13 Amendments of Konstantinos POUPAKIS related to 2013/2277(INI)
Amendment 68 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Notes that the crisis has highlighted and exacerbated macroeconomic imbalances in certain Member States and that it is therefore clearly necessary to initiate structural changes and reforms on a case-by-case basis, giving special attention to vulnerable sections of society with a view to achieving growth, accompanied by social cohesion and employment;
Amendment 74 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. Stresses that, on the one hand, the adoption of the same solution for all Member States without taking individual circumstances into account and, on the other, the very brief period allowed for the implementation of economic adjustment programmes has made it difficult for both society and the business sector to adapt, thereby undermining social cohesion, employment and the real economy;
Amendment 76 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 c (new)
Paragraph 4 c (new)
4c. Notes that high rates of unemployment and underemployment, combined with public and private sector pay cuts - in accordance with economic adjustment programmes - are undermining the sustainability and adequacy of pension systems as a result of diminishing insurance contributions and social security funding shortfalls;
Amendment 78 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 d (new)
Paragraph 4 d (new)
4d. Notes with concern the lack of effective action in those Member States that are implementing economic adjustment programmes to combat tax evasion, contribution evasion and the underground economy, resulting in the excessive taxation of earnings, undermining social security systems and aggravating social inequalities;
Amendment 81 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Notes with great concern that it is young people who are suffering the highest levels of unemployment, with the situation in countries such as Greece, where the rate is over 50%, or Portugal and Ireland, where it is in excess of 30%, being quite devastating; notes the increasing degree of employment mismatch and the resulting loss of the innovatory and expert resources affecting production and hence growth; regrets the fact that even those who do find a job often find themselves working under precarious conditions or on part-time contracts which make it hard to live independently;
Amendment 89 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Expresses its concern at the fact that high rates of unemployment and long- term unemployment have resulted in loss of health coverage for a large part of the unemployed population and their dependents and an increase in the number of households forced to survive on meagre incomes or with no income at all, thereby increasing the risk of extreme poverty and social exclusion, as reflected by the growing number of destitute and homeless people and the lack of access to basic goods and services, particularly in the wake of the massive welfare restrictions introduced under the economic adjustment programmes;
Amendment 128 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Expresses its concern that, during the preparation and implementation of the economic adjustment plans, insufficient attention was given to the impact of economic policy on employment or its social implications and that, in the case of Greece, the working hypothesis turned out to be based on a mistaken assumption regarding the economic multiplier effect, resulting in failure to act in time to protect the most vulnerable against poverty, in-work poverty and social exclusion; calls on the Commission to take account of social indicators also for the purpose of renegotiating the economic adjustment programmes and replacing the measures recommended for each Member State, with a view to ensuring the necessary conditions for growth and full compliance with the EU's basic social principles and values;
Amendment 134 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 b (new)
Paragraph 9 b (new)
9b. Expresses concern that the (micro and macro) social and economic situation in these countries is aggravating regional and territorial disparities, thereby undermining the stated EUobjective of strengthening its internal regional cohesion;
Amendment 168 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17α. Expresses great concern, however, that the continuation or aggravation of the social and economic situation might further exacerbate the NEET problem and that of growing educational inequalities;
Amendment 179 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Notes that the recasting of industrial relations dictated by the logic of internal devaluation in line with the economic adjustment programmes has failed to produce the anticipated results, labour market reforms having proved most successful when drawn up and implemented in consultation with the social partners, particularly through social dialogue and consistently in line with national traditions, this being the only way to avoid labour market fragmentation and achieve the much- desired objective of harmonious industrial relations; accepts as clearly legitimate the demand for labour market reforms and cutbacks, given the constantly fluctuating social and economic conditions, while stressing the undeniable need to safeguard fundamental labour rights that have been established at national and European level in a bid to boost employment, prevent job losses and ensure full compliance with the core principles governing decent working conditions;
Amendment 194 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Stresses that Greece has done an enormous amount, involving unprecedented sacrifices on the part of the Greek people; urges the EU to help ensure that society and the real economy in Greece benefit accordingly from initial economic achievements;
Amendment 203 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Calls on the Commission, in cooperation with the national authorities , to provide additional assistance to countries implementing economic adjustment programmes, thereby ensuring that they make optimum use of the opportunities offered by the EU structural funds to improve public administration and education, boost employment, and combat poverty, unemployment and social exclusion for the public benefit;
Amendment 206 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 20 b (new)
Paragraph 20 b (new)
20b. Calls on the Commission to take measures, such as facilitating access to funding, to promote SMEs, which form the backbone of the European economy as well as playing a central economic role at national level in the countries concerned; calls on the Commission in this connection to examine the possibility of introducing a 'growth clause' in economic adjustment programmes, given that illiquidity, high taxation and prolonged recession in countries implementing economic adjustment programmes have seriously undermined entrepreneurship, particularly in small and medium enterprises, resulting in business closures or relocations, leading in turn to widespread job losses;