Activities of Sepp KUSSTATSCHER related to 2008/2330(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
Preparation of the Employment Summit - European Globalisation Adjustment Fund - Renewed Social Agenda - Active inclusion of people excluded from the labour market (debate)
Amendments (52)
Amendment 17 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas employment still does not guarantee a route out of poverty for many people in the EU, with 8 % of people at work at risk of poverty in 2006,
Amendment 21 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas in 2006, 16% of European citizens, 19 % of children were at- risk- of- poverty. S, and children, single parents, unemployed people, people with disabilities and elderly people are especially vulnerable, together with ethnic minorities, Roma and migrants, including undocumented migrants,
Amendment 25 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the price increases in basic goods and services (particularly food, energy and housing) in recent years have had a considerable effect on household budgets and have disproportionately affected poor people, and whereas despite predictions of falling prices due to the economic crisis, these are not being passed on to a significant degree to people in poverty and, as a result, indebtedness is also increasing,
Amendment 33 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas Europethe EU faces a demographic change of which the most important features are a life expectancy increase and a low fertility rate, although in some Member States the tendency to a low is showing signs of reversing,
Amendment 37 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas the effects of the financial crisis on the real economy are not fully known but it will be difficult to reach the target of creating 5 million jobs in the EU between 2008 and 2009. An; whereas the economic recession willis already leading to higher unemployment, and possiblyworkers in precarious, temporary jobs are at greatest risk of redundancy without due compensation, whilst those furthest from the labour market are finding it increasingly difficult to gain access to decent work that takes them out of poverty; whereas, furthermore, pressures on public deficits due to government bail- outs, are already threatening the adequacy of minimum income and pension levels and the effectiveness of social protection systems, which will, inevitably, lead to more poverty and will pose challenges for the European social models,
Amendment 40 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas the EU has committed itself to the aim of socially and environmentally sustainable development, and whereas the opportunities for job creation that can arise from this commitment should be fully exploited, in terms of social and 'green' jobs,
Amendment 44 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas social dialogue can be important to tackle the confidence crisis that is being aggravated by the economic crisis many people in our society are afraid of the future, and currently their concerns are not of fighting for more rights, but of trying to maintain their current rights; whereas equal priority must also be given to those who are already excluded and whose current position is worsening in the current crisis,
Amendment 49 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital I a (new)
Recital I a (new)
Ia. whereas the lack of recognition of rights for third-country nationals on an equal basis with citizens of the Union, violates the principle of the universality of rights and the achievement of the goals of the renewed social agenda,
Amendment 50 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital J
Recital J
J. whereas the renewed social agenda ought to be based on the principle that effective and efficient social policies contribute to economic growth and prosperity, and whereas thiconomic growth should contribute to the improvement of living and working conditions, and whereas effective and efficient social policies can also help to restore the declining support of citizens for the EU,
Amendment 54 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital J a (new)
Recital J a (new)
Ja. whereas considerable concern has been voiced about the role and visibility of the renewed Social Agenda, including the lack of clarity of its purpose or how it will be followed up on as well as the lessening of the prominence given to the social OMC,
Amendment 55 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital K
Recital K
K. whereas the European social models are a unity of values in a diversity of systems and are in general a competence of Member States, the aims of social Europe, enshrined in the Treaty and the Charter of Fundamental Rights in the reform Treaty, must be emphasised as the overarching goal for the EU, if it is to meet with the expectations and fears of its citizens; whereas successive Spring European Council meetings have reiterated the objective of the eradication of poverty and social exclusion and the need to reinforce the social dimension in Lisbon; whereas the failure and success of national social and employment policies also have an impact on other Member States, therefore, the debate on the reform of the European Social Model ismust be put at the heart of this interaction between the EU and Member States,
Amendment 56 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital K a (new)
Recital K a (new)
Ka. whereas the failure of the growth and jobs strategy to decrease poverty, currently standing at 78 000 000, and rising inequality must be of central concern; whereas the EU must make progress on the development and implementation of EU and national targets on reducing poverty and social exclusion, and in key areas where indicators currently exist, if people are to be convinced that the EU is there to serve first the people and then businesses and banks,
Amendment 64 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Calls upon the Council and the Commission, given the economic recession, to reaffirm the importance of a strong social Europe, incorporating sustainable, effective and efficient social and employment policies to provide security and hope for the future not only in the EU, but reconfirming the EU's role in promoting a globally fairer, more socially just world;
Amendment 73 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Notes that social policy should cover key actions such as a better balance between socimake it possible to live in dignity and freedom; calls therefore for appropriate basic welfare provision for everyone and for key actions such as giving priority to fundamental rights andover market freedoms, combating discrimination and promoting equality and strengthening the European social models;
Amendment 78 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Considers that the EU should support the infrastructures of the Member States' social models by reaffirming the importance of their universal access, quaand should increase investment in the social infrastructure by reinforcing the right to live in dignity and freedom through universal access to the infrastructures, and improvements to their quality, affordability and sustainability;
Amendment 83 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Emphasizses the need to find ways to strengthen the national social security systems to eradicate poverty with a long- term perspective, especially concerning adequate minimum income, pensions and health care services; stresses that there is potential to enhance the financial sustainability of the minimum wage and pension systems as well as the quality and efficiency of health care services through the improvement of their organisation and access, respecting the principles of subsidiarity, and supporting increased efforts to establish progressive taxation systems which can reduce inequality;
Amendment 87 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Invites the Commission to make a proposal on a better reconciliation between private, family and professional life optimising the use and knowledge of ICT and new forms of work organisation, taking into consideration the needs and well-being of children, whilst promoting more effective employment protection, which confirms parents' and carers' right to flexible working patterns, corresponding to their needs and paying particular attention to access for those on low incomes and in precarious or low- quality employment;
Amendment 97 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls for a more effective prevention and combating of early school leaving under the motto that 'school pays off'; calls for effectively organised education systems and school curricula adapted to tomorrow's economy, including preventive action such as early years assistance, and school curricula adapted to tomorrow's economy and societal needs, including more support and recognition for the key role of informal and non-formal learning methods, particularly for young people and adults who have been alienated from the traditional school systems;
Amendment 100 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Insists on the need for more effective lifelong learning actions aiming to better equippingassist citizens, especially the less qualified, to (re-)enter the job market; suggests emphasising entrepreneurial skills, ICT and communication competences, financial literacy and language skills;
Amendment 105 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Draws attention to the need for a more balanced approach between flexibility, and security and wages aiming at integrating young people, long-term unemployed people and disadvantaged people into the labour market; calls in this respect upon the Council and the Commission to take into account Parliament's resolution of 29 November 2007 on Common Principles of Flexicurityfor employers and employees aiming at integrating job-seekers into the labour market and at creating sustainable jobs for job-seekers;
Amendment 107 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Highlights the need to ensure that the Commission’s Recommendation “Active Inclusion”, endorsed by the December European Council, which is based on a three-pronged approach of adequate minimum income, support for access to decent work, and guaranteed access to affordable, quality services, is thoroughly implemented and monitored through the social OMC and the National Reform Programmes;
Amendment 111 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Highlights that social and employment policies should actively motivatesupport people to look for decent job opportunities orwhich guarantee a route out of poverty or, where appropriate, start their own entrepreneurial activity while also mitigating income loss and providing opportunities for education;
Amendment 116 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Highlights that not all people are able to work, nor are there currently jobs for all, and affirms the importance of implementing the 1992 recommendation, affirmed by the December Council, on providing “sufficient resources and social assistance to live in a manner compatible with human dignity”, through the extension of minimum income schemes to all Member States and increasing levels to ensure access and adequacy;
Amendment 119 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Calls for the recognition of the contribution made by social economy enterprises in creating sustainable and high-quality jobs, increasing the number of jobs for the people furthest from the labour market; considers that social economy enterprises are member-based enterprises owned and controlled by the very stakeholders concerned on the territory, are therefore key actors in the development of the territories and sustainable development, and create jobs that are not liable to be relocated in the context of an open economy and on a competitive market; considers that social economy enterprises require a secure legal framework based on the recognition of their specific values and operational systems in order to be able to operate on a level playing field with other forms of entrepreneurship;
Amendment 121 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Calls for the promotion of a stronger link between the implementation of flexicurity and the enhancement of social dialogue, linked to civil dialogue, respecting national customs and practices;
Amendment 125 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Insists on the removal of bureaucratic obstacles for small and medium enterprisesrelating to access to basic welfare provision for people at greatest risk of poverty;
Amendment 132 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Suggests to social partners that they could discuss new methodologies for wage policies which coulde importance of a renewed commitment to 'decent living wages' which guarantee minimum wages significantly above the adequate income level, to enable people to move out of poverty and to benefit positively from work, that they could discuss new methodologies for wage policies which could reverse the current declining percentage relation between salaries and profits, include higher incorporation of companies' proceeds in employees' earnings through the use of schemes that mitigate the impact of inflation; considers that such schemes could allow for channelling employees' extra earnings to special capital funds created by companies; calls for a debate regarding incentives for companies to engage in those methodologies, and furthermore calls for a debate regarding a legal framework that regulates the access of employees to those funds in a gradual way over time;
Amendment 136 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Insists that advancing non- discrimination and equal opportunities relies both on a sound legislative basis and on a range of policy tools and that non-discrimination and equality must be mainstreamed into all aspects of the renewed social agenda;
Amendment 142 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Considers that immigrants can, when legally employed, contribute to the sustainable development of social security systems and also guarantee their own pension and social rights; suggests that steps must be taken to support the legalisation of undocumented migrants;
Amendment 145 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Stresses that a successful human rights based immigration policy needs, on the basis of equal opportunities, to efficiently balance to promote a coherent and integrated strategy for the integration of migrants on the basis of equal opportunities, rooted in guaranteeing their fundamental rights, and ensuring a better balance between rights and obligations;
Amendment 150 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Amendment 151 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Believes that in its external relations the EU cshould have a more proactive and coherent role in promoting core social and environmental standards; is convinced that additional efforts need to be made regarding mechanisms on the prevention, surveillance and sanction of infringements; therefore criticises the generous approach taken by the Commission to GSP Plus; calls for action to be taken on reports by human rights organisations about infringements of GSP Plus conditions, such as the persecution of trade unionists in Colombia, by the suspension of favourable trading arrangements;
Amendment 154 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Considers that the EU c, in the context of its current negotiations for bilateral trade agreements with Korea, China, India, ASEAN and Central America, should try to influence the international agenda concerning the decent work agenda and compliance with International Labour Organisation conventions, human rights and fundamental freedoms, and that this could contribute to achieving world peace and also to the protection of the EU's interests and valuby making the adoption of agreements subject to the inclusion of legally binding and enforceable chapters on sustainable development as part of future bilateral trade rules;
Amendment 157 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Notes that the EU should aim formust contribute actively to a globalisation process that aims to restore global equity and challenge inequality, is more socially inclusive, and economically and environmentally sustainable;
Amendment 158 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Suggests strengthening the potential of structural funds, through simplification, flexibility and improvement of procedures, and the social integration dimension, with the aim to help Member States to optimise the output of social and employment policies; calls on the Member States and regions to fully involve the partners pursuant to Article 16 of the General Regulation on the Structural Funds; strongly recommends making the ESF accessible to the partners in order to build up capacity;
Amendment 161 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Believes that, in the context of attempts to focus interventions in terms of both location and theme, significant experience has been gathered for harmonising ERDF and ESF support at local level; calls on the local and regional authorities to build on this experience, to make better use of the synergies of ERDF and ESF funding and to consolidate integrated support;
Amendment 165 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Stresses that flexibility and acceptance of change by citizens can increase through more mutual trust which can be enhanced by a more effective and transparent social dialogue as well as ensuring more effective participative democracy in policy design and delivery;
Amendment 167 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Given that the results of the negotiations of the European social partners are poorly known and disclosed, calls for the promotion of awareness of the results of social dialogue to improve its impact and promote its development, and further the participation of social NGOs;
Amendment 171 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Believes that in social dialogue a cooperation culture should gradually replace the conflict culture which has prevailed in some countriecivil society organisations, and people experiencing poverty and social exclusion, must be more directly involved in the debates on the economic and social model, on an equal basis;
Amendment 174 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Calls for a wide debate between European stakeholders, national public authorities, employers and employees, according to national customs and practicesnd civil society, about the social agenda for the post-2010 period;
Amendment 175 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Notes that companies play an important role not only in economic terms but also in social terms in the EU draws therefore attention to the promotion of corporate social responsibility and the need to make urgent progress as regards high-quality work, including decent living wages, to underpin the social model and to prevent social dumping;
Amendment 179 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. Suggests tohat it is urgently necessary for the European institutions, national social partners and civil society that they could debate a possibleo adopt a "social pact" encompassing social actions with realistic, binding targets and indicators;
Amendment 181 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
Paragraph 33
33. Notes that Member States need to discuss ifshould support new measurable, binding and quantitative social targets and indicators should be included in the post-2010 Lisbon Strategyfor the post-2010 Lisbon Strategy, including commitments to work towards the eradication of poverty and social exclusion, as well as the development of a new social progress pact which would establish the goals and architecture for a new social sustainable and globally just EU, which should build and reinforce the Social OMC as a key pillar;
Amendment 182 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33 a (new)
Paragraph 33 a (new)
Amendment 187 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
Paragraph 35
35. Calls for an improvement of the law- making process at the EU level, by making it clear why actions at the EU level are needed, ensuring the quality of the content and delivering a solid impact assessment covering the social, environmental and economic effects;
Amendment 188 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 a (new)
Paragraph 35 a (new)
35 a. Calls on the Commission to improve existing employment law, in particular the Posting of Workers Directive, so that the principle of equal pay for equal work can be implemented at every workplace in the EU; calls furthermore for this to be carried through into anti-discrimination law;
Amendment 189 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
Paragraph 36
36. Emphasizses that effective cooperation between Member States and effective monitoring of the transposition of EU law should be a priority; as well as the independent assessment of possible negative social impacts of legislation and to bring forward a institutionalised evaluation by NGOs and their national members;
Amendment 190 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
Paragraph 37
37. Considers that better EU laws shoul-making should actively seek the involvement of civil society and address the concerns of citizens, thus bringing them closer to the EU;
Amendment 192 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38
Paragraph 38
38. Considers that there should be a better linkage at the EU-level between economic and social policies, with a reaffirmation of the original Lisbon Agenda goals and the need to ensure that economic and employment policies actively contribute to the eradication of poverty and social exclusion; notes that the Lisbon Treaty establishes that very relevant aspects of social policy should be taken into account when defining and implementing EU policies;
Amendment 195 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39
Paragraph 39
39. Considers that the post-2010 Lisbon Strategy should ensure the continuation and strengthening of the Social OMC, as part of a new social and sustainable, globally just EU architecture including covering OMC priorities on social policy, and that a reinforced OMC with explicit poverty and social inclusion targets should be established in order to make real social progress;
Amendment 197 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39 a (new)
Paragraph 39 a (new)
39a. Emphasises the progress made through the Social OMC in promoting the active participation of all stakeholders, including NGOs and people experiencing poverty in the diagnosis, implementation and evaluation of social policies and calls for increased mutual learning and the development of indicators and benchmarking on good governance and participation in all OMC processes in the EU;
Amendment 198 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40
Paragraph 40
40. Calls on the Council and the Commission to open up opportunities for a real involvement of the European Parliament and civil society in the post- 2010 Lisbon Strategy;