69 Amendments of Hristo PETROV related to 2024/2084(INI)
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 a (new)
Citation 2 a (new)
– having regard to the European Pillar of Social Rights (EPSR) proclaimed and signed by the Council, Parliament and the Commission on 17 November 2017,
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 b (new)
Citation 2 b (new)
– having regard to the EU Social Scoreboard and its headline and secondary indicators,
Amendment 5 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 c (new)
Citation 2 c (new)
– having regard to the Commission communication of 4 March 2021 entitled ‘The European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan’ (COM(2021)0102) and its proposed 2030 headline targets on employment, skills and poverty reduction,
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 d (new)
Citation 2 d (new)
– having regard to the La Hulpe Declaration on the Future of the European Pillar of Social Rights signed by the Parliament, the Commission, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Council on 16 April 2024,
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 e (new)
Citation 2 e (new)
– having regard to the Regulation (EU) 2023/955 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 May 2023 establishing a Social Climate Fund and amending Regulation (EU) 2021/10601a, _________________ 1a OJ L 130, 16.5.2023, p. 1–51.
Amendment 9 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 f (new)
Citation 2 f (new)
– having regard to the Regulation (EU) 2024/1263 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2024 on the effective coordination of economic policies and on multilateral budgetary surveillance and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 1466/97 and in particular its articles 3, 4, 13 and 272a, _________________ 2a OJ L, 2024/1263, 30.4.2024.
Amendment 10 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 g (new)
Citation 2 g (new)
– having regard to the Commission communication of 7 October 2020 entitled ‘A Union of Equality: EU Roma strategic framework for equality, inclusion and participation for 2020-2030’ (COM(2020) 620 final),
Amendment 11 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 h (new)
Citation 2 h (new)
– having regard to the Commission communication of 3 March 2021 entitled ‘Union of Equality: Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2021- 2030’ (COM(2021) 101 final),
Amendment 12 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 i (new)
Citation 2 i (new)
– having regard to the Commission communication of 17 January 2023 entitled ‘Harnessing talent in Europe’s regions’ (COM(2023) 32 final),
Amendment 13 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 j (new)
Citation 2 j (new)
– having regard to the Commission communication of 20 March 2023 entitled ‘Labour and skills shortages in the EU: an action plan’ (COM(2024) 131 final),
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 k (new)
Citation 2 k (new)
– having regard to the Commission report of 19 September 2024 entitled ‘Employment and Social Developments in Europe (ESDE): upward social convergence in the EU and the role of social investment’,
Amendment 15 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 3 a (new)
Citation 3 a (new)
– having regard to the Commission communication of 26 November 2024 entitled ‘2025 European Semester: bringing the new economic governance framework to life’ (COM(2024) 705 final),
Amendment 16 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 3 b (new)
Citation 3 b (new)
– having regard to the Commission communication of 17 December 2024 entitled ‘2025 European Semester - Autumn package’ (COM(2024) 700 final),
Amendment 17 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 4
Citation 4
– having regard to the Commission proposal of XXX17 December 2024 for a joint employment report from the Commission and the Council (COM(2024)XXX 701 final),
Amendment 18 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5
Citation 5
– having regard to the Commission recommendation of XXX17 December 2024 for a Council recommendation on the economic policy of the euro area (COM(2024)XXX 704 final),
Amendment 19 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 6
Citation 6
– having regard to the Commission report of XXX17 December 2024 entitled ‘Alert Mechanism Report 2025’ (COM(2024) 702 final),
Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 8
Citation 8
– having regard to the draft Commission staff working document on the planned revisions tochanges in the scoreboard of the Macroeconomic Imbalance Procedure Scoreboard in the context of the regular review process (SWD(2024)XXX(SWD(2024) 702 final),
Amendment 44 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas progress has been made towards achieving the EU’s employment targets, namely that at least 78% of people aged 20 to 64 should be in employment by 2030, despite the uncertainty created by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, economic stagnation, and the impact of high inflation, and whereas growth in employment in the EU remained robust in 2023, although high unemployment rates, in particular youth unemployment rates reaching a record height of 75.3%; whereas Member States have committed themselves to national targets in order to achieve this headline goal and whereas in two thirds of the Member States, the employment growth in 2023 was on track to reach the national 2030 target; whereas however high unemployment rates, in particular among youth, persons with disabilities, older workers and women, persist in some Member States, as do significant inequaldisparities between sectors and regions, which couldan negatively affect social cohesion and the well-being of European citizens in the long term;
Amendment 50 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
A a. whereas the European Union has adopted the target that at least 60% of adults should participate in training every year by 2030; whereas Member States have committed themselves to national targets in order to achieve this headline goal and whereas the majority of Member States lost ground in the pursuit of these national targets; whereas in 2022, the rate of adult participation in learning was at 39.5%, still well below the EU 2030 target; whereas further substantial efforts are needed to ensure provision of, and access to, quality training policies that promote lifelong learning and strengthen EU competitiveness, resilience and inclusiveness of the EU workforce;
Amendment 51 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)
Recital A b (new)
A b. whereas the European Union has adopted the 2030 target of reducing the number of people at risk of poverty and social exclusion by at least 15 million compared to 2019, including at least 5 million children; whereas the Member States have committed themselves to national targets in order to achieve this headline goal and whereas the trend is pointing in the opposite direction for nearly half of the Member States; whereas in 2023, 94.6 million people in the EU (21.4% of the population)3awere at risk of poverty or social exclusion, which is only slightly lower than the 2019 level; whereas without a change of approach to tackling poverty at European level, it will not be possible to reverse the trend and ensure that every citizen has equal opportunities to participate in society; _________________ 3a People at risk of poverty or social exclusion in 2023, Eurostat, https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/product s-eurostat-news/w/ddn-20240612- 1#:~:text=In%202023%2C%2094.6%20m illion%20people,household%20with%20v ery%20low%20work.
Amendment 53 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A c (new)
Recital A c (new)
A c. whereas one child in four is still at risk of poverty and social exclusion in the European Union, and whereas the current trend will not meet the target of reducing the number of children in poverty by at least 5 million by 2030; whereas significant disparities are observed among children from ethnic or migrant backgrounds and children with disabilities; whereas 83% of Roma children lived in households at risk of poverty; whereas EU and national resources currently deployed are in no way sufficient for addressing the challenge of child poverty in the EU and, therefore, a dedicated funding instrument for the European Child Guarantee as well as synergies with other European and national funds are of utmost importance both in the current and next Multiannual Financial Framework;
Amendment 55 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A d (new)
Recital A d (new)
A d. whereas public spending on children and youth should not be seen only as social expenditure but as an investment in the future; whereas for children, social investments lead to better education and job prospects, which in turn boost economic indicators; whereas children who can benefit most from attending early childhood education and care (ECEC), such as those from disadvantaged backgrounds, tend to participate least and continue to face barriers to access; whereas to meet the 2030 Barcelona targets for ECEC, the EU should invest an additional €11 billion per year4a; _________________ 4a Employment and Social Developments in Europe (ESDE) 2024, European Commission, September 2024.
Amendment 57 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A e (new)
Recital A e (new)
A e. whereas there are still 1.4 million people residing in institutions in the EU; whereas residents of institutions are isolated from the broader community and do not have sufficient control over their lives and the decisions that affect them; whereas despite the fact that the European Union has long been committed to the process of deinstitutionalisation, efforts are still needed at both European and national level to enable vulnerable groups to live independently in a community environment;
Amendment 59 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas demographic challenges, including an ageing population, low birth rates and rural depopulation, profoundly affect the size of the labour force, EU productivity, the labour markets with labour and skills shortages remaining at historically high levels, and consequent sustainability of welfare systems and hence representing a structural challenge for the EU economy, and; whereas, as underlined in the Draghi report, sustainable growth and competitiveness in Europe depends to a large extent on the inclusion of the active population in the labour market and on a robust welfare system;adapting education and training systems to evolving skills needs, prioritising adult learning and vocational education and training, the inclusion of the active population in the labour market and on a robust welfare system providing strong public services; whereas ESF+ investments in active labour market policies is projected to increase employment beyond the investment period, especially for lower income groups5a; whereas by 2030, the EU working population is expected to shrink by 7 million workers6a and whereas this number is expected to reach an additional 35 million persons by 20507a, indicating that legal labour migration will be necessary to supplement the European workforce; _________________ 5a Employment and Social Developments in Europe (ESDE) 2024, European Commission, September 2024. 6a Employment and Social Developments in Europe (ESDE) 2023, European Commission, July 2023. 7a Commission communication ‘Harnessing talent in Europe’s regions’ (COM(2023) 32 final).
Amendment 68 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas the Letta report deplores the decline in the birth rate, noting the importance of creating a framework to support all families as part of a strategy ofhighlights the need for a strong social dimension of the EU Single Market in order to prevent major economic and social imbalances, promote prosperity, ensuring fair opportunities, workers' rights and social protection for all, while contributing to inclusive growth and strcompetitiveness ing the need to promote family and work-life balance policies line with the Pillar of Social Rights; whereas the report notes that the free movement of people remains the least developed of the four freedoms and argues for reducing barriers to intra-EU occupational mobility;
Amendment 77 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas inflation has increased the burden on households, and housing costs and energy poverty remain major problemsSMEs exacerbating the risks of poverty and social exclusion; whereas cost of living, housing availability and affordability as well as energy and transport poverty remain major problems; whereas investment in social services and increasing housing supply, including social housing, as well as housing allowances, play a key role in reducing poverty of vulnerable households and improve affordability;
Amendment 86 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas labour and skills shortages aremain a problem at all level reported by companies of all sizes and sectors, exacerbated by a lack of candidates to fill critical positions in key sectors such as education, health and, construction, especially in areas affected by depopulationhospitality, care, transport, science technology and engineering especially in areas affected by depopulation; whereas the EU has launched several initiatives to tackle the skills shortages such as the European Skills Agenda, the Pact for Skills, ALMA and the Net-Zero Academies;
Amendment 92 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
E a. whereas skilled workers, and access to quality education, vocational education and training as well as lifelong learning are crucial to ensure a sustainable and just twin transitions of the European economy; whereas upskilling, reskilling and training programmes must be available for all workers, including those with disabilities, and should also be adapted to the needs and capacities of workers;
Amendment 93 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E b (new)
Recital E b (new)
E b. whereas in 2022, the average Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) score for the measures of basic skills (reading, mathematics and science) of 15-year-olds decreased by 10 points compared to the last wave in 2018; whereas underachievement is prevalent among disadvantaged learners, demonstrating a widening of educational inequalities; whereas this worrying deterioration calls for reforms and investments in education and training;
Amendment 101 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas the crisis in gena lack of sufficient social investment has exacerbational renewal and poor access to public services have led to an increased risk of poverty and social exclusion, particularly affecting childed the risk of poverty and social exclusion, particularly affecting children, single-parent families and elderly people; whereas this phenomenon is also affecting a segment of the workforce, with 1 in 12 workers in 2023 living in households that are at risk of poverty; whereas an ambitious EU Anti-Poverty Strategy will be essential to reverse this trend and elderly peopleprovide responses to the multidimensional phenomenon of poverty;
Amendment 105 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
F a. whereas the April 2024 Eurobarometer stresses that 88% of European citizens consider social Europe to be important to them personally8a; whereas this result was confirmed by the EU Post-Electoral Survey 2024 where European citizens placed the rising prices and the cost of living (42%) and the economic situation (41%) as the main topics that motivated them to vote in the last European elections9a; _________________ 8a https://europa.eu/eurobarometer/surveys/ detail/3187. 9a https://europa.eu/eurobarometer/surveys/ detail/3292.
Amendment 110 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Recital G a (new)
G a. whereas the new EU economic governance framework entered into force in April 2024 and aims to promote sustainable and inclusive growth as well as to give more space for social investment and realising the objectives of the European Pillar of Social Rights; whereas the revision includes for the first time a social convergence framework as an integrated part of the European Semester;
Amendment 116 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G b (new)
Recital G b (new)
G b. whereas under the new EU economic governance framework, all Member States have to include reforms and investments in their medium-term plans addressing common EU priorities and challenges identified in country- specific recommendations in the context of the European Semester; whereas the common EU priorities include social and economic resilience, including the European Pillar of Social Rights;
Amendment 120 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G c (new)
Recital G c (new)
G c. whereas public investment is expected to increase in 2025 in almost all Member States, with a significant contribution from NextGenerationEU's Recovery and Resilience Facility (RFF) and EU funds in several Member States; whereas around 162.5 billion allocated to Member States under the RFF contributes to social spending, amounting to around 25% of the total estimated expenditure10a; whereas social investments and reforms in key areas can boost employment, social inclusion, competitiveness and economic growth11a; _________________ 10a 2025 European Semester: Proposal for a Joint Employment Report. 11a Employment and Social Developments in Europe (ESDE) 2024, European Commission, September 2024.
Amendment 126 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Considers thatalls on the Commission and the Council shouldMember States to continue implementing the European Pillar of Social Rights (EPSR), in line with the action plan of March 2021; and the La Hulpe Declaration to achieve the 2030 headline targets; welcomes in this regard the announcement of a new Action Plan on the implementation of the EPSR12a for 2025 in order to give a new impetus to social progress; stresses the need for the updated Action Plan to contain ambitious proposals to address poverty and social exclusion and supportive measures for workers to manage the twin transitions in particular regarding skills, VET and lifelong learning; _________________ 12a Europe’s Choice, Political Guidelines for the Next European Commission 2024- 2029, Ursula von der Leyen (July 2024)
Amendment 131 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Recalls that the objectives of a social Europe are repeatedly identified by European citizens as priorities; stresses that in order to make social Europe a reality, and ensure a high level of social protection in transitions, it is necessary to ensure a sustainable, fair and inclusive Europe where social rights are fully protected and safeguarded at the same level as economic freedoms, and to reflect on methods to safeguard the European social contract; reiterates in this regard its call for a social progress protocol to be annexed to the Treaties13a; _________________ 13a European Parliament resolution of 22 November 2023 on proposals of the European Parliament for the amendment of the Treaties (2022/2051(INL)).
Amendment 134 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1 b. Is concerned that, in 2023, 94.6 million people in the EU were still at risk of poverty or social exclusion; stresses that without a paradigm shift in the approach to combating poverty, the European Union and its Member States will not achieve their poverty reduction objectives; believes that the announcement of the first-ever EU Anti- Poverty Strategy is a step in the right direction towards reversing the trend, but must provide a comprehensive approach to tackling the multidimensional aspects of poverty and social exclusion with concrete actions, strong implementation and monitoring; calls for this Strategy to encompass all people experiencing poverty and social exclusion, first and foremost the most disadvantaged, but also specific measures for different groups such as persons experiencing in-work poverty, the homeless, people with disabilities, single-parent families and above all children in order to sustainably break the cycle of poverty; stresses that the transposition of the Directive on adequate minimum wages will be key for preventing and fighting poverty risks among workers, while reinforcing incentives to work and welcomes the fact that several Member States have amended or plan to amend their minimum wage frameworks; stresses that an EU framework directive on adequate minimum income and active inclusion, in compliance with the subsidiarity principle, would contribute to the goals of reducing poverty and fostering the integration of people absent from the labour market;
Amendment 136 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 c (new)
Paragraph 1 c (new)
1 c. Reiterates its call on the Commission to carefully monitor implementation of the Child Guarantee in all Member States as part of the European Semester and country-specific recommendations; reiterates its call for an increase in the funding of the European Child Guarantee with a dedicated budget of at least 20 billion euro and for all Member States to allocate at least 5% of their allocated ESF+ funds to fighting child poverty and promoting children’s well-being; considers that the country- specific recommendations should reflect Member States' budgetary compliance with the minimum requirement of allocation for tackling child poverty set out in the ESF+ regulation14a; calls on the Commission to provide an ambitious budget for the Child Guarantee in the next Multiannual Financial Framework in order to respond to the growing challenge of child poverty and social exclusion; _________________ 14a Regulation (EU) 2021/1057 establishing the European Social Fund Plus, Article 7 paragraph 3.
Amendment 138 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 d (new)
Paragraph 1 d (new)
1 d. Is concerned by the recurrent closures of factories across different sectors in the European Union and the impact on workers facing job losses; calls on the Commission to ensure that skilling and training policies for workers and quality job creation is integrated into the upcoming Clean Industrial Deal in line with the Draghi report; recalls the important role the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for displaced workers (EGF) can play in supporting and reskilling workers who were made redundant as a result of major restructuring events related for example to globalisation, the transition to a low- carbon economy, or as a consequence of digitisation or automation; calls on the Member States to make use of the Fund and widely disseminate information on the possibilities to support workers;
Amendment 140 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 e (new)
Paragraph 1 e (new)
1 e. Stresses the need to invest significantly in workers' skills and to establish an individual right to training and lifelong learning; calls on the Member States to develop upskilling and reskilling measures in collaboration with local stakeholders, including educational and training bodies and the social partners, in order to reinforce the link between the education and training systems and the labour market and anticipate labour market needs;
Amendment 141 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 f (new)
Paragraph 1 f (new)
1 f. Welcomes the announcement of a quality job roadmap to ensure a just transition for all, through support to fair wages, good working conditions, training and fair job transitions for workers and self-employed people, notably by increasing collective bargaining coverage; calls on the Commission to develop this roadmap in cooperation with the social partners; further calls on the Commission to include in this roadmap considerations for measures, including legislative proposals, linked to the use of artificial intelligence and algorithmic management in the world of work so that new technologies are harnessed to improve working conditions and productivity while respecting workers' rights and work-life balance;
Amendment 142 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 g (new)
Paragraph 1 g (new)
1 g. Welcomes the fact that almost all Member States are expected to increase public investment in 202515a, which is necessary for ensuring access to quality public services and achieving the aims of the EPSR; recalls that the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) can be mobilised by Member States until 31 December 2026 and calls on them to make full and targeted use of these funds in order to address the challenges identified in country-specific recommendations under the European Semester and set up policies for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth and the next generation, children and the youth, as provided for in the RFF regulation16a; _________________ 15a Commission communication ‘2025 European Semester: bringing the new economic governance framework to life’ (COM(2024) 705 final). 16a Regulation (EU) 2021/241 establishing the Recovery and Resilience Facility, Article 3, pillars (c) and (f).
Amendment 143 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 h (new)
Paragraph 1 h (new)
1 h. Welcomes the Commission's announcement of the publication of a Competitiveness Compass in January 2025; believes that the European Union's objective of competitiveness cannot be achieved without European workers equipped with adequate skills; calls on the Commission to include in this Competitiveness Compass measures concerning the skills development of the European workforce;
Amendment 145 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Reiterates the importance of supporting the development of skills in the workforce to improve competitiveness and ensure quality employment; urges the Member States to strengthen vocational and digital training while promoting the inclusion of persons from disadvantaged groups such as persons with disabilities in the workforce to address labour shortages and support equal opportunities in the labour market,; considering that, although there is an improvealls on the Member States to strengthen training, upskilling and reskilling measures, as well as active labour market policies, targeting the inactive labour force and groups with low participation in the labour market, including woment, persons with disabilities still face significant obstacle, people with lower levels of education, young people and NEETs, older workers and people with a migrant or ethnic minority background such as Roma; stresses that combating all forms of discrimination and stereotypes is crucial to ensuring the inclusion of these groups in the labour market;
Amendment 152 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Recalls the persistent disability employment gap with only 51.3% of active, working-age persons with disabilities in the EU in paid employment; calls on the Commission to update the EU Disability Strategy with new flagship initiatives and actions from 2025 onwards; stresses that the Commission should come forward with proposals to ensure the EU and Member States’ compliance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and in particular address people with disabilities’ social inclusion and independent living, remaining obstacles to their free movement and ensure their access to quality education, training and employment through guidance on retaining disability allowances and establishing a European Disability Employment and Skills Guarantee;
Amendment 156 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2 b. Expresses concern that Roma continue to face significant barriers to employment, with persistent biases limiting their prospects; notes that the EU Roma Strategic Framework for Equality, Inclusion, and Participation highlights a lack of progress in employment access and a growing share of Roma youth not in employment, education, or training; emphasises the Framework’s goal to halve the employment gap between Roma and the general population and ensure at least 60% of Roma are in paid work by 2030; urges Member States to adopt an integrated, equality-focused approach and ensure public policies and services effectively reach all Roma, including those in remote rural areas;
Amendment 157 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 c (new)
Paragraph 2 c (new)
2 c. Stresses that the response to labour shortages in the European Union also involves improving and facilitating labour mobility within the Union; calls on the Member States to strengthen and facilitate the recognition of skills and qualifications in the Union, including for third-country nationals; calls on the Commission to analyse the effectiveness of the EURES platform with a view to a potential revision of its operation;
Amendment 158 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 d (new)
Paragraph 2 d (new)
2 d. Is concerned about the declining educational performance of young people, particularly in basic skills17a; welcomes in this regard the announcement of an Action Plan on Basic Skills and a STEM Education Strategic Plan18a; calls on the Member States to invest in programmes to equip learners with the basic, digital and transversal skills needed for the world of work and its digitisation as well as to contribute meaningfully to society; believes that digital and transversal skills must include a critical thinking and media literacy component in order to be able to counter the threat of misinformation; _________________ 17a Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture, Education and training monitor 2024 – Comparative report, Publications Office of the European Union, 2024. 18a Mission letter to Executive Vice- President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness, December 2024.
Amendment 159 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 e (new)
Paragraph 2 e (new)
2 e. Notes that the number of early leavers from education and training remains high in several Member States, despite a downward trend in the European Union; notes that this phenomenon particularly affects young men, with 11.3% of young men and 7.7% of young women in the Union leaving education and training early in 2023; is concerned about the impact of these drop- outs on the future of these young people, given that only 1 in 2 former early leavers is in employment, that almost 1 in 3 former early leavers cannot find a job despite their wishes, and that 1 in 5 decide to remain inactive; calls on the Member States to address this situation and develop personalised solutions to keep children and young people in school;
Amendment 160 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 f (new)
Paragraph 2 f (new)
2 f. Is concerned at the level of youth unemployment, which remains very high in several Member States and more than twice as high as the overall unemployment rate at EU level; recalls the commitment made to young people by the Member States in establishing the Youth Guarantee so that all young people under the age of 30 receive a good quality offer of employment, continuing education, apprenticeship or traineeship within a period of four months of becoming unemployed or leaving education; takes the view that more synergies are needed between the Child Guarantee and Youth Guarantee instruments in order to ensure adequate support for young people in need throughout their personal and professional development; welcomes that employment outcomes for recent graduates from Vocational Education and Training (VET) continue to improve across the EU; reiterates the pivotal role VET plays in providing knowledge, skills and competencies necessary for young people entering the labour market; emphasises the need to invest in the quality and attractiveness of VET through the ESF+ and the reinforced Youth Guarantee;
Amendment 163 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Calls on the Commission to include specific recommendations on housing availability and affordability in the European Semester and to promote housing investment, including through European Investment Bank financial instruments; considers that the revision ofan assessment of Union policies and funds, including bottlenecks in the EU regulatory framework for the housing sector, in particular state aid rules, should facilitate the construction, reconversion and renovation of accessible and energy- efficient housing that meets the needs of, including social housing, that meets the needs of low and middle-income groups as well as young people, people with disabilities and reduced mobility and families at risk, as well as protect prospective homeowners from further diminishing supply;
Amendment 171 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Welcomes the announced European Affordable Housing Plan to support Member States in addressing the housing crisis and the soaring prices of rents and houses; calls on the Commission to revise State aid rules to enable housing support measures and social housing; recalls that the Social Climate Fund will provide financial aid to Member States from 2026 to support vulnerable household with temporary direct income support and measures and investments intended to increase the energy efficiency of buildings, decarbonisation of heating and cooling of buildings and integration in buildings of renewable energy generation and storage;
Amendment 173 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3 b. Recalls the Union objective of transition from institutional to community or family-based care; calls on the Commission to put forward an Action Plan on deinstitutionalisation; stresses that this Action Plan should cover all groups still living in institutions including children, persons with disabilities, people suffering from mental health issues or homelessness, and the elderly; calls on the Member States to make full use of the ESF+ funds as well as other relevant European and national funds in order to finalise the deinstitutionalisation process so as to ensure that every EU citizen can live in a family or community environment;
Amendment 176 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls for the implementation of a comprehensive European action plan for mental health, in line with the Commission’s recent recommendations2 ; calls for the European Semester to address the socio-economic impact of loneliness on productivity and well-being by promoting an EU sStrategy addressing undesired loneliness that, in turn, can fosterand intergenerational solidarity and strengthen; calls on the Member States to strengthen access to mental health services and emotional support programmes for children, young people and older adults; adults, especially in remote and less developed regions; _________________ 2 Commission communication of 7 June 2023 on a comprehensive approach to mental health (COM(2023)0298).
Amendment 193 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Calls for the implementation of policies that promote work-life balance, with the aim of improving the quality of life for all familieworkers; calls on the Commission to put forward a legislative proposal forensure the implementation of the work-life balance directive and the European Care Strategy as well as to propose a framework for addressing long- term care workforce challenges, including facilitating the creacognition of a Europeskills and qualifications, supporting skilling and card for large families and a European action plan for single parents, offering tax, educational and social advantageseer progression and improving working conditions; calls on the Commission to propose a directive to regulate teleworking conditions and the right to disconnect across the EU as an essential measure to ensure the mental well-being of EU workers and complement the work-life balance directive; further calls for a directive on psychosocial risks and well-being at work;
Amendment 203 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls for demographic challenges to be prioritised in the EU’s cohesion policy and for its importance to be equated with the Green Deal and the Digital Strategy; calls on the Commission to declare a ‘European Year of Demography’the European Semester to integrate social objectives on an equal footing with economic ones; is concerned about the widening disparities between urban and rural areas as a result of less urbanised regions lacking training opportunities and being unable to attract and retain high-skilled workers; calls on the Commission to build on the Communication on Harnessing Talent on Europe’s Regions and the ‘Talent Booster Mechanism’ in order to promote social cohesion and to step up funding for regions with a high rate of depopulation, supporting quality job creation, public services, education and training opportunities, local development projects and basic infrastructure that favour the ‘right to stay’ of the population;
Amendment 219 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Calls on the Commission and the Council to prioritise the reduction of bureaucratic and fiscal barriers affecting entrepreneurship, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups, which are essential for the EU’s economic growth and competitiveness, and thus for the financing of social policies; believes that better support for entrepreneurs, especially for SMEs and, start- ups and self-employed, will improve the EU’s competitiveness, boost innovation and create quality jobs; calls urgently for the implementation of specific recommendations to complete the single market and to facilitate access to finance through public-private partnership platforms and the social economy to foster a dynamic business environment;
Amendment 220 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7 a. Recalls the importance of improving access of the self-employed to social protection and calls on the Commission to monitor Member States’ national implementation plans of the Council Recommendation on access to social protection for workers and the self- employed as part of the country-specific recommendations; recalls in this regard, as the rate of self-employed professionals in the cultural and creative sectors is more than double than in the general population, the 13 initiatives laid down in the Commission's 21 February 2024 response to the European Parliament resolution of 21 November 2023 on an EU framework for the social and professional situation of artists and workers in the cultural and creative sectors and calls on the Commission to start implementing them in cooperation with the Member States;
Amendment 226 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Stresses the need for Member States to foster public- private partnerships to improve efficiency in the provision of essentialpublic social services, such as education, health, housing and social care as well as child protection, while ensuring the Member States’ responsibility in ensuring provision and access of quality public services in these areas;
Amendment 230 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8 a. considers that the social economy is an essential component of the EU’s social market economy and a driver for the implementation of the EPSR and its targets, often providing employment to vulnerable and excluded groups; calls on the Member States to continue strengthening the social economy in line with the EU Social Economy Action Plan and the Liège Roadmap for the Social Economy in the European Union; reiterates its call for the Commission to explore innovative funding mechanisms such as social impact bonds to finance projects to support the development of the social economy in Europe19a; _________________ 19a European Parliament resolution of 6 July 2022 on the EU action plan for the social economy (2021/2179(INI)).
Amendment 235 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Calls for the Member States, in this year of transition, with the implementation of revised economic governance rules, to be offered an opportunity to align fiscal responsibility with sustainable growth, and notes that medium-term fiscal plans should prioritise debt sustainability while at the same time investing strategically in educatthe objectives of the European Pillar of Social Rights such as education and training, social protection and inclusion, healthcare and housing; stresses that collaboration between public and private entities is key to optimising resources and ensuring the judicious use of public funds to foster competitiveness; considers that country- specific recommendations to promote sustainable publicmulti-pillar of pension systems and quality healthcare should be effectively implemented and foster competitivenesssustainability, dignity and long-term prosperity for all citizens;
Amendment 239 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9 a. Welcomes the fact that the national medium-term fiscal structural plans, under the new economic governance framework, have to include the reforms and investments responding to the main challenges identified in the context of the European Semester, in particular in the country-specific recommendations; recalls that Member States have the obligation to explain how the delivery of reforms and investments will address social and economic resilience, including the European Pillar of Social Rights, as part of the common priorities of the Union; is satisfied that the Commission confirmed that all Member States have reported their policy intentions on reforms and investments addressing challenges identified as part of the European Semester and the common priorities of the EU in their plans19b; _________________ 19b Commission communication ‘2025 European Semester: bringing the new economic governance framework to life’ (COM(2024) 705 final, p. 4-5.
Amendment 242 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 b (new)
Paragraph 9 b (new)
9 b. Welcomes in particular the decision taken for 5 Member States to extend the fiscal adjustment period from 4 to 7 years in order to allow further flexibility for the delivery of reforms and investments; recalls that this extension is underpinned by commitments towards an additional set of reforms and investment in line with the common EU priorities, such as social resilience, and that each of the reforms and investments need to be sufficiently detailed, front-loaded, time- bound and verifiable; welcomes the fact that for several Member States for which the fiscal adjustment period was extended, the reforms are linked to social resilience with for example plans of pension reform, reform of social security or a reform of a work and job search visa system; stresses that annual progress reports from Member States should include progress on these reforms and investments;
Amendment 245 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 c (new)
Paragraph 9 c (new)
9 c. Is concerned that compliance with the country-specific recommendations remains persistently low; calls on the Member States, under the new economic governance framework and its objective of enhancing national ownership, to better answer country-specific recommendations in the area of employment and social policies within the European Semester; calls on the Commission to reinforce its dialogues with Member States on the implementation of existing recommendations and of the Employment Guidelines as well as on current or future policy action to address identified challenges;
Amendment 247 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 d (new)
Paragraph 9 d (new)
9 d. Welcomes the establishment of a framework to identify risks to social convergence within the European Semester, which was a strong request from the European Parliament; recalls that under this framework, the Commission assesses risks to upward social convergence in Member States and monitors progress on the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights on the basis of the Social Scoreboard and of the principles of the Social Convergence Framework; welcomes that the 2025 Joint Employment Report (JER) delivers country-specific analysis based on the principles of the Social Convergence Framework; calls on the Commission to further develop innovative quantitative and qualitative analysis tools under this new Framework in order to make optimal use of it in the future cycles of the European Semester;
Amendment 248 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 e (new)
Paragraph 9 e (new)
9 e. Welcomes the fact that the first analysis based on the principles of the Social Convergence Framework points to upward convergence in the labour market in 20231a; notes with concern that employment outcomes of under- represented groups still need to improve and that risks to upward convergence persist at European level in relation to skills development, ranging from early education to lifelong learning, and the social outcomes of at-risk-of-poverty and social exclusion rates; calls on the Commission to further analyse these risks to upward social convergence in the second stage of the analysis and to discuss with the concerned Member States the measures undertaken or foreseen to address these risks; _________________ 1a JER 2025
Amendment 249 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Is concerned about the Commission’s revisions to the Macroeconomic Imbalance Procedure Scoreboard, particularly the reduction in employment and social indicators, which are crucial for assessing the social and labour market situation in the Member States; regrets in particular that for the block covering employment and social indicators, the youth unemployment rate drops from headline to auxiliary indicator despite the worrying situation in several Member States; reminds the Commission of its obligation to closely cooperate with the European Parliament and the Council when drawing up the Scoreboard and the set of macroeconomic and macrofinancial indicators for Member States20a; _________________ 20a Regulation (EU) No 1176/2011 on the prevention and correction of macroeconomic imbalances, recital 12.
Amendment 260 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Stresses the need to address key challenges identified in the Social Scoreboard as ‘critical’ and ‘to be monitoredwatch’, including childcare, the disability employment gapren at risk of poverty or social exclusion, childcare, the disability employment gap, the gender employment gap, housing cost overburden, the impact of social transfers on reducing poverty, and basic digital skills3 ; _________________ 3 Proposal for a joint employment report from the Commission and the Council (COM(2023)0904).
Amendment 269 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. CStresses the need for timely and harmonised data on social policies to improve evidence-based policy-making and targeted social investments; calls for improvements to be made to the Social Scoreboard in order to cover the 20 EPSR principles with the introduction of indicators reflecting trends and causes of inequality, such as quality employment, wealth distribution, access to public services, coverage of social services, adequate pensions, mental health, discrimination and unemployment; recalls that the at-risk-of-poverty-or-social- exclusion (AROPE) indicator fails to reveal the causes of complex inequality;