth, jobs, trade, and scientific and technological progress;
2021/06/10
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 149 #

2021/2013(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Stresses the importance of improving patients and healthcare professionals’ education on medicines by setting up a dedicated Europe-wide online resource centre;
2021/06/10
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 150 #

2021/2013(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1 b. Welcomes the upcoming creation of the European Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) and calls for the allocation of sufficient resources and power autonomy to broadly address all the cross-borders threats to health that EU could face in the middle term and beyond the sole COVID- 19 pandemic, including resources for the development of new therapeutics against viral and bacterial pathogens;
2021/06/10
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 175 #

2021/2013(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Considers the serious and constantly increasing risks of AMR to public health, environment, food production, and economic growth; recognises the value of public health campaigns aimed at the prevention of infections using vaccines;
2021/06/10
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 190 #

2021/2013(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Calls on the Commission to propose as soon as possible a legal framework to encourage innovation for new antibiotics with incentives either comparable to the area of orphan drugs or paediatrics or new innovative incentives to stimulate innovation to bring new antibiotics the market;
2021/06/10
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 207 #

2021/2013(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
4. Calls on the Commission to incorporate new criteria into the system of incentives for research into and the development of new medicines for unmet therapeutic needs, prioritising projects promoted by the pharmaceutical industry combating rare diseases, paediatric cancers (especially to incentivise First-in-Child development of paediatric anticancer medicines), neurodegenerative diseases and AMR, with the aim of finding more therapeutic options and meeting the needs of patients and health systems; calls on the Commission to promote the creation of an EU framework to guide and regularly evaluate the implementation of national plans to fight these diseases;
2021/06/10
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 218 #

2021/2013(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Calls on the Commission, where appropriate in dialogue with the Member States, to work on a framework for pharmaceutical legislation and a reimbursement system that favours real breakthrough innovations for patients and incentivizes less so-called ‘me too’ pharmaceuticals which do not have an added value or highly expensive pharmaceuticals that offer only minor improvements for patients;
2021/06/10
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 247 #

2021/2013(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
5. Calls on the Commission to promote dialogue with the Member States and stakeholders to assess new criteria for national pricing, such as whether a product is ‘Made in Europe’, whether the EU invested in the product to support research, or whether prices should be adapted to the value of the therapeutic benefit of the medicine, or whether it is a generic or biosimilar medicine, and the primary and broader needs of the population;
2021/06/10
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 256 #

2021/2013(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Calls on the Commission to apply public procurement rules that should not consider price as the sole and main selection criterion;
2021/06/10
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 310 #

2021/2013(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7 a. Stresses that cost savings generated from the use of biosimilars should be reinvested in a transparent and tangible way; calls on the European Commission to encourage Member States to support the transparent practices of biosimilar-related cost savings; calls on the European Commission to facilitate arrangements such as gainsharing programmes;
2021/06/10
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 319 #

2021/2013(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7 b. Calls on the Commission to ensure that EU funding for biomedical research and development includes clauses that contribute to the availability and affordability of final products;
2021/06/10
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 330 #

2021/2013(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
8. Welcomes the fact that the Commission will launch a pilot project to better understand the root causes of the delayed arrival of medicines on the market; further welcomes the fact that the Commission will continue to monitor mergers between pharmaceutical companies to avoid distortions of competition; stresses the need to reduce medicine approval times, setting a time limit for approval at national level, and align them with European Medicines Agency (EMA) times, in order to ensure rapid and equal access to medicines for everyone in the EU;
2021/06/10
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 339 #

2021/2013(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
9. Highlights the benefits of public- private partnership tenders for national health systems in funding research into and the production of innovative medicines, only if driven by public interest considerations;
2021/06/10
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 398 #

2021/2013(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11 a. Calls on the Commission to create a High-Level Forum on Better Access to Medicines to identify multi-stakeholder solutions to introducing new health technologies that can broaden access, reduce delays and mitigate the impact of shortages;
2021/06/10
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 434 #

2021/2013(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12 a. Calls on the Commission to expand the role of EMA in the assessment of drug-device/diagnostic combination products to simplify the fragmented supervisory framework; believes that greater regulatory agility and efficiency can be achieved by adopting a more expertise-driven scientific assessment on marketing authorisations within the European Medicines Agency(EMA);
2021/06/10
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 459 #

2021/2013(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)
12 b. Calls on the Commission to legitimise EMA’s PRIME scheme and include a PRIME designation in the legislative framework;
2021/06/10
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 463 #

2021/2013(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 c (new)
12 c. Calls on the Commission to facilitate assessment processes that allow for early and iterative dialogue on data and evidence as they are generated; calls on the EMA and national medicine agencies to prioritise the submission of data from randomised controlled clinical trials that compare an investigational medicine against the standard treatment;
2021/06/10
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 471 #

2021/2013(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 d (new)
12 d. Requests the Commission to work with Member States to reduce fragmentation in the application of the General Data Protection Regulation, which substantially increases the complexity and burden of conducting clinical research in Europe;
2021/06/10
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 476 #

2021/2013(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 e (new)
12 e. Notes that decisions taken regarding the EU's pharmaceutical regulatory environment will have implications beyond Europe's borders, given that several third countries recognize and rely on EU requirements, particularly when it comes to the facilitation of exports and the waiving of requirements to test these in third countries when they come from the EU; therefore emphasizes the importance of maintaining such mutual recognition agreements with third countries and ensuring that these remain up to date;
2021/06/10
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 519 #

2021/2013(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
15. Highlights the fact that gene and cell therapies, personalised medicine, nanomedicines and nanotechnology, next- generation vaccines, including the m-RNA derivatives, e-health and the ‘Million plus genomes’ initiative can bring enormous benefits in relation to the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and post-treatment of all diseases; urges the Commission to develop appropriate regulatory frameworks, to guide new business models, and to run information campaigns to raise awareness and encourage the use of these innovations;
2021/06/10
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 524 #

2021/2013(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15 a. Recognises that ATMPs are fundamentally different from traditional pharmaceuticals as they address the root causes of disease and that their fundamental durability and potential curative nature can allow them to be the future of medicine; acknowledges that regulatory bodies such as the EMA are set to review and approve dozens of ATMPs over the coming years, underlining the need for the Commission to establish in addition to its ATMP Action Plan a robust regulatory landscape that facilitates access for all the eligible European patients, and to continue to build on Europe’s position as a major player in ATMPs in order for Europe to remain globally competitive in ATMP development;
2021/06/10
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 527 #

2021/2013(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)
15 b. Calls on the Commission to establish a coordinating body to facilitate cross-border treatments and to ensure that patients across Europe enjoy equitable access to innovative therapies; urges the Commission to work with the EMA to create a one-stop-shop for ATMP developers to seek guidance and communication on their applications;
2021/06/10
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 528 #

2021/2013(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 c (new)
15 c. Calls on the Commission to establish a regulatory framework for nanomedicines and nanosimilars, and calls for these products to be approved through a compulsory centralised procedure;
2021/06/10
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 568 #

2021/2013(INI)

18 a. Underlines – especially in view of the experiences of the COVID-19 crisis – the importance of drug repurposing as a faster way to new treatment options and therefore demands five years of data protection for valuable innovation on known substance; in addition, underlines that a framework which supports the marketing and use of the drug with the approved new label claim - instead of off- label use - should be urgently considered to make drug repurposing attractive in the EU;
2021/06/10
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 618 #

2021/2013(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
20. Supports the Commission in its efforts to conduct a structured dialogue with players in the pharmaceutical value chain, public authorities, non-governmental patient and health organisations and the research community to address the root causes of shortages of medicines and the weaknesses in the global medicines manufacturing and supply chain;
2021/06/10
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 659 #

2021/2013(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
22. Stresses the need for the pharmaceutical industry to be environmentally friendly and climate- neutral throughout the life cycles of medicinal products; calls on the Commission to strengthen inspection and auditing throughout the production chain, particularly outside the EU; urges the Commission to ensure quality environmental sustainability standards for active pharmaceutical ingredients imported from non-EU countries; calls on the Commission to address the problem of domestic pharmaceutical waste, with measures to reduce packaging and the size of containers to ensure they are no larger than necessary, and to bring medical prescriptions into line with real therapeutic needs; notes that the creation of electronic systems of information and identification of packaging would be an effective way to reduce it; acknowledges steps taken already by the pharmaceutical industry like, for example, the Eco-Pharmaco- Stewardship initiative;
2021/06/10
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 169 #

2021/0414(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Citation 5 a (new)
— having regard to the Commission Communication on draft Guidelines on the application of EU competition law to collective agreements regarding the working conditions of solo self-employed persons (C(2021) 8838);
2022/06/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 170 #

2021/0414(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Citation 5 b (new)
— having regard to the Commission Staff Working Document Impact Assessment Report (SWD(2021 396);
2022/06/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 225 #

2021/0414(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 7
(7) Court cases in several Member States have shown the persistence of misclassification of the employment status in certain types of platform work, in particular in sectors where digital labour platforms exert a certain degree of control over the remuneration and performance of work. Approximately 5.5 of 28.3 million persons performing platform work in the European Union are estimated to be subject to a certain degree of control.1a While digital labour platforms frequently classify persons working through them as self-employed or ‘independent contractors’, many courts have found that the platforms exercise de facto direction and control over those persons, often integrating them in their main business activities and unilaterally determining the level of remuneration. Those courts have therefore reclassified purportedly self- employed persons as workers employed by the platforms. However, national case law has resulted in diverse outcomes and digital labour platforms have adapted their business model in various ways, thus increasing the lack of legal certainty over the employment status. __________________ 1a Commission Impact Assessment Report, SWD(2021) 396 final
2022/06/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 241 #

2021/0414(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 8
(8) Automated monitoring and decision-making systems powered by algorithms increasingly replace functions that managers usually perform in businesses, such as allocating tasks, giving instructions, evaluating the work performed, providing incentives or imposing sanctions. Digital labour platforms use such algorithmic systems as a standard way of organising and managing platform work through their infrastructure. Persons performing platform work subject to such algorithmic management often lack information on how the algorithms work, which personal data are being used and how their behaviour affects decisions taken by automated systems. Workers’ representatives, including trade unions, and labour inspectorates do not have access to this information either. Moreover, persons performing platform work often do not know the reasons for decisions taken or supported by automated systems and lack the possibility to discuss those decisions with a contact person or to contest them.
2022/06/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 255 #

2021/0414(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 10
(10) A body of legal instruments provides for minimum standards in working conditions and labour rights across the Union. This includes in particular Directive (EU) 2019/1152 of the European Parliament and of the Council55 on transparent and predictable working conditions, Directive 2003/88/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council56 on working time, Directive 2008/104/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council57 on temporary agency work, and other specific instruments on aspects such as health and safety at work, notably Directive 89/391/EEC, information and consultation of workers, notably Directive 2002/14/EC and Directive 2009/38/EC, pregnant workers, work-life balance, fixed- term work, part-time work, posting of workers, information and consultation of workers, among others. While those instruments provide a level of protection to workers, they do not apply to the genuine self- employed. __________________ 55 Directive (EU) 2019/1152 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 on transparent and predictable working conditions in the European Union (OJ L 186, 11.7.2019, p. 105). 56 Directive 2003/88/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 November 2003 concerning certain aspects of the organisation of working time (OJ L 299, 18.11.2003, p. 9). 57 Directive 2008/104/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008 on temporary agency work (OJ L 327, 5.12.2008, p. 9).
2022/06/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 266 #

2021/0414(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 13
(13) While existing or proposed Union legal acts provide for certain general safeguards, challenges in platform work require some further specific measures. In order to adequately frame the development of platform work in a sustainable manner, it is necessary for the Union to set new minimum standards in working conditions to address the challenges arising from platform work. Persons performing platform work in the Union should be provided with a number of minimum rights aiming at ensuring correct determination of their employment status, at promoting transparency, fairness and accountability in algorithmic management, and at improving transparency in platform work, including in cross-border situations, as well as to ensure the right to participate in collective bargaining in accordance with national law and practice. This should be done with a view to improving legal certainty, creating a level playing field between digital labour platforms and offline providers of services and supporting the sustainable growth of digital labour platforms in the Union.
2022/06/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 292 #

2021/0414(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 18
(18) Digital labour platforms differ from other online platforms in that they organise work performed by individuals at the request, one-off or repeated, of the recipient of a service provided by the platform. Organising work performed by individuals should imply at a minimum a significant role in matching the demand for the service with the supply of labour by an individual who has a contractual relationship with the digital labour platform and who is available to perform a specific task, and can include other activities such as processing payments. Online platforms which do not organise the work performed by individuals but merely provide the means by which service providers can reach the end-user, for instance by advertising offers or requests for services or aggregating and displaying available service providers in a specific area, without any further involvement, should not be considered a digital labour platform. The definition of digital labour platforms should not include providers of a service whose primary purpose is to exploit or share assets, such as short-term rental of accommodation, or to resell goods or services. It should be limited to providers of a service for which the organisation of work performed by the individual, such as transport of persons or goods or cleaning, constitutes a necessary and essential and not merely a minor and purely ancillary component.
2022/06/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 326 #

2021/0414(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 23 a (new)
(23a) Collective bargaining is a key tool to improve working conditions of persons performing platform work, irrespective of the contractual designation of the relationship. The Commission Guidelines on the application of EU competition law to collective agreements regarding the working conditions of solo self-employed persons shall to this end serve as providing useful guidance without prejudice to Member States discretion as regards the scope and form of collective representation.
2022/06/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 329 #

2021/0414(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 24
(24) When digital labour platforms control certain elements of the performance of work, they act like employers in an employment relationship. Direction and control, or legal subordination, is an essential element of the definition of an employment relationship in the Member States and in the case-law of the Court of Justice. Therefore, should the determination of an employment relationship of a person performing platform work be disputed in a legal or administrative proceeding, contractual relationships in which digital labour platforms exert a certain level of control over certain elements of the performance of work should be deemed, by virtue of a legal presumption, to be an employment relationship between the platform and the person performing platform work through it. As a result, that person should be classified as a worker having all the rights and obligations in accordance with that status, as laid down in national and Union law, collective agreements and practice. The legal presumption should not lead to an automatic determination of all persons performing platform work as platform workers to be in an employment relationship and should apply in all relevant administrative and legal proceedings and should benefit the person performing platform work. Authorities in charge of verifying the compliance with or enforcing relevant legislation, such as labour inspectorates, social protection bodies or tax authorities, should also be able to rely on that presumption. Member States should put in place a national framework to reduce litigation and increase legal certainty.
2022/06/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 353 #

2021/0414(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 26
(26) Effective implementation of the legal presumption through appropriate measures, such as disseminating information to the public, developing guidance in the form of concrete and practical recommendations and strengthening controls and field inspections is essential to ensure legal certainty and transparency for all parties involved. These measures should take into account the specific situation of start-ups to support the entrepreneurial potential and the conditions for the sustainable growth of digital labour platforms in the Union.
2022/06/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 374 #

2021/0414(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 28
(28) The relationship between a person performing platform work and a digital labour platform may not meet the requirements of an employment relationship in accordance with the definition laid down in the law, collective agreements or practice in force of the respective Member State with consideration to the case-law of the Court of Justice, even though the digital labour platform controls the performance of work on a given aspect. Member States should ensure the possibility to rebut the legal presumption in legal or administrative proceedings or both by proving, on the basis of the aforementioned definition, that the relationship in question is not an employment relationship. The shift in the burden of proof to digital labour platforms is justified by the fact that they have a complete overview of all factual elements determining the relationship, in particular the algorithms through which they manage their operations. Legal proceedings and administrative proceedings initiated by the digital labour platforms in order to rebut the legal presumption should not have a suspensive effect on the application of the legal presumption. A successful rebuttal of the presumption in administrative proceedings should not preclude the application of the presumption in subsequent judicial proceedings. When the person performing platform work who is the subject of the presumption seeks to rebut the legal presumption, tsuch proceedings should have a suspensive effect on the application of the legal presumption. The digital labour platform should be required to assist that person, notably by providing all relevant information held by the platform in respect of that person. Member States should provide the necessary guidance for procedures to rebut the legal presumption.
2022/06/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 387 #

2021/0414(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 32
(32) Digital labour platforms should be subject to transparency obligations in relation to automated monitoring and decision-making systems that are used to monitor, supervise or evaluate the work performance through electronic means; and automated decision-making systems which are used to take or support decisions that significantly affect working conditions, including access of persons performing platform work to work assignments, their earnings, their occupational safety and health, their working time, their promotion and their contractual status, including the restriction, suspension or termination of their account. In addition to what is provided in Regulation (EU) 2016/679, information concerning such systems should also be provided where decisions are not solely based on automated processing, provided that they are supported by automated systems. It should also be specified which kind of information should be provided to persons performing platform work regarding such automated systems, as well as in which form and when it should be provided. The obligation of the controller under Articles 13, 14 and 15 of Regulation (EU) 2016/679 to provide the data subject with certain information in relation to the processing of personal data concerning the data subject as well as with access to such data should continue to apply in the context of platform work. Information on automated monitoring and decision-making systems should also be provided to representatives of persons performing platform work, including trade unions, and to national labour authorities at their request, in order to enable them to exercise their functions.
2022/06/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 395 #

2021/0414(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 33
(33) Digital labour platforms should not be required to disclose the detailed functioning of their automated monitoring and decision-making systems, including algorithms, or other detailed data that contains commercial secrets or is protected by intellectual property rights or which would with reasonable certainty result in the enabling of deception of consumers or consumers harm through the manipulation of the system without prejudice to Directive (2016/943). However, the result of those considerations should not be a refusal to provide all the information required by this Directive.
2022/06/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 401 #

2021/0414(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 34
(34) Articles 5 and 6 of Regulation (EU) 2016/679 require that personal data are processed in a lawful, fair and transparent manner. Digital labour platforms should therefore not be allowed to process any personal data concerning persons performing platform work that are not intrinsically connected to and strictly necessary for the performance of the contract between those persons and the digital labour platform. Article 6(5) of this Directive provides for more specific rules in the context of platform work, including to ensure the protection of the rights and freedoms in respect of the processing of employees' personal data within the meaning of Article 88 of Regulation (EU) 2016/679. Digital labour platforms should not under any circumstances provide for discriminatory practices when processing personal data.
2022/06/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 409 #

2021/0414(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 37
(37) In that context, persons performing platform work should have the right to obtain an explanation from the digital labour platform for a decision, the lack of decision or a set of decisions taken or supported by automated systems that significantly affect their working conditions. For that purpose the digital labour platform should provide the possibility for them to discuss and clarify the facts, circumstances and reasons for such decisions with a human contact person at the digital labour platform. In addition, digital labour platforms should provide the person performing platform work with a written statement of reasons for any decision to restrict, suspend or terminate that person’s account, to refuse the remuneration for work performed by that person, or affecting his or her contractual status, as such decisions are likely to have significant negative effects on persons performing platform work, in particular their potential earnings. Where the explanation or reasons obtained are not satisfactory or where persons performing platform work consider their rights infringed, they should also have the right to request the digital labour platform to review the decision and to obtain a substantiated reply within a reasonable period of time and in line with Article 12 of Regulation EU (2016/679). Where such decisions infringe those persons’ rights, such as labour rights or the right to non- discrimination, the digital labour platform should rectify such decisions without delay or, where that is not possible, provide adequate compensation.
2022/06/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 411 #

2021/0414(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 37 a (new)
(37a) Article 20 of Regulation (EU)2016/679 lays down the right of data subjects, including persons performing platform work, to have the personal data transmitted directly from one controller to another, where technically feasible.
2022/06/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 427 #

2021/0414(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 42
(42) Information on the number of persons performing platform work through digital labour platforms on a regular basis, their contractual or employment status and the general terms and conditions applicable to those contractual relationships is essential to support labour inspectorates, social protection bodies and other relevant authorities in correctly determining the employment status of persons performing platform work and in ensuring compliance with legal obligations as well as representatives of persons performing platform work, including trade unions, in the exercise of their representative functions and should therefore be made accessible to them. Those authorities and representatives should also have the right to ask digital labour platforms for additional clarifications and details, such as basic data on working conditions regarding working time and remuneration.
2022/06/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 434 #

2021/0414(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 44
(44) Representatives of persons performing platform work, including trade unions, should be able to represent one or several persons performing platform work in any judicial or administrative procedure to enforce any of the rights or obligations arising from this Directive. Bringing claims on behalf of or supporting several persons performing platform work is a way to facilitate proceedings that would not have been brought otherwise because of procedural and financial barriers or a fear of reprisals.
2022/06/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 448 #

2021/0414(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 48
(48) Automated monitoring and decision-making systems used in the context of platform work involve the processing of personal data and affect the working conditions and rights of persons performing platform work. They therefore raise issues of data protection law as well as labour and social protection law. Data protection supervisory authorities and relevant labour and social protection authorities should therefore cooperate in the enforcement of this Directive, including by exchanging relevant information with each other, including in cross-border situations, without prejudice to the independence of data protection supervisory authorities.
2022/06/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 457 #

2021/0414(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 52 a (new)
(52a) Member States should take appropriate measures to ensure that all digital labour platforms recognise the right of persons performing platform work to organise, to join a trade union, and to participate in collective bargaining, in accordance with national law and practice.
2022/06/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 474 #

2021/0414(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 a (new)
This Directive shall be without prejudice to the autonomy of social partners and their right to negotiate and conclude collective agreements in accordance with national law and practice.
2022/06/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 539 #

2021/0414(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 2
2. The definition of digital labour platforms laid down in paragraph 1, point (1), shall not include providers of a service whose primary purpose is to exploit or share assets or to resell goods or services. It shall be limited to providers of a service for which the organisation of work performed by the individual constitutes not merely a minor and purely ancillary component.
2022/06/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 574 #

2021/0414(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
1. TShould the determination of the employment status of a person performing platform work be disputed in a legal or administrative proceeding in accordance with national legislation and practices, the contractual relationship between a digital labour platform that controls, within the meaning of paragraph 2, the performance of work and a person performing platform work through that platform shall be legally presumed to be an employment relationship. To that effect, Member States shall establish a framework of measures, in accordance with their national legal and judicial systems.
2022/06/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 588 #

2021/0414(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
The legal presumption shall not lead to an automatic determination of all persons performing platform work to be in an employment relationship and shall apply in all relevant administrative and legal proceedings. Competent authorities verifying compliance with or enforcing relevant legislation shall be able to rely on that presumption. determine if the contractual relationship is legally presumed to be an employment relationship within the meaning of paragraph 2, and be able to rely on that presumption. To this end, the digital labour platforms shall be required to assist the competent authorities, notably by providing all relevant information held by it.
2022/06/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 625 #

2021/0414(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point b
(b) requiring the person performing platform work to respect specific binding rules with regard to appearance, conduct towards the recipient of the service or performance of the work, excluding measures or rules required by existing EU, national and local law to safeguard data protection and the health and safety of persons performing platform work and the recipients of the service provided;
2022/06/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 655 #

2021/0414(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point e
(e) effectively restricting the possibility to build a client base or to perform work for any third party, excluding measures or rules required by national law or collective agreements.
2022/06/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 660 #

2021/0414(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Collective agreements covering working conditions1a for persons performing platform work shall not be considered as fulfilling the above criteria for controlling the performance of work. Voluntary benefits paid by a digital labour platform to self-employed persons working through that platform shall not constitute determining elements indicating the existence of an employment relationship. __________________ 1a Matters such as remuneration, working time and working patterns, holiday, leave, physical spaces where the work takes place, health and safety, insurance and social security, and conditions under which the person performing platform work is entitled to cease providing his/her services (§ 16, Commission Draft Guidelines on collective bargaining of self-employed).
2022/06/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 680 #

2021/0414(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 3 – point b
(b) develop guidance in the form of concrete and practical recommendations for digital labour platforms, persons performing platform work and social partners to understand and implement the legal presumption including on the procedures for rebutting it in accordance with Article 5;
2022/06/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 757 #

2021/0414(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 3
Where the person performing the platform work argues that the contractual relationship in question is not an employment relationship as defined by the law, collective agreements or practice in force in the Member State in question, with consideration to the case-law of the Court of Justice, the digital labour platform shall be required to assist the proper resolution of the proceedings, notably by providing all relevant information held by it. Such proceedings shall have suspensive effect on the application of the legal presumption.
2022/06/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 779 #

2021/0414(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
1. Without prejudice to the obligations and rights of digital labour platforms and platform workers under Directive (EU) 2019/1152 and 2009/38/EC, Member States shall require digital labour platforms to inform persons performing platform workers of:
2022/06/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 809 #

2021/0414(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 6 – paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Digital labour platforms shall not be required to disclose algorithms or any information that, with reasonable certainty, would result in the enabling of deception of consumers or consumers harm through the manipulation of the system, without prejudice to Directive (EU) 2016/943.
2022/06/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 828 #

2021/0414(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 6 – paragraph 5 – point d a (new)
(da) under any circumstances provide for discriminatory practices when processing personal data.
2022/06/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 887 #

2021/0414(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
2. Where platform workers are not satisfied with the explanation or the written statement of reasons obtained or consider that the decision referred to in paragraph 1 infringes their rights, they shall have the right to request the digital labour platform to review that decision. The digital labour platform shall respond to such request by providing the platform worker with a substantiated reply without undue delay and in any event within one weekmonth of receipt of the request.
2022/06/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 891 #

2021/0414(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
With regard to digital labour platforms which are micro, small or medium-sized enterprises, Member States may provide that the deadline for reply referred to in the first subparagraph is extended to two weekmonths.
2022/06/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 899 #

2021/0414(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 8 – paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Member States shall ensure the right of persons performing platform work to data portability, right to erasure, in accordance with Article 20 of Regulation (EU) 2016/679.
2022/06/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 941 #

2021/0414(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
1. Where labour, social protection and other relevant authorities exercise their functions in ensuring compliance with legal obligations applicable to the employment status of persons performing platform work and where the representatives of persons performing platform work, including trade unions, exercise their representative functions, Member States shall ensure that digital labour platforms make the following information available to them:
2022/06/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 956 #

2021/0414(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraph 3
3. Labour, social protection and other relevant authorities and representatives of persons performing platform work, including trade unions, shall have the right to ask digital labour platforms for additional clarifications and details regarding any of the data provided. The digital labour platforms shall respond to such request within a reasonable period of time by providing a substantiated reply.
2022/06/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 972 #

2021/0414(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 14 – paragraph 1
1. Without prejudice to Article 80 of Regulation (EU) 2016/679, Member States shall ensure that representatives of persons performing platform work, including trade unions, or other legal entities which have, in accordance with the criteria laid down by national law or practice, a legitimate interest in defending the rights of persons performing platform work, may engage in any judicial or administrative procedure to enforce any of the rights or obligations arising from this Directive. They may act on behalf or in support of a person performing platform work in the case of an infringement of any right or obligation arising from this Directive, with that person’s approval.
2022/06/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 975 #

2021/0414(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 14 – paragraph 2
2. Representatives of persons performing platform work, including trade unions, shall also have the right to act on behalf or in support of several persons performing platform work, with those persons’ approval.
2022/06/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 999 #

2021/0414(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 19 – paragraph 1
1. The supervisory authority or authorities responsible for monitoring the application of Regulation (EU) 2016/679 shall also be responsible for monitoring the application of Article 6, Article 7(1) and (3) and Articles 8 and 10 of this Directive, in accordance with the relevant provisions in Chapters VI, VII and VIII of Regulation (EU) 2016/679. They shall be competent to impose administrative fines up to the amount referred to in Article 83 (4) and (5) of that Regulation.
2022/06/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 1005 #

2021/0414(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 19 – paragraph 2
2. The authorities referred to in paragraph 1 and national labour and social protection authorities shall, where relevant, cooperate in the enforcement of this Directive, within the remit of their respective competences, in particular where questions on the impact of automated monitoring and decision-making systems on working conditions or on rights of persons performing platform work arise. For that purpose, those authorities shall exchange relevant information with each other, including in cross-border situations, including information obtained in the context of inspections or investigations, either upon request or at their own initiative.
2022/06/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 1022 #

2021/0414(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 20 a (new)
Article 20a Collective bargaining Member States shall take appropriate measures to ensure that all digital labour platforms recognise the right of persons performing platform work to organise, to join a trade union, and to participate in collective bargaining, in accordance with national law and practice.
2022/06/10
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 39 #

2021/0203(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 10
(10) The higher level of ambition requires a stronger promotion of cost- effective energy efficiency measures in all areas of the energy system and in all relevant sectors where activity affects energy demand, such as the transport, water and agriculture sectors. Improving energy efficiency throughout the full energy chain, including energy generation, transmission, distribution and end-use, will benefit the environment, improve air quality and public health, reduce GHG emissions, improve energy security, cut energy costs for households and companies, help alleviate energy poverty, and lead to increased competitiveness, more jobs and increased economic activity throughout the economy, thus improving citizens' quality of life. In particular, it should be highlighted that women have a strategic role to play in the development of sustainable and ecologically sound consumption and production patterns and their empowerment is a reinforcement of the European competitiveness, given the untapped female resource potential to boost the European economy. The directive should help reduce the gender gap in the energy sector, integrate women in the emerging technologies jobs market, promote women entrepreneurship, increase chances to generate those skills and competences that are demanded by the green and digital transition and bring more women and girls into the STEAM careers, and in particular in the area of engineering. That complies with the Union commitments made in the framework of the Energy Union and with the global climate agenda established by the 2015 Paris Agreement, and also contributes to the achievement of all relevant sustainable development goals, with particular attention to SDG 5, SDG 7 and SDG 13.
2022/03/02
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 42 #

2021/0203(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 11 a (new)
(11 a) From the design of the energy efficiency decisions to their implementation, it is essential to take into account the commitment to a gender- inclusive, fair and just climate and energy transition in which the empowerment of people is a fundamental element. Against this background, equal participation of women and girls, with their unique skills, knowledge and perspective as powerful actors of change, should always be promoted and encouraged. Also in view to improve the participation of women and girls in the energy sector, that remains one of the most imbalanced in the economy globally, seeking gender balance in terms of employment, decision-making, counselling and advice should be a priority of the Union and the Member States. Any effort that will be put in place to reach the energy savings targets should be gender-balanced-by-design.
2022/03/02
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 46 #

2021/0203(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 17 a (new)
(17 a) In order to promote gender equality throughout all policies, the Commission and the Member States should make sure to apply gender mainstreaming principles into all policies, measures and spending programmes that are implemented according to this directive. The application of the gender mainstreaming principle requires the integration of gender equality perspective into the preparation, design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of such policies, measures and programmes. Given the importance of keeping track of the progresses induced by the integration of this principle, Member States are encouraged to monitor its application.
2022/03/02
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 49 #

2021/0203(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 50 a (new)
(50 a) Energy efficiency programmes, instruments and measures should integrate women’s experiences, expertise, capacities and preferences, and make the utmost to avoid reinforcing the gender gap between men and women in energy access contexts. It is critical that Member States integrate gender equality concerns and solutions into the national energy sector frameworks. To this end, gender audits can be an effective instrument in identifying gender gaps across the energy landscape and setting a baseline for future gender mainstreaming efforts at the policy and institutional-level. A gender perspective needs to be integrated from the very beginning in the design, implementation, and monitoring of energy efficiency policies, given that women are not only primary end-users and beneficiaries of those policies, but also actors in the delivery of energy solutions.
2022/03/02
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 51 #

2021/0203(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 61
(61) This Directive refers to the concept of vulnerable customers, which Member States are to establish pursuant to Directive (EU) 2019/944. In addition, pursuant to Directive 2012/27/EU, the notion of ‘final users’ alongside the notion of ‘final customer’ clarifies that the rights to billing and consumption information also apply to consumers without individual or direct contracts with the supplier of energy used for collective heating, cooling or domestic hot water production systems in multi- occupant buildings. The concept of vulnerable customers does not necessarily ensure the targeting of final users. Therefore, in order to ensure that the measures set out in this Directive reach all individuals and households in a situation of vulnerability, Member States should include not only customers, in its strict sense, but also final users, in establishing their definition of vulnerable customers. In their definition, Member States should pay particular attention to women, single- parent households, people with disabilities and elderly consumers, as these target groups might be more prone than others to intersectional risks.
2022/03/02
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 53 #

2021/0203(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 78 a (new)
(78 a) There is a general and widespread limitation in the collection of energy data that is given by the scarcity of sex- disaggregated data and gender statistics in relation to the use of energy and to the employment in the renewable energy sector. This represents a major handicap in the effort to enhance awareness of the challenges and to improve gender balance, given that without data, there is no visibility and is thus difficult to monitor the progress towards gender equality and establish policy priorities. The Commission should work with Member States and a wide range of actors, including academic and non- academic entities, advocacy groups, professional associations, international organisations, non-governmental organisations, policy institutes and think- tanks, in order to build a sex- disaggregated evidence base in order to generate gender statistics able to support intersecting situations.
2022/03/02
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 54 #

2021/0203(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 92
(92) The contribution of renewable energy communities, pursuant to Directive (EU) 2018/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council80 , and citizen energy communities, according to Directive (EU) 2019/944 towards the objectives of the European Green Deal and the 2030 Climate Target Plan, should be recognised. Member States should, therefore, consider and promote the role of renewable energy communities and citizen energy communities. Those communities can help Member States to achieve the objectives of this Directive by advancing energy efficiency at local or household level. They can empower and engage consumers and enable certain groups of household customers, including in rural and remote areas to participate in energy efficiency projects and interventions. To this end, it is particularly relevant and appropriate, to involve women in all their diversity and in their roles of consumers, producers, decision-makers and entrepreneurs, given their potential to act as societal agents of change. Energy communities can help fighting energy poverty through facilitation of energy efficiency projects, reduced energy consumption and lower supply tariffs. _________________ 80 Directive (EU) 2018/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2018 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources (OJ L 328, 21.12.2018, p. 82).
2022/03/02
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 56 #

2021/0203(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 93
(93) The contribution of one-stop shops or similar structures as mechanisms that can enable multiple target groups, including citizens, SMEs and public authorities, to design and implement projects and measures related to the clean energy transition, should be recognised. The contribution of one-stop-shops can be very important for most vulnerable customers, including women in all their diversity and single-parents, as they could represent an easier, reliable and accessible source of information about energy efficiency improvements. That contribution can include the provision of technical, administrative and financial advice and assistance, facilitation of the necessary administrative procedures or of access to financial markets, or guidance with the national and European legal framework, including public procurement rules and criteria, and the EU Taxonomy.
2022/03/02
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 62 #

2021/0203(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 100
(100) Member States should ensure that national energy regulatory authorities take an integrated approach encompassing potential savings in the energy supply and the end-use sectors. Without prejudice to security of supply, market integration and anticipatory investments in offshore grids necessary for the deployment of offshore renewable energy, national energy regulatory authorities should ensure that the energy efficiency first principle is applied in the planning and decision making processes and, which should always include considerations of gender mainstreaming and inclusiveness. Member States should also ensure that network tariffs and regulations incentivise improvements in energy efficiency. Member States should also ensure and that transmission and distribution system operators consider the energy efficiency first principle. That would help transmission and distribution system operators to consider better energy efficiency solutions and incremental costs incurred for the procurement of demand side resources, as well as the environmental and socio-economic impacts of different network investments and operation plans. Such an approach requires a shift from the narrow economic efficiency perspective to maximised social welfare. The energy efficiency first principle should in particular be applied in the context of scenario building for energy infrastructure expansion where demand side solutions could be considered as viable alternatives and need to be properly assessed, and it should become an intrinsic part of the assessment of network planning projects. Its application should be scrutinised by national regulatory authorities.
2022/03/02
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 66 #

2021/0203(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 106
(106) Member States have taken measures to identify and address the regulatory and non-regulatory barriers. However, there is a need to increase the effort to remove regulatory and non- regulatory barriers to the use of energy performance contracting and third-party financing arrangements which help achieving energy savings. These barriers include accounting rules and practices that prevent capital investments and annual financial savings resulting from energy efficiency improvement measures from being adequately reflected in the accounts for the whole life of the investment. Another barrier that this directive should help overcome is the lack of the necessary skills and competences of people, from the basic ones to the more specialised, in particular regarding engineering, energy efficiency, system integration, flexibility and digitalisation. Member States should adopt measures to increase opportunities of advancing education, training and maintenance skills and capacities, with a special focus on women and girls.
2022/03/02
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 68 #

2021/0203(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 3 a (new)
Article 3 a Gender Mainstreaming Principle 1. The Commission, in consultation with the relevant stakeholders, shall provide guidance to Member States to implement energy efficiency policies which take into consideration gender perspectives. 2. Member States shall make best efforts to integrate a gender perspective into the preparation, design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of policies, regulatory measures and spending programmes related to energy efficiency, with a view to promoting equality between women and men, and combating discrimination. 3. Member States should have active policies aimed at integrating women into all levels of the energy value chain, in order to lead to more effective and efficient energy initiatives and unleash greater return on investments. To this end, they should incorporate gender into financing mechanisms to ensure equitable access to resources and incentives. 4. Member States shall ensure that the application of the gender mainstreaming principle is verified by the relevant entities where policy, planning and investment decisions are subject to approval and monitoring requirements. 5. Where relevant, Member States shall identify an entity responsible for monitoring the application of the gender mainstreaming principle. 6. Within the integrated national energy and climate progress reports foreseen by Article 17 of Regulation (EU) 2018/1999, Member States shall indicate whether the principle was taken into account in the implementation of this directive.
2022/03/02
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 75 #

2021/0203(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 8 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
In designing such policy measures, Member States shall consider and promote the role of renewable energy communities and citizen energy communities in the contribution to the implementation towards these policy measures and shall pay special attention in promoting the active involvement of women in all their diversity and in their different roles of consumers, producers and decision- makers.
2022/03/02
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 84 #

2021/0203(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 21 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2 a (new)
For the purpose of this article, these measures should also target specific stakeholders, such as women in all their diversity, as they can lead change within households, businesses, public administrations and all types of organization, and push for its implementation.
2022/03/02
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 89 #

2021/0203(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 22 – paragraph 3 – point e
e) foster technical assistance for social actors to promote vulnerable customer´s active engagement in the energy market, and positive changes in their energy consumption behaviour; special consideration should be made on involving women, given their role as societal agents of change;
2022/03/02
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 91 #

2021/0203(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 22 – paragraph 4 – introductory part
4. Member States shall establish a network of experts from various sectors such as health sector, building sector and social sectors, involving a more meaningful participation of women, to develop strategies to support local and national decision makers in implementing energy efficiency improvement measures alleviating energy poverty, measures to generate robust long term solutions to mitigate energy poverty and to develop appropriate technical assistance and financial tools. Member States shall strive to ensure a network of experts’ composition that ensures gender balance and reflects the perspectives of people in all their diversity., notably to tackle gender impairment, promote age sensitive development of technologies and applications, incentivise a gender- inclusive energy planning and considering the diverse impacts of the energy transition on women in all their diversity, families, single-parents and elderly people;
2022/03/02
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 101 #

2021/0203(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 26 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
1. Member States shall ensure the appropriate level and availability of competences for energy efficiency professions that corresponds to the market needs, also through the use of national and EU funds and programmes to effectively support lifelong learning and training in STEAM areas, in particular in the area of engineering and especially for women and girls, as well as to establish campaigns or awards for businesses who take exemplary measures to improve women’s presence in the green and digital economy and to create additional incentives to increase visibility of women as role models and promote their access to these sectors in universities and employment. Member States in close cooperation with the social partners shall ensure that certification and/or equivalent qualification schemes, including, where necessary, suitable training programmes, especially for women and girls, are available for energy efficiency professions including providers of energy services, providers of energy audits, energy managers, independent experts and installers of building elements pursuant to Directive 2010/31/EU, and are reliable and contribute to national energy efficiency objectives and the overall EU decarbonisation objectives.
2022/03/02
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 104 #

2021/0203(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 27 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point d a (new)
(d a) market and business opportunities to improve energy savings, aiming at promoting local entrepreneurship in the energy services sector, with special attention to women entrepreneurs;
2022/03/02
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 105 #

2021/0203(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 27 – paragraph 6 – point c a (new)
(c a) promoting the role of women entrepreneurs in the provision of products, services and advices;
2022/03/02
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 108 #

2021/0203(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 28 – paragraph 3
3. Member States shall adopt measures that ensure that energy efficiency lending products, such as green mortgages and green loans, secured and unsecured, are offered widely and in a non- discriminatory manner by financial institutions and, are visible and accessible to consumers, with special consideration to women in all their diversity, given their potential role as agents of change in society. Member States shall adopt measures to facilitate the implementation of on-bill and on-tax financing schemes. Member States shall ensure that t banks and other financial institutions receive information on opportunities to participate in the financing of energy efficiency improvement measures , including through the creation of public/private partnerships.
2022/03/02
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 110 #

2021/0203(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 28 – paragraph 9
9. Member States may set up an Energy Efficiency National Fund. The purpose of this fund shall be to implement energy efficiency measures, including measures pursuant to Article 8(3) and Article 22 as a priority among vulnerable customers, people affected by energy poverty and, where applicable, people living in social housing, and shall pay particular attention to women in all their diversity. The fund shall also be used to implement national energy efficiency measures to support Member States in meeting their national energy efficiency contributions and their indicative trajectories referred to in Article 4(2). The Energy Efficiency National Fund may be financed with revenues from the allowance auctions pursuant to the EU Emission Trading System on buildings and transport sectors.
2022/03/02
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 112 #

2021/0203(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Annex VI – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) be based on up-to-date, measured, traceable and, where possible, sex- disaggregated operational data on energy consumption and (for electricity) load profiles;
2022/03/02
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 113 #

2021/0203(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Annex VII – point 1 – point 1.2 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Member States shall continuously improve quantitative and qualitative information, also through digital means, and shall communicate billing information in a clear, concise, meaningful and accessible manner. With this purpose, it is important that Commission and Member States improve the way of collecting data, notably through more granularity and disaggregation in a way to understand better the energy system dynamics, help remove barriers, also in terms of gender, and put in practice more targeted policies, measures and solutions.
2022/03/02
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 114 #

2021/0203(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Annex VIII – point 1 – paragraph 1
In order to enable final users to regulate their own energy consumption, billing shall take place on the basis of actual consumption or heat cost allocator readings at least once per year. Member States shall continuously improve quantitative and qualitative information, also through digital means, and shall communicate billing information in a clear, concise, meaningful and accessible manner. With this purpose, it is important that Commission and Member States improve the way of collecting data, notably through more granularity and disaggregation in a way to understand better the energy system dynamics, help remove barriers, also in terms of gender, and put in practice more targeted policies, measures and solutions.
2022/03/02
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 205 #

2021/0050(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 9
(9) The gender pay gap is caused by various factors, part of which can be attributed to direct and indirect gender pay discrimination. Segregation of the labour market is one of the major root causes of the pay gap and needs to be addressed. A general lack of transparency about pay levels within organisations maintains a situation where gender-based pay discrimination and bias can go undetected or, where suspected, are difficult to prove. Binding measures are therefore needed to improve pay transparency, encourage organisations to review their pay structures to ensure equal pay for women and men doing the same work or work of equal value, and enable victims of discrimination to enforce their right to equal pay. This needs to be complemented by provisions clarifying existing legal concepts (such as the concept of ‘pay’ and ‘work of equal value’) and measures improving enforcement mechanisms and access to justice.
2021/10/26
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 213 #

2021/0050(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 10
(10) Work-life balance policies should contribute to the achievement of gender equality by promoting the participation of women in the labour market. The application of the principle of equal pay between men and women should be enhanced by eliminating direct and indirect pay discrimination. This does not preclude employers to pay differently workers doing the same work or work of equal value on the basis of objective, gender-neutral and bias-free criteria such as performance and competence.
2021/10/26
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 241 #

2021/0050(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 14
(14) Article 10 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union provides that, in defining and implementing its policies and activities, the Union shall aim to combat discrimination based on sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation. Article 4 of Directive 2006/54/EC provides that there shall be no direct or indirect discrimination on grounds of sex, notably in relation to pay. Gender- based pay discrimination where a victim’s sex plays a crucial role can take many different forms in practice. It may involve an intersection of various axes of discrimination or inequality where the worker is a member of one or several groups protected against discrimination on the basis of sex, on the one hand, and racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation (as protected under Directive 2000/43/EC or Directive 2000/78/EC), on the other hand. Migrant women and women with disabilities are among groups who face such multiple forms of discrimination. This directive should therefore clarify that, in the context of gender-based pay discrimination, such a combination should be taken into account, thus removing any doubt that may exist in this regard under the existing legal framework. This should ensure that the courts or other competent authorities take due account of any situation of disadvantage arising from intersectional discrimination, in particular for substantive and procedural purposes, including to recognise the existence of discrimination, to decide on the appropriate comparator, to assess the proportionality, and to determine, where relevant, the level of compensation awarded or penalties imposed. Women with disabilities should therefore be included in the scope of this Directive. This Directive should also ensure that the specific obstacles which they face and their needs are taken into account, including in relation to the accessibility of information, the right to compensation and data disaggregation, in compliance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
2021/10/26
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 249 #

2021/0050(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 15
(15) Gender equality is a key economic asset to promote fair and inclusive economic growth and reducing inequalities is a goal in terms of equal treatment as well as in terms of labour market efficiency. In order to respect the right to equal pay between men and women, employers must have pay setting mechanisms or pay structures in place ensuring that there are no pay differences between male and female workers doing the same work or work of equal value that are not justified by objective and gender- neutral factors. Such pay structures should allow for the comparison of the value of different jobs within the same organisational structure. In line with the case law of the Court, the value of work should be assessed and compared based on objective criteria, such as educational, professional and training requirements, skills, effort and responsibility, work undertaken and the nature of the tasks involved.49 _________________ 49 For example, Case C-400/93, Royal Copenhagen, ECLI:EU:C:1995:155; Case C-309/97, Angestelltenbetriebsrat der Wiener Gebietskrankenkasse, ECLI:EU:C:1999:241; Case C-381/99, Brunnhofer, ECLI:EU:C:2001:358; Case C-427/11, Margaret Kenny and Others v Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and Others [2013] ECLI:EU:C:2013:122, paragraph 28.
2021/10/26
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 287 #

2021/0050(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 20
(20) The lack of information on the envisaged pay range of a job position creates an information asymmetry which limits the bargaining power of applicants. Ensuring transparency should enable prospective workers to make an informed decision about the expected salary without limiting in any way the employer’s or worker’s bargaining power to negotiate a salary even outside the indicated range. It would also ensure an explicit and non- gender biased basis for pay setting and would disrupt the undervaluation of pay compared to skills and experience. This transparency measure would also address intersectional discrimination where non- transparent pay settings allow for discriminatory practices on several discrimination grounds. The information to be provided to applicants prior to employment, if not published in a job vacancy notice, could be provided to the applicant prior to the job interview by the employer or in a different manner, for instance by the social partners. The information should be provided in a manner that is accessible for persons with disabilities in accordance with the harmonised legal acts of the Union on accessibility, including Directives (EU) 2016/21021a and (EU) 2019/8821b of the European Parliament and of the Council. _________________ 1a Directive (EU) 2016/2102 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 October 2016 on the accessibility of the websites and mobile applications of public sector bodies (OJ L 327, 2.12.2016, p. 1). 1b Directive (EU) 2019/882 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 April 2019 on the accessibility requirements for products and services (OJ L 151, 7.6.2019, p. 70).
2021/10/26
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 369 #

2021/0050(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 29 a (new)
(29a) Member States should ensure that employers create gender action plans in consultation with workers' representatives at the workplace. Gender action plans should set out concrete measures to achieve gender equality between men and women in terms of pay equality, non- discrimination and other conditions of employment. Gender action plans should also include provisions for monitoring those concrete measures and corrective actions.
2021/10/26
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 380 #

2021/0050(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 32
(32) Workers should have the necessary procedures at their disposal to facilitate the exercise of their right to access justice. National legislation making use of conciliation or the intervention of an equality body compulsory or subject to incentives or penalties should not prevent parties from exercising their right of access to court. Member States should ensure that women with disabilities, including those under substituted decision-making mechanisms, have access to justice and legal remedies on an equal basis with others.
2021/10/26
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 469 #

2021/0050(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1
1. This Directive applies to employers in the public and private sectors, including non-standard sectors, such as platform employers, sheltered workshops and any other form of contractual work.
2021/10/26
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 508 #

2021/0050(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point g a (new)
(ga) ‘Workers’ representative’ means a recognised trade union or other persons designated by workers to represent them in an organisation in accordance with national law or practice. Where both exist in the same organisation, the exclusive prerogatives of trade unions shall be preserved.
2021/10/26
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 509 #

2021/0050(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point g a (new)
(ga) ‘work of equal value’ means work that is determined to be of equal value in accordance with non-discriminatory and objective gender-neutral criteria as set out in Article 4(5).
2021/10/26
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 525 #

2021/0050(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point c a (new)
(ca) failure by an employer to provide reasonable accommodation to workers with disabilities within the meaning of Article 5 of Directive 2000/78/EC.
2021/10/26
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 545 #

2021/0050(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 2
2. Member States shall take the necessary measures e, after consurlting the social partners and the equality bodies, to ensure that tools or methodologies are established to assess and compare the value of work in line with the criteria set out in this Article. These tools or methodologies mayose tools or methodologies shall be easily accessible by workers and employers. The European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) shall certify those tools or methodologies. Those tools or methodologies shall be implemented with the involvement of the social partners at employer or sectoral level, and shall include gender- neutral job evaluation and classification systems.
2021/10/26
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 698 #

2021/0050(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point b a (new)
(ba) the pay gap between female and male workers without disabilities and female and male workers with disabilities, where they have communicated their disability to their employer;
2021/10/26
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 743 #

2021/0050(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 8 – paragraph 3
3. The employer shall publish the information referred to in paragraph 1, points (a) to (f) on an annual basis in a user-friendly way on its website or shall otherwise make it publicly available. The information shall be published in accessible formats for persons with disabilities in accordance with the harmonised legal acts of the Union on accessibility. The information from the previous four years, if available, shall also be accessible upon request. In addition, the employer shall share this information with the monitoring body referred to in paragraph 6.
2021/10/26
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 756 #

2021/0050(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 8 – paragraph 4
4. Member States may decide to compile the information set out in paragraph 1, points (a) to (f) themselves, on the basis of administrative data such as data provided by employers to the tax or social security authorities. This information shall be made public in accordance with paragraph 6. Member States shall provide support, technical assistance and training, in particular for microenterprises and small and medium-sized enterprises, to comply with the obligations pursuant to this Article.
2021/10/26
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 793 #

2021/0050(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – title
Joint pay assessment and gender action plan
2021/10/26
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 820 #

2021/0050(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Member States shall take appropriate measures to ensure that employers as referred to in the first subparagraph create gender action plans, in consultation with workers' representatives at the workplace, where both of the conditions listed in that subparagraph are met. Gender action plans shall set out concrete measures to achieve gender equality between men and women in terms of pay equality, non-discrimination and other conditions of employment. Gender action plans shall also include provisions for monitoring those concrete measures and corrective actions.
2021/10/26
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 1035 #

2021/0050(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 26 – paragraph 3 – point c
(c) to aggregate data received from employers pursuant to Article 8(6), and publish thisose data in a user-friendly manner and in an accessible manner for persons with disabilities in accordance with the harmonised legal acts of the Union on accessibility;
2021/10/26
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 1050 #

2021/0050(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 26 – paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Each Member State shall establish a national gender action plan setting out concrete measures and corrective actions to address inequality in the labour market. To that end, Member States shall collect and analyse data on the segregation of labour markets and the biases in equal pay for work of equal value. The Member States shall make those data and analytical tools publicly available, and shall provide them to the social partners for further action. The Commission shall create a Union Gender Action Plan setting out concrete actions and corrective measures based on collected and analysed data on labour market segregation and the biases in equal pay for work of equal value. The Commission shall present the Union Gender Action Plan to the European Parliament, to the Council and to the Commission every five years.
2021/10/26
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 1066 #

2021/0050(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 28 – paragraph 1
Member States shall provide the Commission (Eurostat) with up-to-date gender pay gap data annually and in a timely manner. These statistics shall be broken down by gender, economic sector, working time (full-time/part-time), economic control (public/private ownership), disability and age and be calculated on an annual basis.
2021/10/26
Committee: EMPLFEMM
Amendment 3 #

2020/2216(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
1. Recalls that women account for 30 % of the technology workforce and 17 % of ICT specialists in Europe, and that the EU economy would be boosted by EUR 16 billion a year if women technology graduates followed through to digital jobs at the same rate as men, and that promoting gender equality within the digital single market will contribute bridging the digital gender divide;
2021/02/09
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 15 #

2020/2216(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
2. Highlights that gender equality is a core principle of the European Union and should be reflected in all EU policies; thus within the European digital transition, to acknowledge the fundamental role of women to achieve the European digital strategy goals in line with the gender equality objectives recalls that women’s participation in the digital economy is crucial to shaping a flourishing digital society and to boosting the EU’s digital internal market;
2021/02/09
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 19 #

2020/2216(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
3. Calls on the Commission to continue addressing the gender gap within the ICT sector and to establish policies to fully assess the causes and factors behind and to establish policies mechanisms and programmes to increase the participation of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and AI, and to advocate measures in education and employment in the digital sector in order to achieve this; to take into account AI from a gender perspective when developing policy and legislation, and, if necessary, adapt current legislation, including EU programmes;
2021/02/09
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 24 #

2020/2216(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Welcomes the Commission’s commitments to boosting the participation of women in the information society included in the Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025, and calls on the Commission to ensure the full implementation of the ministerial Declaration of Commitment on ‘Women in Digital;
2021/02/09
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 26 #

2020/2216(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3 b. Strongly supports the European Commission’s initiatives in raising awareness on digital opportunities such as the “ no women, no panel” approach, the EU Code week, , the “Digital skills and Jobs coalitions”, the “EU prize for women’s innovators”, #SaferInternet4EUinitiatives across Europe , the skills Agenda for Europe”- lifelong learning perspectives;
2021/02/09
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 28 #

2020/2216(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 c (new)
3 c. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to increase financing opportunities for female entrepreneurs so that they have equal opportunities to compete in the digital single market, and for policies to unleash and support female’s entrepreneurial potential, as an untapped source of economic growth, innovation and jobs creation; Calls to further expand the European Business Angels Network and European Network of Mentors for Women Entrepreneurs, including through gatherings of female innovators, tech professionals and investors to encourage and boost innovations and funding for women-led firms;
2021/02/09
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 31 #

2020/2216(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 d (new)
3 d. Considers it to be of the utmost relevance, as additional measures, to have more women role models and to increase the number of women in leadership positions in the digital sector;
2021/02/09
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 37 #

2020/2216(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
4. Considers that AI can significantly contribute to promoting gender equality, provided that an appropriate legal framework is developed, conscious and unconscious biases are eliminated and the principles of gender equality are respected; stresses the lack of diversity in the AI sector within teams of developers and engineers, and the importance of using sex- disaggregated data when developing products, AI standards, algorithms and applications; to ensure that it is developed in a way that respects and promotes equality;
2021/02/09
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 44 #

2020/2216(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
6. Calls for special attention to be paid to women as vulnerable consumers and to the rise in cyber criminality and cyber violence against women in the digital world, that as a consequence is also deterring women and girls from an inclusive digital participation and welcomes the Commission’s proposal on the digital services act (COM(2020)0825), which is addressing these issues.
2021/02/09
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 48 #

2020/2216(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Calls on the Commission to exploit and better target the Digital Agenda and the Digital Single Market Strategy with a view to addressing the serious gender gap within the ICT sector and fostering the full integration of women into the sector, particularly in relation to technical and telecommunication professions, and to foster the education and training of women and girls in ICT and other science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects;
2021/02/09
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 51 #

2020/2216(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6 b. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to support lifelong learning as well as training and schemes which help participants to adapt better or to prepare for a potential change of career path in accordance with the growing demand for digital skills in many different sectors, paying particular attention to elderly woman.
2021/02/09
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 2 #

2020/2208(INI)

Draft opinion
Citation 1
— having regard to the Oviedo Convention, and Articles 3 and 4 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights (CFR),deleted
2020/10/20
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 18 #

2020/2208(INI)

Draft opinion
Citation 2
— having regard to the Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy in the World 2015Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the fact that human rights are universal, inalienable, interdependent and interrelated,
2020/10/20
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 21 #

2020/2208(INI)

Draft opinion
Citation 2 a (new)
- having regard to the completion of the EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy 2015-2019,
2020/10/20
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 22 #

2020/2208(INI)

Draft opinion
Citation 2 b (new)
- having regard to the new EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy 2020-2024,
2020/10/20
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 23 #

2020/2208(INI)

Draft opinion
Citation 2 c (new)
- having regard to the Gender Action Plan 2016-2020 ‘Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment: Transforming the Lives of Girls and Women through EU External Relations 2016-2020’ (GAP II),
2020/10/20
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 24 #

2020/2208(INI)

Draft opinion
Citation 2 d (new)
- having regard to the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (hereinafter ‘the Istanbul Convention’) of 11 May 2011,
2020/10/20
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 25 #

2020/2208(INI)

Draft opinion
Citation 2 e (new)
- having regard to the Women Peace and Security Agenda(1325) and to the EU Strategic Approach and Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security 2019-2024,
2020/10/20
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 26 #

2020/2208(INI)

Draft opinion
Citation 2 f (new)
- having regard to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) number 5,
2020/10/20
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 27 #

2020/2208(INI)

Draft opinion
Citation 2 g (new)
- having regard the Council conclusions of 18 March 2019, approving the EU Human Rights Guidelines on Non-Discrimination in External Action,
2020/10/20
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 28 #

2020/2208(INI)

Draft opinion
Citation 2 h (new)
- having regard the 25th anniversary of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development in 2019,
2020/10/20
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 29 #

2020/2208(INI)

Draft opinion
Citation 2 i (new)
- having regard the 40th anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women(CEDAW) in 2019,
2020/10/20
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 30 #

2020/2208(INI)

Draft opinion
Citation 2 j (new)
- having regard to the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative for eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls,
2020/10/20
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 31 #

2020/2208(INI)

A. whereas the right to life is paramount under Article 2 of the CFR;deleted
2020/10/20
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 36 #

2020/2208(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital A a (new)
A a. whereas equality between men and women is paramount under the Article 23 of the Charter of the Fundamental Rights of the European Union;
2020/10/20
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 39 #

2020/2208(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital B a (new)
B a. whereas the Beijing declaration and platform for action 1995 through its 25th anniversary insists on the importance of the equal rights and opportunities for women as well as their equal participation indecision making and in the democratic process for the consolidation of democracy;
2020/10/20
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 40 #

2020/2208(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital B b (new)
B b. whereas the current COVID-19 crisis has had clear gender perspectives and greatly impacted women, highlighting existing inequalities with regards to gender equality and women’s rights;
2020/10/20
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 41 #

2020/2208(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital B c (new)
B c. whereas the EU Strategic Approach to Women, Peace and Security (WPS) emphasises the need for concrete commitments and actions, as well as the need to engage, protect and support women and girls to achieve lasting peace and security as intrinsic components of human rights and sustainable development;
2020/10/20
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 42 #

2020/2208(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital C
C. whereas surrogacy is condemned in the Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy in the World 2015;deleted
2020/10/20
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 55 #

2020/2208(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
1. Expresses concern at the global population outlook, with under- population forecast to bring economic crises, instability and social upheaval; urges Member States to address this danger with demography-friendly policies encouraging gender complementarity and a positive image of the family;deleted
2020/10/20
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 57 #

2020/2208(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Stresses the importance of advancing gender equality and women’s rights worldwide as crucial to the realisation of human rights; emphasises that, in spite of progress, women and girls continue to suffer discrimination and violence, and that many societies still struggle to provide women and girls with equal rights under the law and equal access to education, healthcare, decent work and political and economic representation;
2020/10/20
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 58 #

2020/2208(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1 b. Recalls that EU continues to be at the forefront of the action to promote and improve human rights situation for women and girls in the world in view to achieve gender equality and hails the continuous engagement as a defender of global commitments, promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment in its international partnerships, political and human rights dialogues with third countries, and asks for taking into account and adjusting its action to the current COVID-19 crisis situation and its severe consequences on women’s rights;
2020/10/20
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 59 #

2020/2208(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
2. Notes that feminicide, where born and unborn baby girls are discarded, robs the world of their contribution, and createe alarming increase of violence against women worldwide during the COVID-19 crisis in particular and welcomes the efforts and investments of the EU together with its international partners aimbalances between the sexes, which can lead to violence against women, rape and forced prostitutioned at eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls, while reiterating that women around the globe remain vulnerable to violence in the form of domestic violence, mobbing, sexual exploitation, human trafficking, child and forced marriage, rape as a weapon of war, feminicide as well as other forms such as harassment and hate-speech online; condemns therefore all forms of gender- based, physical, sexual and psychological violence;
2020/10/20
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 64 #

2020/2208(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Notes that as stated in the EU Strategic Approach to WPS it is imperative to integrate gender perspectives into all EU policies, including security, conflict prevention and resolution, and long-term peace building; Women need to be involved in all levels of decision-making, also in security and conflict prevention agenda in line with UNSCR 1325;
2020/10/20
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 65 #

2020/2208(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2 b. Calls for the EU to continue its important role in addressing gender discrimination through its work with other countries; to step up their actions in the fields of education, healthcare and social services, data collection, funding and programming; to better prevent and respond to sexual and gender-based violence worldwide; points out that an enabling environment is an essential tool for the fulfilment of girls and women’s rights and for combating discrimination and violence against women and girls, thus calls for measures to facilitate the access of women and girls to education and the labour market;
2020/10/20
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 67 #

2020/2208(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 c (new)
2 c. Strongly supports the EU’s strategic engagement for gender equality and its ongoing efforts to improve the human rights situation of women and girls, in line with the 2030 SDGs; calls on the Commission and the EEAS to further contribute to gender equality and girls’ and women’s empowerment by working closely with international organisations and non-EU countries, to use all existing and available instruments, develop and implement synergies and networks between EU internal and external policies and actions for strengthening women’s rights, as well as for eradicating harmful practices targeted at women and girls;
2020/10/20
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 68 #

2020/2208(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 d (new)
2 d. Reiterates its call on the EU Member States and members of the Council of Europe that have not done so, to ratify and fully implement the Istanbul Convention as soon as possible;
2020/10/20
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 69 #

2020/2208(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 e (new)
2 e. Calls on the EU Delegations to improve LGBTI persons human rights situation through the implementation of the EU LGBTI Guidelines;
2020/10/20
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 72 #

2020/2208(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
4. Calls on the Commission and Member States to promote healthcare practices that benefit patients; notes that in this context abortion causes injury, infertility and mortality every year; urges Member States and international courts to prosecute medical professionals who fail to clinically demonstrate the benefit of the treatment they are providingwomen and girls; and to ensure the right to safe and accessible access to comprehensive health and sexual and reproductive rights, Stresses the need to acknowledge the rising backlash against women’s rights on a global scale and in Europe, in particular when it comes to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR);
2020/10/20
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 77 #

2020/2208(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Calls on the Commission in its new EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy2020-2024 to build on its experience and continue tackling the challenge of the opposition to women’s rights and to gender equality, continuing its efforts to protect and empower women and girls, maximising the use of available instruments in that sense and awaits for the follow-up on the next steps, using the potential of synergies between EU, MS and other actors as well as between internal and external EU policies and measures;
2020/10/20
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 79 #

2020/2208(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4 b. Calls on the Commission to ensure that Human Rights are fully respected by EU’s trade partners, including gender equality, as EU trade policy can help promote and uphold human rights and gender equality in third countries, insists that dedicated and enforceable provisions in EU trade agreements are needed to ensure respect for human rights and gender equality;
2020/10/20
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 80 #

2020/2208(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 c (new)
4 c. Calls for a comprehensive plan to address and challenge the prevailing gender norms and stereotypes and instigate change across sectors in the Member States and on a global level, as prescribed by the CEDAW;
2020/10/20
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 81 #

2020/2208(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 d (new)
4 d. Calls on coordinated EU action on providing support and protection on women’s rights and LGBTI defenders who counter continuous harassment and threat of violence in their countries;
2020/10/20
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 82 #

2020/2208(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 e (new)
4 e. Awaits for the new EU Action Plan for gender equality and women’s empowerment in external relations for 2021-2025 (Gender Action Plan III); calls in this regard for the reinforcement of EU support for non-EU countries that are implementing new policies and legislative changes with a view to aligning national legal frameworks to international and SDG commitments concerning women’s rights and gender equality, to protecting women HRDs, to advancing women’s sexual and reproductive health, to preventing sexual and gender-based violence and female genital mutilation, to enforce gender equality as key priority in programmes and projects;
2020/10/20
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 83 #

2020/2208(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
5. Stresses the need to respect women and girls’ reproductive capacity, and hence to condemn surrogacy;deleted
2020/10/20
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 88 #

2020/2208(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
6. Calls on the Commission to address the phenomenon of young women in particular from Christian minorities being forced to marry older men from outside their religion in certain parts of the world.deleted
2020/10/20
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 348 #

2020/2121(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)
28 a. Highlights the importance of including women and girls in the design of accessible and targeted information; for this information to be disseminated in all settings particularly in times of crisis;
2020/09/16
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 349 #

2020/2121(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
29. Underlines that due to a higher life expectancy and higher likelihood of experiencing health problems, older women are often the majority of residents in long-term care facilities30 that became virus hotspots in many countries; calls on the Member States to examine the provision of care for older persons in different settings; European Commission to analyse the different settings of formal, long-term care provision and their level of resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic; calls on the Member States to examine the provision of care for older persons in both in residential care facilities as well as in community-based care settings, including through the provision of 24 hour home care or live in care; _________________ 30https://eige.europa.eu/covid-19-and- gender-equality/gender-impacts-health
2020/09/16
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 374 #

2020/2121(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33 a (new)
33 a. Highlights the unique circumstances of women experiencing homelessness and their increased vulnerability to gender-based violence, as well as a lack of access to hygiene and healthcare facilities as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent emergency measures; calls on Member States to appropriately consider women experiencing homelessness in their pandemic response plans;
2020/09/16
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 391 #

2020/2121(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
36. Welcomes the Team Europe package put forward by the Commission and stresses the need for a gender-sensitive approach in the allocation of these funds; emphasises the need for a gender sensitive response to COVID-19 in the implementation of the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI)and the Instrument for Pre-Accession III to take account of the unique circumstances of women and girls and to stimulate post- crisis opportunities; encourages the continuation and prioritisation of education in emergencies during this time;
2020/09/16
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 24 #

2020/2079(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 69 a (new)
- having regard to its resolution of 19 June 2020 on European protection of cross-border and seasonal workers in the context of the COVID-19 crisis2, ______________________________ 2 Text adopted, P9_TA(2020)0176.
2020/07/23
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 214 #

2020/2079(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
8. Calls on the Commission and Member States to ensure that financial assistance is only provided to undertakings not registered in tax havens;he countries listed in the Annex 1 of the Council conclusions on the revised EU list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes; 1a __________________ 1aCouncil conclusions (6129/20) on the revised EU list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes of 18 February 2020
2020/07/23
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 223 #

2020/2079(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
9. Calls on the Commission to improve the scoreboard by integrating further indicators and clear targets reflecting all 20 principles of the EPSR, and to develop mandatory social targetsbuild upon existing indicators and reinforce the scoreboard by reflecting all 20 principles of the EPSR;
2020/07/23
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 254 #

2020/2079(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
11. Stresses that the successful implementation of the EU Recovery Plan requires a proper social dialogue at all levels and effective involvement of the social partners; calls on the Commission and Member States to support capacity building of the social partners in order to strengthen social dialogue and collective bargaining;
2020/07/23
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 284 #

2020/2079(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
13. Asks the Commission to propose legal instruments to ensure decent working conditions for all workers, strengthen collective bargaining coverage, ban zero- hour contracts, end bogus self- employment, set strict limits on subcontracting practices, and improve social protection standards; calls on the Commission to present a European directive on decent working conditions for platform workers and, non-standard workers and workers in precarious forms of employment;
2020/07/23
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 289 #

2020/2079(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Is concerned about the working and living conditions of seasonal workers and other cross-border workers in the low-wage sector; calls for an EU-wide subcontractor liability in certain sectors like agriculture and meat industry, especially in the case of on-site work contracts, and clear rules on subcontracting practices in general;
2020/07/23
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 303 #

2020/2079(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
14. Calls for an EU teleworking agenda, including a legislative proposalframework to ensure decent working conditions including respect for working hours, leave and the right to disconnect;
2020/07/23
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 306 #

2020/2079(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Pays attention to the fact that flexible working arrangements and tele- working also play an important role in preserving jobs and production and are one of the key factors in supporting better work-life balance;
2020/07/23
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 313 #

2020/2079(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
15. Asks the Commission to put forward a proposal for a digital EU Social Security Number to facilitate fair labour mobility;
2020/07/23
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 316 #

2020/2079(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
16. Is concerned about limited intergenerational social mobility and increasing income inequality; stresses that national tax and benefit systems must be designed in a way that reduces inequalities, promotes fairness and provides incentives for labour market participation; Therefore, taxation should be shifted away from labour towards other sources where it will have a less harmful effect on inclusive growth and at the same time ensure the full alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the climate and environmental objectives as defined in the European Green Deal;
2020/07/23
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 331 #

2020/2079(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
17. Calls on the Commission to present an EU child guarantee in 2020, a rights- based,as soon as possible, a comprehensive and integrated anti- poverty strategy, an EU framework on national homelessness strategies, to conduct a comparative study on the different minimum income schemes in the Member States, and to highlight best practice cases with a view to presenting a framework in this regard;
2020/07/23
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 379 #

2020/2079(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
22. Calls on the Commission to update the Skills Agenda for Europe in order to meet the skills requirements of the EU labour market and of the ecological and digital transition; underlines that supporting adequate skills with emphasis on digital skills will improve the productivity and resilience of the labour force easing the ecological and digital transition towards a greener and smarter economy;
2020/07/23
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 403 #

2020/2079(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24a. Calls on the Member States to actively promote the development of the circular and social economy, foster social innovation, social enterprises and strengthen their sustainability, and encourage those forms of work which create quality job opportunities;
2020/07/23
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 22 #

2020/2076(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital C
C. whereas digitalisation and artificial intelligence according to the principles of the Green Deal and the SDG’s are crucial for all industry sectors, increasing competitiveness, creating job opportunities and economic prosperity;
2020/06/17
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 43 #

2020/2076(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital E a (new)
E a. whereas COVID-19 had an enormous impact on the organisation of work and jobs, and increases the need for a new industrial strategy;
2020/06/17
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 51 #

2020/2076(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
1. Highlights that EU industrial policy must be in line with the European Pillar of Social Rights and efficiently address the social consequences of structural change and the need to continue implementing its principles, in order to support fair working conditions and equal opportunities, as well as access to well-functioning labour markets and welfare systems; Stresses the urgent need to diversify global supply chains and make them more sustainable and transparent.
2020/06/17
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 173 #

2020/2076(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7 a. Stress the need for a strong social component in the industrial EU strategy and a fair digitalisation of the industry. The New Industrial Strategy should guarantee adequate support for quality work environment, good working conditions and decent work. This requires measures to adequate support for workers in this transition with a focus on employability and well-being. This requires investments in not only technology driven innovations but also in human centred social dialogue and social innovation.
2020/06/17
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 45 #

2020/2071(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas medicine shortages are a growing public health threat with a serious impact on health care systems and public health;
2020/06/08
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 91 #

2020/2071(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital C
C. whereas the loss of European sovereignty and independence in the health sector is linked to the relocation of production, with 40% of medicinal end products marketed in the EU now originating in third countries; whereas the onlyone way to save money is to rely heavily on subcontractors to produce pharmaceutical raw materials in Asia, where labour costs and environmental standards are lower, with the result that 80% of active ingredients are manufactured outside the EU, mainly in China and India;
2020/06/08
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 157 #

2020/2071(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital G
G. whereas, in the absence of a regulatory authority, stockpiling in some Member States is leading to a market imbalance excessive stockpiling can lead to a market imbalance if cooperation between Member States is insufficient;
2020/06/08
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 187 #

2020/2071(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital J a (new)
Ja. whereas a strong, innovative and competitive pharmaceutical industry in Europe is in the vital interest of the EU and its Member States;
2020/06/08
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 190 #

2020/2071(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital J b (new)
Jb. whereas the pharmaceutical industry needs the right legal framework to do research, development and production of pharmaceuticals within the EU;
2020/06/08
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 213 #

2020/2071(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
2. Points out that, while public health policies are a Member State matter,the "Union action shall respect the responsibilities of the Member States for the definition of their health policy and for the organisation and delivery of health services and medical care" it is very clear that pharmaceutical legislation needs to be done by the European Union and partly exercised by the EMA and it is incumbent upon the EU to coordinate and complement national measures to guarantee affordable and high- quality health services for the European citizens;
2020/06/08
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 238 #

2020/2071(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses the need for health policies to focus on patients’ interests and for closer cooperation between Member States; stresses the need for health policies to focus on patients’ interests and for closer cooperation between Member States; notes that the interest and safety of patients should be at the heart of European health policy;
2020/06/08
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 239 #

2020/2071(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses the need for health policies to focus on patients’ interests and for closer cooperation between Member States; Notes that the interest and safety of patients should be at the heart of European health policy;
2020/06/08
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 277 #

2020/2071(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
4. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to take whatever action is needed to restoreensure security of supply of medicines for which European health sovereignty and local pharmaceutical manufacturing are essential tools, giving priority to essential and strategic medicines; calls on the Commission to map outencourage the European pharmaceutical industry not too limit the production to one place and to map out multiple potential production sites in the EU;
2020/06/08
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 363 #

2020/2071(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Stresses the need for full transparency and traceability of public investments in research for medicines in order to reflect these public investments in the availability and price setting for the general public;
2020/06/08
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 397 #

2020/2071(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
8. Notes that procurement procedures with only one successful tenderer with only one production site of the basic substance may exacerbate vulnerability should supplies be disrupted; calls on the Commission and the Member States to introduce procurement procedures under which contracts may be awarded to a number of successful tenderers where each has at least more than one production site in different countries (including one within the EU) for the tendered medicinal product, in order to maintain market competition and reduce the risk of shortages, while guaranteeing high-quality treatment for patients;
2020/06/08
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 406 #

2020/2071(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Ask the Commission to examine if it is possible to create a legislative framework that encourage and enables healthcare systems to do tenders that award pharmaceutical companies that guarantee the supply of pharmaceuticals in difficult circumstances by focussing on production inside the EU and guarantee at least two different sources for the basic substance; ask the Commission to examine if legislative requirements to ensure more sustainable delivery of pharmaceuticals can be mandated under EU law;
2020/06/08
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 472 #

2020/2071(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Stresses the responsibility of the pharmaceutical industry regarding shortages of medicines in order to ensure the continuity in delivering; urges the industry to make a back-up plan in case of a shortage of any medicine;
2020/06/08
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 657 #

2020/2071(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
18. Calls on the Commission to set up an innovative centralised digital platform for sharing information provided by national agencies and all stakeholders regarding available stocks and shortages of medicines and medical equipment; welcomes the introduction by the EMA of the SPOC and i-SPOC systems; calls for existing information systems to be improved so as to provide a clear overview of problems, shortages and requirements in each Member State, with a view to preventing stockpiling;
2020/06/08
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 723 #

2020/2071(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Asks the Commission to make an evaluation of the effects of free movement of goods on the shortages of medicines; calls on the Commission to consider the possibility of reviewing the free movement of certain medicines when strictly necessary to guarantee its supply; asks in this regard especially a particular approach for orphan medicinal products;
2020/06/08
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 17 #

2020/2042(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas climate change is undermining the enjoyment of human rights, especially of those living on the frontline of the climate crises who have contributed least to the causes of the climate change;
2020/05/12
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 18 #

2020/2042(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital B b (new)
Bb. whereas women - who constitute half the world’s population - bear severe gendered impacts of climate change, such as flooding, fires, droughts, deforestation or water scarcity, and are more prone to suffer from infectious diseases, such as water-, food-, and vector-borne ones, and health outcomes associated with poor air quality; whereas consequences of climate change constitute an enormous risk for women, especially pregnant, due to deteriorating sanitary and hygienic conditions and restrained or insufficient access to substantial medical care and treatment;
2020/05/12
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 20 #

2020/2042(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
1. Believes that the EU has a historic responsibility to be the most ambitious signatory of the Paris Agreement and should acknowledge and act on its climate and environmental debtcommitments;
2020/05/27
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 22 #

2020/2042(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital B c (new)
Bc. whereas 80% of people displaced, sometimes forcefully, as a result of climate change are women and children who are at larger scope exposed to the negative effects of climate change than men and face greater difficulties related thereto; whereas women are usually at a higher risk of being located in unsafe, overcrowded shelters due to their lack of assets and greater vulnerability to poverty;
2020/05/12
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 24 #

2020/2042(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital B d (new)
Bd. whereas climate change, environmental degradation, scarcity of resources and natural disasters may increase tensions and reinforce gender inequalities which result in more frequent acts of violence, including domestic and economic violence, sexual assault, forced prostitution, forced or involuntary marriage and other acts of gender-based abuse;
2020/05/12
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 25 #

2020/2042(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital B e (new)
Be. whereas climate change has serious ramifications of food security, availability, accessibility and utilization; whereas women, especially in developing countries account for 40-80 per cent of all labour force related to food production and collection, depending on the region; whereas increased crop failure and unprecedented natural resource depletion due to altering weather may result in excessive agricultural workload to satisfy the household food provision;
2020/05/12
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 28 #

2020/2042(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital B f (new)
Bf. whereas climate change has a severe impact on fresh water resources and availability thereof, especially in developing countries located in hot and dry climate areas, influencing the availability of water used in households; whereas scarcity of water resources may hit women the most;
2020/05/12
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 32 #

2020/2042(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
2. Stresses that the currentRecalls the importance of the involvement of all countries in the decision- making process under the UNFCCC is skewed against LDCs and needs to be impro; asks that special attention is givedn to betterthe involvement of poor and vulnerable country delegates;
2020/05/27
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 37 #

2020/2042(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
3. Calls on all EU Member States to rapidly scale upWelcomes the fact that the EU, its Member States and the European Investment Bank are together the biggest contributor of public climate finance to developing countries, giving EUR 21.7 billion in 2018 alone; Calls on all EU Member States to maintain this high level of ambition as part of the developed countries’ pledge to jointly mobilise USD 100 billion per year in climate finance, prioritisingincluding through grants-based finance, in particular for LDCs and SIDS, and to examine the possible increase of financial support during the 2020- 2025 period as part of a wider international programme; welcomes, in this regard, the EU Member States’ pledges to the Green Climate Fund and the establishment of the international platform on sustainable finance to scale up the mobilization of private capital towards environmentally sustainable investments;
2020/05/27
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 42 #

2020/2042(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. In this context, stresses the importance of private investment to climate action and the potential of public- private partnerships; recalls the commitment of the EU and its Member States to participate to the OECD countries’ ambition to contribute 100 billion USD per year from various sources until at least 2025, including from a variety of sources – public and private, bilateral and multilateral, and alternative sources of finance – in the context of meaningful mitigation action;
2020/05/27
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 44 #

2020/2042(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. Notes that more development funding should be dedicated to climate- related objectives, such as climate-friendly technology and efforts to strengthen climate-resilience in developing countries;
2020/05/27
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 44 #

2020/2042(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
2. Calls for the new Gender Action Plan for External Relations (GAP III) to include for the first timepay special attention to gender equality and climate change as prioritywithin all four pivotal areas, to develop related indicators and to guarantee sufficient resources to deliver on thiGAP's objective;
2020/05/12
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 58 #

2020/2042(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
5. Recalls that the WIM Review 2019 acknowledges the importance of the implementation of the WIM for vulnerable populations in particular; urges the EU to support the calls of LDCs for a specific financing facility on loss and damage and for immediate debt relief; ; considers that Member States could further explore targeted debt suspension or relief on a case-by-case basis for the most vulnerable SIDS and LDCs, linked to specific conditions for the fight against climate change and as part of a wider international framework which includes the IMF and World Bank, as one of the options;
2020/05/27
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 63 #

2020/2042(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
6. Expresses concern at how international climate market mechanisms can have negative implications; cCalls on the EU and Member States to advocate a ‘do no harm’ principle for all suchinternational climate mechanisms;
2020/05/27
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 74 #

2020/2042(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. Emphasizes that efforts should be made to mainstream gender perspective into sustainable development and climate change plans and interventions, including the inclusion of Sustainable Development Goals;
2020/05/12
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 75 #

2020/2042(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 c (new)
4c. Calls for more actions towards increasing women’s participation in high- level climate-related decision-making positions at national, regional and local levels; Recognises that empowering women, as well as their full and equal participation and exercising leadership functions on international level, as well as their management of national, regional and local climate action initiatives, is crucial for enabling of the success and efficiency of action for climate change; calls, in this context, for greater women’s integration in the process of finding solutions to adapt to climate change, foster adaptation strategies and national adaptation plans;
2020/05/12
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 78 #

2020/2042(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
7. Stresses that insufficient adaptation capacities leadcontribute to climate-induced displacement; calls for the WIM Taskforce on Displacement to step up its activities;
2020/05/27
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 78 #

2020/2042(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 d (new)
4d. Emphasises the importance to ensure and protect the rights of women inhabiting rural areas in regards to food security, non-discriminatory access to resources, and increased participation in decision-making processes on local and national levels;
2020/05/12
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 80 #

2020/2042(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 e (new)
4e. Points out that actions towards women’s higher enrolment in science and technology-related fields of education are of outmost importance to effectively combat gender-specific climate change consequences; calls for greater uptake of STEM studies by girls and women, future scientists and engineers in the field of renewable energy combating negative implications of climate change;
2020/05/12
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 83 #

2020/2042(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 g (new)
4g. Underlines that the fact of empowering women as educators, caregivers, holders of knowledge, and promoters and agents of change may improve mitigation and adaptation policy interventions;
2020/05/12
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 84 #

2020/2042(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 h (new)
4h. Points out that climate change may prompt to raise of violence against women and girls, be it systemic or culturally-embedded, including domestic violence; calls for actions aiming at strengthening capacities among national authorities and social partners to understand and address the intersections of gender violence and climate change consequences; stresses the importance of providing aid in developing capacities to address gender violence risk factors through various community engagement and leadership efforts;
2020/05/12
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 87 #

2020/2042(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
8. Insists that the legally bindinginternational agreement for a post-2020 global biodiversity framework involve and benefit vulnerable populations;
2020/05/27
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 103 #

2020/2042(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9
9. Calls for greater international support for indigenous land rights, which would contribute to the protection of pristine forests limiting global warming.
2020/05/27
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 107 #

2020/2042(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Recalls the importance of inclusive social protection systems around the world in the response to future climate shocks; in this regard, calls on the EU and its Member States to promote the creation of decent jobs as part of climate related official development assistance, to help increase resilience of all populations against climate change;
2020/05/27
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 111 #

2020/2042(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 b (new)
9b. Recalls the possible negative effect of climate change on food security in the most vulnerable countries; calls for the support of sustainable land use practices in the agricultural sector, in order to cope with climate-related risks affecting food security as well as providing improved protection to the environment;
2020/05/27
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 114 #

2020/2042(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 c (new)
9c. Stresses that climate change has a considerable impact on human health, for example through floods, drought, heatwaves and fires; recalls that developing countries are the most vulnerable and often less equipped to mitigate this impact on health; therefore points out the importance of health in climate related development assistance in these countries;
2020/05/27
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 17 #

2020/2020(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital A b (new)
Ab. Whereas the freedom to provide services is crucial to the Single Market;
2020/06/25
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 52 #

2020/2020(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital C a (new)
Ca. Taking into account the vulnerable position of workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, free movement of services should not lead to a decline of labour conditions, health and safety of workers.
2020/06/25
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 56 #

2020/2020(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital C b (new)
Cb. Whereas the free movement of services should follow the principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights and should not affect the further implementation of the Pillar.
2020/06/25
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 132 #

2020/2020(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
3. Calls on the Commission and Member States to promote the use of digital tools and provide labour inspectorates with sufficient resources. Urges the Commission to make the European Labour Authority fully operational as soon as possible to ensure a better coordination between the national labour inspectorates and to tackle cross- border social dumping.
2020/06/25
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 15 #

2020/2012(INL)

Draft opinion
Recital B
B. Wwhereas AI offers economic and societal benefits, while at the same time raising a number of challenges; Whereas AI offers economic and societal benefits, while at same time raising a number of challenges and that new AI applications should not have a negative impact on the current labour conditions;
2020/06/24
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 29 #

2020/2012(INL)

Draft opinion
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas the introduction of AI has made the tasks of workers less executive and more complex, research1a has shown that AI leads to more ‘technostress’, with, in particular, less educated and elderly workers being more vulnerable to ‘technostress’. __________________ 1aMeylemans, Lise; Vanderstukken, Arne; Vereycken, Yennef; Ramioul, Monique; 2019. Aanwezigheid en impact van nieuwe technologieën in sectoren van ACV-CSC METEA.
2020/06/24
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 44 #

2020/2012(INL)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
1. Highlights the need to thoroughly assess the effects or implications of AI applications in companies and in public administration in relation to workers, jobs and workflows; considers it indispensable as part of this assessment that workers and their representative social partners are consulted and receive sufficient information before AI applications are put to use; considers it necessary that training be provided to all concerned employees when new AI technologies are introduced at the workplace;
2020/06/24
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 65 #

2020/2012(INL)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
2. Points out that AI solutions have the potential to improve working conditions and the quality of life, yet they can also lead to disproportionate and illegal surveillance of workers, discriminatory treatment due to biased algorithms, including gender biased algorithms3 - and they can undermine the dignity and autonomy of people; AI algorithms at the workplace should be fair, transparent and respecting social implications for the workers concerned. __________________ 3 European Parliament “Education and employment of women in science, technology and the digital economy, including AI and its influence on gender equality”, April 2020
2020/06/24
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 110 #

2020/2012(INL)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
6. Calls for a legislative framework on the ethical aspects of AI applications in the workplace, especially with regard to workers’ rights and working conditions; points out the necessity for this legislative framework to be in line with the rules of protection of personal data and respect privacy of the workers;
2020/06/24
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 43 #

2020/0310(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 5 a (new)
(5 a) Equality between men and women is a fundamental principle of the Union. According to Article 3 of the Treaty on European Union the promotion of equality between women and men is one of the Union’s aims and according to Article 8 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union equality between women and men should be promoted in all activities of the European Union.
2021/05/20
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 44 #

2020/0310(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 5 b (new)
(5 b) Under Article 21 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union any discrimination on any ground is prohibited, while Article 23 requires equality between women and men to be ensured in all areas, including employment, work and pay.
2021/05/20
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 45 #

2020/0310(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 5 c (new)
(5 c) whereas gender equality is a core principle of the European Union and should be reflected in all EU policies and legislation
2021/05/20
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 48 #

2020/0310(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 6
(6) Better working and living conditions, including through adequate minimum wages, benefit both workers and businesses in the Union and are a prerequisite for achieving inclusive and sustainable growth. Addressing large differences in the coverage and adequacy of minimum wage protection contributes to improving the fairness of the EU labour market and promote economic, social progress and upward convergence, as well as promoting gender equality. Competition in the Single Market should be based on high social standards, innovation and productivity improvements ensuring a level playing field.
2021/05/20
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 49 #

2020/0310(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 7
(7) When set at adequate levels, minimum wages protect the income of disadvantaged workers, help ensure a decent living, and limit the fall in income during bad times of crisis and through post crisis periods, as recognised in Convention 131 of the International Labour Organisation on the establishment of a system of minimum wage fixing. Minimum wages contribute to sustaining domestic demand, strengthen incentives to work, reduce wage inequalities and in- work poverty. Taking into account the over-representation of women in low- paying jobs, minimum wages can also make a significant contribution towards ensuring adequate pay for all and narrowing gender pay gaps.
2021/05/20
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 54 #

2020/0310(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 8
(8) Women, single parents, young and low-skilled workers and persons with disabilities have a higher probability of being minimum wage or low wage earners than other groups. During economic downturns, such as the Covid-19 crisis, the role of minimum wages in protecting low- wage workers becomes increasingly important and is essential to support a sustainable and inclusive economic recovery. Addressing minimum wage contributes to gender equality, creating equal opportunities, helping to ensure equal treatment at work, closing the gender pay and pension gap as well as elevating women out of poverty. and/or social exclusion1a. _________________ 1a22.4% of the EU population are at risk of poverty or social exclusion – this includes 24.9% of all children in Europe, 23.3% of women, 18.2% of those over 65
2021/05/20
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 58 #

2020/0310(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 8 a (new)
(8 a) Eurofound “Minimum wages in 2020:Annual review” , shows that women make up 59% of minimum wage earners, the majority of minimum wage earners in Europe. Therefore any modification related to minimum wage will affect them disproportionally. Women are also one of the main sub-minimum wage earners, as well as single parents, young workers, workers with lower education, or rural workers with dependent children.
2021/05/20
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 60 #

2020/0310(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 8 b (new)
(8 b) During economic downturns, such as the COVID-19 crisis, minimum wages allow for people to have a decent living wherever they work and protection of low- wage workers is particularly important for supporting a sustainable and inclusive economic recovery and reducing the gender pay and pension gap, as well as elevating women out of poverty and/ or social exclusion as the majority of minimum wage earners are women. The COVID-19 crisis presents an opportunity to increase efforts to secure sustainable and fair working conditions and decent wages, and to tackle gender stereotypes and reassess the adequacy of wages in some low-paid, mostly female-dominated, sectors and occupations.
2021/05/20
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 61 #

2020/0310(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 8 c (new)
(8 c) Women’s overrepresentation in lower paid sectors and occupations, such as hospitality, retail or personal services, as well as healthcare, care and other essential sectors made them particularly vulnerable to the labour and employment related impacts of the COVID-19 crisis (unprecedented rise in workload, health risks and challenges to work-life balance)
2021/05/20
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 62 #

2020/0310(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 8 d (new)
(8 d) This directive should complement The EU Gender Equality Strategy 2020- 2025 and contribute to the achievement of gender equality by promoting the participation of women in the labour market, on an equal basis, and helping to close gender gaps in earnings, pay and pension. It should take into account demographic changes including the effects of an ageing population. Moreover, it should also contribute to tackling the stereotypes ascribed to gender roles.
2021/05/20
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 63 #

2020/0310(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 9
(9) The Covid-19 pandemic and crisis is having a significant and gendered impact on the the labour market, particularly the healthcare sector, care and other essential sectors, services sector and small firms, which both have a high share of minimum wage earners. Taking into account the over-representation of women in these sectors, women saw an unprecedented rise in workload, health risks and challenges to work-life balance due to the increase in unpaid care and household work during the pandemic. In addition, minimum wages are also important in view of the structural trends that are reshaping labour markets and which are increasingly characterised by high shares of non-standard occupations and precarious work. These trends have led to an increased job polarisation resulting in an increasing share of low-paid and low- skilled occupations in most Member States, as well as to higher wage inequality in some of them.
2021/05/20
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 67 #

2020/0310(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 9 a (new)
(9 a) Gender segregation in the labour market, due to the uneven concentration of women and men in different sectors, is a persistent problem in the EU. 3 in 10 women work in education, health and social work (8% of men), which are traditionally low-paid sectors.
2021/05/20
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 85 #

2020/0310(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 15
(15) This Directive establishes minimum requirements at Union level to ensure both that minimum wages are set at adequate level and that workers have equal access to minimum wage protection, in the form of a statutory minimum wage or in the form of wages set under collective agreements as defined for the purpose of this Directive.
2021/05/20
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 98 #

2020/0310(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 1 a (new)
(1 a) Belgium has a strong tradition in collective bargaining with a coverage of 96%, which is one of the highest in the EU. The minimum wage in Belgium is not fixed by the law. It is fixed on the national level by collective agreements concluded by the National Labour Council. Therefore, Belgium should not be included in the group of Member States with statutory minimum wages.
2021/05/18
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 99 #

2020/0310(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 17
(17) This Directive should equally apply to workers who have an employment contract or employment relationship as defined by the law, collective agreements or practice in force in each Member State, with consideration to the criteria established by the Court of Justice of the European Union for determining the status of a worker. Provided that they fulfil those criteria, domestic workers, on-demand workers, intermittent workers, voucher based- workers, bogus self-employed, platform workers, trainees and apprentices could fall within the scope of this Directive. Genuinely self-employed persons do not fall within the scope of this Directive since they do not fulfil those criteria. The abuse of the status of self- employed persons, as defined in national law, either at national level or in cross- border situations, is a form of falsely declared work that is frequently associated with undeclared work. Bogus self- employment occurs when a person is declared to be self-employed while fulfilling the conditions characteristic of an employment relationship, in order to avoid certain legal or fiscal obligations. Such persons should fall within the scope of this Directive. The determination of the existence of an employment relationship should be guided by the facts relating to the actual performance of the work and not by the parties' description of the relationship.
2021/05/20
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 128 #

2020/0310(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 25
(25) Reliable monitoring and data collectiongender and age disaggregated data collection within the labour force are key to ensure the effective protection of minimum wages. The Commission should report every year to the European Parliament and to the Council its assessment of developments in the adequacy and coverage of minimum wages on the basis of annual data and information to be provided by Member States. In addition, progress should be monitored in the framework of the process of economic and employment policy coordination at Union level. In that context, the Employment Committee should examine every year the situation in the Member States on the basis of the reports produced by the Commission and other multilateral surveillance tools such as benchmarking.
2021/05/20
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 145 #

2020/0310(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 31 a (new)
(31 a) Belgium has a strong tradition in collective bargaining with a coverage of 96%, which is one of the highest in the EU. The minimum wage in Belgium is not fixed by the law. It is fixed on the national level by collective agreements concluded by the National Labour Council. Therefore, Belgium should not be included in the group of Member States with statutory minimum wages.
2021/05/20
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 177 #

2020/0310(COD)

(2) ‘statutory minimum wage’ means a minimum wage set by law, or other binding legal provisions, that are not the conclusions of prior collective bargaining;
2021/05/20
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 186 #

2020/0310(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point b a (new)
(b a) Where appropriate, Member States should consult organisations representing the rights of specific groups workers with limited bargaining power, such as workers with disabilities.
2021/05/20
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 200 #

2020/0310(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 1
1. Member States with statutory 1. minimum wages shall take the necessary measures to ensure that the setting and updating of statutory minimum wages are guided by criteria set to promote adequacy with the aim to achieve decent working and living conditions, social cohesion and upward convergence, as well as promoting equal opportunities and gender equality. Member States shall define those criteria in accordance with their national practices, either in relevant national legislation, in decisions of the competent bodies or in tripartite agreements. The criteria shall be defined in a stable and clear way.
2021/05/20
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 201 #

2020/0310(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 1
1. Member States with statutory minimum wages, that are not the conclusions of prior collective bargaining, shall take the necessary measures to ensure that the setting and updating of statutory minimum wages are guided by criteria set to promote adequacy with the aim to achieve decent working and living conditions, social cohesion and upward convergence. Member States shall define those criteria in accordance with their national practices, either in relevant national legislation, in decisions of the competent bodies or in tripartite agreements. The criteria shall be defined in a stable and clear way.
2021/05/20
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 227 #

2020/0310(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 6 – paragraph 1
1. Member States shall ensure equal opportunities and equal treatment of workers in the application of statutory minimum wage protection. Member States may allow different rates of statutory minimum wage for specific groups of workers. Member States shall keep these variations to a minimum, and ensure that any variation is non- discriminatory, proportionate, limited in time if relevant, and objectively and reasonably justified by a legitimate aim.
2021/05/20
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 235 #

2020/0310(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 6 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Member States shall not allow different rates of statutory minimum wages or deductions by law reducing remuneration paid to workers to a level below that of the statutory minimum wage solely on the basis of sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability or sexual orientation. Sheltered employment, as defined in Regulation No 651/2014, should be subject to statutory minimum wages or sectoral collective agreements, where available.
2021/05/20
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 242 #

2020/0310(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 8 – title
8 Equal and effective access of workers to statutory minimum wages
2021/05/20
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 244 #

2020/0310(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point 3
(3) ensure that information on statutory minimum wages is made publicly available in a clear, comprehensive and easily accessible way, including accessibility for workers with disabilities.
2021/05/20
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 249 #

2020/0310(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 10 – paragraph 1
1. Member States shall task their competent authorities with developing effective data collection tools, that can ensure that data is adequately disaggregated (gender, age group, type of employment contract (part time/ full time), etc), to monitor the coverage and adequacy of minimum wages.
2021/05/20
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 270 #

2020/0310(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 10 – paragraph 3
3. Member States shall ensure that information regarding minimum wage protection, including collective agreements and wage provisions therein, is transparent and publicly and easily accessible.
2021/05/20
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 453 #

2020/0310(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 2
(2) ‘statutory minimum wage’ means a minimum wage set by law, or other binding legal provisions, that are not the conclusions of prior collective bargaining;
2021/05/18
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 559 #

2020/0310(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 1
1. Member States with statutory minimum wages, that are not the conclusions of prior collective bargaining, shall take the necessary measures to ensure that the setting and updating of statutory minimum wages are guided by criteria set to promote adequacy with the aim to achieve decent working and living conditions, social cohesion and upward convergence. Member States shall define those criteria in accordance with their national practices, either in relevant national legislation, in decisions of the competent bodies or in tripartite agreements. The criteria shall be defined in a stable and clear way.
2021/05/18
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 15 #

2020/0262(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 1
(1) Directive 2004/37/EC of the European Parliament and the Council45 aims to protect workers against risks to their health and safety from exposure to carcinogens or mutagens at the workplace. A consistenthigh level of protection from the risks related to the occupational exposure to carcinogens and mutagens is provided for in that Directive by a framework of general principles to enable Member States to ensure the consistent application of minimum requirements. The aim of these minimum requirements is to protect workers at Union level. More stringent provisions can be set by Member States. __________________ 45 Directive 2004/37/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to carcinogens or mutagens at work (Sixth individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16(1) of Council Directive 89/391/EEC) (OJ L 158, 30.4.2004, p. 50).
2021/02/05
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 16 #

2020/0262(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 1 a (new)
(1a) In the workplace, workers and other persons are often exposed to a cocktail of substances, which can increase health risks, cause adverse effects on their reproductive systems and cause impaired fertility or infertility, and have a negative impact on foetal development and lactation. Substances which are toxic to reproduction are of very high concern and the organisation of workplace prevention should apply the same approach as for carcinogens and mutagens. As not all reprotoxic substances are threshold substances, it is of utmost importance to enlarge the scope of Directive 2004/37/EC to reprotoxic substances in order to bring it in line with Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council1a. This is necessary to better protect workers and their children and to ensure the safe participation of all workers in the workplace, in particular female workers who are pregnant or breastfeeding. In Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006, half of the 211 substances identified as substances of very high concern are reprotoxic substances. As is the case in some Member States, the organisation of workplace prevention should therefore apply the same approach to carcinogens, mutagens and reprotoxic substances, thus ensuring legal coherence and a level playing field across Member States.. ____________________ 1aRegulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006 concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), establishing a European Chemicals Agency, amending Directive 1999/45/EC and repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No 793/93 and Commission Regulation (EC) No 1488/94 as well as Council Directive 76/769/EEC and Commission Directives 91/155/EEC, 93/67/EEC, 93/105/EC and 2000/21/EC (OJ L 396, 30.12.2006, p. 1).
2021/02/05
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 19 #

2020/0262(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 2
(2) Principle 10 of the European Pillar of Social Rights46 , jointly proclaimed by the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission at the Social Summit for Fair Jobs and Growth on 17 November 2017, provides workers’ right to a high level of protection of their health and safety at work, which includes the protection from the exposure to carcinogens and mutagen, mutagens and reprotoxic substances at the workplace. __________________ 46European Pillar of Social Rights, November 2017, available at : https://ec.europa.eu/commission/sites/beta- political/files/social-summit-european- pillar-social-rights-booklet_en.pdf
2021/02/05
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 20 #

2020/0262(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 2
(2) Principle 10 of the European Pillar of Social Rights46 , jointly proclaimed by the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission at the Social Summit for Fair Jobs and Growth on 17 November 2017, provides workers’ right to a high level of protection of their health and safety at work, which includes the protection from the exposure to carcinogens and mutagens at the workplace, irrespective of the arrangements for, and duration of employment and exposure. __________________ 46European Pillar of Social Rights, November 2017, available at : https://ec.europa.eu/commission/sites/beta- political/files/social-summit-european- pillar-social-rights-booklet_en.pdf
2021/02/05
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 24 #

2020/0262(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 3
(3) Binding occupational exposure limit values are important component of the general arrangements for the protection of workers established by Directive 2004/37/EC and must not be exceeded. Limit values and other directly related provisions should be evidence-based and measurable, being established for all those carcinogens or mutagens for which the available information, including updated scientific and technical data, make this possible.
2021/02/05
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 25 #

2020/0262(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 3
(3) Binding occupational exposure limit values are important component of the general arrangements for the protection of workers established by Directive 2004/37/EC and must not be exceeded. Limit values and other directly related provisions should be established for all those carcinogens or, mutagens and reprotoxic substances for which the available information, including scientific and technical data, make this possible.
2021/02/05
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 27 #

2020/0262(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 4
(4) Compliance with binding occupational exposure limit values is without prejudice to other employers’ obligations pursuant to Directive 2004/37/EC, such as the reduction of the use of carcinogens and mutagen, mutagens and reprotoxic substances at the workplace, the prevention or reduction of workers’ exposure to carcinogens or mutagen, mutagens or reprotoxic substances and the measures which should be implemented to that effect. Those measures should include, as far as it is technically possible, the replacement of the carcinogen or, mutagen and reprotoxic substance by a substance, mixture or process which is not dangerous or is less dangerous to workers’ health, the use of a closed system or other measures aiming to reduce the level of workers’ exposure.
2021/02/05
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 36 #

2020/0262(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 5
(5) This Directive strengthens the protection of workers’ health and safety at their workplace. New limit values should be set out in Directive 2004/37/EC in the lightThe Commission should review it on a regular basis and make legislative proposals if appropriate. New binding limit values should be set out in Directive 2004/37/EC. Binding occupational exposure limit values should be evidence-based and measurable, being established on the basis of available information, including newupdated scientific and technical data, economic feasibility of implementation and compliance and should also be based on a thorough assessment of the socioeconomic impact and availability of exposure measurement protocols and techniques at the workplace. That information should, if possible, include data on residual risks to the health of workers, opinions of the Committee for Risk Assessment (RAC) of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), as well as opinions of the Advisory Committee on Safety and Health at Work (ACSH) and monographs of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC1a). Information related to residual risk, made publicly available at Union level, is valuable for any future work to limit risks from occupational exposure to carcinogens and mutagens.
2021/02/05
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 38 #

2020/0262(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 5
(5) This Directive strengthens the protection of workers’ health and safety at their workplace. New limit values should be set out in Directive 2004/37/EC in the light ofusing a risk-based methodology. All available information should be considered, including new scientific and technical data and should also be based on, a thorough assessment of the socioeconomic impact and the availability of exposure measurement protocols and techniques at the workplace. That information should, if possible, include data on residual risks to the health of workers, opinions of the Committee for Risk Assessment (RAC) of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), as well as opinions of the Advisory Committee on Safety and Health at Work (ACSH). Information related to residual risk, made publicly available at Union level, is valuable for any future work to limit risks from occupational exposure to carcinogens and mutagens.
2021/02/05
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 39 #

2020/0262(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 5
(5) This Directive strengthens the protection of workers’ health and safety at their workplace. New limit values should be set out in Directive 2004/37/EC in the light of available information, including new scientific and technical data and should also be based on a thorough assessment of the socioeconomic impact and availability of exposure measurement protocols and techniques at the workplace. That information should, if possible, include data on residual risks to the health of workers, opinions of the Committee for Risk Assessment (RAC) of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), as well as opinions of the Advisory Committee on Safety and Health at Work (ACSH). Information related to residual risk, made publicly available at Union level, is valuable for any future work to limit risks from occupational exposure to carcinogens and mutagen, mutagens and reprotoxic substances.
2021/02/05
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 40 #

2020/0262(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 6
(6) In accordance with the recommendations of the RAC and the ACSH, where possible, limit values for the inhalation route of exposure are established in relation to a reference period of eight hours time-weighted average (long-term exposure limit values) and, for certain carcinogens or, mutagens and reprotoxic substances to a shorter reference period, in general fifteen minutes time-weighted average (short-term exposure limit values), in order to limit, to the extent possible, the effects arising from short-term exposure.
2021/02/05
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 41 #

2020/0262(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 7
(7) It is also necessary to consider other absorption pathways other than inhalation of all carcinogens and mutagen, mutagens and reprotoxic substances, including the possibility of uptake through the skin, in order to ensure the best possible level of protection.
2021/02/05
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 52 #

2020/0262(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 13
(13) Benzene meets the criteria for classification as carcinogenic (category 1A) in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 and is therefore carcinogen within the meaning of Directive 2004/37/EC. Benzene can also be absorbed through the skin. The limit value set out in Annex III to Directive 2004/37/EC for benzene should be revised in the light of more recent scientific data no later than 1 January 2030 in accordance with the ACSH opinion and it is appropriate to keep the skin notation. The ACSH, based on the RAC opinion, also agreed on the usefulness of the biomonitoring for benzene. This should be considered when developing guidance on the practical use of biomonitoring.
2021/02/05
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 57 #

2020/0262(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 14 b (new)
(14b) Hazardous Medicinal Products can cause adverse health effects, such as certain types of cancer and reproductive disorders, in workers who are exposed to them in the course of work involving their preparation, administration, or disposal. Hazardous Medicinal Products affect workers who handle them directly or indirectly. Such workers include healthcare workers using cytostatic or cytotoxic drugs to treat cancer patients in hospitals or at home and workers who carry out activities relating to the cleaning, transport, laundry, or the waste disposal of hazardous drugs or of material contaminated by such drugs. It is therefore important to protect all workers by including relevant pharmacotherapeutic groups of Hazardous Medicinal Products in Annex I to Directive 2004/37/EC. The reduction and replacement requirements laid down in Article 4 of that Directive do not apply to Hazardous Medicinal Products because they are essential to treat patients. The other provisions of that Directive, in particular Articles 5 to 18a thereof, as amended by this Regulation, apply to workers who are exposed to Hazardous Medicinal Products.
2021/02/05
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 59 #

2020/0262(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 15 a (new)
(15a) In implementing this Directive Member States should take the everyday existence of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) into account. Member States are therefore invited to assess the impact of their transposition act on SMEs in order to make sure that SMEs are not disproportionately affected, with specific attention for micro-enterprises and for administrative burden, and to publish the results of such assessments. While maintaining equal protection levels for all the workers, compliance for SMEs and microenterprises should be facilitated; against this background, specific measures such as incentives and digital tools could help them to better comply with the obligations laid down in the Directive 2004/37/EC. In that regard, the social partners should exchange best practices.
2021/02/05
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 61 #

2020/0262(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 17
(17) Since the objective of this Directive, namely to protect workers against risks to their health and safety, including the prevention of such risks, arising or likely to arise from exposure to carcinogens or mutagen, mutagens or reprotoxic substances at work, cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States, but can rather, by reason of its 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. 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.
2021/02/05
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 63 #

2020/0262(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 18 b (new)
(18b) Articles 153, 154 and 155 TFEU establish the scope and authority of the social partners to negotiate and enforce agreements relating to occupational health and safety and the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union guarantees, in particular, the fundamental right to life (Article 2) and the right to fair and just working conditions with respect to health, safety and dignity (Article 31(1)).
2021/02/05
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 64 #

2020/0262(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – point -1 (new)
Directive 2004/37/EC
Title
(-1) The title of Directive 2004/37/EC is replaced by the following: "DIRECTIVE 2004/37/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 29 April 2004 on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to carcinogens or mutagen, mutagens or reprotoxic substances at work (Sixth individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16(1) of Council Directive 89/391/EEC)"
2021/02/05
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 65 #

2020/0262(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – point -1 a (new)
Directive 2004/37/EC
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
(-1a) In Article 1(1), the first paragraph is replaced by the following: “1. This Directive has as its aim the protection of workers against risks to their health and safety, including the prevention of such risks, arising or likely to arise from exposure to carcinogens or, mutagens or reprotoxic substances at work.
2021/02/05
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 66 #

2020/0262(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – point -1 b (new)
Directive 2004/37/EC
Article 2 – point b a (new)
(-1b) In Article 2, the following point is inserted: "(ba) 'reprotoxic substance' means: a substance or mixture which meets the criteria for being classified as toxic to reproduction category 1A or 1B in Part 3 of Annex VI to Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008;"
2021/02/05
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 67 #

2020/0262(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – point -1 c (new)
Directive 2004/37/EC
Article 2 – point c (new)
(-1c) In Article 2, point (c) is replaced by the following: “(c) 'limit value' means, unless otherwise specified, the limit of the time- weighted average of the concentration for a 'carcinogen or mutagen’, mutagen or reprotoxic substance' in the air within the breathing zone of a worker in relation to a specified reference period as set out in Annex III to this Directive.
2021/02/05
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 68 #

2020/0262(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – point -1 d (new)
Directive 2004/37/EC
Article 2 – point c a (new)
(-1d) In Article 2, the following point is added: "(ca) 'risk-based limit value' means: a limit value set at an exposure level corresponding to a risk of developing an adverse health effect (e.g. cancer) in the range between an upper and a lower risk level, which is to be set in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 153(2) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU)."
2021/02/05
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 69 #

2020/0262(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – point -1 e (new)
Directive 2004/37/EC
Article 3 – paragraph 1
(-1e) In Article 3, paragraph 1 is replaced by the following: "1. This Directive shall apply to activities in which workers are or are likely to be exposed to carcinogens or, mutagens or reprotoxic substances as a result of their work.
2021/02/05
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 71 #

2020/0262(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – point -1 g (new)
Directive 2004/37/EC
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
(-1g) In Article 3(2), the first subparagraph is replaced by the following: "In the case of any activity likely to involve a risk of exposure to carcinogens or mutagen, mutagens or reprotoxic substances, the nature, degree and duration of workers' exposure shall be determined in order to make it possible to assess any risk to the workers' health or safety and to lay down the measures to be taken.
2021/02/05
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 72 #

2020/0262(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – point -1 h (new)
Directive 2004/37/EC
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
(-1h) In Article 3(2), the second subparagraph is replaced by the following: “The assessment shall be renewed regularly and in any event when any change occurs in the conditions which may affect workers' exposure to carcinogens or, mutagens. or reprotoxic substances.”
2021/02/05
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 73 #

2020/0262(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – point -1 i (new)
Directive 2004/37/EC
Article 3 – paragraph 4
(-1i) In Article 3, paragraph 4 is replaced by the following: "4. When the risk assessment is carried out, employers shall give particular attention to any effects concerning the health or safety of workers at particular risk and shall, inter alia, take account of the desirability of not employing such workers in areas where they may come into contact with carcinogens or, mutagens. or reprotoxic substances.”
2021/02/05
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 74 #

2020/0262(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – point -1 j (new)
Directive 2004/37/EC
Article 4 – paragraph 1
1. The employer shall reduce the use of a carcinogen or mutag(-1j) In Article 4, paragraph 1 is replaced by the following: "1. Where a carcinogen, mutagen or reprotoxic substance is present at the workplace of work, the employer shall reduce its use, in particular by replacing it, in so far as is technically possible, by a substance, mixture or process which, under its conditions of use, is not dangerous or is less dangerous to workers' health or safety, as the case may be. This paragraph shall not apply to the use of hazardous medicinal products set out in Annex I.”
2021/02/05
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 75 #

2020/0262(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – point -1 k (new)
Directive 2004/37/EC
Article 5 – paragraph 2
(-1k) In Article 5, paragraph 2 is replaced by the following: “2. Where it is not technically possible to replace the carcinogen or, mutagen or reprotoxic substance by a substance, mixture or process which, under its conditions of use, is not dangerous or is less dangerous to health or safety, the employer shall ensure that the carcinogen or, mutagen or reprotoxic substance is, in so far as is technically possible, manufactured and used in a closed system.
2021/02/05
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 76 #

2020/0262(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – point -1 l (new)
Directive 2004/37/EC
Article 5 – paragraph 4
(-1l) In Article 5, paragraph 4 is replaced by the following: “4. Exposure shall not exceed the limit value of a carcinogen, mutagen or reprotoxic substance as set out in Annex III.
2021/02/05
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 78 #

2020/0262(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – point -1 n (new)
Directive 2004/37/EC
Article 5 – paragraph 5 – introductory part
-1n. In Article 5(5), the introductory part is replaced by the following: “5. Wherever a carcinogen or, mutagen or reprotoxic substance is used, the employer shall apply all the following measures:
2021/02/05
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 79 #

2020/0262(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – point -1 o (new)
Directive 2004/37/EC
Article 5 – paragraph 5 – point a
(-1o) In Article 5(5), point (a) is replaced by the following: “(a) limitation of the quantities of a carcinogen or, mutagen or reprotoxic substance at the place of work;
2021/02/05
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 80 #

2020/0262(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – point -1 p (new)
Directive 2004/37/EC
Article 5 – paragraph 5 – point c
(-1p) In Article 5(5), point (c) is replaced by the following: "(c) design of work processes and engineering control measures so as to avoid or minimise the release of carcinogens or, mutagens or reprotoxic substances into the place of work;
2021/02/05
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 81 #

2020/0262(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – point -1 q (new)
Directive 2004/37/EC
Article 5 – paragraph 5 – point d
(-1q) In Article 5(5), point (d) is replaced by the following: “(d) evacuation of carcinogens or, mutagens or reprotoxic substances at source, local extraction system or general ventilation, all such methods to be appropriate and compatible with the need to protect public health and the environment;
2021/02/05
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 82 #

2020/0262(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – point -1 r (new)
Directive 2004/37/EC
Article 5 – paragraph 5 – point e
(-1r) In Article 5(5), point (e) is replaced by the following: “(e) use of existing appropriate procedures for the measurement of carcinogens or mutagen, mutagens or reprotoxic substances, in particular for the early detection of abnormal exposures resulting from an unforeseeable event or an accident;
2021/02/05
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 84 #

2020/0262(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – point -1 t (new)
Directive 2004/37/EC
Article 5 – paragraph 5 – point j
(-1t) In Article 5(5), point (j) is replaced by the following: “(j) demarcation of risk areas and use of adequate warning and safety signs including 'no smoking' signs in areas where workers are exposed or likely to be exposed to carcinogens or mutagen, mutagens or reprotoxic substances;
2021/02/05
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 86 #

2020/0262(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – point -1 v (new)
Directive 2004/37/EC
Article 6 – paragraph 1– point a
(-1v) In the first paragraph of Article 6, point (a) is replaced by the following: "(a) the activities and/or industrial processes carried out, including the reasons for which carcinogens or, mutagens or reprotoxic substances are used;
2021/02/05
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 87 #

2020/0262(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – point -1 w (new)
Directive 2004/37/EC
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point b
(-1w) In the first paragraph of Article 6, point (b) is replaced by the following: “(b) the quantities of substances or mixtures manufactured or used which contain carcinogens or mutagen, mutagens or reprotoxic substances; "
2021/02/05
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 88 #

2020/0262(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – point -1 x (new)
Directive 2004/37/EC
Article 10 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
(-1x) In Article 10 (1), the introductory part is replaced by the following: “1. Employers shall be obliged, in the case of all activities for which there is a risk of contamination by carcinogens or mutagen, mutagens or reprotoxic substances, to take appropriate measures to ensure that:
2021/02/05
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 89 #

2020/0262(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – point -1 y (new)
Directive 2004/37/EC
Article 10 – paragraph 1 – point a
(-1y) In Article 10(1), point (a) is replaced by the following: “(a) workers do not eat, drink or smoke in working areas where there is a risk of contamination by carcinogens or, mutagens; or reprotoxic substances;”
2021/02/05
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 90 #

2020/0262(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – point -1z (new)
Directive 2004/37/EC
Article 11 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2 – indents 1 and 2
(-1 z) In the second subparagraph of Article 11(1), the indents are replaced by the following: –- Adapted to take account of new or changed risk, – Repeated periodically in healthcare settings for all workers who come in to contact with cytotoxic and mutagens, and – Repeated periodically in other settings if necessary."
2021/02/05
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 92 #

2020/0262(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – point -1 ab (new)
Directive 2004/37/EC
Article 11 – paragraph 2
(-1ab) In Article 11, paragraph 2 is replaced by the following: “2. Employers shall inform workers of installations and related containers containing carcinogens or, mutagens or reprotoxic substances, ensure that all containers, packages and installations containing carcinogens or mutagen, mutagens or reprotoxic substances are labelled clearly and legibly, and display clearly visible warning and hazard signs.
2021/02/05
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 93 #

2020/0262(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – point -1 ac (new)
Directive 2004/37/EC
Article 14 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
(-1ac) In Article 14(3), the first subparagraph is replaced by the following: “3. If a worker is found to be suffering from an abnormality which is suspected to be the result of exposure to carcinogens or mutagen, mutagens or reprotoxic substances, the doctor or authority responsible for the health surveillance of workers may require other workers who have been similarly exposed to undergo health surveillance.
2021/02/05
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 94 #

2020/0262(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – point -1 ad (new)
Directive 2004/37/EC
Article 14 – paragraph 8 – subparagraph 1
All cases of canc(-1ad) In Article 14(8), the first subparagraph is replaced by the following: “All cases of cancer and reproductive disorder identified in accordance with national law or practice as resulting from occupational exposure to a carcinogen or, mutagen or reprotoxic substance shall be notified to the competent authority.
2021/02/05
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 95 #

2020/0262(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – point -1 ae (new)
Directive 2004/37/EC
Article 14 – paragraph 8 – subparagraph 1
8. All cases of canc(-1ae) In Article 14(8), the first subparagraph is replaced by the following: “8. All cases of cancer and reproductive disorder identified in accordance with national laws and/or practice as resulting from occupational exposure to a carcinogen or, mutagen or reprotoxic substance shall be notified to the competent authority. The Member States shall include the information referred to in this paragraph in their implementation reports submitted to the Commission pursuant to Article 17a of Directive 89/391/EEC.”
2021/02/05
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 96 #

2020/0262(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – point -1 af (new)
Directive 2004/37/EC
Article 15 – paragraph 2 a (new)
(-1af) In Article 15, the following paragraph is added: “2a. The Member States shall provide the Commission with the information referred to in Article 14(8) as part of the implementation reports submitted to the Commission pursuant to Article 17a of Directive 89/391/EEC.”
2021/02/05
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 97 #

2020/0262(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – point -1 ag (new)
Directive 2004/37/EC
Article 16 – paragraph 1
1. T(-1ag) In Article 16, paragraph 1 is replaced by the following: "1. The European Parliament and the Council shall, in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 1537(2) of the TreatyTFEU, set out limit values in Directives on the basis of the available information, including scientific and technical data, in respect of all those carcinogens or mutagen, mutagens or reprotoxic substances for which this is possible, and, where necessary, other directly related provisions.
2021/02/05
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 98 #

2020/0262(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – point -1 ah (new)
Directive 2004/37/EC
Article 16 – paragraph 1
1. T(-1 ah) In Article 16, paragraph 1 is replaced by the following: "1. The European Parliament and the Council shall, in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 1537(2) of the Treaty, set out risk-based limit values in Directives on the basis of the available information, including scientific and technical data, in respect of all those carcinogens or, mutagens for which this is possible, and, where necessary, other directly related provisions.
2021/02/05
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 99 #

2020/0262(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – point -1 ai (new)
Directive 2004/37/EC
Article 17 – paragraph 1
(-1 ai) In Article 17, paragraph 1 is replaced by the following: "The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 17a to make strictly technical amendments to Annex II, in order to take account of technical progress, changes in international regulations or specifications and new findings with regard to carcinogens or, mutagens. or reprotoxic substances.”
2021/02/05
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 102 #

2020/0262(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – point -1 al (new)
Directive 2004/37/EC
Article 18a – paragraph 4 a (new)
(-1al) In Article 18a, the following paragraph is added: “No later than 1 January 2028, the Commission shall, taking into account the RAC opinion of 2018 and the latest developments in scientific knowledge, start evaluating the feasibility of a further reduction of the limit value for benzene. No later than 1 January 2030, the Commission shall propose, where appropriate, necessary amendments and modifications related to that substance.”
2021/02/05
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 104 #

2020/0262(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – point -1an (new)
Directive 2004/37/EC
Article 18a – paragraph 4 a (new)
(-1an) In Article 18a, the following paragraph is added: “No later than 1 March 2022, the Commission shall, taking into account the latest developments in scientific knowledge, and after appropriate consultation of relevant stakeholders, in particular health practitioners and health professionals, develop a definition of Hazardous Medicinal Products and establish the list of substances covered by the related entry in Annex I. The Commission shall review that list every two years. No later than 1 December 2022, the Commission shall, after the appropriate consultation of relevant stakeholders, prepare Union guidelines and standards of practice for the preparation, administration, and disposal of Hazardous Medicinal Products. Those guidelines and standards shall be published on the website of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) and shall be disseminated in all Member States. The consultations undertaken to develop the definition, list, guidelines and standards shall be transparent. The declarations of interests of stakeholders and experts shall be made public in a timely manner.”
2021/02/05
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 105 #

2020/0262(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – point -1ao (new)
Directive 2004/37/EC
Article 18a – paragraph 4 a (new)
(-1ao) In Article 18 a, the following paragraph is inserted after the second paragraph: “No later than 1 June 2022, the Commission shall, taking into account the existing methodology to set limit values for carcinogens in some Member States and the opinion of the ACSH, define the upper and lower risk levels referred to in Article 2. No later than 1 December 2022, the Commission shall, after appropriate consultation of relevant stakeholders, prepare Union guidelines on the methodology establishing risk-based limit values under this Directive. Those guidelines shall be published on the website of the (EU-OSHA) and be disseminated in all Member States.”
2021/02/05
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 106 #

2020/0262(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – point -1 ap (new)
Directive 2004/37/EC
Annex I – point 8 a (new)
(-1 ap) In Annex I the following point is added: “8a. Work involving exposure to Hazardous Medicinal Products as defined by the process outlined in article 18a and, meeting the criteria for classification as carcinogenic, mutagenic and/or toxic for reproduction category 1A or 1B set out in Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council.”
2021/02/05
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 107 #

2020/0262(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – point -1 aq (new)
Directive 2004/37/EC
Annex II – point 1
(-1aq) In Annex II, point 1 is replaced by the following: “1. The doctor and/or authority responsible for the health surveillance of workers exposed to carcinogens or, mutagens or reprotoxic substances must be familiar with the exposure conditions or circumstances of each worker.
2021/02/05
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 28 #

2020/0108(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
(10) Reflecting the importance of tackling climate change in line with the Union's commitments to implement the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and the SDGs, the InvestEU Programme will contribute to mainstream climate actions and to the achievement of an overall target of 2530 % of the Union budget expenditures supporting climate objectives. Actions under the InvestEU Programme are expected to contribute 3at least 40 % of the overall financial envelope of the InvestEU Programme to climate objectives. Relevant actions will be identified during the InvestEU Programme's preparation and implementation and reassessed in the context of the relevant evaluations and review processes.
2020/09/04
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 66 #

2020/0108(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 29
(29) The strategic European investment window should also target suppliers established and operating in the Union whose activities are of strategic importance to the Union and that would need long term investment or are covered by the Foreign Direct Investment Screening mechanism. In addition, important projects of common European interest should in particular be able to benefit from the strategic European investment window. However, financial support should not be provided when a project is not in line with the strategic and economic interests of the Union, for instance for projects that would increase dependency on vulnerable or undiversified supply chains.
2020/09/04
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 69 #

2020/0108(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 29 a (new)
(29 a) The visibility of the Union funding from the InvestEU Fund, and in particular the strategic European investment window and its identified strategic priorities, should be ensured through effective communication, highlighting Union-funded actions and results in order to adequately promote the Union added value of the InvestEU Programme as part of the recovery.
2020/09/04
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 115 #

2020/0108(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – point e – point i
i) critical healthcare provision, manufacturing and stockpiling of pharmaceuticals, medical deviceines, vaccines, active pharmaceutical ingredients, pharmaceutical raw materials, medical devices, diagnostic tools and medical supplies, strengthening of health crisis response capacity and of the civil protection system;
2020/09/04
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 120 #

2020/0108(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – point e – point ii
ii) critical infrastructure, whether physical or virtual, including infrastructure elements identified as critical in the fields of energy, transport, environment, water, health, secure digital communication, 5G, internet of things, online service platforms, secure cloud computing, data processing or storage, payments and financial infrastructure, aerospace, defence, communications, media, education and training, electoral infrastructure and sensitive facilities, as well as land and real estate crucial for the use of such critical infrastructure;
2020/09/04
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 138 #

2020/0108(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – point e – point iv – point c
(c) biomedicine, nanotechnologies, biotechnologies, pharmaceuticals and advanced materials;
2020/09/04
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 144 #

2020/0108(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – point e – point vii – paragraph 1
In addition, in the case of investments in space, defence and cybersecurity, and in specific types of projects with actual and direct security implications in critical sectors, the final recipients shall not be controlled by a third country or third country entities and shall have their executive management in the Union with a view to protect the security of the Union and its Member States. Financial support shall not be provided when a project is not in line with the strategic and economic interests of the Union, for instance for projects that would increase dependency on vulnerable or undiversified supply chains.
2020/09/04
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 153 #

2020/0108(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 4 – introductory part
4. The Commission shall develop sustainability guidance that, in accordance with Union environmental and social objectives and standards, including Regulation (EU) 2020/852, allows to:
2020/09/04
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 31 #

2020/0106(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 10
Regulation (EU) 2015/1017
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 3 – introductory part
The operations concerned shall be fully consistent with Union policies, including particular the European Green Deal9 and the Strategy on shaping Europe’s digital future10 , as well as supporting an inclusive and symmetric recovery in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, and support any of the following general objectives:’ _________________ 9 COM(2019)640 final. 10 COM(2020)67 final.
2020/07/20
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 36 #

2020/0106(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 12
Regulation (EU) 2015/1017
Article 9 – paragraph 2 a – subparagraph 1 – point a
(a) target that at least 40 % of EFSI financing under the infrastructure and innovation window support project components that contribute to climate action, in line with the Union's climate and environmental objectives, the commitments made at the 21st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP21) and the National Energy and Climate Plans. EFSI financing for SMEs and small mid- cap companies shall not be included in that computation. The EIB shall use its internationally agreed methodology as well as the criteria provided for in Regulation (EU) 2020/852 to identify those climate action project components or cost shares;
2020/07/20
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 68 #

2020/0106(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 31 – point 3
Regulation (EU) 2015/1017
Annex II – section 6 – point d – indent 5
— Companies targeted by funds, special purpose vehicles or investment platforms shall be encouraged to comply, to the extent possiblecomply, where relevant, with minimum high- level social and environmental safeguards in line with guidance provided by the Steering Board. Such guidance shoulall be fully in line with the Union's climate and environmental objectives, and include adequate provisions for avoiding undue administrative burdens, taking into account the size of companies and including lighter provisions for SMEs. Companies with a certain level of exposure to a pre-defined list of environmentally harmful activities in line with Regulation (EU) 2020/852, in particular the sectors covered by the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), shall be encouraged to put in place, in the future, green transition plans in line with the Union's climate and environmental objectives and National Energy and Climate Plans. Companies shall also be encouraged to advance in their digital transformation. Technical assistance shall be available to assist companies for the purpose of these transitions.
2020/07/20
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 40 #

2020/0104(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
(11) Reflecting the European Green Deal as Europe’s sustainable growth strategy and the translation of the Union's commitments to implement the Paris Agreement and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, the Facility established by this Regulation will contribute to mainstreaming climate actions and environmental sustainability and to the achievement of an overall target of 2530 % of the EU budget expenditures supporting climate objectives. The Facility should only finance projects respecting the “do not significant harm” principle referred to in Regulation (EU) 2020/852.
2020/09/09
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 50 #

2020/0104(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
(14) The Facility’s general objective should be the promotion of economic, social and territorial cohesiono contribute to addressing the challenges of the policy areas identified under this Regulation through the promotion of economic, social and territorial cohesion and to contribute to the objectives of Union policies, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the European Pillar of Social Rights, the Paris Agreement and to the strengthening of the Single Market. For that purpose, it should contribute to improving the resilience and adjustment capacity of the Member States, mitigating the social and economic impact of the crisis, and supporting the green and digital transitions aimed at achieving a climate neutral Europe by 2050, therebycontributing to restoring the growth potential of the economies of the Union in the aftermath of the crisis, fostering employment creation in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and to promotinge sustainable growth and the digital economy.
2020/09/09
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 135 #

2020/0104(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. The Facility shall contribute to the objectives of Union policies, in particular where it leads to job creation and maintenance of sustainable employment at a considerable scale, via the implementaion of measures, such as: - measures contributing to the Union’s climate and environmental objectives, including energy efficiency and energy savings, the deployment of technology and infrastructures for clean and sustainable renewable energy and energy storage, including clean hydrogen, batteries and fuel cell applications, and decarbonisation technologies for industry and carbon capture and storage technologies; - projects and enterprises that implement the circular economy by integrating resource efficiency aspects in the production and product life-cycle; - measures to strengthen the resilience, accessibility and capacity of health systems and civil protection systems, in particular in the face of crises and pandemics; - strategic investment to support final recipients that are established in one or more Member States and that operate in the Union, and whose activities are of strategic importance to the Union, notably in the area of research, innovation, manufacturing and stockpiling of pharmaceuticals, medicines, medical devices and vaccines; - productive and sustainable investments in enterprises, in particular microenterprises, SMEs and start-ups, in particular investments contributing to the transition towards a climate-neutral economy; - upskilling and reskilling of workers and job-seekers, including self-employed, with the aim of bridging the skills gap necessary for the just transition towards a climate-neutral economy; - measures that foster digital infrastructure, digitization of national systems and workplace, improve access to digital working and promote digital skills.
2020/09/09
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 169 #

2020/0104(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Reflecting the European Green Deal as Europe’s sustainable growth strategy and the translation of the Union's commitments to implement the Paris Agreement and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, the plans shall be consistent with the ‘do not significant harm’ principle referred to in Regulation (EU) 2020/852 and at least 40 % of the amount of each Recovery and Resilience Plan shall contribute to mainstreaming climate and biodiversity actions and environmental sustainability objectives. By means of a delegated act, the Commission shall adopt an effective methodology to track and identify the fulfilment of this requirement, in line with the criteria laid down in the EU taxonomy established by Regulation (EU) 2020/852.
2020/09/09
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 170 #

2020/0104(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 1 b (new)
1 b. Member States’ access to the Recovery and Resilience Facility shall be dependent on the endorsement of a national objective of achieving a climate- neutral Union by 2050.
2020/09/09
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 177 #

2020/0104(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 2
2. The recovery and resilience plans shall be consistent withcontribute to the implementation of the relevant country-specific challenges and prioritierecommendations identified in the context of the European Semester, in particular those relevant for or resulting from the green and digital transition. T, as well as to achieving the Union’s objective of climate neutrality by 2050 and the Union's new 2030 climate targets. Therefore, the recovery and resilience plans shall also be consistent with the information included by the Member States in the national reform programmes under the European Semester, in their national energy and climate plans and updates thereof under the Regulation (EU)2018/199921 , in the territorial just transition plans under the Just Transition Fund22 , and in the partnership agreements and operational programmes under the Union funds. _________________ 21Regulation (EU)2018/1999 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2018 on the Governance of the Energy Union and Climate Action. 22 […]
2020/09/09
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 204 #

2020/0104(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 3 – point c a (new)
(c a) a detailed explanation of how the measures are expected to ensure that at least 40% of the amount requested for the recovery and resilience plan contribute to mainstreaming climate and biodiversity actions and environmental sustainability objectives in line with Article 14(1) and (2);
2020/09/09
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 209 #

2020/0104(COD)

(c b) an explanation of how the measures in the plan are expected to contribute the implementation of the commitments of the Union and of its Members States, in particular the relevant documents adopted in the context of the latest European Semester, the Paris Agreement, the national energy and climate plans and updates thereof under Regulation (EU)2018/1999, the territorial just transition plans under the Just Transition Fund, the partnership agreements and operational programmes under other Union funds;
2020/09/09
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 231 #

2020/0104(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 2
2. When assessing the recovery and resilience plan and in the determination of the amount to be allocated to the Member State concerned, the Commission shall take into account the analytical information on the Member State concerned available in the context of the European Semester as well as the justification and the elements provided by the Member State concerned, as referred to in Article 15(3), and any other relevant information including, in particular, the one contained in the National Reform Programme, the Just Transition Plan and the National Energy and Climate Plan of the Member State concerned and, if relevant, information from technical support received via the Technical Support Instrument.
2020/09/09
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 248 #

2020/0104(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 3 – point b a (new)
(b a) whether the plan contains measures that effectively contribute to the green transition or to addressing the challenges resulting from it and whether at least 40% of the amount requested for the recovery and resilience plan contribute to mainstreaming climate and biodiversity actions and environmental sustainability objectives based on the methodology provided by the Commission in accordance with Article 14(1 a);
2020/09/09
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 252 #

2020/0104(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 3 – point b b (new)
(b b) whether the plan is consistent with and contributes to the national reform programmes, the national energy and climate plans and updates thereof under Regulation (EU) 2018/1999, the territorial just transition plans under the Just Transition Fund, the partnership agreements and operational programmes under other Union funds;
2020/09/09
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 316 #

2020/0104(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 26 – paragraph 1
1. The recipients of Union funding shall acknowledge the origin and ensure the visibility of the Union funding, in particular when promoting the actions and their results, by clearly labelling the funding as Union funding and providing coherent, effective and proportionate targeted information to multiple audiences, including the media and the public. The recipients shall ensure the visibility of spending under the Facility by clearly labelling the supported projects as “EU Recovery Initiative”.
2020/09/09
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 361 #

2020/0104(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – point 2 – paragraph 3 – point 2.2 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – indent 1
— the implementation of the envisaged measures is expected to significantly contribute to establish climate- and environmental-friendly systems and to the greening of economic or social sectors with a view to contribute to the overall objective of a climate-neutral Europe by 2050 and the Union's new 2030 climate targets in line with the criteria laid down in the EU taxonomy established by Regulation (EU) 2020/852;
2020/09/09
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 380 #

2020/0104(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – point 2 – paragraph 3 – point 2.4 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – indent 1
— the recovery and resilience plan contains measures that aim at addressing weaknesses of the economy of the Member States and at boosting the growth potential of the economy of the Member State concerned, in particular for SMEs , stimulating job creation and mitigating the adverse effects of the crisis, while avoiding adverse impacts of those measures on climate and environment in line with the criteria laid down in EU taxonomy established by Regulation (EU) 2020/852.
2020/09/09
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 116 #

2020/0102(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3
(3) Article 168 TFEU provides that the Union is to complement and support national health policies, encourage cooperation between Member States, particularly in border regions, and promote the coordination between their programmes, in full respect of the responsibilities of the Member States for the definition of their health policies and the organisation and delivery of health services and medical care.
2020/07/16
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 134 #

2020/0102(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6
(6) While Member States are responsible for their health policies, they are expected to protect public health in a spirit of European solidarity8 . Despite the reintroduction of internal borders at a time where solidarity between Member States was the most needed, several healthcare projects between cross-border regions, funded by Interreg programmes, have contributed to the fight against the COVID-19 crisis. Experience from the ongoing COVID-19 crisis has demonstrated that there is a need for a further firm action at Union level to support cooperation and coordination among the Member States as well as between neighbouring border regions in order to improve the prevention and control of the spread of severe human diseases across borders, to combat other serious cross- border threats to health and to safeguard the health and well-being of people in the Union. __________________ 8 Communication to the European Parliament, the European Council, the Council, the European Central Bank, the European Investment Bank and the Eurogroup on coordinated economic response to the COVID-19 outbreak, COM(2020)112 final of 13.03.220.
2020/07/16
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 157 #

2020/0102(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7
(7) It is therefore appropriate to establish a new Programme for the Union's action in the field of health, called EU4Health Programme ('the Programme') for the period 2021 -2027. In line with the goals of the Union action and its competences in the area of public health the Programme should place emphasis on actions in relation to which there are advantages and efficiency gains from collaboration andt Union level as well as from cross-border cooperation at Unregional level and actions with an impact on the internal market.
2020/07/16
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 171 #

2020/0102(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
(10) Due to the serious nature of cross- border health threats, the Programme should support coordinated public health measures at Union level as well as at regional level between regions which share a common border to address different aspects of such threats. With a view to strengthen the capability in the Union to prepare for, respond to and manage health crisis the Programme should provide support to the actions taken in the framework of the mechanisms and structures established under Decision No 1082/2013/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council10 and other relevant mechanisms and structures established at Union level. This could include strategic stockpiling of essential medical supplies or capacity building in crisis response, preventive measures related to vaccination and immunisation, strengthened surveillance programmes. In this context the Programme should foster Union-wide and cross-sectoral crisis prevention, preparedness, surveillance, management and response capacity of actors at the Union, national, regional and local level, including contingency planning and preparedness exercises, in keeping with the “One Health” approach. It should facilitate the setting up of an integrated cross-cutting risk communication framework working in all phases of a health crisis - prevention, preparedness and response. __________________ 10Decision No 1082/2013/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 October 2013 on serious cross-border threats to health and repealing Decision No 2119/98/EC (OJ L 293, 5.11.2013, p. 1).
2020/07/16
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 206 #

2020/0102(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
(14) In order to minimise the public health consequences of serious cross- border threats to health it should be possible for actions supported under the Programme to cover coordination of the activities which strengthen the interoperability and coherence of Member States’ health-systems through benchmarking, cooperation and exchange of best practices and ensure their capability to respond to health emergencies, that includes contingency planning, preparedness exercises and the upskilling of health care and public health staff and the establishment of mechanisms for the efficient monitoring and needs-driven distribution or allocation of goods and services needed in time of crisis, which would be particularly beneficial in a cross-border context.
2020/07/16
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 326 #

2020/0102(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 20
(20) The Programme will work in synergy and complementarity with other EU policies, programmes and funds such as actions implemented under the Digital Europe Programme, Horizon Europe, rescEU reserve under the Union Civil Protection Mechanism, Emergency Support Instrument, European Social Fund+ (ESF+, including as regards synergies on better protecting the health and safety of millions of workers in the EU), including the Employment and Social Innovation Strand (EaSI), the InvestEU fund, Single Market Programme, European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) including Interreg, Recovery and Resilience Facility including the Reform Delivery Tool, Erasmus, European Solidarity Corps, Support to mitigate Unemployment Risks in an Emergency (SURE), and EU external action instruments, such as the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument and the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance III. Where appropriate, common rules will be established in view of ensuring consistency and complementarity between funds, while making sure that specificities of these policies are respected, and in view of aligning with the strategic requirements of these policies, programmes and funds, such as the enabling conditions under ERDF and ESF+.
2020/07/16
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 333 #

2020/0102(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 21
(21) In accordance with Article 114 TFEU, a high level of health protection should be ensured in the legislation adopted by the Union for the establishment and the functioning of the internal market. On the basis of Article 114 TFEU and point (c) of Article 168(4) TFEU, a considerable body of Union acquis was developed which guarantees the high standards of quality and safety for medicinal products and medical devices. Given the rising healthcare demand, Member States’ healthcare systems face challenges in the availability and affordability of medicines and medical devices. To ensure a better public health protection as well as the safety and empowerment of patients in the Union, it is essential that patients and health systems have access to high quality healthcare productsservices and products, including in a cross-border context, and can fully benefit from them.
2020/07/16
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 384 #

2020/0102(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 26
(26) Cross-border cooperation in the provision of healthcare to patients moving between Member States or living in border regions, collaboration on health technology assessments (HTA), and European Reference Networks (ERNs) are examples of areas where integrated work among Member States has shown to have strong added value and great potential to increase the efficiency of health systems and thus health in general. The Programme should therefore support activities to enable such integrated and coordinated work, which also serves to foster the implementation of high-impact practices that are aimed at distributing in the most effective way the available resources to the concerned population and areas so as to maximise their impact.
2020/07/16
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 404 #

2020/0102(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 30
(30) In order to optimise the added value and impact from investments funded wholly or in part through the budget of the Union, synergies should be sought in particular between the Programme for the Union's action in the field of health and other Union programmes, including those under shared-management, notably the Interreg programme which already addresses cross-border cooperation in the field of health and helps to facilitate the cross-border mobility of patients and health professionals, and to develop access to high quality healthcare through the use of common equipment, shared services and joint facilities in cross-border areas. To maximise those synergies, key enabling mechanisms should be ensured, including cumulative funding in an action from the Programme for the Union's action in the field of health and another Union programme, as long as such cumulative funding does not exceed the total eligible costs of the action. For that purpose, this Regulation should set out appropriate rules, in particular on the possibility to declare the same cost or expenditure on a pro-rata basis to Programme for the Union's action in the field of health and another Union programme.
2020/07/16
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 408 #

2020/0102(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 31
(31) Given the specific nature of the objectives and actions covered by the Programme, the respective competent authorities of the Member States and, in the cross-border context, the Interreg programmes are best placed in some cases to implement the related activities. Those authorities and Interreg programmes, designated by the Member States themselves, should therefore be considered to be identified beneficiaries for the purpose of Article 195 of the Financial Regulation and the grants be awarded to such authorities without prior publication of calls for proposals.
2020/07/16
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 411 #

2020/0102(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 33
(33) Given the common agreed values of solidarity towards accessible, equitable and universal coverage of quality health services, including in a cross-border context, as a basis for the Union’s policies in this area and that the Union has a central role to play in accelerating progress on global health challenges19 , the Programme should support the Union’s contribution to international and global health initiatives with a view to improve health, address inequalities and increase protection against global health threats. __________________ 19Council conclusions on the EU role in Global Health, 3011th Foreign Affairs Council meeting, Brussels, 10 May 2010.
2020/07/16
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 419 #

2020/0102(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 42
(42) The implementation of the Programme should be such that the responsibilities of the Member States, for the definition of their health policy and for the organisation and delivery of health services and medical care, are respected. However, with a view to improving the complementarity of their health services and their conditions of mobility for patients and healthcare professionals in cross-border areas.
2020/07/16
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 421 #

2020/0102(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 43
(43) Given the nature and potential scale of cross-border threats to human health, the objective of protecting people in the Union from such threats and to increase crisis prevention and preparedness cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States acting alone. In accordance with the principle of subsidiarity as set out in Article 5 of the Treaty on the European Union, action at Union level canshould also be taken to support Member States’ efforts in the pursuit of a high level of protection of public health, to improve the availability and affordability in the Union of medicines, medical devices and other crisis relevant products and services, to support innovation and to support integrated and coordinated work and implementation of best practices among Member States and among their regions, and to address inequalities in access to health throughout the EU in a manner that creates efficiency gains and value-added impacts that could not be generated by action taken at national level while respecting the Member States’ competence and responsibility in the areas covered by the Programme. In accordance with the principle of proportionality, as set out in that Article, this Regulation does not go beyond what is necessary in order to achieve those objectives.
2020/07/16
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 479 #

2020/0102(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 3
(3) strengthen health systems and the healthcare workforce, including by digital transformation and by increased integrated and coordinated work among the Member States at national, regional and local level, sustained implementation of best practice and data sharing, to increase the general level of public health.
2020/07/16
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 593 #

2020/0102(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point 9
(9) support integrated work among Member States as well as between neighbouring border regions, and in particular their health systems, including the implementation of high-impact prevention practices, and scaling up networking through the European Reference Networks and other transnational networks;
2020/07/16
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 630 #

2020/0102(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 5
5. Under the Programme, direct grants may be awarded without a call for proposals to fund actions having a clear Union added value co-financed by the local, regional and national competent authorities that are responsible for health in the Member States or in the third countries associated to the Programme, relevant international health organisations or by Interreg programmes, public sector bodies and non-governmental bodies, acting individually or as a network, mandated by those competent authorities.
2020/07/16
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 631 #

2020/0102(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 6
6. Under the Programme, direct grants may be awarded without a call for proposals to European Reference Networks. Direct grants may also be awarded to other transnational networks or Interreg programmes set out in accordance with EU rules.
2020/07/16
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 14 #

2020/0100(COD)

(3 a) The Just Transition Fund is an essential part of the Union Recovery and Resilience Package and should remain a key part of the package, with corresponding significant resources.
2020/09/04
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 15 #

2020/0100(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4
(4) A public sector loan facility (the ‘Facility’) should be provided. It constitutes the third pillar of the Just Transition Mechanism, supporting public sector entities in their investments. Such investments should meet the development needs resulting from the transition challenges described in the territorial just transition plans as adopted by the Commission. The activities envisaged for support should be consistent with and complement those supported under the other two pillars of the Just Transition Mechanism. and should support the overarching objectives of the European Green Deal, in particular the “do not significant harm" principle referred to in Regulation (EU) 2020/852 of the European Parliament and of the Council1a, and be in line with the framework for sustainable activities set out in EU taxonomy established by that Regulation. The activities envisaged for support should be consistent with and complement those supported under the other two pillars of the Just Transition Mechanism, in order to ensure that all three pillars are working towards the same objectives and should not crowd out private sector investment that will be facilitated through the Just Transition Mechanism. _________________ 1aRegulation (EU) 2020/852 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 June 2020 on the establishment of a framework to facilitate sustainable investment, and amending Regulation (EU) 2019/2088 (OJ L 198, 22.6.2020, p. 13).
2020/09/04
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 25 #

2020/0100(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
(5) In order to enhance the economic diversification of territories impacted by the transition, the Facility should cover a wide range of investments, on condition that they contribute to meet the development needs in the transition towards a climate neutral and circular economy, as described in the territorial just transition plans. The investments supported may cover low carbon energy and transport infrastructure, district heating networks, green mobility, smart waste managementand water management and infrastructure, clean energy and energy efficiency measures including renovations and conversions of buildings, support to transition to a circular economy, land restoration and decontamination, as well as up- and re-skilling, training and social infrastructure, including social housing. Infrastructure developments may also include solutions leading to their enhanced resilience to withstand disasters. Comprehensive investment approach should be favoured in particular for territories with important transition needs. Investments in other sectors could also be supported if they are consistent with the adopted territorial just transition plans and directly benefit the communities in the affected regions and reduce the socio- economic costs of the transition towards a climate-neutral Europe by 2050. By supporting investments that do not generate sufficient revenues, the Facility aims at providing public sector entities with additional resources necessary to address the social, economic and environmental challenges resulting from the adjustment to climate transition. In order to help identify investments with a high positive environmental impact eligible under the Facility, the EU taxonomy on environmentally sustainable economic activities mayshall be used and the "do not significant harm" principle referred to in Regulation (EU) 2020/852 adhered to.
2020/09/04
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 42 #

2020/0100(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 17
(17) In order to ensure an effective implementation of the Facility, it may be necessary to provide advisory support for the preparation, development, and implementation of projects, particularly regarding compliance with relevant sustainability criteria. This support should be provided through the InvestEU Advisory Hub.
2020/09/04
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 47 #

2020/0100(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 22
(22) The objective of this Regulation, namely to leverage public investment in territories, most impacted by the transition towards climate neutrality and circular economy by addressing the corresponding development needs, cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States alone. The main reasons in this regard are the difficulties for public entities to support investments, which do not generate sufficient streams of own revenues and benefit the territories most negatively impacted by climate transition, without EU grant support and the need for a coherent implementation framework under direct management. Since those objectives can be better achieved at Union level, the Union may adopt measures, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity as set out in Article 5 TEU. In accordance with the principle of proportionality as set out in that Article, this Regulation does not go beyond what is necessary in order to achieve that objective,
2020/09/04
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 53 #

2020/0100(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 2
The Facility shall provide support benefitting Union territories facing serious social, environmental and economic challenges deriving from the transition process towards a climate-neutral and circular economy of the Union by 2050 at the latest.
2020/09/04
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 82 #

2020/0100(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) the projects achieve measurable impact in addressing serious social, economic or environmental challenges deriving from the transition process towards a climate-neutral economyand circular economy, are in line with the EU taxonomy established by Regulation (EU) 2020/852 and the "do not significant harm" principle referred to in that Regulation and benefit territories identified in a territorial just transition plan, even if they are not located in those territories;
2020/09/04
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 100 #

2020/0100(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 1
1. Key performance and sustainability indicators to monitor implementation and progress of the Facility towards the achievement of climate neutrality and other environmental objectives of the Union, the adherence to the "do not significant harm" principle referred to in Regulation (EU) 2020/852, and the objectives set out in Article 3 are established in Annex II.
2020/09/04
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 101 #

2020/0100(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 2
2. The performance reporting system shall ensure that data regarding the sustainability and other key performance indicators referred to in paragraph 1 are collected efficiently, effectively and in a timely, reliable and independent fashion. Beneficiaries in cooperation with finance partners shall provide to the Commission the data regarding those indicators.
2020/09/04
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 102 #

2020/0036(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4
(4) The Paris Agreement sets out a long-term goal to keep the global temperature increase to well below 2 °C above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to keep it to 1.5 °C above pre- industrial levels23 , and stresses the importance of adapting to the adverse impacts of climate change by fostering climate resilience and ensuring sustainable food production,24 and making finance flows consistent with a pathway towards low greenhouse gas emissions and climate-resilient development25 . _________________ 23 Article 2.1.a of the Paris Agreement. 24 Article 2.1.b of the Paris Agreement. 25 Article 2.1.c of the Paris Agreement.
2020/06/08
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 134 #

2020/0036(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6
(6) Achieving climate neutrality should require astrong contributions from all economic sectors. In light of the importance of energy production and consumption on greenhouse gas emissions, the transition to a sustainable, affordable and secure energy system, while reducing energy poverty, relying on a well- functioning internal energy market is essential. The digital transformation, technological innovation, and research and development are also important drivers for achieving the climate-neutrality objective. A technology-neutral approach should be taken to reach that goal.
2020/06/08
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 552 #

2020/0036(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1
1. The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 9 to supplement this Regulation by setting out a trajectory at Union levelshall assess the effectiveness of this Regulation to achieve the climate-neutrality objective set out in Article 2(1) until 2050. At the latest within six months after each global stocktake referred to in Article 14 of the Paris Agreement, the Commission shall review the traaluate progress towards the climate-neutrality objectoryive.
2020/06/08
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 590 #

2020/0036(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – point a
(a) cost-effectiveness and, economic efficiency and employment;
2020/06/08
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 640 #

2020/0036(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – point d
(d) energy efficiency, energy affordability, reducing energy poverty and security of supply;
2020/06/08
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 715 #

2020/0036(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – point j a (new)
(ja) the need to protect human health from adverse effects related to climate change in general and in particular the need to ensure food security in that regard, with reference to Article 2.1 (b) of the Paris Agreement;
2020/06/08
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 1047 #

2020/0036(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 a (new)
Article 9a Review clause The Commission shall, six months after each global stocktake referred to in Article 14 of the Paris Agreement, conduct a review of all the elements of this Regulation, in light of the criteria set out in Article 3(3) to ensure the objective of the Paris Agreement of holding the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2 °C above pre- industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1,5 °C above pre-industrial level and submit, if appropriate, legislative proposals to the European Parliament and Council.
2020/06/08
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 130 #

2020/0006(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6
(6) In view of the importance of tackling climate change in line with the Union’s commitments to implement the Paris Agreement, the commitment regarding the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the increased ambition of the Union as proposed in the European Green Deal, the JTF should provide a key contribution to mainstream climate actions. Resources from the JTF own envelope are additional and come on top of the investments needed to achieve the overall target of 25% of the Union budget expenditure contributing to climate objectives. Resources transferred from the ERDF and ESF+ will contribute fully to the achievement of this target.
2020/05/18
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 203 #

2020/0006(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13
(13) In order to provide flexibility for the programming of the JTF resources under the Investment for jobs and growth goal, it should be possible to prepare a self- standing JTF programme or to programme JTF resources in one or more dedicated priorities within a programme supported by the European Regional Development Fund (‘ERDF’), the European Social Fund Plus (‘ESF+’) or the Cohesion Fund. In accordance with Article 21a of Regulation (EU) [new CPR], JTF resources should be reinforced with complementary funding from the ERDF and the ESF+. The respective amounts transferred from the ERDF and the ESF+ should be consistent with the type of operations set out in the territorial just transition plans. The transfer of money from the ERDF and the ESF+ to the JTF resources has to be excluded.
2020/05/18
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 373 #

2020/0006(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 2
2. The JTF priority or priorities shall comprise the JTF resources consisting of all or part of the JTF allocation for the Member States and the resources transferred in accordance with Article [21a] of Regulation (EU) [new CPR]. The total of the ERDF and ESF+ resources transferred to the JTF priority shall be at least equal to one and a half times the amount of support from the JTF to that priority but shall not exceed three times that amount. The transfer of money from the ERDF and ESF+ resources to the JTF has to be excluded.
2020/05/18
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 528 #

2020/0006(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 2
2. The JTF priority or priorities shallmay comprise the JTF resources consisting of all or part of the JTF allocation for the Member States and the resources transferred in accordance with Article [21a] of Regulation (EU) [new CPR]. The total of the ERDF and ESF+ resources transferred to the JTF priority shall be at least equal to one and a half times the amount of support from the JTF to that priority but shall not exceed three times that amount. The transfer of money from the ERDF and ESF+ to the JTF has to be excluded.
2020/06/03
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 545 #

2020/0006(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 1
1. Member States shall prepare, together with the relevant authorities of the territories concerned, one or more territorial just transition plans covering one or more affected territories corresponding to level 3 of the common classification of territorial units for statistics (‘NUTS level 3 regions’) as established by Regulation (EC) No 1059/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council as amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 868/201417 or parts thereof, in accordance with the template set out in Annex II. Those territories shall be those most negatively affected based on the economic and social impacts resulting from the transition, in particular with regard to expected job losses in fossil fuel production and use and the transformation needs of the production processes of industrial facilities with the highest greenhouse gas intensity or emissions. _________________ 17 Regulation (EC) No 1059/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 May 2003 on the establishment of a common classification of territorial units for statistics (NUTS) (OJ L 154 21.6.2003, p. 1).
2020/06/03
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 42 #

2019/2975(RSP)


Citation 20 a (new)
- having regard to the exploratory opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee requested by the European Parliament on the situation of disabled women,
2020/02/04
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 394 #

2019/2975(RSP)


Paragraph 10 a (new)
10 a. Calls on the Member States to take concrete actions to ensure the full and proper implementation of the Directive (EU) 2019/882 (European Accessibility Act); calls on the Commission to set up effective monitoring and enforcement mechanisms for the implementation of the European Accessibility Act.
2020/02/04
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 395 #

2019/2975(RSP)


Paragraph 10 a (new)
10 a. Calls on the Commission to ensure that the post-2020 Strategy will specially promote guaranteed access to employment, trainings, inclusive education, to affordable quality healthcare services, to digital services, to sport activities for disabled people;
2020/02/04
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 401 #

2019/2975(RSP)


Paragraph 10 b (new)
10 b. Calls on the Commission to ensure the mutual recognition of the right to Personal Assistance for disabled people granted by a Member State, when enjoying their right of free movement in the Union; stresses that the right to Personal Assistance should be enforceable throughout the whole Union.
2020/02/04
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 407 #

2019/2975(RSP)


Paragraph 10 c (new)
10 c. Stresses the need for concrete measures within the post-2020 Strategy for an inclusive labour market; stresses in this regard the importance of new technologies and new ways of working.
2020/02/04
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 409 #

2019/2975(RSP)


Paragraph 10 d (new)
10 d. Calls on the Commission to provide targeted support from the European Social Fund in the social economy in order to improve the employability for disabled people in this sector.
2020/02/04
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 1 #

2019/2188(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 (new)
-1. whereas equality between women and men and non-discrimination are founding values of the European Union,as expressed in the Treaty of the European Union and the Fundamental RightsCharter;
2020/05/11
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 2 #

2019/2188(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 a (new)
-1 a. whereas equal opportunities deriving from the above need to continue being promoted in order to reduce inequalities;
2020/05/11
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 3 #

2019/2188(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 b (new)
-1 b. whereas gender mainstreaming is an important tool in the integration of gender equality in all EU policies, measures and actions, thus including in labour market and social policies to promote equal opportunities and combat all forms of discrimination against women;
2020/05/11
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 4 #

2019/2188(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 c (new)
-1 c. whereas recalling the recommendations of the European Pillar of Social Rights on gender equality, equal opportunities and active support to employment;
2020/05/11
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 5 #

2019/2188(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
1. Notes that the gender pay gap in the 28 EU Member States stands at 15.7 %, and the average gender employment gap at 11.5%, that women are more affected by flexible work forms, atypical and flexible contracts (zero-hour contracts, temporary work, part-time work, etc.) than men, and that women are more likely to experience poverty and fall into the category of the poorest workers as a result of these low- security contracts; combined with other intersectional elements such as single family household, carer for dependant parent, women with disabilities, women with low education or insufficient care services provisions;
2020/05/11
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 16 #

2019/2188(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
2. Notes that, following the global economic and financial crisis in 2008, in- work poverty in the EU increased from 8 % to 10 %, and that the current unprecedented global COVID-19 pandemic will have even greater economic and financial consequences, which will have a direct impact in terms of increasing poverty, especially among women and the other most vulnerable groups in society, as its effects will be felt most keenly by workers in the service sector, the self- employed, temporary and seasonal workers, etc., among whom a higher proportion are women, this also in various other economic sectors which will be impacted through job losses, wage and/or working time reduction as well as through increased care services needs during the pandemic;
2020/05/11
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 25 #

2019/2188(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Stresses the importance of gender mainstreaming and tailoring the economic policy response to the COVID- 19pandemic to adapt it to the specific needs of women, to the structure of their economic activities, such as for example by boosting microfinancing for women entrepreneurs;
2020/05/11
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 28 #

2019/2188(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
3. Notes that, although poverty rates among women vary considerably from one Member State to another, the risk of poverty in the risk groups to which older women, single women and single mothers, homosexual, bisexual and transgender women and women with disabilities belong is the same; high, the average trend being that women are more affected than men by the risk of poverty and social exclusion (22,8% in 2018 in the EU), this combined with other intersectional risk factors such as inactivity, lack of care services provision for children and dependant family, thus observing that some specific categories are more vulnerable to poverty risks;
2020/05/11
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 39 #

2019/2188(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
4. Points out that, according to Eurostat, there are currently 64.6 million women and 57.6 million men living in poverty in the EU Member States, which shows that the impact of poverty on women and men is different, those numbers show the scale of women affected and have to be examined together with other indicators (such as age, life expectancy, income inequalities, gender pay gap, type of household, social transfers) to understand their full significance and in order to find ways to address them in each of its components;
2020/05/11
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 44 #

2019/2188(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital C
C. whereas women in EU-27 earn 15% less than men on average8; whereas the average gender employment gap stands at 11,5% with women more affected by flexible work forms, atypical and flexible contracts (part-time work, temporary work); __________________ 8 https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/he adlines/society/20200227STO73519/gende r-pay-gap-in-europe-facts-and-figures- infographic
2020/09/02
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 45 #

2019/2188(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
5. Notes with concern that poverty among women increases with age, with the gender pension gap remaining at around 39 %, representing the accumulation of various inequalities experienced throughout work life (job intensity, duration of work, gender pay gap, periods of absence from labour market), this being one of the factors behind the higher poverty faced by women in general; stresses therefore the need for awareness about consequences of women’s choices in the labour market and the importance of their economic independence to prevent from poverty and social exclusion;
2020/05/11
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 51 #

2019/2188(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Stresses that in work poverty can be addressed at some of its root causes and components, such as education, training, care services which are determinant and have thus to be considered in policy making;
2020/05/11
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 52 #

2019/2188(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5 b. Points out the importance of promoting women’s empowerment through women’s education, training, life-long learning, which are of vital importance in order to fight stereotypes and combat persisting inequalities together with addressing women’s employment rate and underrepresentation in certain sectors like STEM and AI;
2020/05/11
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 55 #

2019/2188(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
6. Stresses that female poverty is a multifaceted problem directly influenced by unequal access to property, career breaks due to the raising and care of children, caring for sick and dependent persons, and segregation in education and, subsequently, in the labour market, which means that women account for the largest share of low-paid workers, therefore in order to reduce persisting inequalities and the feminisation of poverty, actions and policies have to be promoted in various fields and steps, starting from education and training to systematically address labour market segregation;
2020/05/11
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 62 #

2019/2188(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital C f (new)
Cf. whereas research8a shows that the amount a household receives from a minimum wage tends to be sufficient to protect a single adult against the risk of poverty, but it is often not sufficient to support more than one person; __________________ 8aEurofound (2020), Minimum wages in 2020: Annual review. https://www.eurofound.europa.eu/publicat ions/report/2020/minimum-wages-in- 2020-annual-review
2020/09/02
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 80 #

2019/2188(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
7. Calls on the Commission to come forward as soon as possible with proposals to close the gender pay gap. by championing the principle of equal pay for equal work for men and women and welcomes its commitment to take action in the recently announced Gender Equality Strategy, awaits for the proposal on a binding framework for pay transparency, with due account to the impact of COVID 19 pandemic, as well as for the other measures to tackle women’s labour market participation and to promote equal opportunities;
2020/05/11
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 91 #

2019/2188(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7 a. Urges the Commission and Member States to effectively address inequalities women face, tackling their main components thus barriers in the labour market, as well as access to affordable and quality services such as child care and long term care service;
2020/05/11
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 93 #

2019/2188(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7 b. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure that the EU legislation on gender equality with a direct impact on women participation in the labour market, such as the directive on work-life balance, is implemented and its progress closely monitored;
2020/05/11
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 94 #

2019/2188(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 c (new)
7 c. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to systematically examine and address women’s in-work poverty in all its forms and causes;
2020/05/11
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 95 #

2019/2188(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 d (new)
7 d. Calls on the Commission to prepare an EU strategy for carers, following the social impacts of the changes or loss of employment, particularly for those with caring responsibilities who are disproportionately women;
2020/05/11
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 114 #

2019/2188(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital K
K. whereas coverage is declining in OECD countries, and in at least 14 EU Member States one in every two employees works without a wage agreement; whereas only seven Member States have a collective bargaining coverage rate above 80%16 ; whereas the decline was most rapid in those countries where collective bargaining was the target of structural reforms16a; __________________ 16OECD, Visser(2016) ICTWSS Database.https://www.etuc.org/en/docume nt/etuc-reply-first-phase-consultation- social-partners-under-article-154-tfeu- possible-action, p. 6, no 15. 16aEurofound (2020 forthcoming), Industrial Relations Flagship report.
2020/09/02
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 125 #

2019/2188(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital L d (new)
Ld. whereas the contraction of employment during the previous crisis created a dramatic increase in the number of involuntary part-time workers who are most likely to work in basic or lower-level service occupations and sectors and who have amongst the highest in-work poverty risk-levels17a; __________________ 17aEurofound (2017), In-work poverty in the European Union. https://www.eurofound.europa.eu/publicat ions/report/2017/in-work-poverty-in-the- eu
2020/09/02
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 143 #

2019/2188(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital O
O. whereas minimum wage systems vary widely in size, scope and coverage across Member States; whereas the minimum wage is consistently above the defined poverty threshold (60% gross median) in only three Member States and does not consistently provide protection against poverty in other and minimum wages vary widely in terms of their absolute and relative level versus median national wages; whereas minimum wage workers are more likely to have difficulties to make ends meet than other workers; whereas seven out of ten in the EU report at least ‘some’ difficulties (versus five out of ten for other workers) with large difference between EU Member States19a; whereas moreover, in some sectors, groups of workers and selected forms of work are sometimes not included or covered by minimum wage arrangements; __________________ 19aEurofound (2020), Minimum wages in 2020: Annual review. https://www.eurofound.europa.eu/publicat ions/report/2020/minimum-wages-in- 2020-annual-review
2020/09/02
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 174 #

2019/2188(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital Q a (new)
Qa. whereas the COVID-19 pandemic will have significant social and economic consequences, which will have a direct impact in terms of increasing poverty, especially among the most vulnerable groups in society, as its effects will be felt most keenly by workers in precarious positions such as temporary workers, seasonal workers, platform workers, etc. as well as in various economic sectors which will be impacted through job losses, wage and/or working time reduction during and after the pandemic; whereas 16% of workers in the EU consider that they are likely to lose their job in the near future and 40% of workers say their financial situation is now worse than before the pandemic20a; __________________ 20aEurofound (2020), Living, working and COVID-19dataset, Dublin, http://eurofound.link/covid19data
2020/09/02
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 194 #

2019/2188(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Stresses that in-work poverty needs to be addressed at its root causes, such as but not limited to education and training; calls on the Commission to urge Member States to invest in qualitative education and training, to share good practices and to have specific attention for life-long learning;
2020/09/04
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 204 #

2019/2188(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
2. Is convinced that the axiom that ‘work is the best remedy for poverty’ no longer applies today in the face of low- wage sectors, atypical and precarious working conditions and the dismantling of social security systems and that a poverty- free life can only be secured by effective collective agreements and minimum wage systems are needed to realise a poverty- free society;
2020/09/04
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 406 #

2019/2188(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Calls for measures/actions to be taken to avoid a renewed increase in involuntary part-time employment as a result of Covid-19;
2020/09/04
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 437 #

2019/2188(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
23. Proposes to actively counter potential high unemployment through European and national employment programmes and to invest in new sustainable jobs, future-oriented infrastructure, digital change and ‘green transition’.;
2020/09/04
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 94 #

2019/2187(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Ga. whereas homelessness is rising in at least 24 Member States, whereas on any given night in the European Union 700 000 homeless people have to revert to shelters or sleep on the street, which is an increase of 70% in the past 10 years.
2020/09/09
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 99 #

2019/2187(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital G b (new)
Gb. whereas the Covid-19 crisis has shown that fighting homelessness is a matter of public health and is possible, by opening for example empty hotel rooms to homeless people as well as putting a moratorium on evictions in several Member States
2020/09/09
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 229 #

2019/2187(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
9. Notes with deep concern that the living conditions of Roma and other minorities continue to be extremely worrying; calls on the Member States to promote spatial desegregation and engage Roma beneficiaries and other minorities in housing projects, to prevent forced evictions, and to provide halting sites for non-sedentary Roma; emphasises the urgent need for public investment in this regard;
2020/09/09
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 240 #

2019/2187(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 3 a (new)
Urges the Member States to define and implement policies against slumlords and rack-renters as well as share good practices on these policies between Member States;
2020/09/09
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 351 #

2019/2187(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
19. .Calls on the Commission and the Member States to further increase investment in the EU in various types of affordable and energy-efficient social housing such as family homes as well as homes geared towards single occupants and in tackling homelessness and housing exclusion, through the European Regional Development Fund, the Just Transition Fund, InvestEU, ESF+, Horizon Europe and Next Generation EU, and to ensure greater synergies between those instruments;
2020/09/09
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 82 #

2019/2186(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Ea. whereas more and more sectors are likely to be impacted by platform work or similar employment patterns, thus further blurring the distinction between self-employment, false self-employment and traditional employment; whereas the trend towards remote working is growing in many sectors, with opportunities and risks for companies and workers; whereas the booming development of digital technologies creates many new and unpredictable opportunities and risks for so-called non-standard forms of work and employment;
2021/03/25
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 88 #

2019/2186(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E b (new)
Eb. whereas platform work is a result of technological progress, providing workers, customers and employers with new opportunities and choices when it comes to place, time flexibility and frequency of their relations, including work and provision of services;
2021/03/25
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 90 #

2019/2186(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E c (new)
Ec. whereas a high degree of flexibility is appreciated as one of the biggest advantages of platform work;
2021/03/25
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 119 #

2019/2186(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
1. Notes that the current European framework is unsatisfactory, with EU legal instruments which doare not cover allapplied to platform workers in their personal scope and which do not address the new realities of the world of work; regrets that this fragmentation places some platform workers in a legally precarious situation, resulting in some platform workers enjoying fewer or more limited rights than should be guaranteed to all platform workers regardless of their employment status; therefore a presumption of employment relationship and the reversal of the burden of the proof should be the starting point, complemented by the recognition of platform as companies linked to their sector of activity;
2021/03/25
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 135 #

2019/2186(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
2. Stresses that the meaning of the terms ‘worker’ and ‘self-employed’ are not uniformly defined in all Member States; notes that the boundary between these two terms is less clear for new forms of work, and that some workers are at risk of being misclassified; Therefore, workers in platform companies should have the same rights as other workers
2021/03/25
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 145 #

2019/2186(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
3. Believes that this legal uncertainty must be urgently addressed, while acknowledging that it cannot be easily solved by a one-size-fits-all approach; believes that any proposal must recognise the heterogeneity of platforms and of platform workers, and take into account the current digital labour platforms model, where some platform workers are genuinely self- employed and wish to remain so; therefore, a European framework legislation would be necessary that safeguards well-functioning platform work, but at the same time tackles precarious forms of platform work; this framework can be complemented by either national legislation or collective agreements between the platform companies and the trade unions, recognising the platform as companies with all the obligations it entails (including employers responsibility when it apply) and linking these companies to their sector of activity.
2021/03/25
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 153 #

2019/2186(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Stresses that any regulation should not be harmful towards innovation, the creation of new business models, start-ups and SMEs; emphasizes that flexible working arrangements should be protected when they are not detrimental towards social protection and workers’ rights;
2021/03/25
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 164 #

2019/2186(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
4. Welcomes the Commission’s proposal for a legislative initiative to improve the working conditions of platform workers; calls on the Commission, if the social partners do not express the wish to initiate the process provided for in Article 155 of the TFEU, to put forward a new directive on platform workers in order to guarantee them a minimum set of rights regardlessbased ofn their employment status, and to address the specificities of platform work while ensuring a level playing field in all EU Member States to avoid unfair und unequal treatment of workers;
2021/03/25
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 178 #

2019/2186(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
5. Stresses the need to better combat bogus self-employment by means of a directive, so as to cover platform workers which are fulfilling the conditions characteristic of an employment relationship based on the actual performance of work, and not on the parties’ description of the relationship; is of the opinion that special attention should be given to digital labour platforms that strongly organise conditions and remuneration of online and on-location platform work,conclude collective agreements which could be used as guidance for determining the degree of responsibility of platforms towards platform workers;
2021/03/25
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 195 #

2019/2186(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 – indent 1
ensure that the framework for collective agreements works smoothly and better implement the prohibition of exclusivity clauses, and ensure all platform workers are permitted to work for different platforms (multi-apping) and not be subject to adverse treatment for doing so;
2021/03/25
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 206 #

2019/2186(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 – indent 3
– address the current lack of transparency by ensuring the provision of essential information regarding working conditions, the method of calculating the price or fee, the functioning of the algorithm and transparency in the event of a change in the terms, conditions and procedures for temporary or permanent deactivation, if any, which should be preceded by consultation;
2021/03/25
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 212 #

2019/2186(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 – subparagraph 1
believes that the aforementioned communication should be made in a clear, comprehensive and easily accessible way; and should be provided both to the person and the representatives;
2021/03/25
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 217 #

2019/2186(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. clarify that the third status option will not be an option. recalls that the Court of Justice of the European Union has already established criteria for determining the status of a worker.
2021/03/25
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 239 #

2019/2186(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
8. Considers that platform workers should receive compensation in case of work accidents and occupational diseases, and be offered sickness and invalidity insurance coverage and all other employment rights such as paid holidays; welcomes, in this respect, the initiatives of some platforms to provide as a first step insurance as well as occupational health and safety measures;
2021/03/25
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 245 #

2019/2186(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
9. Strongly believes that formal and effective coverage, adequacy and transparency of social protection systems should apply to all workers including the self-employed; calls on the Member States to fully and immediately implement the Council Recommendation of 13 March 2018 on access to social protection for workers and self- employed, and to ensure that their national plans set out relevant measures to be taken address the social protection of platform workers; and to strengthen the rights for platform workers to organise in trade unions
2021/03/25
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 266 #

2019/2186(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
11. Recognises that freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining are fundamental rights for all workers, and believes a directive on platform workers should ensure that these rights are effective fully applied and enforced; notes the potential for imbalanced and asymmetrical relationships between digital labour platforms and workers, who may lack the individual bargaining power to negotiate thefair terms and conditions; notes further that there are also practical issues such as a lack of common means of communication and opportunities to meet online or in person, which can prevent collective representation in practice; calls on the Commission to address such impediments in its proposal; stresses the need for platform workers and platforms to be properly represented in order to facilitate social dialogue collective bargaining, and workers’ representation through their trade unions;
2021/03/25
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 276 #

2019/2186(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
12. Regrets the legal difficulties in collective representation faced by platform workers, and is aware that the solo self- employed are wrongly considered ‘undertakings’, and as such are subject to the prohibition on agreements that restrict competition; welcomacknowledges in this regard the inception impact assessment published by the Commission16, and ask the planned initiative to address this obstacle; through an interpretative guidance is convinced that EU competition law must not hinder the improvement of the working conditions (including the setting of remuneration) and social protection of solo self-employed platform workers through collective bargaining; __________________ 16https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal- content/EN/ALL/?uri=PI_COM%3AAres %282021%29102652
2021/03/25
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 289 #

2019/2186(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
13. Believes that basic training must be provided to platform workers by the platform at least on the use of their website or the application; believes further that platform workers, in particular less qualified workers, should be offered training enabling skilling and re-skilling to improve their employability and career paths; calls for the facilitation of the recognition, validation and portability of attainments in the field of non-formal and informal learning; believes in this regard that a ‘certificate of experience’ should be issued for platform workers who have participated in such training, which could be uploaded on individual learning accounts; Encourages platform companies to develop training pathways in order to broaden their workers' professional options and seeks to ensure that when an employer is required, pursuant to EU law or national law or collective bargaining, to provide a worker with training to carry out the work for which he has been employed, this training is given free of charge, counted as working hours and, where possible, takes place during working hours;
2021/03/25
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 307 #

2019/2186(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
14. Considers that platform workers should be entitled to transparent, non- discriminatory and ethical algorithms; believes that algorithm transparency should apply to management functions, task distribution, ratings and interactions, while respecting trade secrets, and that an intelligible explanation of the functioning of the algorithm on the way tasks are assigned, ratings are granted, the deactivation procedure and pricing should always be provided, as well as information in a clear and up-to-date manner on any significant changes to the algorithm; is of the opinion that ethical algorithm implies that all and in particular algorithmic decisions are contestable and reversible and human intervention guaranteed when needed, and that incentive practices or exceptional bonuses in particular should not lead to risky behaviours; is convinced that non-discriminatory algorithms are those which prevent gender and other social biases;
2021/03/25
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 340 #

2019/2186(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Calls on EU Member States to encourage innovative forms of work which guarantee quality working conditions and prohibit working relationships that lead to insecure working conditions, including non- standard contracts such as 'zero hours' contracts;
2021/03/25
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 342 #

2019/2186(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 b (new)
16b. Calls on Member States to ensure that platform workers are able to refuse a work assignment if this takes place outside the reference hours and days or if they have not been informed of the work assignment within the agreed minimum period of notice, without suffering any adverse consequences as a result of their refusal;
2021/03/25
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 1 #

2019/2182(INL)

Draft opinion
Recital 1 a (new)
1a. whereas a financial framework, based on the use of Union Structural and Investment Funds, should be established to support building owners and linking the removal of asbestos to other public policies and programmes (such as energy efficiency, improvements of the living environment and social housing) for reasons of efficiency and the use of synergies;
2021/06/09
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 20 #

2019/2182(INL)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
2. Stresses the existence of different types of non-occupational exposure to asbestos, whether of para-occupational, domestic or environmental origin; in that regard, calls on the Commission to update, no later than 31 December 2022, the Asbestos at Work Directive1a with a view to amending the existing binding occupational exposure limit value (OEL) for asbestos, taking into account the latest scientific knowledge and technical developments, including an evaluation of different types of asbestos fibres and their adverse health effects, as well as to start the process for updating the list of fibroussilicates within the scope of the directive and in this context consider the inclusion of actinolite, anthophyllite, tremolite, grunerite and riebeckite as well as winchite, richterite, fluoro-edenite, and erionite, as well as an assessment of a differentiated limit value for different types of asbestos fibres; __________________ 1a Directive 2009/148/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2009 on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to asbestos at work (OJ L 330, 16.12.2009, p. 28–36)
2021/06/09
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 56 #

2019/2182(INL)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
5. Calls on the Commission to set out a European strategy for the complete elimination of asbestos; calls on all Member States to adopt national action plans to implement that strategy; considers that the Commission should coordinate the national action plans, in particular through the adoption of a framework directive on this matter; underlines in this context the need for a coherent methodology for risk assessment to ensure a Union level playing field and to avoid fragmentation of the single market;
2021/06/09
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 66 #

2019/2182(INL)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
7. Stresses that unsafe working conditions for workers may expose society as a whole to risks of asbestos exposure, in particular the families of the workers concerned; therefore calls on the Member States to improve the number, frequency, and quality of their inspections. The EU and the Member States should go well beyond the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) minimum objective of one inspector for every 10 000 workers;
2021/06/09
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 68 #

2019/2182(INL)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
7. Stresses that unsafe working conditions for workers may expose society as a whole to risks of asbestos exposure, in particular the families of the workers concerned; In case of a fire, all existing information regarding the presence and location of asbestos should be shared with firefighters;
2021/06/09
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 71 #

2019/2182(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 f (new)
3f. Calls on the Member States to improve the number, frequency, and quality of the inspections; takes the view that the EU and the Member States should go well beyond the International Labour Organisation’s minimum objective of one inspector for every 10,000 workers;
2021/04/05
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 83 #

2019/2182(INL)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Highlights the importance of ensuring sufficient and focused support to employers in transposing these protective measures, in particular SMEs and micro- enterprises, in order to avoid non- compliance; recalls the importance of adequate financial support from relevant existing EU funds to ensure proper support and to encourage correct and safe removal of any asbestos detected;
2021/06/09
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 90 #

2019/2182(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
9. Calls on the Commission to update Directive 2009/148/EC with the purpose of clarifying that all varieties of asbestos are carcinogenic, andview to amend the existing binding occupational exposure limit value (OEL) for asbestos taking into account the latest scientific knowledge and technical developments, including an evaluation of different types of asbestos fibres and their adverse health effects, as well as to start the process for updating the list of fibrous silicates within the scope of the Directive by verifyingand, in this context, consider the inclusion of actinolite, anthophyllite, tremolite, grunerite and riebeckite as well as winchite, richterite, fluoro-edenite, and erionite, as well as an assessment of a differentiated limit value for different types of asbestos fibres;
2021/04/05
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 95 #

2019/2182(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
12. Recalls the fundamental legal principle of health and safety at work that the state of the art in technology must always be applied to achieve the highest possible level of protection; calls for the strengthening of technical minimum requirements to lower the concentration of asbestos fibres in the air to the lowest level which is technically possible, including through dust suppression and the suction of dust at the source, continuous sedimentation, and means of decontamination; calls for minimum requirements for the pressure difference between asbestos enclosures and surroundings, fresh air supply and HEPA filters, ensuring sufficient and focused support to employers in transposing these protective measures, in particular SMEs and micro-enterprises, in order to avoid non-compliance;
2021/04/05
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 101 #

2019/2182(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
13. Notes that the current Union minimum standard for the asbestos OELV is 100 000 fibres per m3 (0,1 fibres/cm3); highlights that some Member States apply much lower OELVs to protect the health of workers, for example an OELV of 2 000 fibres/m3 (0,002) in the Netherlands;, whereas most Member States apply the EU minimum OELV of 0,1 fibres/cm3, and some even above the minimum standard1a; __________________ 1aECHA Scientific report for evaluation of limit values for asbestos at the workplace, 1 February 2021, p. 16.
2021/04/05
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 105 #

2019/2182(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
14. Underlines that leading medical researchers from the International Commission of Occupational Health (ICOH) conclude that exposure limits do not protect properly against cancer and propose an occupational limit value of 1 000 fibres/m3 (0,001 fibres/cm3); calls for an updated exposure limit to be set at 0,001 fibres/cm3 (1 000 fibres/m3)suggests that no later than 31 December 2022, the Commission presents a legislative proposal, taking into account the existing recommendations from different stakeholders and after consulting the Advisory Committee for Safety and Health at Work;
2021/04/05
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 109 #

2019/2182(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
15. Emphasises that employers, but also main contractors, contracting authorities, and owners commissioning work should be required to carry out an asbestos diagnosis before the start of any work in buildings, ships, aircraft, on equipment, or products; underlines in this context the need for a coherent methodology for risk assessment to ensure a Union level playing field and avoid the fragmentation of the single market;
2021/04/05
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 146 #

2019/2182(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point 3
(3) A financial framework, including the possible use of Union fbased on the use of Union Structural and Investment Funds, for the support of building owners and linking the removal of asbestos to other public policies and programmes (such as energy efficiency, improvements of the living environment, social housing) for reasons of efficiency and the use of synergies;
2021/04/05
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 151 #

2019/2182(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point a
(a) accessibility for workers and companies working in a building or infrastructure, owners, inhabitants, firefighters and users;
2021/04/05
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 160 #

2019/2182(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Annex II – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point b – paragraph 2 – point e
(e) the starting date and, duration of the work and planned working hours;
2021/04/05
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 170 #

2019/2182(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Annex II – paragraph 1 – point 9 – paragraph 1
In the case of certain activities such as demolition or asbestos removal work, in respect of which it is foreseeable that the limit value set out in Article 8 will be exceeded despite the use of all possible technical preventive measures for limiting asbestos in air concentrations, the employer shall determine the measures intended to ensure protection of the workers while they are engaged in such activities, in particular the following:
2021/04/05
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 173 #

2019/2182(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Annex II – paragraph 1 – point 12 – paragraph 1
1. Undertakings which intend to carry out demolition or asbestos removal work shall be required to obtain before the start of work a renewable permit from the competent authority. Competent authorities may grant such permits if the applicant undertaking offers proof of adequate state of the art technical equipment for emission-free or, where this is not technically possible yet, low- emission work procedures in line with the requirements of Article 6, and training certificates for their individual workers in accordance with Article 14 and Annex 1a.
2021/04/05
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 175 #

2019/2182(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Annex II – paragraph 1 – point 13 – paragraph 1 – point ca
(ca) regular compulsory breaks and with sufficient time for regeneration for must be foreseen for workers wearing strenuous respiratory equipment;
2021/04/05
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 181 #

2019/2182(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Annex II – paragraph 1 – point 17 b (new)
17b. Article 21b is inserted: ‘Article 21b In case of a fire, all existing information regarding the presence and location of asbestos shall be shared with firefighters.’
2021/04/05
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 202 #

2019/2182(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Annex V – paragraph 1 – point 3
(3) the result of the screening should be reported to a competent national body (a one-stop shop), which should issue a certificate, keep a national registry of the certificates, and give advice to owners about applicable laws and regulation, the correct and safe removal of asbestos detected, and financial support available from relevant existing EU funds;
2021/04/05
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 3 #

2019/2169(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 a (new)
— having regard to the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) thereof, in particular goal 5 and its targets and indicators,
2020/06/08
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 10 #

2019/2169(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 13 a (new)
— having regard to its resolution of 30 January 2020 on the gender pay gap,
2020/06/08
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 11 #

2019/2169(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 13 b (new)
— having regard to its resolution of 13 February 2020 on the EU priorities for the 64th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women,
2020/06/08
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 16 #

2019/2169(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 21 a (new)
— having regard to its resolution of 17 December 2015 on external factors that represent hurdles to European female entrepreneurship,
2020/06/08
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 17 #

2019/2169(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 21 b (new)
— having regard to its resolution of 8 March 2017 on women and their roles in rural areas,
2020/06/08
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 18 #

2019/2169(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 21 c (new)
— having regard to its resolution of 24 October 2018 on care services in the EU for improved gender equality,
2020/06/08
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 20 #

2019/2169(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 23
— having regard to the European Pillar of Social Rights and, in particular, its principles 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 11, 12 and 915,
2020/06/08
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 36 #

2019/2169(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas Member States on average scored 67.4 out of 100 in the EU Gender Equality Index 2019, a score which has improved by just 5.4 points since 2005;
2020/06/08
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 43 #

2019/2169(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital B
B. whereas structures and stereotypes throughout the world perpetuate inequality, and whereas overcoming these structures and stereotypes will advance gender equality; whereas it is important to examine the persistence and root causes of the leaky pipeline phenomenon; whereas a strong women’s rights movement is needed to uphold democratic values, fundamental rights and women’s rights in particular, and whereas threats to women’s rights also represent threats to democracy;
2020/06/08
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 56 #

2019/2169(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas 1 in 3 women in the EU aged 15 or over has experienced some form of physical and/or sexual violence1a, 1 in 2 has experienced sexual harassment and 1 in 10 has faced online harassment; _________________ 1aFRA survey 2014, the most comprehensive at EU level in the field, based on 28MS
2020/06/08
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 61 #

2019/2169(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital D
D. whereas violence against women in all its forms (physical, sexual, psychological or cyber violence) is a violation of human rights and one of the biggest obstacles to achieving gender equality; whereas a life free from violence is a prerequisite for equality; whereas disinformation campaigns on gender equality also focus on the issue of violence against women, as has been seen in relation to the Istanbul Convention;
2020/06/08
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 77 #

2019/2169(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E
E. whereas traditional gender roles and stereotypes still influence the division of labour at home, in education, at the workplace and in society; whereas unpaid care work, mostly carried out by women, contributes to the gender pay and pension gap; whereas work-life balance measures, such as the Work-life Balance Directive, are important first steps, but need to be first and foremost properly transposed into national systems of the EU Member States, fully implemented on time and also complemented by further measures in order to involve more men in unpaid work, care duties and to foster the equal earner – equal carer model;
2020/06/08
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 82 #

2019/2169(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Ea. whereas estimates show that 80% of all care across the EU is provided by informal carers that are mostly women (75%), indicating the existence of a gender care gap strongly influencing gender pension gap; whereas more than 50% of carers under 65 combine care with employment this way performing a difficult balancing act; whereas carers may prefer low-skilled and low-paid jobs, which can be adapted to their caregiving schedule, as well as be obliged to reduce their working hours or leave paid work; whereas between 7% and 21% of informal carers reduce their working hours and between 3% and 18% withdraw from the labour market;
2020/06/08
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 88 #

2019/2169(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E b (new)
Eb. whereas the provision of quality care in the EU varies greatly both within and between the Member States, between private and public settings, urban and rural areas, and different age groups; whereas the data on provision of care in the EU are rather fragmented, also a holistic approach is missing to address the demographic challenges the EU is facing with the resultant pressure on public expenditure;
2020/06/08
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 90 #

2019/2169(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E c (new)
Ec. whereas the EU gender gap in hourly pay is 16 %, although this varies significantly across Member States; whereas the gender pay gap rises to 40 % when employment rates and overall labour market participation are considered; whereas the ramifications of the gender pay gap include a 37 % gender gap in pension income;
2020/06/08
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 92 #

2019/2169(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital F
F. whereas the participunderrepresentation of women in the labour market does not secureis followed by their unequal participation in decision- making and therefore limits women’s potential to change economic, political, social and cultural structures; whereas vertical and horizontal segregation in employment and discriminatory practices in recruitment and promotion are one of the main causes of the gender pay gap;
2020/06/08
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 99 #

2019/2169(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Fa. whereas there is an economic argument in women’s full participation in the economy, as gender employment gap costs Europe €370 billion per year1a; _________________ 1a https://www.eurofound.europa.eu/news/ne ws-articles/gender-employment-gap-costs- europe-eu370-billion-per-year
2020/06/08
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 102 #

2019/2169(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital F b (new)
Fb. whereas women constitute only 34,4% of the EU self-employed and 30% of start-up entrepreneurs;
2020/06/08
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 103 #

2019/2169(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital G
G. whereas poverty in Europe disproportionately affects women, in particular single mothers, women with disabilities, and elderly, migrant and ethnic minority women; whereas 15% of households with children at EU level are single-parent households; whereas on average, 85% of these households are run by single mothers, while 47% of single parent households were at risk of poverty or social exclusion in 2017; whereas women’s homelessness is a growing problem;
2020/06/08
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 128 #

2019/2169(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital I a (new)
Ia. whereas women in rural areas face numerous challenges, including limited employment opportunities, poorer access to services, less developed infrastructure and underrepresentation indecision- making fora; whereas they may perform invisible work in the farms due to a lack of a status for assisting spouses allowing their work to be recognised by national systems;
2020/06/08
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 130 #

2019/2169(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital I b (new)
Ib. whereas 46 million women and girls with disabilities live in the European Union; whereas this figure represents nearly 60% of the overall population of persons with disabilities; whereas most of disabilities are acquired with age;
2020/06/08
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 131 #

2019/2169(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital J
J. whereas the Gender Equality Index for 2019 reveals persistent inequalities between men and women in the digital sector; whereas closing the digital gender gap and guaranteeing women’s digital rights is of paramount importance, given the occurrence of discrimination resulting from biased data sets, models and algorithms in artificial intelligence (AI); whereas programmers in AI need to be aware of unconscious biases and stereotypes in order to avoid reproducing and reinforcing them; whereas the transformation and digitalisation of the labour market and the economy can deepen existing economic gaps and labour market segregation; with better access to technology and Internet for girls and women is of paramount importance; whereas women are an untapped resource in emerging fields, such as digital, AI and ICT, with women accounting for just 16% of the almost 8 million people working in ICT in Europe; whereas the share of men working in the digital sector is three times greater than the share of women; whereas boosting more women into digital sector and or other sectors of the future is vitally important to fight gender pay and pension gaps and guarantee their economic independence; whereas by integrating more women into the digital jobs market, there is potential for a €16 billion GDP boost to the European economy; whereas gender inequalities and discrimination have been reproduced through the design, input and use of artificial intelligence (AI);whereas incomplete datasets and incorrect bias can distort an AI system reasoning and jeopardise gender equality in society;
2020/06/08
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 142 #

2019/2169(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital K
K. whereas gender mainstreaming, gender budgeting and gender impact assessments are essential tools for achieving gender equality in all EU policy areas; whereas this is especially important for the socio-economic measures taken in the aftermath of the COVID-19 health crisis;
2020/06/08
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 148 #

2019/2169(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital K a (new)
Ka. whereas collecting gender- disaggregated data is of utmost importance for a gender-focused approach in all issues at stake, such as amongst others gender-based violence, disabilities, cancer and rare or chronic diseases, the impact of climate change, digital skills and STEM;
2020/06/08
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 154 #

2019/2169(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital K b (new)
Kb. whereas gender equality is addressed in EU policies through various EU funds and instruments, and whereas enabling optimal synergies between those in the gender equality area is a very important tool;
2020/06/08
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 163 #

2019/2169(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Welcomes the priority given to gender equality by the new commission and its president as well as the nomination of a dedicated commissioner for equality, and awaits the annual report on equality as a useful evaluation tool to evaluate progress and spot the existing gaps and the needs for gender mainstreaming in policy framework;
2020/06/08
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 168 #

2019/2169(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
2. Welcomes the announcement of several complementary strategies and calls for a strategic framework to connect them, and for an intersectional approach to be adopted in all of them; stresses the importance to monitor the situation and flexibly adapt to the results as well as to the upcoming challenges, using current policies or suggesting new tools, as the recent COVID crisis has shown;
2020/06/08
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 179 #

2019/2169(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
3. Regrets that the strategy remains vague on the issue of timelines for several, highly welcomed, measures; calls, therefore, on the Commission to establish a concrete roadmap, with timeframes and additional targeted actions, as well as guidelines on how to implement the intersectional approach effectively;
2020/06/08
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 184 #

2019/2169(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Stresses however the need for a opportunities-based approach of the Gender Equality Strategy; asks the Commission to take ‘equal opportunities for women’ as the starting point to further roll out the strategy;
2020/06/08
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 186 #

2019/2169(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. Underlines that it would be a wrong signal to postpone some elements of the new strategy; therefore urges the Commission to stay on track with the Gender Equality Strategy and to stick to the proposed timeframe; welcomes the commitment to present a legislative proposal on pay transparency by the end of 2020, to strengthen the enforcement of the principle of equal pay for work of equal value between women and men and to address the gender pay and pension gaps in cooperation with the social partners;
2020/06/08
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 189 #

2019/2169(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 c (new)
3c. Stresses the need to allocate adequate funding with due attention to women's needs within in the next MFF, including the EU cohesion policy and CAP, the Citizens Equality Rights and Values programme, Horizon Europe, InvestEU; calls on the Commission to continue its efforts in implementing gender budgeting as an integral part of the budgetary procedure across with improved monitoring of spending on gender equality, following its commitments in the Gender Equality Strategy; calls on the Commission and the EU Member States to take due account of women's needs while designing and distributing funds agreed within the ‘Next generation EU’ recovery plan for Europe;
2020/06/08
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 191 #

2019/2169(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 d (new)
3d. We may equally call to incorporate within the Commission's monitoring process Gender Equality Index by EIGE, develop gender pension gap indicator, following Parliament's recommendations in its resolution of 14 June 2017 on the need for an EU strategy to end and prevent the genderpension gap, to be monitored within GES as the only one accumulating all inequalities women experience throughout their lives, consider also other indicators on gender pay and care gaps, gender digital divide etc.;
2020/06/08
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 222 #

2019/2169(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
6. Stresses the scope and impact of violence and harassment in the workplace; ptherefore calls on the Member States to ratify the recently adopted International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conventions 190 on harassment and violence in the workplace; Points out that informal carers, domestic workers and farm workers, among others, in particular lack protection and therefore calls on the Member States to adopt International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conventions 190 and 189, in order to strengthen the rights of workers, especially women, in the informal economy;
2020/06/08
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 229 #

2019/2169(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
7. Welcomes the proposed specific measures to tackle cyber violence which disproportionally affects women and girls (including online harassment, cyberbullying and sexist hate speech); welcomes in this regard the announcement to work with the tech platforms and the ICT sectors, in order for the latter to address the issue through adequate technical measures such as prevention techniques and response mechanisms to harmful content; calls for binding legislative measures to combat these forms of violence and to support Member States in the development of training tools for the services involved at all stages from prevention and protection to prosecution, such as police force, the justice system andtogether with the information and communication technology sector;
2020/06/08
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 234 #

2019/2169(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Welcomes the proposed 2020 EU Strategy for Victims; asks in particular a specific approach for psychological violence on women and the impact on their mental health on the long run; stresses the need to address current gaps in EU legislation with regards to international standards on violence against women, such as the Istanbul Convention, with a view of enhancing the legislation on victims’ rights, protection and compensation of victims; stresses the need for all victims to have access to justice through the implementation of the Victims Rights Directive, which is still incomplete in some Member States;
2020/06/08
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 236 #

2019/2169(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7b. Asks for continuing the promotion of the victims’ rights also through the existing instruments such as the European Protection Order;
2020/06/08
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 247 #

2019/2169(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Asks in this regard the European Commission to produce a Directive on Combatting Trafficking for Sexual Exploitation in the EU as trafficking for sexual exploitation represents the most widespread form of trafficking;
2020/06/08
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 252 #

2019/2169(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
9. WelcomesUnderlines the need to collect disaggregated data on all forms of gender-based violence; welcomes in this regard the announcement of a new EU- wide survey on the prevalence and dynamics of violence against women;
2020/06/08
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 259 #

2019/2169(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Underlines the fact that violence against women is often the main reason why women experience homelessness; therefore urges the Commission to take the necessary measures to prevent violence against women leading to or prolonging homelessness;
2020/06/08
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 270 #

2019/2169(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Calls on the Commission, the Parliament and the Council to closely examine women's needs and participation in the labour market as well as horizontal and vertical labour market segregation while designing programmes within the next Multiannual financial framework as well as the recovery plan Next Generation EU;
2020/06/08
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 277 #

2019/2169(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 b (new)
10b. Calls on the EU Member States to timely and effectively transpose the work- life balance Directive as well as on the Council to effectively monitor its implementation;
2020/06/08
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 278 #

2019/2169(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 c (new)
10c. Calls on the Commission to collect data on the provision of different types of care (childcare, care for older people and persons with disabilities or persons requiring long term care), feeding into a study examining the care gap to inform an initiative for a European Care Strategy; notes that the strategy in question has to respect the competences of the Members States as laid in the Treaties but would aim to improve the cooperation and coordinator of all measures which could be beneficial for the EU informal carers and the people they are taking care of; stresses that cooperation at European level together with the efficient use of EU funds can contribute to the development of quality, accessible and affordable care services;
2020/06/08
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 285 #

2019/2169(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
11. Welcomes the Commission’s commitment to table binding measures on pay transparency by the end of 2020; stresses in this regard on the importance of a full cooperation and involvement of the social partners and all the stakeholders; points out, however, that the issue of equal pay for equal work or work of equal value between men and women across different occupational sectors still needs to be addressed; strongly recommends the inclusion of the principle of equal pay for work of equal value between women and men, which could be defined as follows: ‘Work shall be deemed of equal value if, based on a comparison of two groups of workers which have not been formed in an arbitrary manner, the work performed is comparable, taking into accneeds to be defined; points ount factors such as the working conditions, the degree of responsibility conferred on the workers, and the physical or mental requirements of the work’; points out thatthe usefulness of gender-neutral job evaluation tools and classification criteria need to be developed for this purpose;
2020/06/08
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 308 #

2019/2169(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
12. Urges the Commission to campaign for more women in economic decision- making positions by highlighting the economic and societal advantages thereof, and sharing best practices, in order to break the deadlock on the Women on Boards directive; urges the Commission to continue working with the Member States as well as current and incoming EU presidencies to urgently unblock the deadlock in Council and adopt the proposed Directive on “Women on Boards”;
2020/06/08
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 317 #

2019/2169(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Calls upon the Commission to advance female entrepreneurship and access to loans and equity finance through EU programme sand funds; stresses on the need of awareness raising regarding the existing and future EU funding possibilities for women and girls entrepreneurs;
2020/06/08
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 322 #

2019/2169(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
13. Welcomes the support for gender parity in elected bodies such as the European Parliament and stresses that it must serve as a role model in this regard; notes the efforts made in that sense in the composition of the current European Commission;
2020/06/08
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 338 #

2019/2169(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Urges the Commission to ensure the adoption of concrete gender mainstreaming measures in the implementation of the Single Market Strategy and the Digital Agenda;
2020/06/08
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 339 #

2019/2169(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)
14b. Welcomes the Commission’s commitment to use Horizon Europe to provide insights and solutions on addressing potential gender biases in AI; asks, however, to use all possible funding to support projects which encourages girls and women to improve their digital skills, and which makes them familiar with STEM;
2020/06/08
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 348 #

2019/2169(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Calls on the Commission, the Parliament and the Council to create a thematic sub-programme for women in rural areas through the Common Agricultural Policy Strategic Plans financed by the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) and by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD); stresses that this sub-programme would seek to encourage women’s employment and female entrepreneurship using opportunities linked to agro-tourism and the development of digital villages, improving female farmers’ access to land, credit and financial instruments, skills and performance through education, training and advisory services, increased participation in local action groups and the development of local partnerships under the Leader programme; calls in this regard for earmarking EU funds for better living and working conditions in rural areas, including better access to services and development of infrastructure, with a particular focus on access to broadband internet as well as supporting entrepreneurial initiatives and access to credit, thereby empowering women in rural areas; calls on the Member States to exchange best practices on professional status for assisting spouses in the agricultural sector, thereby addressing women’s social security rights, including maternity leave or pension entitlements, as well as requests that the Commission prepares guidance in this regard;
2020/06/08
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 353 #

2019/2169(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)
15b. Calls on the Commission to have a specific approach for single mothers, as single mothers are particularly economically vulnerable as they often earn less than men and are more likely to leave the labour market when they become a parent; calls on the Commission to enhance in this regard the enforcement of existing legal tools on cross-border collection of alimony, with public awareness raising of their availability; urges the Commission to work closely with the Member States to identify practical problems linked with alimony collection in cross-border situations and to develop tools to effectively enforce payment obligations;
2020/06/08
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 375 #

2019/2169(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
17. Notes that tax policies have varying impacts on different types of households; stresses that individual taxation is instrumental in terms of achieving tax fairness for womenwelcomes the Commission's commitment to develop guidance for Member States on how national tax and benefits systems may impact financial incentives or disincentives for second earners;
2020/06/08
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 380 #

2019/2169(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Asks the Commission to address health inequalities; while women have a higher life expectancy than men, their healthy life expectancy is about the same, meaning that women spend a larger share of their lives in bad health; therefore asks the Commission to address health inequalities within the forthcoming EU Health Strategy and calls for an increased health aspect in the Gender Equality Strategy which should focus on access to preventive health at all stages of life, health and safety of women in the workplace, and a specific gender focus in the Europe’s beating cancer plan;
2020/06/08
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 383 #

2019/2169(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 b (new)
17b. Urges the need to further incorporate the gender perspective in the upcoming Disability Equality Strategy 2021, with due attention to improved access to the labour market through targeted measures and actions;
2020/06/08
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 384 #

2019/2169(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 c (new)
17c. Asks the Commission to reach in particular the most vulnerable women; calls, therefore, to make sure that all relevant actions of the strategy leave no woman behind;
2020/06/08
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 385 #

2019/2169(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 d (new)
17d. Asks the Commission, in light of the proven benefits of human milk for new-borns, to promote breastfeeding, especially for preterm infants; calls on the Commission to support policies which enhance uptake of human milk both breastfeeding and donated milk for preterm infants and to promote the cross- border use of milk banks to ensure that women in border regions can avail of this support when necessary;
2020/06/08
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 426 #

2019/2169(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
21. Welcomes a values-based EU trade policy with a high level of protection of labour and environmental rights as well as the respect of fundamental freedoms and human rights, including gender equality; recalls that all EU trade and investment agreements must be gender mainstreamed and include an ambitious and enforceable chapter on trade and sustainable development (TSD); welcomes the Commission’s commitment to ensuring for the first time the inclusion of a specific chapter on trade and gender equality in the modernised Association Agreement with Chile, and to; stresses that it should be properly implemented, evaluated and assessed in practice before/ with the view of promoting and supporting the inclusion of such chapters in all further EU trade and investment agreements;
2020/06/08
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 429 #

2019/2169(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Welcomes the upcoming Gender Action Plan III building on the current GAP II, as a key instrument for promoting gender equality and women and girls’ empowerment in external relations in, tackling women's and girls' rights through four pivotal areas: girls’ and women’s physical and psychological integrity, including fight against female genital mutilation; promoting the economic and social rights and the empowerment of girls and women; strengthening girls’ and women’s voice and participation; and a horizontal pillar consisting of shifting the institutional culture of the Commission services and the EEAS in order to more effectively deliver on the EU’s commitments;
2020/06/08
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 19 #

2019/2167(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)
Ab. whereas achieving gender equality by 2030 requires the full awareness and unwavering commitment by EU and its Member States; whereas this includes the promotion of women’s and girl’s full enjoyment of all human rights, gender equality and the empowerment and promotion of women and girls as a priority across all areas of policy and action; whereas the EU Gender Action Plan(GAP) II is a key tool to contribute to achieving these goals and must be safeguarded against any deterioration and progress must be accelerated;
2020/04/29
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 30 #

2019/2167(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas men and women are affected differently in conflict, post- conflict and fragile situations; whereas women are not only victims but also agents of positive change, who could contribute to conflict prevention and resolution, peacebuilding, peace negotiations and post-conflict reconstruction; whereas the importance of meaningful participation of women and girls in conflict prevention, peacebuilding and conflict resolution as well as in building the resilience of local communities must be highly considered;
2020/04/29
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 35 #

2019/2167(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital B b (new)
Bb. whereas women and girls might experience different forms of discrimination; whereas one in three women in the world is likely to experience physical and sexual violence at some point in her lifetime; whereas 14 million girls are forced into marriage every year;
2020/04/29
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 37 #

2019/2167(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital B c (new)
Bc. whereas including gender analysis and a gender perspective constitutes a foundation of effective and lasting conflict prevention, stabilisation, peacebuilding, post-conflict reconstruction, governance and institution building; whereas the dominant narrative around women and girls is one of victimization that deprives women and girls of their agency and erases their capacity as agents of change, with an increasing body of evidence illustrating that women’s participation in peace processes plays a significant role in determining its durability and success, since they put on the table issues such as political reform, implementation and social inequalities;
2020/04/29
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 39 #

2019/2167(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital B d (new)
Bd. Whereas girls today will be the ones dealing with the consequences of conflicts and emergencies in the future, and in the case of protracted conflicts, are the ones growing up in long-lasting damaging conditions; whereas girls have specific needs and face specific challenges that are distinct from those of adult women, that the wider categories of ‘children’ or ‘women’ often fail to recognise;
2020/04/29
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 54 #

2019/2167(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E
E. whereas the EU Strategic Approach to Women, Peach and Security (WPS) emphasises the need for concrete commitments and actions, as well as the need to engage, protect and support women and girls to achieve lasting peace and security as intrinsic components of human rights and sustainable development; whereas the EU Strategic Approach to WPS represents significant progress in terms of the EU’s engagement with the WPS agenda;
2020/04/29
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 57 #

2019/2167(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Ea. whereas the original Gender Action Plan I (2010-2015) (GAP I) brought some progress, but was also marked by a number of shortcomings: narrow scope, absence of gender- responsive budgeting, weak understanding of the gender equality framework by the EU delegations, lack of commitment on the part of the EU leadership, and lack of institutional architecture and incentives to motivate and adequately support staff;
2020/04/29
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 60 #

2019/2167(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E b (new)
Eb. whereas the new Gender Action Plan II 2016-2020 (GAP II) emerged from Parliament’s recommendations with a focus on shifting EU institutional culture at headquarters and delegation levels in order to create a systemic change in how the EU approaches the principle of equality between women and men, as well as on transforming women’s and girls’ lives through four pivotal areas; whereas the four pivotal areas created within GAP II are: ensuring girls’ and women’s physical and psychological integrity; promoting the economic and social rights and the empowerment of girls and women; strengthening girls’ and women’s voice and participation; and a horizontal pillar consisting of shifting the institutional culture of the Commission services and the EEAS in order to more effectively deliver on the EU’s commitments;
2020/04/29
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 61 #

2019/2167(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E c (new)
Ec. whereas Gender Equality in EU’s foreign and security policy is highly dependent on a successful implementation and evaluation of the Gender Action Plan II (GAP II)in order to recommend actions for an improved future GAP framework (a new EU Gender Action Plan III in2020); whereas the ambitious gender equality targets within GAP III should include other dimensions, such as age and disability in order to ensure positive compounding effects;
2020/04/29
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 63 #

2019/2167(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital F
F. whereas GAP II constituted an important step forward in fostering gender equality in the EU’s external relations, but its implementation still displays with a number of positive trends; whereas there also a number of shortcomichallenges such as a narrow scope, the absence of gender-responsive budgeting, a lack of commitment on the part of the EU’s leaders, and a lack of institutional architecture and incentives to motivate and adequately support staffas regards the reporting and implementation of key priorities and gender-related SDGs and the monitoring of progress on all objectives, as well as in terms of gender mainstreaming in policy dialogue; whereas even greater commitment of the EU’s leaders is of vital importance to achieve tangible results in terms of enhanced gender equality worldwide; whereas efficient use of the existing and future EU resources with gender responsive budgeting plays an important role, in particular in time of challenges in front of the next MFF, budgetary constraints and post COVID-19 crisis implications;
2020/04/29
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 68 #

2019/2167(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Ga. whereas the EU delegations and missions are on the frontline of implementing GAP II in partner countries, and the leadership and knowledge of delegation and mission heads and staff play a significant role in ensuring the successful implementation of GAP II; whereas it is recommended that more women access leadership and management posts in EU delegations;
2020/04/29
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 86 #

2019/2167(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital J
J. whereas progress has been made in the realisation of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) across the world, but important shortcomings continue to exist and threats of regression persist; whereas in 2018 the number of EU actions on SRHR decreased and the lowest number of global actions by Commission services on gender equality pertained to SRHR; whereas, in this context, there is a strong need to reaffirm the EU’s commitment to the promotion, protection and fulfilment of the right of every individual to have full control over matters related to their SRHRs free from discrimination and violence; whereas there is the need for access to sexual and reproductive health information, education and health-care services;
2020/04/29
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 119 #

2019/2167(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Urges the Commission, the High Representative and the Member States to further strengthen their support for gender equality, the full enjoyment of human rights by all women and girls and their empowerment across the globe and to play a key and increasing role in streamlining and leveraging resources to that end;
2020/04/29
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 120 #

2019/2167(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 c (new)
1c. Notes that GAP II has served an important purpose and supported the entire EU foreign policy agenda, and welcomes in this regard the choice of three thematic pillars, namely ensuring girls’ and women’s physical and psychological integrity, promoting the economic and social rights and the empowerment of girls and women, and strengthening girls’ and women’s voice and participation; stresses that these pillars are intended to tackle the main factors and causes involved in discrimination and marginalisation; also takes note of the horizontal pillar consisting of shifting the institutional culture of the Commission’s services and the EEAS in order to more effectively deliver on the EU’s commitments to gender equality and women’s empowerment through the EU’s external relations;
2020/04/29
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 129 #

2019/2167(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Notes that progress has been uneven across the thematic priorities and amongst different EU actors; calls therefore for greater efforts by the Commission, the High Representative and all Member States to fully implement the EU’s gender equality policy in external relations and attain the minimum performance standards set out in the Gender Action Plan;
2020/04/29
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 132 #

2019/2167(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 c (new)
2c. Stresses that the new EU Gender Action Plan should explicitly cover protection, participation and advancing women’s rights in all contexts and include fragile states and conflict-related contexts;
2020/04/29
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 156 #

2019/2167(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
6. RStresses that in many parts of the world, women’s and girl’s full guarantee of human rights are being held back, and civil society organisations (CSOs), including women’s and girl’s rights organisations, are facing increasing challenges in the shrinking democratic space globally ;recommends that GAP III be accompanied by clear, measurable, time- bound indicators of success, including an attribution of responsibility to different actors, and with clear objectives in each partner country, developed in close corporation with the partner country and civil society organisations (CSOs)with an active inclusion of local CSOs, local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and other relevant civil society actors of the partner country;
2020/04/29
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 161 #

2019/2167(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Underlines that girls and young women are particularly vulnerable and that specific focus is needed to ensure their access to all levels of education; calls in this regard for the consideration of a range of opportunities in the field of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM subjects);
2020/04/29
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 164 #

2019/2167(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Calls on the Commission, the EEAS and the EU Delegations to recognize girls and young women as drivers of change, and to support their safe, meaningful and inclusive participation in civic and public life; stresses the positive impact girls, young women and women have in achieving sustainable peace and social cohesion, including through local girls and women- led initiatives in conflict prevention and peacebuilding;
2020/04/29
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 165 #

2019/2167(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 c (new)
6c. Calls on the Commission, the EEAS and the EU Delegations to take into consideration the feedback of youth- led organisations and to support them through capacity-building as youth bear the biggest burden to conflicts and disasters and are key actors of change;
2020/04/29
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 188 #

2019/2167(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
9. Welcomes the work done by the EEAS Principal Adviser on gender; regrets, however, the limited capacity in terms of staff and resources assigned to this position, and calls for its holder to report directly to the VP/HR; calls on the VP/HR to create an organisational divisionstresses, in this context, the need for a more efficient use of resources assigned to this position, given the constraints of the EU budget in general, and calls for its holder to report directly to the VP/HR; calls on the EEAS to continue further its efforts with gender mainstreaming of the work in each EEAS Directorate and encourage its staff to work closely within the EEAS on guropean Institute for Gender eEquality and the WPS agenda, and to have a full-time gender adviser in each EEAS Directorate, reporting directly to the Principal Adviser(EIGE), providing high quality research and data to support better informed and evidence based decision- making by policy makers and other key stakeholders working to achieve gender equality; stresses that knowledge sharing between the EU institutions and agencies is substantial and highly efficient tool to avoid high administrative costs and unnecessary increase in bureaucracy;
2020/04/29
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 214 #

2019/2167(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Calls for a continued cultural shift, including the better coordination between EU institutions and between these institutions and the EU Member States; calls, in this regard, for a better inclusion of gender equality and human rights considerations in policy and political dialogue, to further strengthen the role in fostering accountability in the humanitarian system;
2020/04/29
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 218 #

2019/2167(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)
12b. Underlines the need for a simplified method of reporting in all of EU’s gender-related aspects in order to keep bureaucracy to a minimum; calls for the development of online reporting, clear templates and the issuing of a guidebook to facilitate the work of the delegations;
2020/04/29
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 220 #

2019/2167(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 c (new)
12c. Underlines the importance of EU Member States to continue to substantially improve the use of gender analysis and the consistent gender mainstreaming, including the collection and use of sex-and age-disaggregated data and gender sensitive indicators in identification, planning, implementation and monitoring and evaluation of all processes in the EU’s external action; underlines that these areas shall include trade, infrastructure-related investment, private sector investment and security- related initiatives and climate change, particular attention should be paid in all external actions to thematic areas which have a potential gender transformative objective and content;
2020/04/29
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 225 #

2019/2167(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
13. Calls foron the EU and the Member States to comply withstrengthen their efforts to enhance equality between women and men, following all international commitments and best practices related to the global gender equality agenda; calls, furthermore, for them to encourage and support partner states to repeal the reservations they have entered with regard to hrough recommendations to advance women’s rights, highlighting the importance of complying with the commitments contained in the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW,) and to implement, the Declaration and the Action Plan from the UN’s Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995, including through legislation among others; highlights the importance of the OECD/DAC Recommendation on Ending Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment in Development Co-operation and Humanitarian Assistance; welcomes in this context the focus on addressing abuse and harassment by relevant stakeholders in development cooperation, in the humanitarian context and in conflict-related settings in Co-operation and Humanitarian Assistance;
2020/04/29
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 250 #

2019/2167(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Condemns all forms of violence against women and girls, including trafficking in human beings, sexual exploitation, forced marriage, honour crimes, female genital mutilation (FGM) and the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war; calls on the EU and its Member States to ratify the Istanbul Convention, as the first legally binding international instrument seeking to prevent and combat violence against women, this way setting an example worldwide and making their commitment to eradicate such violence credible in the EU external relations;
2020/04/29
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 256 #

2019/2167(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 c (new)
15c. Emphasises that universal respect for and access to sexual and reproductive health contributes to the achievement of all the health-related SDGs, such as prenatal care and measures to avoid high- risk births and reduce infant and child mortality; points out that access to family planning and maternal health services are important elements for saving women’s lives;
2020/04/29
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 261 #

2019/2167(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 e (new)
15e. Notes the continued progress on the implementation of the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative to eliminate violence against women and girls worldwide, which amounted to EUR270 million committed for programmes in Africa and Latin America in 2018;callsfor the EU’s strong leadership on the Call to Action on Protection from Gender-Based Violence in Emergencies and the support provided to the survivors of conflict-related sexual and gender-based violence, reminds the Commission and the EU Member States the importance of the outcome of the Oslo Conference on Ending Sexual and Gender Based Violence in Humanitarian Crises;
2020/04/29
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 3 #

2019/2164(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 a (new)
- having regard to the strategic framework for European cooperation in education and training (ET 2020),
2021/02/02
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 5 #

2019/2164(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 8 a (new)
- having regard to the Council conclusions of 6 December2018 on ‘Gender Equality, Youth and Digitalisation’,
2021/02/02
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 6 #

2019/2164(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 9 a (new)
- having regard to the Commission communication of 10 June 2016 entitled ‘A New Skills Agenda for Europe: Working together to strengthen human capital, employability and competitiveness’ (COM(2016)0381),
2021/02/02
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 7 #

2019/2164(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 a (new)
- having regard to the International Day of Women and Girls in Science of the United Nation on 11. February, in order to achieve full and equal access to and participation in science for women and girls, and further achieve gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls,
2021/02/02
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 10 #

2019/2164(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 b (new)
- having regard to its resolution of 8 October 2015 on the application of Directive 2006/54/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 July 2006 on the implementation of the principle of equal opportunities and equal treatment of men and women in matters of employment and occupation,
2021/02/02
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 13 #

2019/2164(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 c (new)
- having regard to its resolution of January 21 2021 on Closing the digital gender gap: women's participation in the digital economy,
2021/02/02
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 38 #

2019/2164(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
C a. Whereas policies targeted at increasing the participation of women in the fields related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and AI, and the adoption of a multi-level approach to address the gender gap in all levels of education and employment in the digital sector need to be further promoted;
2021/02/02
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 47 #

2019/2164(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital D
D. whereas the low numbersunderrepresentation of women who work in innovative technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), can negatively affect the design, development and implementation of these technologies, causing the replication of existing discriminatory practices and stereotypes, and the development of ‘gender-biased algorithms’;
2021/02/02
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 57 #

2019/2164(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
E a. whereas gender stereotypes constitute already during education a serious obstacle to equality between male and female students and further widen the gender gap in the STEM job sector, thus constituting a serious obstacle to equality between women and men;
2021/02/02
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 64 #

2019/2164(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E b (new)
E b. whereas women struggle to find their place in the STEM job sector as a result of various barriers, such as the gender stereotypes and male-dominated workplaces;
2021/02/02
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 73 #

2019/2164(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. highlights that the full potential of women’s skills, knowledge and qualifications in the STEM, digital, AI and ICT (information, communication and technology) fields can contribute to boosting the European economy and supporting the goals defined in various EU policies and especially in the Green Deal;
2021/02/02
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 80 #

2019/2164(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Highlights that high level STEM skills are critical to the process of innovation in cutting-edge ICT areas such as AI or cybersecurity and will therefore be increasingly important to the competitiveness of the European Union in global markets;
2021/02/02
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 104 #

2019/2164(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to devise policy measures that fully incorporate the gender dimension, through awareness-raising campaigns, training and education curricula or career guidance;
2021/02/02
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 105 #

2019/2164(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5 b. Calls on the Commission and Member States to give full support to the European Commission’s initiatives in raising awareness on digital opportunities such as the “ no women, no panel” approach, the EU Code week, , the “Digital skills and Jobs coalitions”,the “EU prize for women’s innovators”, #SaferInternet4EU initiatives across Europe, and the skills Agenda for Europe”;
2021/02/02
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 107 #

2019/2164(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
6. Welcomes the Digital Education Action Plan 2021-2027 and its action to ‘Encourage women’s participation in STEM’, and hopes that it will help to develop more attractive and creative ways to encourage girls to pursue STEM studies, as well as to boost women’s self- confidence in their digital skills; calling to use EU funds and programmes, including Erasmus+, to effectively support lifelong learning and training in STEM sectors as well as for gender equality to be duly incorporated in the future EU youth strategy and policies;
2021/02/02
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 114 #

2019/2164(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Underlines the importance of ensuring gender mainstreaming in STEM education at all levels, including in the extra-curricular,informal and non-formal education, also for the teaching staff; calls therefore for specific age appropriate strategies;
2021/02/02
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 126 #

2019/2164(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7 b. Calls on educational entities to encourage girls to take up mathematics, coding, ICT classes and science subjects in schools;
2021/02/02
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 127 #

2019/2164(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 c (new)
7 c. Underlines the importance of female self-efficacy in science, technology, engineering and mathematics becoming an integral part of female identity as soon as in pre-school and primary school, thus fighting harmful gender role stereotypes for girls and boys;
2021/02/02
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 128 #

2019/2164(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 d (new)
7 d. Emphasises the need for special funding programs for schools in rural areas as they are increasingly finding themselves without the funding for advanced technologies that many urban school districts take for granted; additionally calls for a better support for educators in rural school systems to tackle STEM curricula especially regarding training, tools, or infrastructure;
2021/02/02
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 131 #

2019/2164(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
8. Highlights that male teachers and other male staff dominate STEM-related studies in schools and, later on, in universities and workplaces, leading to an absence of female role models and limited guidance and mentoring opportunities; encourages gender mainstreaming in primary, secondary and tertiary education, calls for a better career guidance and for new and creative ways to inspire female students to consider a STEM career path and urges the committees and institutions involved in recruitment to promote gender balance to avoid the ‘outsider effect’;
2021/02/02
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 138 #

2019/2164(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8 a. Calls as well for addressing the needs for financial education including financial-trials and the relation to the gender pension gap; highlights that teaching younger women on subjects such as the gender pay gap will pave the way for a future filled with financially- confident women;
2021/02/02
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 140 #

2019/2164(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8 b. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to set up mentoring schemes with female role models in STEM within all levels of education;
2021/02/02
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 150 #

2019/2164(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
10. Regrets the fact that women face disproportionately more obstacles in their careers than men do, owing to the lack of a proper work-life balance and an increase in unpaid care work in most households; urges public and private institutions to establish better work-life balance policies and adequate measures to guarantee better maternity and significantly more and longer paternity leaves, flexible working hours, on-site childcare facilities or to promote telework; urges the Member States to fully transpose and implement the Work-Life Balance Directive and calls on the Commission to monitor it effectively; calls on the Commission and the Member States to fully assess the causes and factors that lead to a high drop-out rate of women from STEM careers, and to develop mechanisms and programmes to integrate women and girls into education, training and employment initiatives;
2021/02/02
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 165 #

2019/2164(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11 a. Calls to provide incentives for companies supporting women for role models, mentoring programmes and career paths, and to increase the visibility of women and to promote their access to STEM sectors;
2021/02/02
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 166 #

2019/2164(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)
11 b. Calls to assess the reasons why women leave technical occupations and, if necessary, formulate recommendations for action to prevent this;
2021/02/02
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 185 #

2019/2164(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13 a. Highlights the relation between the gender gap and the pension gap; calls therefore on Member States to address both and narrow those and to take further steps to ensure that women have adequate access to education, the chance to attain economic independence and career progression opportunities;
2021/02/02
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 200 #

2019/2164(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
15. HConsiders that AI can significantly contribute to promote gender equality, provided that an appropriate legal framework is developed, that conscious and unconscious biases are eliminated; highlights that one of AI’s most critical weaknesses relates to certain types of biases such as gender, race or sexual orientation as a result of humans’ inherent biases; encourages the relevant actors to take action and promote a greater role for women in the design, development and implementation of machine learning, natural language processing and AI;
2021/02/02
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 214 #

2019/2164(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17 a. Calls for policies to unleash and support female’s entrepreneurial potential, as they remain an untapped source of economic growth, innovation and jobs creation;
2021/02/02
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 216 #

2019/2164(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
18. Regrets the fact that women are under-represented in innovation-driven business start-ups and highlights the gender biases and systemic disadvantages that exist in social structures, in particular in those at the intersection of STEM and entrepreneurship; also considers it to be of the utmost relevance to have more women role models and to increase the number of women in leadership positions in the STEM sector;
2021/02/02
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 220 #

2019/2164(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18 a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to address the leaky pipeline phenomenon for women in STEM, to fully assess the causes and factors that lead to a high drop out rate of women from STEM careers and to develop mechanisms and programmes to integrate women and girls into education, training and employment initiatives in the digital sector, and thus to adopt adequate policies and measures;
2021/02/02
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 223 #

2019/2164(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
20. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to increase financing opportunities for female start-up entrepreneurs and innovators through EU programmes, to loans and equity finance, to facilitate their access to existing funds, create special funds and look for new and innovative ways to financially support them and help them to overcome the barriers they face; calls to include the European Investment Bank in terms of access to microfinance as well;
2021/02/02
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 227 #

2019/2164(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20 a. Recognises that awareness raising and information campaigns of EU funding possibilities are necessary to provide a tailored support for female business owners and female entrepreneurs;
2021/02/02
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 228 #

2019/2164(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 b (new)
20 b. Calls to further expand the European Business Angels Network and European Network of Mentors for Women Entrepreneurs, including through gatherings of female innovators, tech professionals and investors to encourage and boost innovations and funding for women-led ventures;
2021/02/02
Committee: FEMM
Amendment 10 #

2019/2028(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
2. Highlights that the 2020 budget should contribute towards achieving the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights and the Europe 2020 targets in the social and employment area, which seem to be within reach as regards the employment rate target but remain far from being achieved as regards the target of reducing the number of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion; stresses, in this regard, the need for comprehensive policy reforms and integrated approaches that combat youth and long-term unemployment and the often neglected issue of elderly employability;
2019/09/06
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 27 #

2019/2028(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 d (new)
3d. Calls on the European Commission and the Member States to allow for the necessary flexibility in the implementation of the Union programmes for 2020, in particular the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund, to cover the impact of the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union on workers and entities established in the Member States; welcomes, in this regard, the Commission proposal to amend the scope of the current EGF programme to enable support to workers displaced as a result of disruptions caused by a withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the EU;
2019/09/06
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 31 #

2019/2028(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
4. Acknowledges the forthcoming rationalisationstreamlining of the current ESF, the YEI, the FEAD, the EaSI and the European Health Programme under the ESF+ as of 2021; reiterates its position to increase the ESF+ to EUR 120 457 000 000 in current prices under the MFF 2021-2027; calls on the Commission to present financial information in a manner that makes it comparable with performance information; expresses concerns on the substantial decrease (by EUR 5 million) proposed by the Council on the PROGRESS axis of EaSI; stresses, in this regard, that all legislative and budgetary revisions should be based on evidence, understanding of their impacts and in line with the better regulation agenda, as well as related recommendations of the European Court of Auditors;
2019/09/06
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 1 #

2019/0180(COD)

Draft legislative resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
For information, the statement reads as follows: “The European Parliament calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure a flexible application of art. 4(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1309/2013 on the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (2014-2020) in case of a withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the Union, in particular with regard to collective applications involving SMEs in single or multi-sectoral cases.”1a. Approves its statement annexed to this resolution; Or. en
2019/09/26
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 4 #

2019/0000(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 15 a (new)
15a. having regard to the Commission’s Recommendation of 3 October 2008 on the active inclusion of people excluded from the labour market,
2019/09/16
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 63 #

2019/0000(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital H
H. whereas the social situation continues to improve; whereas poverty and the risk of poverty, and gaps in coverage of social protection systems and access to services, persist; whereas some progress has been made towards the poverty target of the Europe2020-strategy with a 5.6 million reduction since 2008 but whereas the target to reduce poverty by at least 20 million by 2020 is still far away with 113 million still at risk; whereas higher levels of poverty are experienced by children and other groups like single parents, migrants, Roma and ethnic minorities and long-term unemployed; whereas there is rapidly growing in-work poverty (9.6%) and a widening poverty and inequality gap across the EU;
2019/09/16
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 95 #

2019/0000(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
2. Takes note of the Commission’s 2019 country-specific recommendations (CSRs) and welcomes the stronger focus on investment; notes that almost one third of the CSRs issued until 2018 have not been implemented; welcomes the fact that considerable progress has been achieved in legislation governing labour relations and employment protection; is concerned that progress on the 2018 CSRs is worse than performance in previous years and urges the Commission to put the necessary pressure on Member States to implement the recommendations; believes that strong reform implementation is crucial to strengthen the growth potential of EU economies and should serve as well to improve social rights and well-being of all citizens in the EU;
2019/09/16
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 149 #

2019/0000(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
8. Stresses that a transformation of the education and training systems is necessary in order to make full use of the opportunities offered by information and communication technologies and the media and to develop the skills and competences required to meet the demands of the labour market of the future; considers that skills shortages and mismatches can be major investment obstacles; emphasises that in order to acquire adequate skills it is necessary to improve the quality, availability, affordability and accessibility of education and training, including vocational training, and improve the mutual recognition of qualifications; calls on the Member States to prioritise comprehensive training in digital and entrepreneurial skills, taking into account the shift towards the digital economy and to a greener economy; believes that the challenges of climate change and the transition to a greener economy demand support to help workers to adapt, especially in the most affected regions; calls for particular attention for the most vulnerable groups in society, including people at risk of poverty or extreme deprivation;
2019/09/16
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 161 #

2019/0000(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 d (new)
8 d. Notes that online platform work in the EU has increased by more than 25% over the past two years to up to 5 million Europeans and that a third of all platform transactions are performed cross-border; points out that platform workers are often not covered by social protection systems; calls for a coordinated EU initiative to improve access to social security rights and health insurance for all platform workers, regardless of their employment status, and to extend collective agreement coverage to platform workers; stresses, moreover, the need for the Commission and the Member States to collect better and more harmonised data on the number of platform workers, their employment status, job content and income;
2019/09/16
Committee: EMPL
Amendment 194 #

2019/0000(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
11. Notes that the social situation continues to improve and that poverty is in decline, but that it still remains unacceptably high; stresses that while the number of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion (AROPE) in the EU continued to decrease in 2017, some 113 million people in the EU and 74 million in the euro area were AROPE in 2017; urges the Commission and the Member States to take the necessary steps to reduce poverty, including child and in-work poverty, in order to achieve the Europe 2020 goalin-work poverty and poverty experienced by groups who are at much higher risk, such as children, single parents, migrants, Roma, ethnic minorities and the long term unemployed and homeless, in order to achieve the Europe 2020 goal; urges the Commission and the Member States to promote a rights-based anti-poverty strategy based on integrated active inclusion combining the implementation of fundamental social rights, quality services and jobs with fair living wages; emphasises that decent job creation, access to social protection regardless of employment relationship or contract type, wage growth and well- resourced, quality public education systems have a significant impact on reducing inequalities, the risk of poverty and social exclusion; stresses the importance of a transparent evaluation of the Europe2020-strategy, particularly in the field of poverty reduction, and the development of a social and sustainable strategy post-2020 which prioritises the eradication of poverty and supports the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights and the Sustainable Development Goals through meaningful dialogue processes at EU and national levels with civil society and people with direct experience of poverty;
2019/09/16
Committee: EMPL