5 Amendments of Malcolm HARBOUR related to 2009/2222(INI)
Amendment 3 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Considers that social services of general interest (SSGI) play a comprehensive role in implementation of the principles set out in Article 3 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU) and Articles 9 and 14 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), particularly with regard toand in the development of a highly competitive social market economy and the promotion of social and territorial cohesion in the Union; stresses here that it is important to reinforccognise the social dimension of the sinternalgle market by taking better account of the special nature of SSGI, with emphasis on a pragmatic approach in which the accessibility, universality, quality and efficiency of such services are the prime considerationand of SSGIs;
Amendment 10 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Considers that, given the place which these services have in Europe, especially against a background of economic crisis, the EU should do more to promotrecognise their importance; asks the Commission, therefore, to explore the idea of setting up a European social services observatory to collect information from various sources in the Member States and to promote good practice at European, national, regional and local level; also calls on the Commission to update the website on questions and answers concerning SSGI, making it accessible in all the EU official languages;
Amendment 18 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Draws attention to the substantial proportion of total employment in the EU, and of public financing in the Member States, that is accounted for by SSGI; believes that, against a background of economic and budgetary crisis, a balanced approach needs to be adopted, based on preserving the quality of social services and making them more effective; considers, therefore, that discussion is required with a focus on the relationship between public procurement rules and SSGIand public procurement rules must be clarified, particularly with regard to new management approaches such as in-house procurement and increased emphasis on quality criteria in the tender selection process;
Amendment 24 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Emphasises the need to clarify the legal uncertaintiessituation affecting SSGI; welcomes the updating of the Commission'’s guide on the application of EU state aid, public procurement and sinternalgle market rules to SSGI; notes the proposals made in the Monti report, especially those concerned with a sector-based approach to use of Article 14 TFEU; considers it essential to move forward with a pragmatic approach enabling the real problems, and potential solutions to them, to be identified; calls on the Commission, in association with Parliament and the Council, to carry out in- depth research into the functioning of a pilotn SSGI sector such as that of services to the elderly, which, in future, will have a major role to play;
Amendment 32 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Draws attention to the range of public- service models in Europe and the fact that observance of the principle of subsidiarity is therefoshould be at the centre aof further consideration which should inform discussions aimed at clarifying the link between the European level and local and national levels regarding social services.