Activities of Kerstin WESTPHAL related to 2010/2157(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
Demographic change and its consequences for the cohesion policy (short presentation)
Reports (1)
REPORT on demographic change and its consequences for the future cohesion policy of the EU PDF (230 KB) DOC (132 KB)
Amendments (24)
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas, under the 2007-2013 operational programmes, the Member States have earmarked EUR 30 billion in structural funds for measures related to demographic change, and regional policy is a key instrument for addressing this changeand local authorities are central to the process of addressing this change, in which regional policy will therefore be a key instrument among the EU’s means of action,
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas demographic change in the EU and worldwide is a fact and handling it constitutes one of the core tasks for the future, and whereas the population of the EU is the oldest in the world,
Amendment 2 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Believes that demographic change has very different effects from region to region; depending on whether it is rapid or slow and whether the region concerned is a region of net immigration or of shrinking population and therefore requires different adjustment strategies and has to be tackled in a coordinated way by all European, national and regional authorities, notes that quality of life is defined differently in regions of shrinking population, particularly rural regions, from the way in which it is defined in regions with a growing population, and therefore considers that different support strategies are needed; thinks that workforce migration accentuates the effects of demographic change and that population ageing is only part of the picture;
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
5. Calls on the Commission to includBelieves that joint solutions and synergy can be found by applying EU policies, including where demographic change ais conecerned; calls ofn the ‘thematic priorities’ which it will use to shapeCommission to include demographic change as a horizontal objective in the future cohesion policy; also calls on the Commission to insist on the inclusion of this issue when concluding investment partnerships with Member States;
Amendment 5 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Encourages the Member States and regions to pay greater heed than in the past to demographic change and its effects as a horizontal priority in their operationalobjective in the shaping of the national strategic framework programmes (or any corresponding document) and in their operational programmes; considers in this connection that the flagships of the EU2020 strategy, including the active and healthy ageing partnership, could be directly linked to the preferences of the partners in these programmes;
Amendment 6 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Encourages the regions to use the structural funds to help address demographic challenges and remain atto improve the access to social and administractive to residents, as that cservices including in small and remote towns and villages, by promoting the specific potential of each region and stem depopulationrengthening the factors that make people want to stay;
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Points out that ERDF funds can also be used to avoid the social exclusion of the elderly, for example by buildingputting in place dedicated infrastructure suitableand services for the elderly and ensuring accessibility for all;
Amendment 9 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Considers that, in areas with a dwindling population, financial support should also be provided for urban renovation and redevelopmentadaptation strategies; believes that urban and regional planning must take changing infrastructure uses into greater account, including by revitalising and restructuring inner cities; an area where cooperation with private partners is also important; notes that one of the priorities for urban policy should be to develop age-friendly towns and cities;
Amendment 10 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Encourages the Member States to adapt welfare and healthcare benefits in line with needs of everyone, especially families and children and provide funding to ensure the availability of care at home and universal healthcare for elderly people, irrespective of their income, age and social status, so as to prevent depopulation of rural areas and peripheral regions;
Amendment 11 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Considers that public investments in the health and care systems are important for social cohesion in Europe; calls on the Member States to ensure good healthcare provision in rural areas also, for example through gateway clinics, and to use structural funds to promote additional measures in the field of telemedicine; regional medical care gateway clinics and health services making it possible to combat ‘medical desertification’, and, in border regions, through greater cross-border cooperation between clinics and between stakeholders, and by considering the possibility of using structural funds to promote additional measures in the field of telemedicine and care and to support active ageing; calls on the Commission to find innovative solutions for financial support for these actions;
Amendment 11 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas meeting the diversity of demographic challenges is principally the task of the Member States, but whereas the regions must be proactive, for which they need support from European level,
Amendment 12 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Warns of the danger of specific regional difficulties in providing services of general interest, in particular a lack of skilled workers in care-related professions in certain regions; believes that these regions should develop specific regional responses to needs and difficulties of service provision, and use ESF funds to train care workers in order to ensure that a high quality of care is guaranteed and that new jobs are created, including through retraining programmes for the unemployed; points out that this makes a direct contribution to the EU2020 objective of creating more jobs;
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. BConsiders that the rising life expectancy in Europe is to be welcomed; believes that the public is often only aware of the dangers and not the opportunities brought by demographic change;
Amendment 15 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Calls on the Commission to orientate the ESF more towardsso account is taken of people in the various stages of life, to ensuringe that more use its potential is sufficient to deal withmade of professional and voluntary potential in meeting the challenges of demographic changes; notes that the experience and know-how of older people should be utilised, for example for coaching projects, and that structures are required for this purposeto ensure generational changeover, and that appropriate solutions are required for this purpose; takes the view that intergenerational communication is an opportunity that should be seized;
Amendment 16 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Believes that the regions should use ESF funds in a decisive manner to combat unemployment amongst young people in order to to ensure the social integration of young people and give them the opportunity to take up a suitable profession, this can be achieved for example by supporting training-measures and entrepreneurship of young people;
Amendment 17 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Calls on the Member States and regional and local authorities to enhance cooperation with local and regional stakeholders on issues connected with demographic change; considers that in the border regions this cooperation must also tie in with wishes and opportunities for cross-border initiatives; suggests that training programmes be developed in this field to create a better understanding and awareness of the issues involved; urges the regions to exchange best practice related to the challenges entailed in ageing;
Amendment 18 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Believes that demographic change has very different effects from region to region and that there is migration away from many regions, particularly rural regions, while inward movements of population may be observed in certain conurbations;
Amendment 29 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Considers that demographic trends and gender equality issues are closely linked and that a political framework for gender equality can help face demographic challenges; requests, therefore, that the issue of gender equality should be taken into consideration in all debates on demographic issues;
Amendment 46 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Encourages the Member States and regions to pay greater heed than in the past to demographic change and its effects as a horizontal priority in the shaping of the national strategic framework programmes and in their operational programmes;
Amendment 110 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Calls on the regions and municipalities to provide universally available, reliable and free all-day childcare facilities for children of all ages including facilities and opportunities for pre-school-learning to prevent depopulation;
Amendment 114 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16 a. thinks it is important to have enough affordable housing space for families, so that the compatibility of family and job can be improved, because the support of young families can help to increase the birth-rate in member states;
Amendment 146 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Believes that the regions should use ESF funds to combat unemployment amongst young people in order to ensure the social integration of young people and to give them the opportunity to take up a suitable profession;
Amendment 151 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Believes that the regions should use ESF funds to combat unemployment amongst young people in order to give them the opportunity to take up a suitable profession, this can be achieved for example by supporting training-measures and entrepreneurship of young people;
Amendment 168 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Asks the Commission to find ways of reshaping the idea of an Erasmus programme for elected representatives in an appropriate form and to explain its idea for a summer or winter school in greater detail so that representatives from the European regions can exchange good experience and approaches to solutions on demographic matters;