Activities of Patrick LE HYARIC related to 2011/2071(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
European semester for economic policy coordination (debate)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on the European Semester for economic policy coordination
Amendments (13)
Amendment 11 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph C a (new)
Paragraph C a (new)
Ca. whereas the national parliaments are freely elected by the citizens and are therefore the representatives and the guarantors of the rights acquired and delegated by the citizens; whereas the introduction of the European Semester reduces this prerogative of parliaments to a purely symbolic action,
Amendment 12 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph C b (new)
Paragraph C b (new)
Cb. whereas the introduction of the European Semester should in no circumstances subordinate the fundamental rights or the established social rights of citizens to budgetary restrictions,
Amendment 13 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph C c (new)
Paragraph C c (new)
Cc. whereas the European Semester will allow the European institutions to comment on draft national budgets even before they are adopted at national level and whereas national budgets must be based on economic forecasts and recommendations by the Commission and Council regarding the policy choices to be made,
Amendment 23 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Notes that the neoliberal measures that are continuing to be applied, notably as part of the so-called National Reform Plans, 'economic governance' and the European Semester, are contributing to the worsening social crisis in a number of countries with more fragile economies, making life more and more difficult for families and in particular for women and children, who are the main victims of growing poverty, unemployment and precarious and poorly paid work;
Amendment 24 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Stresses the need to prioritise action to tackle the problems of unemployment, poverty and social exclusion, which will necessitate revision of the present economic and financial policies, especially the Stability Pact, internal market policy and competition policy, in order to put the emphasis on sustainable employment based on quality jobs with rights, investment, and quality public services guaranteeing social inclusion, especially in the fields of education, health, childcare, care of dependent persons, public transport and social services;
Amendment 30 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Calls on the Council and the Commission, when providing policy guidance to Member States, to respect the principles of subsidiarity and social dialogue in the field of wages and pensions as well and, in keeping with Article 153(5) TFEU, to respect the competences of the Member States and social partners in these areas and to consult the social partners before issuing their recommendations;
Amendment 34 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Expresses its concern that the European guidance focuses exclusively on completing the internal market through removal of all barriers to competition, without at the same time involving policies to tackle poverty and social exclusion;
Amendment 35 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Calls for European guidance to be supported by an impact assessment of fiscal competition between Member States and of tax exemptions within Member States on their budgetary revenue;
Amendment 40 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Stresses the importance of public investment at EU and national level to promote social and economic cohesion, in particular investment in less developed regions; considers, therefore, that the Stability and Growth Pact must be abolished, given its negative impact on the proper implementation of the Structural Funds and investment in general; calls for a clear distinction to be established between investment and current expenditure, and considers that expenditure in such areas as education, social services, R&D and infrastructure, including renewable energies, transport and communications, constitutes an investment;
Amendment 48 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Requests that the European Semester should serve not as a system enabling national budgets to be drawn up, supervised, and checked by the Commission and the Council, but rather as a means of support allowing budgets to be drawn up without in any way undermining the fundamental rights of citizens and their established social rights;
Amendment 51 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Underlines the importance of ensuring a mutually reinforced interaction between micro- and macro-economic policies on the one hand, and employment and social policies on the other hand, which isof respecting established social rights, and of combating poverty and social exclusion, aspects which are all essential to be able to deliver on the overall goals of Europe 2020;
Amendment 52 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Remains committed to paying special attention, including in its deliberations on the European Semester, to the impact of employment and the social situation on the macro-economic situation and vice versa, and calls on the Commission to follow the same approach.
Amendment 60 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Emphasises that Europe needs a macroeconomic framework to support sustainable development, and an increase in employment and social cohesion; considers that monetary and tax policies in the EU have had a negative impact on the growth of the economy and employment, and recalls that monetary policy should contribute to strengthening economic recovery and fighting unemployment;