Activities of Eugenia RODRÍGUEZ PALOP related to 2021/2233(INI)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on the European Semester for economic policy coordination: employment and social aspects in the annual sustainable growth survey 2022
Amendments (50)
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 a (new)
Citation 5 a (new)
— having regard to the Commission communication of 1 July 2020 on a European Skills Agenda for sustainable competitiveness, social fairness and resilience (COM(2020)0274),
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 b (new)
Citation 5 b (new)
— having regard to the Commission communication of 30 September 2020 on achieving the European Education Area by 2025 (COM(2020)0625),
Amendment 5 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 c (new)
Citation 5 c (new)
— having regard to the Commission communication of 30 September 2020 entitled ‘Digital Education Action Plan 2021-2027: Resetting education and training for the digital age’ (COM(2020)0624),
Amendment 6 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 d (new)
Citation 5 d (new)
— having regard to the Commissions Proposal for a Council Recommendation on individual learning accounts (COM/2021/773),
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 e (new)
Citation 5 e (new)
— having regard to Council Regulation (EU) 2020/672 of 19 May 2020 on the establishment of a European instrument for temporary support to mitigate unemployment risks in an emergency (SURE) following the COVID- 19 outbreak,
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 f (new)
Citation 5 f (new)
— having regard to the Commission communication of 5 March 2020 entitled ‘A Union of Equality: Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025’ (COM(2020)0152),
Amendment 18 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas, in coordinating economic, budgetary, employment and social policies in the Member States, the European Semester must respect rules on sound public financethat context, there is an urgent need to profoundly revise the European economic governance in order to give equal importance to economic, social and environmental policies while preparing the European economies and societies to the twin transitions;
Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
A a. whereas the COVID-19 crisis has had and will most likely continue to have a significant but disproportionate impact on different Member States, social groups, sectors and regions, and is leading to an increase in poverty levels across the EU; whereas the most vulnerable have been hit hardest; whereas the crisis has had a devastating effect on different vulnerable groups and has posed an unprecedented challenge for the workforce providing elderly care; whereas women, when compared to men, as well as young people, low-skilled workers, migrants, persons with disabilities, people from disadvantaged backgrounds, older people, and people with temporary contracts or in other non-standard forms of employment, but also the self-employed, have been disproportionately affected;
Amendment 22 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)
Recital A b (new)
A b. whereas global challenges such as digitalisation and the fight against climate change persist regardless of the COVID- 19 crisis and require a just transition so as to leave no one behind; whereas climate change, global warming and biodiversity loss are accelerating exponentially, according to the latest report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC); whereas the consequences of climate breakdown and extreme weather events are being felt more intensely and more frequently than before by EU citizens and workers; whereas 2030 decarbonisation targets have been increased in order to achieve carbon-neutrality by 2050; whereas increased mitigation and adaptation efforts would require the profound transformation of European and national economies and labour markets;
Amendment 23 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A c (new)
Recital A c (new)
A c. whereas at the Porto Social Summit of 7 and 8 May 2021, EU leaders recognised the European Pillar of Social Rights (EPSR) as a fundamental element of the recovery, and underlined in the Porto declaration their determination to continue deepening its implementation at EU and national level; whereas Economic coordination policies should aim to implement the EPSR’s objectives and SDGs in order to make progress toward more inclusiveness and resilience;
Amendment 25 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the EU upholds the fundamental values of the Treaties and the United Nations, and whereas the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy, social affairs and employment, the European Green Deal and poverty must be taken into account in the 2022 annual sustainable growth strategy, with a special focus on vulnerable groups and workers that will suffer from the economic downturn and structural transformations of the European economies linked to the twin transitions; whereas gender equality and gender mainstreaming should be at the core of the 2022 annual sustainable growth strategy;
Amendment 35 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas the economy has experienced a sharp downturn as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic; whereas, according to the autumn 2021 European economic forecast, growth is expected to be 5 % in 2021, 4.3 % in 2022 and 2.5 % in 2023, but the recovery will be heavily dependent on further pandemic developments1 ; whereas European regions and economies have not been affected in the same way and with the same intensity; __________________ 1European Commission institutional paper of November 2021 entitled ‘European Economic Forecast: Autumn 2021’, p. 2.
Amendment 44 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the COVID-19 pandemic is placing a heavy burden on workers, citizens and families in terms of their everyday lives, working lives and general livelihoods2 ; whereas the COVID-19 crisis has had negative impacts on the European labour market with unprecedented job losses, especially in strategic sectors; whereas these developments led to rise in poverty and divergences in living standards, which particularly affect young people, women and workers in low-skilled positions and precarious employment; __________________ 22021 report of the Bundesinstitut für Bevölkerungsforschung entitled ‘Belastungen von Kindern, Jugendlichen und Eltern in der Corona-Pandemie’.
Amendment 58 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas the EU’s climate targetstarget to carbon emission reduction by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2050 as well as subsequent EU climate objectives defined in the European Green Deal and the Fit for 55 package, represent a challenge to the economy and society; whereas they also present opportunities for businesses and opportunities to redeploy workers, which will mean that socially vulnerable people, families and micro- enterprises will come under pressure; whereas quality job creations, ambitious just transition measures, well-financed public security systems as well as efficient up and reskilling programs will be essential to ensure a smooth and inclusive transition for workers and local communities;
Amendment 68 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas the increased need for public and private funding to strengthen the economy and invest in the twin transitions is placing budgetary constraints on the Member States; whereas the European Commission has proposed an amendment of the Own Resources Decision to introduce three new categories of own resources based on the carbon border adjustment mechanism, the revised EU Emissions Trading System (ETS), and a share of the residual profits of the largest and most profitable multinational enterprises that are allocated to EU Member States following the agreement by the OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting to address the Tax Challenges Arising from the Digitalisation of the Economy (OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework agreement); whereas the Stability and Growth pact has shown its inadequacy during the pandemic; whereas the potential offered by the general escape clause, the new multiannual financial framework and Next Generation EU to support workers and companies in difficulty, particularly by improving access to funding, safeguarding the jobs and working conditions of people working in the EU, and accompanying enterprises and workers in the green and digital transitions have shown to be critical;
Amendment 74 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas demographic change affects social systems and labour markets3 ; whereas women, and notably female workers in care and service sectors as well as single-parent family have been hit hardest by the pandemic and the economic downturn; whereas it is essential that quality jobs are created for medium- and low-skilled workers and for women and young people in particular, while evenly distributed across Europe to prevent imbalances between the regions; __________________ 3 Commission report of 17 June 2020 on the impact of demographic change (COM(2020)0241).
Amendment 83 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas on account of artificial intelligence, the economy is on the verge of a transformation, with the opportunity to become more robust and more resilient; whereas digitalisation, robotisation, automation and artificial intelligence must benefit workers and society by improving working conditions and quality of life, ensuring a good work-life balance, creating better employment opportunities, and contributing to socioeconomic convergence;
Amendment 91 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas skilled workers, public education, training and further training are of key importance for markets4 systems, adequate up- and re- skilling training programs and further training are of key importance for economic operators and workers' careers developments; __________________ 4 Report by SME United, Business Europe and SGI Europe of 13 October 2021 entitled ‘Annual sustainable growth strategy 2022: Social partners’ consultations – Employers’ views.
Amendment 94 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital J
Recital J
J. whereas work-there were still over 3.300 fatal accidents and 3.1 million non-fatal accidents in the EU-27 in 2018; whereas over 200 000 workers die each year from work-related illnesses; whereas these data do not include all accidents caused by undeclared work, making it plausible to assume that the true numbers greatly exceed the official statistics; whereas in 2017, according to Eurofound, 20 % of jobs in Europe were of “poor quality” and put workers at increased risk regarding their physical or mental health; whereas 14 % of workers have been exposed to a high level of psychosocial risks; whereas 23% of European workers believe that their safety or their health is at risk because of their work; whereas work- related illnesses and injuries cost the European Union 3.3 % of its GDP5 ; __________________ 5Commission communication of 28 June 2021 entitled ‘EU strategic framework on health and safety at work 2021-2027: Occupational safety and health in a changing world of work’ (COM(2021)0323).
Amendment 98 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 1
Subheading 1
Amendment 99 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes that thecitizen and worker's well-being of the EU is at the heart of a modern sustainability and economic strategy; points out that the dimensions set out in the annual sustainable growth strategy – social and environmental sustainability, productivity, equity, fairness and macroeconomic stability – serve as guiding principles for the development of the national recovery and resilience plans and necessary reforms; reforms; insists that reinforced social protection systems are crucial for the fight against poverty and inequalities, as well as to support inclusive and sustainable growth; acknowledges that access to essential services, such as water and energy, are critical to ensure social inclusion and basic sanitary standards; calls on support measures to ensure universal access to essential services to all European inhabitants;
Amendment 104 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Recalls that, according to the Treaties, the Union shall work for the sustainable development of Europe based on balanced economic growth, full employment, healthy and safe working environments and conditions, and social progress, a high level of protection and improvement of the quality of the environment, the promotion of scientific and technological progress, combating poverty and inequalities, social exclusion and discrimination, and promoting upward social convergence, social justice and protection, equality between women and men, solidarity between generations and protection of the rights of the child and persons with disabilities; insists that these goals must be the overarching priorities for the EU’s long-term sustainable growth strategy in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the EPSR and the Green Deal, and underpin Member States’ recovery and resilience plans; calls on the Commission to ensure that the European economic governance is aligned with these goals and strategies;
Amendment 105 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1 b. Calls on the Commission to draw lessons from this crisis and work towards the implementation of a transformed sustainable governance architecture in the EU based on solidarity, social justice and integration, fair distribution of wealth, gender equality, high-quality public services, including a public, universal and high-quality education system, quality employment and sustainable growth; calls on the Commission, prior to taking the decision to deactivate the general escape clause, to consider not only an overall assessment of the state of the economy based on quantitative criteria, but also one that properly reflects underlying inequalities, as well as the employment, social and health situations of the Member States affected; believes that the transformation of the EU economic governance framework should take place prior to the deactivation of the general escape clause;
Amendment 106 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 c (new)
Paragraph 1 c (new)
1 c. Calls on the Commission to go beyond the Fiscal Compact and to repeal the Stability Growth Pact (SGP) to promote greater flexibility and to enable necessary social and environmental investments as a matter of urgency; stresses that it is crucial to set EU economic rules that go beyond GDP when assessing Member States’ performance, and to consider the success of the EU economy in relation to citizens’ and workers' wellbeing, inclusive labour markets, and labour and environmental standards;
Amendment 107 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 d (new)
Paragraph 1 d (new)
1 d. Highlights the need to transform the macroeconomic imbalances procedure (MIP) to include economic, social and environmental indicators that take into account the greater need for investments and public spending required to support the environmental, digital and societal transitions;
Amendment 109 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Stresses that the aim of sustainable economic growth must be to weather future crises in the best possible way; highlights that a substantial part of the revenues generated by economic growth, and subsequent fiscal revenues, should be used to finance public services, including public health and education systems; points out that strong support for public services, health and education systems will be necessary to stimulate quality employment creation and an inclusive recovery and anticipation of future crisis;
Amendment 116 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Is concerned that countries were already heavily indebted before the COVID-19 pandemic, that these debts are to be borne by future generations and that some Member States have little room for manoeuvre to support economic recovery through national measures; is convinced that additional instruments are needed that do not place a lasting burden on national budgets; insists to develop a “golden rule for public investments” that would exclude net public investment (new investments) from deficit calculations in the framework of the Stability and Growth Pact, since they bring high economic returns; calls on the Commission and the Member States to take real measures to combat tax avoidance and tax fraud as an important means of reducing economic inequalities and improving the collection of tax revenue in the Member States;
Amendment 136 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
Amendment 146 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Welcomes the Commission communication of 9 December 2021 entitled ‘Building an economy that works for people: an action plan for the social economy’; Calls on the Commission to put forward ambitious measures for the establishment and development of cooperatives and social economy enterprises, which by nature place a stronger emphasis on fair working conditions and the empowerment of workers and citizens;
Amendment 152 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 2
Subheading 2
Amendment 153 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Welcomes the Commission’s strategic framework on health and safety at work 2021-2027, in particular, the introduction of the Vision Zero approach to work-related accidents and diseases; regrets however the level of ambition of the OSH Strategy not corresponding to its objective of the Vision Zero and calls on the Commission to put forward proposals matching this ambition; calls for the establishment of a roadmap for the reduction of accidents and deaths at work, with adequate funding for Member States and companies to complete the transition towards ‘zero fatalities’; stresses that the Vision Zero should not lead to under- reporting of work-related accidents and diseases; calls on the Commission to cover all injuries and accidents, physical and mental attrition in the Vision Zero approach; calls on the Commission and Member States to significantly increase the focus on prevention strategies such as strengthening labour inspectorates, national health and safety services and social partner dialogue to secure that all employees, regardless of type or size of the employer, have a right to the highest level of health and safety protection possible;
Amendment 154 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4 b. Believes that strong cooperation with social partners and legislative action are needed on several aspects of EU policy on occupational health and safety in order to complement the variety of soft measures envisaged in order to make Vision Zero a reality; calls for a clear focus on workers’ participation and the strengthening of social partners consultation;
Amendment 155 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 c (new)
Paragraph 4 c (new)
4 c. Stresses the emergence of new OSH risks due to the acceleration of climate change and its potential effect on workers as well as technological break through such as Artificial Intelligence and digitalisation that could lead to hazardous working conditions; welcomes the adoption of the European parliament report on protecting workers from asbestos (2019/2182(INL) as well as the progress made in the revision process of the Carcinogens and Mutagens Directive – CMD4; calls on the commission to take appropriate and proportionate legislative and non-legislative actions to master these emerging risks;
Amendment 156 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 d (new)
Paragraph 4 d (new)
4 d. Calls on the Commission to propose a legislative framework to regulate teleworking conditions across the EU and ensure decent working and employment conditions in the digital economy; calls on the commission to propose a directive on the right to disconnect; welcomes the Commission’s proposal for a directive on improving working conditions in platform work;
Amendment 161 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Emphasises the central role in the EU strategic framework of health and safety at work; nNotes that prevention so as to ensure safe and healthy working conditions contributes to the health of workers in order to, safe workplaces and maintain productivity and competitiveness;
Amendment 167 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 3
Subheading 3
Amendment 169 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Considers that increasing purchasing power is a guaranteed means of ensuring further economic recovery; by making sure every single European worker benefits from decent wages is a guaranteed means of ensuring further economic recovery; welcomes in this regard the Commission’s proposal for a directive on adequate minimum wages in the European Union to contribute to the elimination of in-work poverty and to promote collective bargaining; takes note of Commission’s commitment to propose a Recommendation on minimum income to support the policies of Member States and calls the Member States for ambitious measures to guarantee a decent income for all;
Amendment 181 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Notes that 22.4 % of the EU population is at risk of poverty or social exclusion, of which 24.9 % are children, 23.3% are women, 18.2% of those over 656 ; stresses that the COVID-19 pandemic makes the child and the youth guarantee even more important; calls on the Commission to be more active in combating poverty, especially child, women and young workers poverty; __________________ 6European Commission web page entitled ‘Poverty and social exclusion’, accessed on 10 January 2022.
Amendment 183 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7 a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure that there is enough adequate and affordable social housing to cover the housing needs of the population and to reduce the housing cost overburden rate; calls, in this regard, for a reform of the economic governance framework in order to enable the Member States to make the requisite green and social public investments, including those related to the development and improvement of social, public, affordable and energy-efficient housing; underlines that homelessness is one of the most extreme forms of social exclusion; welcomes the launch of the European Platform on Combatting Homelessness and its ultimate objective of ending homelessness by 2030; calls on the Member States to adopt ambitious national strategies with adequate national and EU funding, based on the housing- first principle, to promote the prevention of homelessness and provide access to adequate, safe and affordable housing; urges the Commission to propose a comprehensive antipoverty strategy;
Amendment 193 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Notes that families are the main victims of the COVID-19 pandemicvulnerable groups, precarious workers, single-parents family, migrants and youngsters are the main victims of the COVID-19 pandemic; calls for the EU and the Member States to tackle the structural problems causing child poverty and social exclusion, welcoming the establishment of a European Child Guarantee to combat child poverty and social exclusion; calls on the Commission to introduce a 25/25 child cost allowance; stresses that the amount will be split between a national allowance under the responsibility of the Member States and a direct EU benefit; stresses that families need this money, and that they would spend it and in turn contribute to the economy;
Amendment 205 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Considers that a 25/25 child allowance is an economic stimulus package that is geared towards people, combats poverty, generates purchasing power and provides incentives that favour demographic change; acknowledges nevertheless the gendered dimension of children’s poverty, and asks for additional measures and funds to suitably address the obstacles leading to women’s poverty;
Amendment 212 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Stresses the need to ensure gender equality, non-discrimination and social equality in employment relationships; recalls that the Covid-19 crisis disproportionately affected women in the socioeconomic sphere, considering that they have lower salaries, savings and pensions, suffer higher rates of unconventional and precarious forms of work and poverty, lack equal access to social protection, are more at risk of being laid off or given shorter hours, face increased and specific burdens as a result of the unequal distribution of unpaid domestic and care work and will bear a disproportionate burden in the care economy; calls on the Commission and the Member States to address the feminisation of poverty in all its forms, particularly by improving working conditions, including pay, in feminised sectors; calls for gender mainstreaming in employment policies related to sustainability and just transition strengthening gender-sensitive policies at the EU level, essential to ensure that the impact of the crisis does not widen gender inequality and that the responses contribute to reduce discrimination against women;
Amendment 221 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 4
Subheading 4
Amendment 224 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Calls onfor the Commissionsocial and sustainable dimensions of the industrial strategy to be strengthened, with a particular focus on quality employment and strategic value chains in the EU; stresses the need to identify shortages at production sites – e.g. of semiconductors – in order to re- Europeanise them and provide them with financial support;
Amendment 241 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Stresses the need to address skills shortages; notes that these shortages are holding back productivity and economic growth; expresses concern that digital skills in the EU need to play catch up and that this is reflected in the shortage of IT professionals; emphasises the importance of focusing vocationalstresses that quality education and a well-educated workforce, together with a commitment to research and innovation, is a prerequisite for sustainable recovery and social cohesion; points out that medium- and low-skilled workers must be given the chance to reskill and upskill; insists that sustainable investment in quality apprenticeships, adult participation in lifelong learning and employee training must be a priority; points out that an inclusive economic recovery will require sustainable public and private investment to ensure access to training onfor the digital and gunemployed and low qualified people so as to obtain certified basic skills, professional skills and key competences leading to qualifications and careenr transitions; demands that EU training content become more uniform and qualifications more widely recognisedhighlights the importance, in this context, of strengthening EU education programmes, aligning training and education with the needs of society and the economy, and supporting employees and teachers, as well as the importance of investments in digital, green and social infrastructure; stresses that implementing the EU skills agenda for all is critical for tackling skills shortages; calls on the Commission and the Member States to maximise their efforts to invest in affordable, accessible, inclusive and high-quality VET, to reinforce upskilling and reskilling measures, including digital and transferable skills, and to promote lifelong learning to prepare workers for the needs of the labour market in the light of the green and digital transformations; underlines that the mutual recognition of qualifications is key to overcoming skills shortages and skills mismatches;
Amendment 251 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Stresses that training, education and research are key to economic policy; recalls in this regard the need to ensure equal access to employee training to all workers irrespective of their contractual situation, salary and skills levels;
Amendment 253 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 5
Subheading 5
Amendment 256 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Considers that the transition to a low-carbon-neutral economy must be based on afair and inclusive, leaving no workers nor local communities behind; recalls that such a deep transformation of our economies and societies will only be possible thanks to both strong public services and inclusive social market economy; stresses the need to enable private and public sector financing and promote research and innovation in new technologies while safeguarding good quality jobs;
Amendment 259 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15 a. Recalls the crucial role played by European, national and sectoral social partners in the anticipation of change; highlights the need to closely involve trade unions and workers’ representatives at all decision-making levels, in order to ensure efficient and fair transitions; stresses the critical role of collective bargaining to ensure the highest occupational health and safety standards, relevant skills developments and strategic anticipation of change; stresses that European and international human rights guarantee all workers the right to organize, form and join a trade union, engage in collective bargaining, take collective action to defend their rights and enjoy protection under collective agreements, regardless of their employment status; calls on the Member States to remove any national legislation that hampers collective bargaining, including by ensuring trade unions’ access to workplaces for the purpose of organising, information sharing and consultation, strengthening worker’s representation;
Amendment 273 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Calls on the Commission to include recommendations for a social register suitable for the certification of companierevise the European public procurement directive, strengthening the social clause and including recommendations for a social register suitable for the certification of companies that comply with fair working and employment conditions and the obligations resulting from the relevant collective agreements; calls on the Commission to make certification mandatory for EU-wide public tenders;