Activities of Rudi KENNES
Plenary speeches (8)
The crisis facing the EU’s automotive industry, potential plant closures and the need to enhance competitiveness and maintain jobs in Europe (debate)
General budget of the European Union for the financial year 2025 – all sections (debate)
Guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States (debate)
Tackling the steel crisis: boosting competitive and sustainable European steel and maintaining quality jobs (debate)
Order of business
Rise of energy prices and fighting energy poverty (debate)
Promoting social dialogue and collective bargaining and the right to strike in the EU (debate)
Tackling abusive subcontracting and labour market intermediaries (debate)
Shadow reports (3)
RECOMMENDATION on the draft Council decision on the accession of Tuvalu to the Interim Partnership Agreement between the European Community, of the one part, and the Pacific States, of the other part
RECOMMENDATION on the draft Council decision on the accession of Niue to the Interim Partnership Agreement between the European Community, of the one part, and the Pacific States, of the other part
RECOMMENDATION on the draft Council decision on the accession of the Kingdom of Tonga to the Interim Partnership Agreement between the European Community, of the one part, and the Pacific States, of the other part
Shadow opinions (2)
Opinion on proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers following an application from Belgium – EGF/2024/001 BE/Match-Smatch
Opinion on Mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers following an application from Belgium — EGF/2024/002 BE/Limburg machinery and paper
Oral questions (1)
ICC arrest warrants issued on 21 November 2024
Written explanations (30)
EU/USA Agreement on launch of Galileo satellites from U.S. territory
Galileo is Europa’s wereldwijde navigatiesatellietsysteem (GNSS), vereenvoudigd komt het neer op een Europees GPS-systeem. Gezien de spanningen met Rusland, waarbij de EU nog steeds elk diplomatiek initiatief weigert om de oorlog in Oekraïne te beëindigen, zoekt de EU naar alternatieven om de lancering van satellieten te hervatten. De Commissie beweert dat de VS het enige alternatief zijn. We zijn bezorgd dat dit onze afhankelijkheid van de VS verder zal vergroten. Bovendien wordt Galileo, hoewel het onder civiele controle staat, in feite ook voor militaire doeleinden gebruikt. Sinds 2013 worden ook Israëlische bedrijven en onderzoekers tot het programma toegelaten. Wij zijn van mening dat de EU deze deelname moet beëindigen gezien de voortdurende schendingen van het internationaal recht en de mensenrechten door Israël.
Continued financial and military support to Ukraine by EU Member States
Een meerderheid van het Europees Parlement wil het gebruik van F-16’s en westerse langeafstandsraketten toestaan om doelen diep in Rusland aan te vallen. Een grote escalatie die een Derde Wereldoorlog zou kunnen ontketenen, omdat deze toestemming zou worden beschouwd als de-factodeelname van westerse legers aan de oorlog. Zelfs Duitsland of de Verenigde Staten hebben daarom deze stap nog niet gezet.De Russische aanvalsoorlog in Oekraïne duurt nu al tweeënhalf jaar. Elke dag die voorbijgaat brengt nieuwe slachtoffers. Wapenlevering na wapenlevering, sanctiepakket na sanctiepakket belooft de EU ons dat ze de loop van de oorlog zal veranderen. Het is tijd om te erkennen dat deze strategie om vrede te brengen op ons continent heeft gefaald. In plaats van halsstarrig door te gaan met militaire escalatie en sancties waarvoor de burgerbevolking een zware prijs betaalt, moeten we onze inspanningen richten op vredesonderhandelingen om zo snel mogelijk een einde te maken aan de oorlog. Landen in het Globale Zuiden vragen dit allang. De Duitse bondskanselier Olaf Scholz is er nu voor. Waar wachten we nog op om mensen rond de tafel te brengen om een einde te maken aan het bloedbad?
Situation in Venezuela
De situatie in Venezuela is zorgwekkend. Dat geldt voor de politieke situatie, maar ook voor de sociaaleconomische situatie. Dit kan echter niet begrepen worden zonder te kijken naar de wrede sancties die al jaren door de Verenigde Staten van Amerika tegen het land zijn ingesteld. Deze omvatten de blokkade van olie, de boycot van internationale aankopen en de inbeslagname van de Venezolaanse goudreserves. Volgens de Washington Post hebben de Amerikaanse sancties geleid tot een recessie die drie keer zo zwaar is als de Grote Depressie in de VS. In dat opzicht bevat de resolutie van het Europees Parlement een zeer contraproductieve oproep tot nog meer sancties. Die zouden de bevolking van Venezuela alleen maar schaden en de humanitaire crisis in het land verergeren.Het zou het beste zijn als alle partijen de volledige verkiezingsuitslag en de bewijzen daarvoor vrijgeven. Maar in plaats van zich te beperken tot het oproepen tot een eerlijke en participatieve democratie, wil het Europees Parlement in deze resolutie beslissen wie de president van Venezuela wordt. Dat is niet de rol van het Europees Parlement. Het is een oproep tot westerse inmenging in de interne aangelegenheden van een soeverein land.
EU/USA Agreement on launch of Galileo satellites from U.S. territory
Galileo is Europa’s wereldwijde navigatiesatellietsysteem (GNSS), vereenvoudigd komt het neer op een Europees GPS-systeem. Gezien de spanningen met Rusland, waarbij de EU nog steeds elk diplomatiek initiatief weigert om de oorlog in Oekraïne te beëindigen, zoekt de EU naar alternatieven om de lancering van satellieten te hervatten. De Commissie beweert dat de VS het enige alternatief zijn. We zijn bezorgd dat dit onze afhankelijkheid van de VS verder zal vergroten. Bovendien wordt Galileo, hoewel het onder civiele controle staat, in feite ook voor militaire doeleinden gebruikt. Sinds 2013 worden ook Israëlische bedrijven en onderzoekers tot het programma toegelaten. Wij zijn van mening dat de EU deze deelname moet beëindigen gezien de voortdurende schendingen van het internationaal recht en de mensenrechten door Israël.
Continued financial and military support to Ukraine by EU Member States
Een meerderheid van het Europees Parlement wil het gebruik van F-16’s en westerse langeafstandsraketten toestaan om doelen diep in Rusland aan te vallen. Een grote escalatie die een Derde Wereldoorlog zou kunnen ontketenen, omdat deze toestemming zou worden beschouwd als de-factodeelname van westerse legers aan de oorlog. Zelfs Duitsland of de Verenigde Staten hebben daarom deze stap nog niet gezet.De Russische aanvalsoorlog in Oekraïne duurt nu al tweeënhalf jaar. Elke dag die voorbijgaat brengt nieuwe slachtoffers. Wapenlevering na wapenlevering, sanctiepakket na sanctiepakket belooft de EU ons dat ze de loop van de oorlog zal veranderen. Het is tijd om te erkennen dat deze strategie om vrede te brengen op ons continent heeft gefaald. In plaats van halsstarrig door te gaan met militaire escalatie en sancties waarvoor de burgerbevolking een zware prijs betaalt, moeten we onze inspanningen richten op vredesonderhandelingen om zo snel mogelijk een einde te maken aan de oorlog. Landen in het Globale Zuiden vragen dit allang. De Duitse bondskanselier Olaf Scholz is er nu voor. Waar wachten we nog op om mensen rond de tafel te brengen om een einde te maken aan het bloedbad?
Situation in Venezuela
De situatie in Venezuela is zorgwekkend. Dat geldt voor de politieke situatie, maar ook voor de sociaaleconomische situatie. Dit kan echter niet begrepen worden zonder te kijken naar de wrede sancties die al jaren door de Verenigde Staten van Amerika tegen het land zijn ingesteld. Deze omvatten de blokkade van olie, de boycot van internationale aankopen en de inbeslagname van de Venezolaanse goudreserves. Volgens de Washington Post hebben de Amerikaanse sancties geleid tot een recessie die drie keer zo zwaar is als de Grote Depressie in de VS. In dat opzicht bevat de resolutie van het Europees Parlement een zeer contraproductieve oproep tot nog meer sancties. Die zouden de bevolking van Venezuela alleen maar schaden en de humanitaire crisis in het land verergeren.Het zou het beste zijn als alle partijen de volledige verkiezingsuitslag en de bewijzen daarvoor vrijgeven. Maar in plaats van zich te beperken tot het oproepen tot een eerlijke en participatieve democratie, wil het Europees Parlement in deze resolutie beslissen wie de president van Venezuela wordt. Dat is niet de rol van het Europees Parlement. Het is een oproep tot westerse inmenging in de interne aangelegenheden van een soeverein land.
Establishing the Ukraine Loan Cooperation Mechanism and providing exceptional macro-financial assistance to Ukraine
De illegale invasie van Oekraïne door Rusland heeft veel menselijk leed en materiële schade veroorzaakt. Wij steunen de wederopbouw van Oekraïne.De memoranda van overeenstemming over eerdere leningen waren echter gekoppeld aan neoliberale hervormingen. Oekraïne moest zijn energiesector liberaliseren. De liberalisering in de EU was een van de hoofdoorzaken van de energiecrisis. Het heeft er toe geleid dat de energieprijzen de pan uit zijn gerezen en dat energiebedrijven enorme winsten hebben gemaakt.Wij staan ook sceptisch tegenover eisen om buitenlandse investeringen te vergemakkelijken en de herstructurering van bedrijven te versnellen.Kortom, de vorige memoranda van overeenstemming over leningen verplichtten Oekraïne om zijn nationale infrastructuur en economie te verkopen aan Europese multinationals. We verwachten dat de nieuwe voorwaarden hetzelfde asociale beleid zullen volgen. We staan ook kritisch tegenover de eis dat de fondsen worden gebruikt om in Europa gemaakte militaire uitrusting aan te schaffen en samen te werken in het programma voor de Europese defensie-industrie (EDIP). Ook dit is een manier om indirect Europese militaire multinationals en hun winsten te subsidiëren.
Mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund: application EGF/2024/001 BE/Match-Smatch
Het Europees fonds voor aanpassing aan de globalisering (EFG) is een speciaal EU-instrument om uiting te geven aan de solidariteit van de EU met Europese werknemers of zelfstandigen die als gevolg van herstructureringen ontheemd zijn geraakt, en hen te helpen bij het vinden van een nieuwe baan. Het doel is middelen uit het Europees fonds voor aanpassing aan de globalisering (EFG) beschikbaar te stellen om België te helpen bij ontslagen in de detailhandel. Wij steunen het voorstel om middelen uit het EFG beschikbaar te stellen en zo de ontslagen werknemers te helpen.Op 3 juni 2024 diende België een aanvraag in voor een financiële bijdrage uit het EFG ingevolge de verplaatsingen van werknemers in Match-Smatch-supermarkten (Match NV en Profi NV) in België. Na de beoordeling van deze aanvraag heeft de Commissie in overeenstemming met alle relevante bepalingen van de EFG-verordening geconcludeerd dat aan de voorwaarden voor een financiële bijdrage van het EFG is voldaan. De aanvraag heeft betrekking op 513 ontslagen werknemers die hun activiteiten bij Match-Smatch hebben stopgezet.Wij stemmen voor, aangezien hierdoor middelen vrijkomen om de werknemers te ondersteunen.
Establishing the Ukraine Loan Cooperation Mechanism and providing exceptional macro-financial assistance to Ukraine
De illegale invasie van Oekraïne door Rusland heeft veel menselijk leed en materiële schade veroorzaakt. Wij steunen de wederopbouw van Oekraïne.De memoranda van overeenstemming over eerdere leningen waren echter gekoppeld aan neoliberale hervormingen. Oekraïne moest zijn energiesector liberaliseren. De liberalisering in de EU was een van de hoofdoorzaken van de energiecrisis. Het heeft er toe geleid dat de energieprijzen de pan uit zijn gerezen en dat energiebedrijven enorme winsten hebben gemaakt.Wij staan ook sceptisch tegenover eisen om buitenlandse investeringen te vergemakkelijken en de herstructurering van bedrijven te versnellen.Kortom, de vorige memoranda van overeenstemming over leningen verplichtten Oekraïne om zijn nationale infrastructuur en economie te verkopen aan Europese multinationals. We verwachten dat de nieuwe voorwaarden hetzelfde asociale beleid zullen volgen. We staan ook kritisch tegenover de eis dat de fondsen worden gebruikt om in Europa gemaakte militaire uitrusting aan te schaffen en samen te werken in het programma voor de Europese defensie-industrie (EDIP). Ook dit is een manier om indirect Europese militaire multinationals en hun winsten te subsidiëren.
Mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund: application EGF/2024/001 BE/Match-Smatch
Het Europees fonds voor aanpassing aan de globalisering (EFG) is een speciaal EU-instrument om uiting te geven aan de solidariteit van de EU met Europese werknemers of zelfstandigen die als gevolg van herstructureringen ontheemd zijn geraakt, en hen te helpen bij het vinden van een nieuwe baan. Het doel is middelen uit het Europees fonds voor aanpassing aan de globalisering (EFG) beschikbaar te stellen om België te helpen bij ontslagen in de detailhandel. Wij steunen het voorstel om middelen uit het EFG beschikbaar te stellen en zo de ontslagen werknemers te helpen.Op 3 juni 2024 diende België een aanvraag in voor een financiële bijdrage uit het EFG ingevolge de verplaatsingen van werknemers in Match-Smatch-supermarkten (Match NV en Profi NV) in België. Na de beoordeling van deze aanvraag heeft de Commissie in overeenstemming met alle relevante bepalingen van de EFG-verordening geconcludeerd dat aan de voorwaarden voor een financiële bijdrage van het EFG is voldaan. De aanvraag heeft betrekking op 513 ontslagen werknemers die hun activiteiten bij Match-Smatch hebben stopgezet.Wij stemmen voor, aangezien hierdoor middelen vrijkomen om de werknemers te ondersteunen.
Draft general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2025 – all sections
De stemming over de hele begroting voor de Europese Unie voor 2025 is dé kans om te investeren in sociale, ecologische en openbare voorzieningen voor de werkende klasse. In plaats daarvan kiezen de traditionele partijen er echter voor om massaal te investeren in wapens en defensie, nota bene midden in een sociale en economische noodtoestand. Ons voorstel om de salarissen van Europarlementsleden en Eurocommissarissen te halveren, werd wederom afgewezen. Werknemers kunnen hun facturen niet meer betalen, maar von der Leyen ontvangt maandelijks 30 000 euro. Duizelingwekkende bedragen die Eurocommissarissen totaal loskoppelen van de dagelijkse realiteit van de werkende mens. Daarom hebben wij tegen dit verslag gestemd.
Guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States
Wij hebben dit verslag en de uitstekende amendementen van onze fractie gesteund omdat het belangrijke maatregelen introduceert in de werkgelegenheidsrichtsnoeren. In de nieuwe tekst worden initiatieven voorgesteld rond overheidsopdrachten, wordt de noodzaak van betaalbare huisvesting ingezien, wordt er gepleit voor belastingen op rijkdom, voor de dringende tenuitvoerlegging van de richtlijn platformwerk en de richtlijn minimumloon en voor de aanscherping van arbeidsinspecties.Een belangrijk amendement was het schrappen van verwijzingen naar het EU-kader voor economisch bestuur (het “Europees Semester”). Dit is het mechanisme waarmee bezuinigingen aan de lidstaten worden opgelegd in naam van beleidscoördinatie. Regeringen worden in een neoliberale dwangbuis gedwongen en moeten bezuinigen op pensioenen, onderwijs, gezondheidszorg, welzijn en alle openbare diensten. Het is een instrument dat ontworpen is om alle sociale verworvenheden van de arbeidersklasse teniet te doen. Het dient de belangen van het grootkapitaal door hun openbare activa cadeau te doen zodat ze goedkoop winst kunnen maken. Het schaadt de belangen van werknemers door de lonen te beperken en het vergroot de ongelijkheid in de EU. Wij willen een economisch beleid van de EU dat gebaseerd is op solidariteit, sociale rechtvaardigheid, duurzame ontwikkeling, hoogwaardige openbare diensten voor iedereen en goede werkgelegenheid en pensioenen.
Urgent need to revise the Medical Devices Regulation
De gezondheid van mensen zou niet afhankelijk mogen zijn van de belangen van de markt en Big Pharma. De huidige wetgeving rondom medische hulpmiddelen is inderdaad verouderd en biedt niet langer voldoende waarborgen voor de veiligheid. De gezondheid van veel patiënten staat hiermee op het spel. Hoewel het verleidelijk is om de nieuwe Europese Commissie direct te laten werken aan een snelle herziening, is dat geen verstandige keuze. We moeten de tijd nemen om grondige onderzoeken uit te voeren. Dit is uiteindelijk ook een kwestie van veiligheid. Een te snelle herziening zou vooral investeerders in de kaart spelen, die snel willen inspelen op nieuwe kansen. Maar op de lange termijn kan dat de kwaliteit van zorg en medische apparatuur in gevaar brengen. Ik ben voor een zorgvuldige herziening van de regelgeving voor medische hulpmiddelen, maar omdat het Europees Parlement rechtse amendementen heeft aangenomen die aandringen op een haastige aanpak, heb ik uiteindelijk tegen de resolutie gestemd.
Draft general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2025 – all sections
De stemming over de hele begroting voor de Europese Unie voor 2025 is dé kans om te investeren in sociale, ecologische en openbare voorzieningen voor de werkende klasse. In plaats daarvan kiezen de traditionele partijen er echter voor om massaal te investeren in wapens en defensie, nota bene midden in een sociale en economische noodtoestand. Ons voorstel om de salarissen van Europarlementsleden en Eurocommissarissen te halveren, werd wederom afgewezen. Werknemers kunnen hun facturen niet meer betalen, maar von der Leyen ontvangt maandelijks 30 000 euro. Duizelingwekkende bedragen die Eurocommissarissen totaal loskoppelen van de dagelijkse realiteit van de werkende mens. Daarom hebben wij tegen dit verslag gestemd.
Guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States
Wij hebben dit verslag en de uitstekende amendementen van onze fractie gesteund omdat het belangrijke maatregelen introduceert in de werkgelegenheidsrichtsnoeren. In de nieuwe tekst worden initiatieven voorgesteld rond overheidsopdrachten, wordt de noodzaak van betaalbare huisvesting ingezien, wordt er gepleit voor belastingen op rijkdom, voor de dringende tenuitvoerlegging van de richtlijn platformwerk en de richtlijn minimumloon en voor de aanscherping van arbeidsinspecties.Een belangrijk amendement was het schrappen van verwijzingen naar het EU-kader voor economisch bestuur (het “Europees Semester”). Dit is het mechanisme waarmee bezuinigingen aan de lidstaten worden opgelegd in naam van beleidscoördinatie. Regeringen worden in een neoliberale dwangbuis gedwongen en moeten bezuinigen op pensioenen, onderwijs, gezondheidszorg, welzijn en alle openbare diensten. Het is een instrument dat ontworpen is om alle sociale verworvenheden van de arbeidersklasse teniet te doen. Het dient de belangen van het grootkapitaal door hun openbare activa cadeau te doen zodat ze goedkoop winst kunnen maken. Het schaadt de belangen van werknemers door de lonen te beperken en het vergroot de ongelijkheid in de EU. Wij willen een economisch beleid van de EU dat gebaseerd is op solidariteit, sociale rechtvaardigheid, duurzame ontwikkeling, hoogwaardige openbare diensten voor iedereen en goede werkgelegenheid en pensioenen.
Urgent need to revise the Medical Devices Regulation
De gezondheid van mensen zou niet afhankelijk mogen zijn van de belangen van de markt en Big Pharma. De huidige wetgeving rondom medische hulpmiddelen is inderdaad verouderd en biedt niet langer voldoende waarborgen voor de veiligheid. De gezondheid van veel patiënten staat hiermee op het spel. Hoewel het verleidelijk is om de nieuwe Europese Commissie direct te laten werken aan een snelle herziening, is dat geen verstandige keuze. We moeten de tijd nemen om grondige onderzoeken uit te voeren. Dit is uiteindelijk ook een kwestie van veiligheid. Een te snelle herziening zou vooral investeerders in de kaart spelen, die snel willen inspelen op nieuwe kansen. Maar op de lange termijn kan dat de kwaliteit van zorg en medische apparatuur in gevaar brengen. Ik ben voor een zorgvuldige herziening van de regelgeving voor medische hulpmiddelen, maar omdat het Europees Parlement rechtse amendementen heeft aangenomen die aandringen op een haastige aanpak, heb ik uiteindelijk tegen de resolutie gestemd.
People’s Republic of China’s misinterpretation of the UN resolution 2758 and its continuous military provocations around Taiwan
Met deze resolutie wordt de aanwezigheid van Europese en Amerikaanse oorlogsschepen in de Zuid-Chinese Zee gesteund. Hun stationering houdt echter een logica van oplopende spanningen en een wapenwedloop in stand, iets waar wij ons tegen verzetten.Wij steunen in plaats daarvan een diplomatieke, vreedzame oplossing voor het conflict met China, gebaseerd op onderhandelingen en wederzijds vertrouwen tussen de twee partijen. Wij hopen dat de Europese Unie een constructieve diplomatieke rol zal spelen, in plaats van bij te dragen aan de spanningen in de regio. Om dit te bereiken hebben we een amendement ingediend, maar dat is helaas verworpen.
People’s Republic of China’s misinterpretation of the UN resolution 2758 and its continuous military provocations around Taiwan
Met deze resolutie wordt de aanwezigheid van Europese en Amerikaanse oorlogsschepen in de Zuid-Chinese Zee gesteund. Hun stationering houdt echter een logica van oplopende spanningen en een wapenwedloop in stand, iets waar wij ons tegen verzetten.Wij steunen in plaats daarvan een diplomatieke, vreedzame oplossing voor het conflict met China, gebaseerd op onderhandelingen en wederzijds vertrouwen tussen de twee partijen. Wij hopen dat de Europese Unie een constructieve diplomatieke rol zal spelen, in plaats van bij te dragen aan de spanningen in de regio. Om dit te bereiken hebben we een amendement ingediend, maar dat is helaas verworpen.
Deforestation Regulation: provisions relating to the date of application
De ontbossingsverordening werd al enige tijd geleden goedgekeurd en zou eind december 2024 in werking moeten treden. Het doel ervan is om de handel in producten die bijdragen aan ontbossing in Europa tegen te gaan. De Europese Volkspartij keurde die verordening mee goed. Maar nu veranderen ze plots van standpunt. In schandalige samenspraak met extreemrechts drukken ze aanpassingen aan de tekst door, vooral om de verordening te verzwakken of tenminste de uitvoering ervan te vertragen met een jaar. Bedrijven hebben nochtans tijd gehad om hun werking aan te passen aan de nieuwe wetgeving. Wij weigeren onze bossen op te offeren aan de winsthonger van grote bedrijven.
Faster and Safer Relief of Excess Withholding Taxes
Deze richtlijn is bedoeld om de regels voor grensoverschrijdende investeringen te vereenvoudigen met betrekking tot de belasting die moet worden betaald. De huidige regels zijn namelijk redelijk ingewikkeld, wat kan leiden tot dubbele belasting van investeerders of terughoudendheid om grensoverschrijdende investeringen te doen. Helaas laat het systeem ruimte voor fraudeurs om belasting terug te vorderen die ze nooit hebben betaald. Ook de fraudebestrijdingscontroles in de richtlijn lijken inefficiënt.Aangezien de maatregel totaal niet het effect heeft dat beoogd wordt en enkel het leven van beleggers vereenvoudigt in plaats van belastingfraude of belastingconcurrentie te bestrijden, stemde ik tegen. Werknemers worden keihard aangepakt wanneer het op dit soort zaken aankomt, maar beleggers en miljonairs wordt het leven iedere keer vergemakkelijkt. Dat is de omgekeerde wereld en onacceptabel voor de PVDA.
Amendment of the EIB's Statute
De Europese Investeringsbank wil haar regels veranderen en het plafond voor leningen opheffen. Het klopt dat we massaal en openbaar moeten investeren: in openbaar vervoer, publieke energie, openbare diensten, sociale noden... Maar deze wijziging dient daar niet voor. De Investeringsbank wil haar plafonds verhogen zodat ze risicovollere investeringen kan doen en meer kan investeren in wapens. Dit soort uitgaven is nog maar recent toegestaan in een andere wijziging van de statuten. Daarom stemmen wij tegen deze wijziging van de statuten van de Investeringsbank, die in de huidige vorm niet het algemeen belang dient, maar de belangen van het militair-industrieel complex.
UN Climate Change Conference 2024 in Baku, Azerbaijan (COP29)
De klimaatcrisis slaat al hard toe: denk maar aan de overstromingen in Valencia of enkele jaren geleden bij ons in de Vesdervallei. De resolutie die voorligt, bepaalt en bevestigt doelen die een stap in de goede richting zetten. Ook essentieel is dat de klimaatcrisis wordt aangepakt op een sociale manier en dat niet de werkende klasse ervoor opdraait. Dat eindelijk elementen zoals het opleggen van uitstootnormen voor privéjets, luxejachten en de militaire industrie worden genoemd, juichen we toe. Ook het lobbywerk van de fossiele industrie wordt aangeklaagd. Terwijl de energieprijzen de pan uit swingen, blijft een grote groene omwenteling van onze manier van produceren uit. Daarom is het dringend om de fossiele industrie en lobbyisten aan te pakken.Bepaalde voorstellen kunnen we niet steunen, zoals het verbod op verbrandingsmotoren in 2035 zolang er geen goede alternatieven voorhanden zijn. Daarvoor moeten we afstappen van marktgebaseerde oplossingen, bijvoorbeeld met goed, uitgebreid openbaar vervoer. Op dat vlak schiet de tekst tekort. Ook de historische uitstootrol van de grote westerse industrie verdient meer aandacht. Dat is relevant, want die historische uitstoot toont hoe hypocriet het is vooral andere landen de schuld van de klimaatverandering te geven en dit diplomatiek als chantagemiddel te gebruiken.
EU actions against the Russian shadow fleets and ensuring a full enforcement of sanctions against Russia
Deze resolutie benadrukt de milieurisico’s van wat de “schaduwvloot” wordt genoemd: schepen die onder de vlag varen van verschillende landen, maar ervan worden verdacht Rusland te helpen bij het omzeilen van Europese sancties op het gebied van fossiele brandstoffen.Dit soort transport houdt een reëel milieurisico in, want wordt soms uitgevoerd door schepen in slechte staat. Maar de resolutie gaat veel verder en grijpt het risico aan om een escalatie voor te stellen in de vorm van een militaire blokkade van zeeroutes. De resolutie steunt niet alleen de bestaande sancties tegen Rusland, maar stelt ook nieuwe sancties voor. Niet alleen tegen Rusland, maar vooral tegen andere landen, voornamelijk in het Globale Zuiden, die ervan worden verdacht Rusland te helpen bij het omzeilen van Europese sancties. Dit is een nieuwe stap in het opleggen van unilaterale sancties, bedoeld om landen in het zuiden te dwingen zich aan het westers beleid te houden. Ecologie mag niet worden gebruikt als voorwendsel om escalatie te legitimeren.
EU actions against the Russian shadow fleets and ensuring a full enforcement of sanctions against Russia
Deze resolutie benadrukt de milieurisico’s van wat de “schaduwvloot” wordt genoemd: schepen die onder de vlag varen van verschillende landen, maar ervan worden verdacht Rusland te helpen bij het omzeilen van Europese sancties op het gebied van fossiele brandstoffen.Dit soort transport houdt een reëel milieurisico in, want wordt soms uitgevoerd door schepen in slechte staat. Maar de resolutie gaat veel verder en grijpt het risico aan om een escalatie voor te stellen in de vorm van een militaire blokkade van zeeroutes. De resolutie steunt niet alleen de bestaande sancties tegen Rusland, maar stelt ook nieuwe sancties voor. Niet alleen tegen Rusland, maar vooral tegen andere landen, voornamelijk in het Globale Zuiden, die ervan worden verdacht Rusland te helpen bij het omzeilen van Europese sancties. Dit is een nieuwe stap in het opleggen van unilaterale sancties, bedoeld om landen in het zuiden te dwingen zich aan het westers beleid te houden. Ecologie mag niet worden gebruikt als voorwendsel om escalatie te legitimeren.
Election of the Commission
We verzetten ons tegen de nieuwe Europese Commissie van Ursula von der Leyen, waar extreemrechts deel van uitmaakt. Deze Commissie, goedgekeurd door een coalitie van conservatieven, sociaaldemocraten en groenen, duwt besparingsmaatregelen door en weigert tegelijk om de ultrarijken te belasten. Ondanks de ineenstorting van de Europese industrie en de escalatie van de oorlog in Oekraïne, stelt deze Commissie geen breuk met het verleden voor. In plaats van miljonairs of grote multinationals te laten bijdragen, richt zij zich op werknemers. Von der Leyen wil besparen op openbare diensten en staten dwingen sociale rechten als pensioenen te schrappen.Internationaal overweegt ze geen sancties tegen Israël, de apartheidsstaat die Palestina illegaal bezet houdt en beschuldigd wordt van genocide. Deze Commissie weigert zich te houden aan het internationaal recht. Ook zijn wij tegen de “militaristische” wending van de nieuwe Commissie. De EU doet veel meer militaire uitgaven dan Rusland, India of Zuid-Afrika, maar deze Commissie wil miljarden geven aan wapenmultinationals die al buitensporige winsten maken. Laten we dat geld ergens anders voor gebruiken. Onze scholen, ziekenhuizen en openbaar vervoer hebben dringend behoefte aan investeringen.
Amending short-stay visas regulation (EU) 2018/1806) as regards Vanuatu
Deze tekst gaat over het schrappen van Vanuatu van de lijst van visumvrije landen naar de lijst van landen die een visum nodig hebben om de EU binnen te komen. De reden is dat Vanuatu een investeringsprogramma voor staatsburgerschap beheert. Om van zo'n regeling te kunnen profiteren, moet je 130.000 dollar in Vanuatu investeren. Uiteraard promoten privé-bedrijven de regeling veelvuldig. Dat systeem is een soort van kopen van de nationaliteit door ultrarijken. Wij steunen dat niet. Anderzijds mogen we de burgers op een eiland als Vanuatu, dat hard wordt geraakt door de klimaatcrisis, niet straffen. Daarom hebben we ons onthouden.
2025 budgetary procedure: Joint text
De tekst over de begroting voor het jaar 2025 is het perfecte moment om de prioriteiten van de Europese Unie fundamenteel te herzien. We moeten publiek investeren in openbare diensten, strategische industrie voor de werkende klasse, en de klimaattransitie. Toch kiest een meerderheid van het Europees Parlement er weer voor om in plaats daarvan massaal te investeren in militarisering en wapens. En dit terwijl we middenin een sociale en economische crisis verkeren met een dreigende desindustrialisatie doorheen Europa. De traditionele partijen stellen hiermee wederom totaal verkeerde prioriteiten. We hebben een fundamenteel andere begroting nodig. Daarom stemde ik tegen deze tekst.
Georgia's worsening democratic crisis following the recent parliamentary elections and alleged electoral fraud
In november 2024 vonden twee verkiezingen plaats in kandidaat-lidstaten van de EU: Moldavië en Georgië. In Moldavië werd de overwinning van het pro-EU-kamp door de EU geclaimd als een overwinning voor de democratie. In Georgië daarentegen leidde de overwinning van het meer EU-kritische kamp ertoe dat de EU een antidemocratische verschuiving vaststelde. Wij zijn van mening dat beide reacties gebaseerd zijn op geopolitieke overwegingen in plaats van op een echte verdediging van de democratie.In haar voorlopige rapport erkende de OVSE onregelmatigheden bij de Georgische verkiezingen, maar tegelijkertijd werd geconcludeerd dat deze niet voldoende waren om te spreken van manipulatie bij de verkiezingen. Desondanks probeert de EU een alternatief verhaal op te dringen om sancties tegen Georgië te rechtvaardigen en het land te dwingen nieuwe verkiezingen te houden.Tegelijkertijd weigert de EU sancties op te leggen aan Israël, een apartheidsstaat die de Palestijnen hun rechten ontzegt, waaronder het stemrecht, en oppositieparlementariërs vervolgt die de voortdurende genocide aan de kaak stellen. Deze dubbele standaard laat zien dat de EU niet de democratie in Georgië verdedigt, maar probeert haar wil op te leggen aan dit het land, in strijd met zijn soevereiniteit.
Reinforcing EU’s unwavering support to Ukraine against Russia’s war of aggression and the increasing military cooperation between North Korea and Russia
Deze tekst is een nieuwe stap in een gevaarlijke escalatie. Er wordt steun uitgesproken voor het gebruiken van Amerikaanse langeafstandsraketten om Rusland aan te vallen. De tekst moedigt de lidstaten aan om dit voorbeeld te volgen. Deze wapens kunnen niet worden gebruikt zonder een directe rol van de Verenigde Staten of, in het geval van de Taurus-raketten, het Duitse leger. Dit gaat in de richting van een directe militaire confrontatie met Rusland. Deze logica kan leiden tot het sturen van Europese troepen naar Oekraïne, zoals Macron al overweegt.De tekst roept op tot nieuwe sancties, niet alleen tegen Rusland, maar ook tegen elk land, persoon of entiteit die zich niet schaart achter het Europese beleid ten aanzien van Rusland. Anderzijds weigert de tekst echte onderhandelingen te bevorderen. Erger nog, de meerderheid van dit Parlement betreurt het enige diplomatieke gebaar dat de Duitse bondskanselier heeft gemaakt om te voorkomen dat Europa wordt uitgesloten van de vredesonderhandelingen.Wij dienden amendementen in om deëscalatie te bevorderen en Europa aan te moedigen zijn rol als bemiddelaar op zich te nemen, overeenkomstig de doelen van de Oekraïners. Deze voorstellen werden verworpen. Daarom konden we deze resolutie niet steunen
Recommendation on smoke- and aerosol-free environments
De tekst maakt aanbevelingen aan lidstaten om de bevolking verder te beschermen van de directe en indirecte gevolgen van roken. Er wordt ook specifieke aandacht besteed aan de opkomst van e-sigaretten die een erg zorgwekkende populariteit kennen onder jongeren. E-sigaretten kunnen rokers helpen te minderen en/of te stoppen, maar dit weegt niet op tegen de risico's, zeker bij kinderen en jongeren. We steunen deze tekst, al betreuren we dat bepaalde amendementen van The Left niet werden aanvaard. Die klagen de rol van de tabaksindustrie aan bij het vormen van het beleid. De traditionele partijen besloten dus helaas om de tabaksindustrie uit de wind te blijven zetten.
Written questions (5)
Support from the Horizon Europe programme for Israeli companies involved in the ongoing genocide in Palestine
Conditional loans to the Palestinian Authority
Endorsement of two anti-UNRWA bills by the Israeli Knesset
Safeguarding the automotive industry in Europe
Blatant disregard of International Criminal Court decisions by the Hungarian Prime Minister
Amendments (110)
Amendment 1 #
2024/2829(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Citation 2 a (new)
Citation 2 a (new)
– having regard to the revised European Social Charter,
Amendment 5 #
2024/2829(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Citation 5 a (new)
Citation 5 a (new)
– having regard to its resolution of 23 November 2023 on job creation – the just transition and impact investments,
Amendment 7 #
2024/2829(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Citation 5 b (new)
Citation 5 b (new)
– having regard to the International Labour Organization (ILO) 2015 Guidelines for a just transition towards environmentally sustainable economies and societies for all,
Amendment 24 #
2024/2829(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas collective bargaining and strongfull trade union involvement are essential for ensuring that workers’ voices are heard during restructuring negotiations; whereas full workers’ involvement through information, consultation and participation in company decision-making processes is more important than everfundamental to consolidate the fair and just transition of companies and to protect jobs and collective interests; whereas just transition is about supporting social justice and ensuring fair burden- sharing while fighting climate changewhile fighting climate change and ensuring that the burden of the green and digital transition is borne by the stakeholders with the largest financial capabilities, and not only by workers and taxpayers;
Amendment 34 #
2024/2829(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas only 40 % of European trade unions report having sufficient representatives and financial resources to represent workers effectively during restructuring processes4 ; whereas trade union representatives trained in restructuring negotiations are 50 % more effective in preserving jobs5 ; __________________ 4 European Trade Union Institute for Research, 2021. 5 International Labour Organization, 2022.
Amendment 38 #
2024/2829(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas a core objectives of restructuring processes should be job retentionretaining jobs, valuing existing skills and competences within the workforce; re- and upskilling workers when necessary; redeploying workers in other, suitable, posts in the same location as their residence or as close as possible to it; preserving the same wages and working conditions or improving them for all workers affected;
Amendment 52 #
2024/2829(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas companies oftenin most cases prioritise short-term profits over economic sustainability and long-term employment stability, underscoring the need forto demand corporate social responsibility in restructuring plans and full trade union involvement;
Amendment 65 #
2024/2829(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas the automotive industry is a vitcrucial economic pillar in Europesector for Europe with about 13.8 million people employed directly and in the wider supply chain, and it contributes over 7% to the EU total GDP;
Amendment 78 #
2024/2829(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas the transition from internal combustion engines to electric vehicles is imperative, but it must be achieved in a way that avoids job losses in traditional automotive manufacturing; whereas between 2005 and 2016 about 480.000 jobs were lost in Europe1a; the current forecast is that 600,000 will have been lost in the automotive sector between 2021 and 20311b; __________________ 1a Pavlinek (2019) https://academic.oup.com/joeg/article/20/ 2/509/5303643 1b CLEPA European Association of Automotive Suppliers 2021
Amendment 84 #
2024/2829(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
Fa. whereas the AUDI factory in Brussels currently employs 3,000 workers and it has announced that the factory will close in February 2025, and no plan has so far been established by Volkswagen to preserve those jobs; whereas the Volkswagen group, which is the owner of AUDI, has also announced the potential closure of at least three factories in Germany, without specifying how many of the 300,000 workers employed by the group could be at risk;
Amendment 87 #
2024/2829(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Recital F b (new)
Recital F b (new)
Fb. whereas the anticipation of change is a key feature of good organisational management and should ensure that any inevitable transformation is faced with the purpose of preserving jobs, innovating and adapting to change in a way that benefits workers and the community affected by it; whereas employers and shareholders, and not workers should take responsibility for inadequate management;
Amendment 88 #
2024/2829(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Recital F c (new)
Recital F c (new)
Fc. whereas restructuring processes take place in the private and in the public sector, affecting both white and blue collar workers; whereas restructuring can take different forms such as relocation, outsourcing, offshoring, delocalisation, bankruptcy, strategic and fraudulent insolvency, merger and acquisition, internal job-cutting, and expansion;
Amendment 89 #
2024/2829(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Recital F d (new)
Recital F d (new)
Fd. whereas privatisation of public sector utilities and services, as well as the liberalisation of former state-owned monopolies has introduced business practices such as restructuring and a profit-making culture into the management of public services; this has proved in many cases not to have been beneficial to the quality of the public services delivered, particularly in sectors such as healthcare or public transport;
Amendment 90 #
2024/2829(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Recital F e (new)
Recital F e (new)
Fe. whereas the pursuit of cost reduction and of a vaguely defined efficiency are used to justify restructuring processes - in both the private and public sector - usually leading to job losses, lower wages and worse working conditions, forced relocations, precarisation of employment, increased work intensity, lower protection against unfair dismissal, lower health and safety standards, and outsourcing;
Amendment 91 #
2024/2829(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Recital F f (new)
Recital F f (new)
Ff. whereas restructuring always affects directly the interests of employees and their families as well as local communities as it results in dismissals, unemployment, distress, and regional crises;
Amendment 92 #
2024/2829(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Recital F g (new)
Recital F g (new)
Fg. whereas in some Member States, such as France, legislation requires that restructuring plans must detail how restructuring processes will proceed and how the employer plans to mitigate the effects of such processes;
Amendment 93 #
2024/2829(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Recital F h (new)
Recital F h (new)
Fh. whereas a significant part of restructuring involves offshoring to countries in which labour legislation and wage levels are less favourable to workers, resulting in high profits for companies, job-losses in Europe, and exploitation in Global South countries;
Amendment 94 #
2024/2829(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Recital F i (new)
Recital F i (new)
Fi. whereas the EU has imposed to Candidate countries draconian privatisation reforms resulting in large- scale restructuring operations, with mass dismissals and redundancies, such as in Poland in 2004 with the privatisation of the steel sector which resulted in about 10,000 employees losing their jobs, and in the Czech Republic, also required to privatise its largest steelworks in 2006 and 2007, resulting in 3,200 jobs lost; by the end of 2005 Poland had privatised more than 8,000 state-owned companies;1a __________________ 1a ETUC 2007: Overview of restructuring in Europe
Amendment 95 #
2024/2829(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Recital F j (new)
Recital F j (new)
Fj. whereas the sale of state assets and stakes in strategic sectors such as telecommunications, transport, energy, water management, and postal services, and a substantial reduction in state ownership of corporations in competitive sectors such as iron and steel, chemicals, automotive, airlines, insurance companies, and banks have resulted in large-scale restructuring processes, job losses, lower quality of services, significant profits for shareholders, the loss of flagship national companies, and, in some cases, the inability to manufacture essential goods such as personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 crisis;
Amendment 96 #
2024/2829(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Recital F k (new)
Recital F k (new)
Fk. whereas the International Labour Organization (ILO) has developed since 2013 guidelines and a framework of how a just transition can lead to sustainable economies for all communities globally;
Amendment 103 #
2024/2829(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Highlights that employment security, fair wages and decent working conditions are fundamental rights that must be upheld in all restructuring processes to protect workers from corporate profit- seeking strategies; stresses the urgent need for an ambitious European industrial policy with significant investment that will support common goods andensure the full functioning of public services, innovation, and deliverthe creation of quality jobs and social progress; underlines that this policy should be based on strong public services, social protection, housing, transport and childcarequality and affordable public and social housing; affordable, efficient and carbon-neutral transport; affordable and available childcare, elderly care, and care for people with disabilities; supports a robust European industrial policy based on resilient and well-resourcfully-funded public services and public administration, covering not just manufacturing, but all sectors and all transitions;
Amendment 119 #
2024/2829(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Reiterates its call for a permanent investment tool at EU level to ensure that the necessary resources are available in all sectors for developing an industrial policy and for policies that help reach the social and green targets and the preservation and creation of quality jobs, based on the positive experiences of NextGenerationEU and the strong labour focus of the support to mitigate unemployment risks in an emergency instrument (SURE); requests that EU funding programmes are always closely scrutinised to ensure that resources are allocated towards the initiatives for which the funds have been approved;
Amendment 131 #
2024/2829(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Highlights that the deliveryvelopment of a European industrial policy for quality jobs requires the full involvement of social partners and needs to be implemented through social dialogue and collective bargaining, particularly with regards to the Clean Industrial Deal; calls on the Commission to include the overall objective of raising work quality at the EUEU and Member State level;
Amendment 141 #
2024/2829(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls for the EU to adopt trade policies that protect European jobs while promoting fair and ethical trade; calls for strict countervailing tariffrols to be applied to imports from countries where unfair labour practices, and low environmental standards, or heavy state subsidies distort competitione been observed; stresses that future trade agreements must include strong labour clauses to ensure that global trade benefits workers, rather than undermining their rights and working conditions; calls for the EU to revise state aid rules to allow Member States to invest in their own economic growth, for example in the production of solar panels or pharmaceutical products, and to avoid engaging in trade disputes with competing economies which can result in retaliatory counter-tariffs on EU goods, with further damage to EU economies and workers;
Amendment 152 #
2024/2829(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Urges the Commission to revise the European Public Procurement Directive6 in order to estaban from publishc preferential treatocurement for companies that do not complying with collective bargaining agreements; calls on the Commission to strengthen and implement the social clause and exclude from tenders companies that have engaged in criminal activities or union busting, or that have refused to participate in collective bargaining; highlights the importance of ensuring that public money is used to invest in those engaged in just transitions with the aim of promoting collective agreements and increasing trade union densities; considers, furthermore, that all EU financial support to private undertakings should be made conditional on their compliance with theall applicable working and employment conditions and/or health and safety requirements and employer obligations resulting from the relevant collective agreements; believes that this support should also be conditional on their commitment to investing in European industries and maintaining jobs in the EU; __________________ 6 Directive 2014/24/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014 on public procurement and repealing Directive 2004/18/EC, OJ L 94, 28.3.2014, p. 65, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2014/24/oj.
Amendment 168 #
2024/2829(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Reiterates its call for EU funding, including State aid, to be conditional on public policy objectives, especially in strategic sectors, and on social requirements, in order to offer high-quality jobs, promote collective bargaining, respect EU labour rights and standards, and ensure improved wages and working conditions that guarantee a good standard of living for workers and their families;
Amendment 180 #
2024/2829(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Supports investments in sectors such as electric vehicle battery production, charging infrastructure, renewable energy and digital technologies; insists that these investments must prioritise workers’ rights and, community development, and the protection of the environment;
Amendment 188 #
2024/2829(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Invites the Commission to monitor the trends in restructuring and their impact on employment, using data from tools, such as the European Restructuring Monitor and the EU Fair Transition Observatory, to track the number of jobs created or abolished and the companies concerned; calls on the Commission to promote the recording of all restructuring plans with the labour authorities following the standard practice in France, and to promote the adoption of this practice across all Member States;
Amendment 201 #
2024/2829(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Stresses that restructuringtransformation processes are essential ininevitable in the path to achieving the green transition objectives and are an imperative for a net-zero economy that sustains its social and environmental standards; warns that restructuring processes must never come at the cost of workers’ rights; calls on the Commission to take action to reinforce and promote collective bargaining, ensuring an increase in collective bargaining coverage to at least 80 % in all Member States following the requirement of the Minimum Wage Directive, and guaranteeing full respect of the right to collective bargaining and the autonomy of social partners;
Amendment 211 #
2024/2829(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Emphasises that developments leading to restructuring processes should be anticipated by management, and plans for changes should start as early as possible to prevent insolvency and mitigate job losses; calls on the Commission and the Member States to support companies working closely with trade unions and workers’ representatives to identify warning signs early and develop comprehensive plans to address employment needsand social needs; points out that good practices for transformation and restructuring should be developed by comparing case studies in which anticipation of change by management was successful and by learning from successful experiences in the past;
Amendment 224 #
2024/2829(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Warns that restructuring must not be used as a pretext to violate workers’ and trade union rights7 ; deplores the violation of the fundamental rights of collective bargaining and information and consultation before a decision is made; calls on the Commission to put in place safeguards to prevent the misuse of restructuring as a means to exploit workers or avoid obligations, particularly in cases of tactical insolvency; and fraudulent insolvency; calls for severe punitive measures in these cases; __________________ 7 Study – ‘Study on monitoring the application of the EU Quality Framework for anticipation of change and restructuring’, European Commission, Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, Publications Office of the European Union, 2018, https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/- /publication/1c22896d-4e10-11ea-aece- 01aa75ed71a1/language-en.
Amendment 236 #
2024/2829(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Calls on the Commission to urgently present a proposal for a directive on just transition in the world of work, through anticipation and management of change, based on the principles of trade union involvement like information, consultation, participation, and collective bargaining; urges the Commission to ensure the right for all to training without cost to the worker and during working hours; believes that this proposal should include a right to job-to- job transition and a right to quality upskilling or reskilling training, and employee training and career development support; points out that when job changes are necessary, the priority should always be upskilling and reskilling workers to keep them in the same company; notes that, when job-to-job transition is necessary, keeping workers in the same sector and region while allowing them sufficient time for reconversion without personal financial losses is essential; stresses that the principle of a fair and social just transition will apply to restructuring for the green and digital transition, especially in transforming industries in strategic sectors such as automotive and energy, and willmust put the workers first;
Amendment 247 #
2024/2829(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Considers that in order to prevent the loss of jobs, and in the absence of an industrial plan agreed with the social partners, a moratorium on closures and forced redundancies should be possibleis introduced; calls on the Commission and the Member States to urgently agree on a moratorium on forced redundancies with a temporary support programme to protect employment during transitions, creating space for the cClean iIndustrial dDeal and avoiding the loss of strategic industrial capacity; demands stronger protections against unfair dismissals and calls for workers affected by restructuring to be guaranteed adequate compensation, retraining opportunities and support in securing new employment; reaffirms that the dignity of workers must always take precedence over corporate profits; calls on the Commission to implement measures to close loopholes and defeat fraudulent practices in existing legislature with which companies try to circumvent the protection of workers and workers' representatives in the cases of restructuring;
Amendment 249 #
2024/2829(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Calls for binding social plans to be a mandatory requirement in all restructuring processes agreed by workers’ representative bodies, trade unions, and management; these may include: reskilling and upskilling, support with voluntary redeployment in another workplace, career guidance, free legal advice; in case job losses cannot be avoided, upgrading of unemployment benefits provided by the company should be possible and redundancy payments or compensation for losing employment should be obligatory; each social plan has to be tailored to the different types of restructuring and employees and trade union representatives must be fully informed about the anticipated restructuring plans in due course and involved in the drafting of those plans; a social plan should always contain active measures to retain work and, only in the absence of possible alternatives, satisfactory redundancy and compensation payments should be offered to the workers affected to make up for the job loss;
Amendment 259 #
2024/2829(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Calls on the Commission to urgently modify the rules on state aid and to develop a comprehensive plan, similar to the United States’ Inflation Reduction Act, focused on boosting investment in green technologies, renewable energy, and sustainable and strategic industries, with the objective of accelerating the EU’s transition to a climate-neutral economy while strengthening the European social model and social justice;
Amendment 267 #
2024/2829(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Calls for the urgent establishment of a comprehensive directive to address the challenges and complexities associated with subcontracting in Europe to ensure fair working conditions, adequate rights and protections for subcontracted workersworkers, and joint and severe liability along the entire subcontracting chain; that companies cannot use subcontracting to avoid complying with European and national labour law; calls for the directive to include provisions for collective bargaining rights to enable subcontracted workers to negotiate their terms of employment effectively following the terms of the lead company;
Amendment 277 #
2024/2829(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Calls for green collective bargaining in the form of negotiable clauses between the social partners of collective agreements that have a direct and indirect effect on the environment; highlights that green collective agreements can cover the impact of companibusines’s activities on the environment, the protection of workers from the effects of climate change, and the impact of the green transformation on employment and work organisation; notes that two main forms of green collective agreements can be identified; insists on the integration of: green clauses and agreements to manage green restructuring; insists on the need for the integration of both;
Amendment 279 #
2024/2829(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Calls on the Commission to consider whether the nature of services of general interest and services of general economic interest such as healthcare, care services, education, public transport, postal services1a, etc. should not be subject to liberalisation, to the same competition rules as other commercial services, to restructuring and outsourcing and, therefore, not applied to the Public Procurement Directive; calls for the re- communalisation and in-sourcing of all essential services in all those circumstances in which there is a clear long-term need for a service which requires regular working patterns and permanent staff; notes that the guiding principles for public services must be high quality, continuity and security, equal access, affordable prices, universal provision, transparency, and high job quality; __________________ 1a Articles 16, 86(2), and 36 of the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC); 2004 White Paper on services of general interest [[COM (2004) 374, 12.5.2004
Amendment 281 #
2024/2829(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 b (new)
Paragraph 16 b (new)
16b. Call on the Commission to ensure that the aim of restructuring should always be internal mobility before dismissals, pursuing reskilling and upskilling for workers whenever possible, prioritising support with transitioning to similar employment in the same residence area of the worker, and the creation of new organisational operations and related jobs to reflect the change that led to the restructuring;
Amendment 282 #
2024/2829(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 c (new)
Paragraph 16 c (new)
16c. Invites the Commission and the Member States in situations of restructuring to encourage and support the takeover of failing organisations into the hands of workers in forms such as cooperatives or individual small businesses to use their competences and expertise; senior workers should be given the opportunity to take voluntary early retirement; the offer of flexible or reduced working hours should always be the preference before being dismissed;
Amendment 283 #
2024/2829(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 d (new)
Paragraph 16 d (new)
16d. Reiterates the need for restructuring processes to take place only with the full involvement of workers' representatives and trade unions; their drafting, agreement and implementation should only be possible with the agreement of workers, their representatives, and trade unions, and with the possibility for any such plans to be vetoed if unfavourable to workers;
Amendment 284 #
2024/2829(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 e (new)
Paragraph 16 e (new)
16e. Urges the Commission to assess the proper implementation of the Minimum Wage Directive and to ensure and safeguard minimum wages by law or collective agreements; calls on the Commission to monitor the proper implementation of the Minimum Wage Directive to ensure that all workers are covered by a decent level of wages that guarantees that workers can live at least above the poverty threshold;
Amendment 12 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas investments in R&D are essential for EU competitivenesstackling major global challenges, environment and economic sustainability and climate changes as well as to improve people's life namely through better employment, access to health and education and social inclusion; whereas the report on the Future of European Competitiveness (the Draghi report) and the report by the Commission Expert Group on the Interim Evaluation of Horizon Europe (the Heitor report) recommended a budget for the 10th framework programme for research and innovation (FP10) of EUR 200 billion and EUR 220 billion respectively;
Amendment 18 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. Whereas the findings of the Draghi and Heitor reports indicate the increasing competition from other global players such as the US or China;
Amendment 29 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Recalls that the Draghi and the Heitor reports are a wake-up call for Europe to face global competition and the significant rise of Chinese science in recent years; wWelcomes the higher success rate of HEU compared to Horizon 2020 (H2020); appreciates HEU’s responsiveness in crises, such as COVID- 19 and geopolitical challenges, but regrets the lack of additional funding, which compromises original priorities;
Amendment 37 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
Amendment 69 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Is deeply convinced that EU spending on science, research and innovation is the best investment in our common European future and for increasing competitivenesstackling major global challenges, environment and economic sustainability and climate changes as well as to improve people's life namely through better employment, access to health and education and social inclusion; agrees with Mr Draghi that all public R&D spending in the EU should be better coordinated at EU level and that a reformed and strengthened FP is crucial in achieving this;
Amendment 71 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Stresses the crucial role of public funding of the research and thus proposes a more balanced approach to funding by shifting emphasis from private companies to public sector investments as relying solely on grants for private companies will not resolve Europe’s competitiveness challenges. Instead, greater focus should be placed on public sector investments and collaborative projects that foster innovation, inclusivity, and a stronger competitive edge for Europe on the global stage;
Amendment 88 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Notes that a large number of beneficiaries do not consider the introduction of lump-sum funding to be a simplification, and welcomes in this regard the Commission’s commitment to monitor lump sum grants further;
Amendment 93 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. ConsiderNotes that the Commission has not succeeded in creating agile but strong management of HEU, which has led to complex implementationstruggled to establish both agile and robust management of HEU, resulting in significant complexities in implementation, and stresses that it is crucial for the Commission to address these shortcomings and ensure more effective management going forward;
Amendment 124 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Concludes that Pillar 2 remains too complex; believes that the implementation of this pillar should be improved, simplified and streamlined; notes that the number of instruments involved, the unsuccessful implementation of missions, and the many budgetary shifts have resulted in unnecessary complexity which discourages applicants, and especially newcomers, from participating;
Amendment 128 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Recommends that the 10th Framework Programme (FP10) include a dedicated section for Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) and the research in SSH is integrated from the outset, with funding directed towards projects that contribute to the development of a sustainable, socially responsible Europe, including affordable living standards, equitable pension systems, and access to education and healthcare for all. Stresses that research in these fields is critical for addressing the broader social, political, and economic structures that contribute to inequality, climate change, and other systemic problems;
Amendment 158 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Recalls that the Commission communication entitled ‘EU Missions two years on: assessment of progress and way forward’ did not positively evaluate missions and concluded that missions had failed on core objectives such as crowding in external fundingmissions as defined by the co-legislators, based on the EC communication, appear flexible enough to allow their adjustment to identifiable trends over the coming years;
Amendment 170 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. NotBelieves that no significant changes have taken place in the implementation of the missions since the publication of the communication; concludes, therefore, that further funding of missions under the 2025, 2026 and 2027 work programmes would not be an effective use of the limited resources available to HEU and should therefore be stopped; encourages the Commission to find funding for the continuation of missions in other parts of the EU budget and at national levelin order to ensure continuity and predictability of EU Missions, certain shortcomings such as governance, need to be further addressed and asks the Commission to do so without any delay;
Amendment 181 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Insists that the Commission should reduce the use of lump-sum funding under HEU until there is substantial evidence that lump-sum funding provides aAsks the Commission to closely monitor the use of lump-sum funding under HEU so the benefits of simplification for the beneficiaries over the full life cycle of the project, including the audit, as well as for the programme as a whole, reflected by lower administrative and transaction costs for beneficiaries with lump-sum projects can be fully materialised;
Amendment 208 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Calls for FP10 to be a stand-alone EU programme dedicated to EU research exceadvancing publicly funded research and innovation that serves the public good and addresses societal challenceges, with a substantially higher budget that is sufficient for achieving the 3 % GDP spending target and for funding at least 75 % of the excellent proposals submitted; recommends that FP10 focus on three core objectives: (i) advancing the European Research Area (ERA) with specific measures that address regional disparities and support under-represented Member States in their research and innovation capacities, (ii) creasupporting a European competition of ideas that is not based on market-driven competition, but rather on collaborative innovation that promotes the shared benefits of research for all, particularly marginalized communities , and (iii) supporting strategic, large-scale collaborative research initiatives; recommends that FP10 be structured in three parts, each addressing one of the three core objectives;
Amendment 230 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
Amendment 233 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 – point a
Paragraph 15 – point a
Amendment 235 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 – point a – point i
Paragraph 15 – point a – point i
Amendment 246 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 – point a – point ii
Paragraph 15 – point a – point ii
Amendment 250 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 – point a – point iii
Paragraph 15 – point a – point iii
Amendment 258 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 – point a – point iv
Paragraph 15 – point a – point iv
Amendment 266 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 – point b
Paragraph 15 – point b
Amendment 273 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 – point c
Paragraph 15 – point c
Amendment 280 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Recommends the Commission to ensure a transparent governance structure with involvement of representatives from academia, research and technology organizations, NGOs, industry of all sizes, SMEs, Start Ups, national and local authorities, and relevant end-users representatives such as Trade Unions, Civil Society Organizations, Consumer Protection Organizations, among others;
Amendment 291 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
Amendment 309 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Urges the Commission to design the part of FP10 on strategic deployment such that it focuses on a limited number of pan-European research initiatives with 2040 set as the time horizon and which require cross-border collaboration due to the scale and complexity of the issue in question; believes that this part should consider that these initiatives could take the form of societal missions which address socio-economic and/or ecological challenges, and technology missions to accelerate the development of strategic technologies in Europe, or joint undertakings to secure joint investments by industry, Member States and the EU to support research-based competitiveness and the resilience of key sectors in the European economy; believes that all of these initiatives should receive a budget of between EUR 2.5 and 5 billion;
Amendment 317 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Recommends that Horizon Europe explicitly excludes funding for any research or innovation projects involving Israeli universities, research institutions, or companies operating in occupied territories or collaborating with military entities. In this regard, stresses that an exclusion should apply to all entities involved in projects contributing to military or defence activities, directly or indirectly, and particularly those that may lead to human rights abuses, as highlighted by the UN and other human rights organizations. Furthermore, calls for the creation of a strict oversight mechanism within Horizon Europe to ensure that no funds are allocated to projects with links to military operations, including technologies used in warfare. This should be accompanied by transparent reporting and accountability mechanisms to prevent misuse of EU funding for defence-relevant research. Furthermore reiterates that international cooperation participation and agreements should be subject to the full compliance of human rights' respect and duly observation of the principles acknowledged by the Charter of Fundamental rights of the EU;
Amendment 328 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 b (new)
Paragraph 19 b (new)
19b. Urges the Commission to prioritize gender equality in Horizon Europe by increasing funding for projects that aim to reverse existing gender biases in research. Additionally, calls for targeted initiatives to enhance the participation of women scientists, with a particular focus on addressing the underrepresentation of women in leadership positions in scientific research. Additionally, emphasizes the need for increased investment in studies that address the gender gap in women’s health, ensuring equitable research opportunities and outcomes for women in the scientific and healthcare fields;
Amendment 335 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 c (new)
Paragraph 19 c (new)
19c. Stresses the importance of reinforcing research collaboration with low- and middle-income countries. FP10 should include a specific framework to prevent the further widening of the innovation gap between core and peripheral EU regions, particularly in terms of talent retention and research mobility, to tackle the ongoing 'brain drain' problem. Is of the opinion that collaborative research that truly empowers low- and middle-income countries, supporting their own scientific and technological capacities rather than perpetuating dependency on Europe, is essential and that research collaboration should aim at mutual benefits, with an emphasis on equitable partnerships and shared knowledge;
Amendment 341 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 d (new)
Paragraph 19 d (new)
19d. Recommends that all research projects funded under FP10 comply with the 'Do No Significant Harm' principle, ensuring that no investment or economic activity funded by Horizon Europe negatively impacts the environment or ecological objectives, in line with the EU's climate ambitions;
Amendment 348 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 e (new)
Paragraph 19 e (new)
19e. Encourages enhanced collaboration across various research projects and between countries to optimize the use of available funding. Stresses the importance of fostering shared knowledge and best practices to ensure more efficient and impactful outcomes, while promoting a collaborative approach to solving global challenges;
Amendment 2 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 a (new)
Citation 6 a (new)
– having regard to the Liege Declaration on Affordable, decent and sustainable housing for all signed by the 27 Housing Ministers on 5 March 2024,
Amendment 8 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 15 a (new)
Citation 15 a (new)
– having regard to its resolution of 10 of February 2021 on reducing inequalities with a special focus on in- work poverty,
Amendment 14 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) supports, complements and adds value to the policies of the Member States in order to ensure equal opportunities, equal access to the labour market and to social infrastructure (such as social housing, education, healthcare), fair and high-quality working conditions, social protection, cohesion and inclusion;
Amendment 18 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the ESF+ is the only EU fund primarily focused on social policies, and is therefore unique in itself and is strongly effective and necessary in achieving social inclusion, together with the cohesion policy; whereas the ESF+ by itself is not enough to tackle structural inequalities and exclusion, and it is crucial to develop more holistic social policies at European Union level to guarantee its success;
Amendment 20 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas cohesion policies, the European Structural and Investment Funds and, in particular, the European Social Fund+ are strong tools for cohesion between southern and northern Member States, and whereas it is highly desirable to continue to strengthen southern border countries in migration crisis processes; Whereas the approach to cohesion policies and the distribution of funds, in particular the European Social Fund, must take into account the development of disparities not only between Member States but also within Member States and the disparities between urban and rural areas;
Amendment 23 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas different vulnerable groups have different needs, such as women in poverty, labour migrants, childrenmigrant people and refugees, victims of traffic in human beings, children, young people, homeless, Roma people, people with disabilities and elderly people; whereas the digital and green transition is much needed but also brings challenges for all people and all workers, and whereas to succeed in this endeavour, the EU must ensure a just transition that does not lose sight ofputs workers and vulnerable people in the center;
Amendment 32 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas in 2023, 94.6 million people in the EU-27 (21.4% of the population) were living in households at risk of poverty or social exclusion, with an at-risk-of-poverty or social exclusion rate of 24.8 % for the EU-27: whereas almost one in four children in the EU as a whole is therefore at risk of poverty or social exclusion;
Amendment 34 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C b (new)
Recital C b (new)
Cb. whereas 22.3% of people at risk of poverty and social exclusion are women, compared with 20.3 % of them that are men; whereas women in the EU-27 earn 12.7 % less than men on average; whereas decades of the gender pay gap have resulted in a 29.5% gender gap in pension income, a situation that creates an unequal level of economic independence between elderly women and men; whereas the impact of poverty on women and men differs and whereas indicators to better understand the feminisation of poverty such as age, life expectancy, income inequality, the gender pay gap, type of household and social transfers therefore also need to be considered; whereas synergies between various actions carried out and political measures supporting gender equality in employment, education, taxation policies and housing can help to combat deep- rooted causes of poverty and social exclusion more effectively;
Amendment 42 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the availability and affordability of decent housing is decreasing because of over-liberalisation of the market, real-estate speculation, unregulated short-term rentals and the lack of social and public housing, amongst other reasons; whereas the EU will have its first ever Commissioner for tackling the housing crises, and the first ever European affordable and sustainable housing plan, expected in 2025; whereas such proposals need to go hand in hand with national measures to reduce the short-stay rentals and to allow the intervention of the market in highly stressed areas;
Amendment 51 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
Ea. whereas migrant people and refugee’s inclusion into society and the labour market can only be achieved if there is solidarity among, and united commitment of, all Member States and their societies; whereas successful inclusion requires not only the equal access in the labour market, but also complete social and political participation, access to housing, education, social protection and healthcare, including mental health support, with the objective of reaching full citizenship;
Amendment 58 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E b (new)
Recital E b (new)
Eb. whereas persons with disabilities living in the EU continue to face discrimination, including the denial of decent accommodation and multiple and intersectional forms of discrimination in all areas of their lives; whereas persons with disabilities in all their diversity are entitled to enjoy their fundamental rights on an equal basis; whereas the full and effective participation of persons with disabilities in all areas of life and society is crucial to reach an EU without barriers;
Amendment 62 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E c (new)
Recital E c (new)
Ec. whereas there are vulnerable people within the European Union who are left on the margins of social policies and ESF+ funded programmes; whereas extraordinary efforts and structural changes are needed to reach all vulnerable people and to prevent this number from increasing;
Amendment 69 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Insists that the ESF+ must continue to be thean strategic key and primary financial instrument for supporting the Member States, people and regions in strengthening the social dimension of the Union;
Amendment 79 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Insists that the main objectives of the ESF+ should be to achieve high employment levels with high-quality jobs, adequate wages, decent working conditions, healthy working environments and social security coverage, in order to develop a skilled, competitive and resilient workforce, ready for the twin transition and the future world of workensure the wellbeing of the workers, and to build fair social protections and inclusive and cohesive societies, with the aims of eradicating poverty and delivering on the principles and the headline targets set out in the EPSR;
Amendment 88 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Calls for a strong, reinforced, stand- alone ESF+ with significantly increased public support for existing instruments aimed at providing for the poorestvulnerable groups in our societies; insists, therefore, on doubling the funding for the ESF+ post- 2027;
Amendment 94 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Expresses strong concerns over attemptsits rejection to split or merge the existing ESF+ with other funds, since that would create serious risks for the implementation of its objectives and those of the EPSR and its action plan, and the reaching of the ESPR’s headline targets; warns that unifying or simplifying funds may not improve their effectiveness and could lead to an exponential increase in poverty and social exclusion in the EU;
Amendment 102 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Believes that a different ESF+ governance would lead to the loss of priority given to social aspects, including employment and social inclusion projects, and to the funding not reaching local levels and those most in needvulnerable group, while increasing the risk of reallocation of funds for other purposes;
Amendment 111 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure the participation, information and consultation of social partners, civil society organisations (CSOs) and representatives of the target groups in all design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation stages of the ESF+, to allocate adequate funding for this purpose and to prevent the exclusion of smaller actors;
Amendment 115 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Notes that the current ESF+ programme was adopted before the emergence of crises that have caused high inflation and increased costs of living and complicated the access and keeping affordable housing, and therefore require higher public and social investment such that the existing ESF+ cannot meet current needs; calls on the Commission to ensure that a comprehensive, stable and large- scale needs- and rights-based budget is guaranteed for the ESF+ in the next multiannual financial framework; calls on the Commission to protect the budget allocation of the ESF+ from possible eventualities, such as emergencies or crises;
Amendment 121 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Underlines that the ESF+ post-2027 should invest in tackling enduring social challenges and stay close to the general and specific objectives set out in the current ESF+, being flexible to new social realities as they emerge; emphasises the importance of the fund’s principles of shared management, clear objectives and thematic concentrations, and that most of the fund should be spent as close as possible to those using the fund;
Amendment 134 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Underlines that horizontal principles, such as gender equality, anti- discrimination based on sex, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion or belief, nationality, or racial or ethnic origin, and freedom of movement, should be integral to the ESF+; stresses the importance of an intersectional approach throughout the entire development and implementation of the fund;
Amendment 148 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Insists that the ESF+ should target the most disadvantaged people in our societies, regardless of their sex, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion or belief, nationality or racial or ethnic origin – in particular marginalised communities such as Roma people, people with disabilities or chronic diseases, homeless people, children and elderly people; calls for a cross- cutting gender approach along the ESF+; underlines that the ESF+ must be inclusive, with special attention given to all kinds of families, including single-parent families, families with more than two parents and rainbow families in diversity;
Amendment 156 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Calls on the Commission, in the light of current challenges, to include in the specific objectives of the ESF+ the promotion of thea just transition, at the socio- economic integration of migrants, including labour migrants, the social inclusion of women who are victims of gender-based violence and the integratervice of the people, the social inclusion of migrants people, refugees, of victims of trafficking in human beings, of women who are victims of gender-based violence, of young people, of people with disabilities , while avoiding the exclusion of older people;
Amendment 167 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Stressed that the European Pillar of Social Rights is a tool with sufficient potential to improve the lives of people living in the European Union; Underlines the need to turn its principles into obligations for Member states;
Amendment 171 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Insists that the eradication of poverty should be achieved with binding poverty-reductions targets at EU level; Stresses that reaching the EPSR’s targets on poverty becomes challenging, unless specific support is dedicated to alleviating the pressure on social protection systems andwhile reinforcing welfare systems, to mitigating the social impact of crises and to tackle the structural causes of inequalities; insists on dedicating support to ensure decent living conditions for all, with access to high-quality essential public services and to adequate minimum income; calls for the EU anti-poverty strategy, outlined in Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s political guidelines for the 2024-2029 term, to be implemented via the ESF+, with its binding poverty- reduction targets, national living wage indices and reference budgets used as benchmarks, applying a multidimensional approach;
Amendment 201 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Shares the ambition to prioritise the tackling of the housing crises, and insists that the ESF+ post-2027 should enhance timely and equal access to affordable, decent, sustainable and high-quality services promoting access to housing; ensuring the development of enough social and public housing; believes that all the Member States must invest at least 5 % of their ESF+ resources into tackling homelessness;
Amendment 209 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Emphasises the need to ensure sufficient financing of the ESF+ post-2027 for high-quality and public education for all, as well as the option for workers to skills development, upskilling, reskilling and lifelong learning, and for the addressing of skills shortages, ensuring that individuals can successfully navigate labour market transitions;
Amendment 223 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Calls for a strengthening of efforts to support the implementation of the Youth Guarantee with an increased earmarking for all Member States that dedicate at least 15 % of their ESF+ resources; repeats in this context its call on the Member States to ban unpaid traineeships; and the need to ensure the social security rights and contributions of the trainees;
Amendment 237 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Underlines the importance of the ESF+ in focusing on different groups with different needs; stresses, therefore, the importance of allocating support to projects on the socio-economic position of migrants, including labour migrants, the social inclusion ofal inclusion of migrant people, refugees, victims of trafficking in human beings, people with disabilities, Roma people, the ageing population in society, women and children, and female-headed households; insists that the ESF+ post- 2027 incorporate other aspects of social inclusion, such as housing, health and family circumstances and the support of community-based services;
Amendment 256 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Calls for the ESF+ to boost the implementation of the European care strategy by investing in quality early childhood education and care through community-based, person-centred, high- quality, affordable and accessible care systems; insists on the ESF+ to reinforce the deinstitutionalisation of care;
Amendment 261 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. StresseRecalls that the implementation of the EPSRonly way to ensure upward social convergence is through public expenditure and the reforms needed to comply with the country-specific recommendations in the European Semester are alsoe austerity measures would jeopardise the EPSR targets; stresses that the implementation is dependant on the strong support of the ESF+ for certain policy measures, especially those related to strengthening social welfare systems, ensuring inclusive and high-quality public education, reducing child poverty and eradicating homelessness;
Amendment 274 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Calls on the Commission to allocate consistent financial resources to capacity- building, with the aims of empowering social partners and CSO’s to play a relevant role in areas of their competence, of strengthening their capacity to engage in social dialogue and civil dialogue both at EU and national level and of enhancing social partners’ actions – and include technical assistance for these three purposes – with an adequate minimum percentage investment obligation from the Member States; further insists that social partners and CSOs should be guaranteed access to funding for social policy objectives in all the Member States on an equal basis;
Amendment 278 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Underlines that it is of the utmost importance that small social enterprises and CSOs have access to all aspects of the ESF+; calls for an increased co-financing rate from Member States of at least 90 % for measures targeting the most deprivedvulnerable people implemented by CSOs, and at least 70 % for those implemented by social enterprises;
Amendment 289 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Calls on the Member States to ensure thatcoordination between regional and local authorities and organisations have a say in projects financed from national budgets;
Amendment 300 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Calls for strong and more effective social and environmental conditionalities in rules on public procurement and concessions, with effective sanctions; encourages the Commission to create a comprehensive database, supplementing the Eurostat data, to allow for timely and reliable monitoring of the developments in employment, living conditions and industrial relations;
Amendment 306 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Calls for the reduction of the administrative burden and bureaucracy, notably by simplifying the application processes for accessing funds and the reporting procedures for organisations, in particular for civil society and social economy organizations, and those of a smaller size; warns that simplification must not compromise the fundamental principles of shared management, transparency and accountability, ensuring the proper administration of public funds;
Amendment 32 #
2024/2019(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8 a. Considers that civil society and NGOs play an instrumental role in shaping policies that benefit society and our environment; recalls the commitment of the Commission in its political guidelines to step up its engagement with civil society organisations that have expertise and an important role to play in defending specific societal issues and upholding human rights; urges the Commission to revise its guidelines1a from May 2024 in order to ensure the continuation of the funding of NGO activities, including advocacy, under the LIFE programme; considers that discontinuation of this funding for all NGO activities would seriously undermine the voice of civil society in the public debate and would cause a severe reputational risk for the Commission; _________________ 1a Guidance on funding for activities related to the development, implementation, monitoring and enforcement of Union legislation and policy
Amendment 12 #
2024/0226(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Notes that Belgium applied for EGF co-financing solely to support former Match-Smatch workers living in Wallonia given the situation on the regional labour market (2023 unemployment rate of 8,2%) and because more than 70 % of the layoffs are concentrated in Wallonia; deeply regrets the incomprehensible decision by the Flemish authorities to refuse EU financial support that could significantly benefit the workers that have been made redundant;