BETA


2005/2004(INI) Exploitation of children in developing countries, with a special focus on child labour

Progress: Procedure completed

RoleCommitteeRapporteurShadows
Lead DEVE MAVROMMATIS Manolis (icon: PPE-DE PPE-DE)
Committee Opinion INTA KARIM Sajjad (icon: ALDE ALDE)
Lead committee dossier:
Legal Basis:
RoP 54

Events

2005/11/03
   EC - Commission response to text adopted in plenary
Documents
2005/07/14
   EC - Commission response to text adopted in plenary
Documents
2005/07/05
   EP - Text adopted by Parliament, single reading
Details

The European Parliament adopted a resolution based on the own-initiative report drafted by Emmanouil MAVROMMATIS (EPP-ED, EL) on the exploitation of children in developing countries, with a special focus on child labour. (Please see the summary of 06/06/2005.) Parliament also pointed out that 5 million children are being exploited at places of work in eastern Europe and the Mediterranean region and in particular (it would appear) in EU Member States, which is particularly unacceptable. It recommended that the Commission make the implementation of core labour standards a permanent element in bilateral consultations at all levels, both with countries where violations occur and with countries which are involved with them through trade and investment. In addition, the ratification of and compliance with ILO Conventions 138 and 182 must be two of the requirements which the Commission and the Council should impose on countries applying to join the EU.

The Commission must ensure that the EU's trade policies are consistent with its commitment to protecting children's rights. Parliament urged an investigation into the introduction of an EU scheme for the labelling of goods imported into the EU to attest that they have been produced without the use of child labour at any point in the production and supply chain, and implementing "child-labour free" labels for these products, whilst ensuring that such a scheme complies with World Trade Organization (WTO) international trade rules. In the interim, products and produce from developing nations should be labelled "responsibly grown/manufactured without child labour".

Link between education, poverty and elimination of child labour: Parliament reiterates its view that there is a mutually reinforcing relationship between a lack of education and child labour, making education the basic instrument for achieving the Millennium Development Goals by 2015. Particular attention should be paid to the primary education of girls, who encounter more barriers and obstacles than do boys (cultural factors such as early marriage, discrimination, their social and family role and so, on playing a part) preventing them from enrolling and remaining in school and from completing their studies.

Worst forms of child exploitation: the Commission was asked to support programmes combating less common forms of child labour such as domestic work and the selling of children to pay off family debts (debt bondage). Parliament proposed the appointment of an EU special representative for children who are victims of armed conflict, wars, displacement, drought, hunger, natural disasters or AIDS, or children who are caught up in the trafficking of human beings, and to ensure that due attention is given to such situations. Parliament called for the support of the WTO in the form of a ban on child labour in trade and suggested that child-labour free products be marked and labelled as such for consumer awareness of responsible practices.

Corporate responsibility: Parliament welcomed the fact that the Commission has taken the initiative to draw up a communication on corporate social responsibility. It recommended that the Commission investigate the creation of appropriate EU-level legal mechanisms which identify EU-based importers who import products which allow the violation of the core ILO conventions, including the use of child labour, in any part of the supply chain. The Commission needs to explore the possibility of creating incentives for EU importers who carry out independent monitoring of the manufacture of their products in all third countries forming part of the production chain. The Commission and the Council should promote the fair trade initiatives, in particular in new EU Member States, monitoring producers to ensure that their methods are consistent with fair trading standards. Parliament went on to recommend that the Commission identify companies which persistently use child labour in any part of the production and supply chain and called for such a list to be made available to EU importers. The Commission should make compliance with core labour standards a precondition in its purchasing and contracting policy, and develop a policy which makes it possible for small producers in developing countries likewise to comply with these standards.

Lastly, Parliament asked the Council to support the OECD’s guidelines for multinational enterprises and the UN’s Global Compact. Moreover, it recommended that the Commission propose the extension of the scope of the OECD Guidelines from investment to trade, enhance the implementation instruments and reach agreements with governments of developing countries on the way in which enterprises can contribute to the effective abolition of child labour.

2005/07/05
   EP - Results of vote in Parliament
2005/07/05
   EP - Decision by Parliament
Details

The European Parliament adopted a resolution based on the own-initiative report drafted by Emmanouil MAVROMMATIS (EPP-ED, EL) on the exploitation of children in developing countries, with a special focus on child labour. (Please see the summary of 06/06/2005.) Parliament also pointed out that 5 million children are being exploited at places of work in eastern Europe and the Mediterranean region and in particular (it would appear) in EU Member States, which is particularly unacceptable. It recommended that the Commission make the implementation of core labour standards a permanent element in bilateral consultations at all levels, both with countries where violations occur and with countries which are involved with them through trade and investment. In addition, the ratification of and compliance with ILO Conventions 138 and 182 must be two of the requirements which the Commission and the Council should impose on countries applying to join the EU.

The Commission must ensure that the EU's trade policies are consistent with its commitment to protecting children's rights. Parliament urged an investigation into the introduction of an EU scheme for the labelling of goods imported into the EU to attest that they have been produced without the use of child labour at any point in the production and supply chain, and implementing "child-labour free" labels for these products, whilst ensuring that such a scheme complies with World Trade Organization (WTO) international trade rules. In the interim, products and produce from developing nations should be labelled "responsibly grown/manufactured without child labour".

Link between education, poverty and elimination of child labour: Parliament reiterates its view that there is a mutually reinforcing relationship between a lack of education and child labour, making education the basic instrument for achieving the Millennium Development Goals by 2015. Particular attention should be paid to the primary education of girls, who encounter more barriers and obstacles than do boys (cultural factors such as early marriage, discrimination, their social and family role and so, on playing a part) preventing them from enrolling and remaining in school and from completing their studies.

Worst forms of child exploitation: the Commission was asked to support programmes combating less common forms of child labour such as domestic work and the selling of children to pay off family debts (debt bondage). Parliament proposed the appointment of an EU special representative for children who are victims of armed conflict, wars, displacement, drought, hunger, natural disasters or AIDS, or children who are caught up in the trafficking of human beings, and to ensure that due attention is given to such situations. Parliament called for the support of the WTO in the form of a ban on child labour in trade and suggested that child-labour free products be marked and labelled as such for consumer awareness of responsible practices.

Corporate responsibility: Parliament welcomed the fact that the Commission has taken the initiative to draw up a communication on corporate social responsibility. It recommended that the Commission investigate the creation of appropriate EU-level legal mechanisms which identify EU-based importers who import products which allow the violation of the core ILO conventions, including the use of child labour, in any part of the supply chain. The Commission needs to explore the possibility of creating incentives for EU importers who carry out independent monitoring of the manufacture of their products in all third countries forming part of the production chain. The Commission and the Council should promote the fair trade initiatives, in particular in new EU Member States, monitoring producers to ensure that their methods are consistent with fair trading standards. Parliament went on to recommend that the Commission identify companies which persistently use child labour in any part of the production and supply chain and called for such a list to be made available to EU importers. The Commission should make compliance with core labour standards a precondition in its purchasing and contracting policy, and develop a policy which makes it possible for small producers in developing countries likewise to comply with these standards.

Lastly, Parliament asked the Council to support the OECD’s guidelines for multinational enterprises and the UN’s Global Compact. Moreover, it recommended that the Commission propose the extension of the scope of the OECD Guidelines from investment to trade, enhance the implementation instruments and reach agreements with governments of developing countries on the way in which enterprises can contribute to the effective abolition of child labour.

Documents
2005/07/05
   EP - End of procedure in Parliament
2005/06/15
   EP - Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading
Documents
2005/06/15
   EP - Committee report tabled for plenary
Documents
2005/06/06
   EP - Vote in committee
Details

The committee adopted the own-initiative report by Emmanouil MAVROMMATIS (EPP-ED, EL) on the exploitation of children in developing countries, with a special focus on child labour.

The report recognised the deplorable situation of 352 million working children in the world, 179 million of whom are victims of the worst forms of child labour, according to ILO findings. It looked at ways to tackle such child exploitation and identified two categories of child labour which merit special attention: work that is so harmful to the health of children that it must be stopped as a matter of urgency and work where it is possible to prevent violations of child workers' rights through improving conditions or providing alternatives.

The committee called on the Commission to implement " child-labour free " labels for goods imported into the EU so as to create consistency between the EU's trade policies and its obligation to protect and promote children's rights. It also called on the WTO to introduce such labelling, and wanted a WTO role in securing a ban on child labour in trade. MEPs further recommended that the implementation of core labour standards be part of all bilateral trade agreements and strategic partnerships, including the incorporation of a clause banning child labour, and a special reference to respect for the minimum age for employment.

The committee also wanted the Commission to monitor the impact of EU funding for basic education as part of the drive to get child workers into full-time schools while ensuring that humanitarian aid does not suffer as a result of this commitment. It was also in favour of an EU special representative for victimised or endangered children.

Finally, the report called for corporate responsibility as regards the use of child labour, and recommended the setting up of an EU mechanism to identify and prosecute EU-based importers who are in violation of ILO rules. The use of child labour, in any part of the supply chain, would be enough to constitute violation. The Commission should also offer incentives for importers to play an active role in ensuring the compliance of their products. Transnational companies would also be required to adapt their business practices accordingly, and governments of their home countries to monitor and report back on the contribution of these companies to the abolition of child labour and implementation of ILO core labour standards.

2005/05/23
   EP - Committee opinion
Documents
2005/05/13
   EP - Amendments tabled in committee
Documents
2005/02/24
   EP - Committee referral announced in Parliament
2005/01/17
   EP - KARIM Sajjad (ALDE) appointed as rapporteur in INTA
2004/12/02
   EP - MAVROMMATIS Manolis (PPE-DE) appointed as rapporteur in DEVE

Documents

Votes

Rapport Mavrommatis A6-0185/2005 - am. 3 #

2005/07/05 Outcome: +: 583, 0: 14, -: 10
DE FR GB IT PL ES NL CZ EL HU AT PT BE LT SK IE LV FI DK SI CY EE SE MT LU
Total
83
63
71
53
46
45
25
22
21
20
18
18
17
12
14
10
9
13
8
7
6
5
14
4
3
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222
2
4
4

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1
4

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2

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2
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172

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2

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1

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2
icon: ALDE ALDE
74
2

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1

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1

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1

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2

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2

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2
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37

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4

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2

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1

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1

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31

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3

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1

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Rapport Mavrommatis A6-0185/2005 - am. 4 #

2005/07/05 Outcome: +: 571, 0: 13, -: 9
DE FR GB IT ES PL NL CZ EL HU BE PT AT SK LT IE DK LV FI SI CY EE SE LU MT
Total
78
66
65
53
49
45
25
22
21
20
17
17
16
13
11
10
9
8
12
5
5
5
14
4
3
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218
2
4

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4

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35

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Rapport Mavrommatis A6-0185/2005 - am. 5 #

2005/07/05 Outcome: +: 597, 0: 14, -: 10
DE FR GB PL ES IT NL CZ EL HU BE PT AT SK LT DK IE LV SI FI CY EE MT LU SE
Total
82
67
72
48
48
49
25
22
22
21
19
19
18
14
12
10
10
9
7
13
6
5
4
4
15
icon: PPE-DE PPE-DE
228
2

Denmark PPE-DE

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1
4

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3

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175

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2

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2

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1

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icon: ALDE ALDE
78
2

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1

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1

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1

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2

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1

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37

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4

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2

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23

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Rapport Mavrommatis A6-0185/2005 - am. 6 #

2005/07/05 Outcome: +: 593, 0: 14, -: 9
DE FR GB IT PL ES NL CZ HU EL BE AT PT LT SK IE LV DK FI SI CY EE SE MT LU
Total
84
65
71
53
49
46
24
22
21
21
19
18
18
12
13
10
9
10
13
6
6
5
14
4
3
icon: PPE-DE PPE-DE
226
2
4

Denmark PPE-DE

For (1)

1

Finland PPE-DE

3

Malta PPE-DE

2

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2
icon: PSE PSE
171

Czechia PSE

2

Lithuania PSE

2

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1

Malta PSE

2
icon: ALDE ALDE
76

Spain ALDE

1
2

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1

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1

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1

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2

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1

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2

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2
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37

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4

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2

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1

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1

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23

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1

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2
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28

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Rapport Mavrommatis A6-0185/2005 - am. 7 #

2005/07/05 Outcome: +: 604, 0: 15, -: 8
DE FR GB IT PL ES NL CZ EL HU BE PT AT SK FI LT IE LV DK SI CY EE MT LU SE
Total
84
68
71
52
49
49
24
22
22
21
19
19
18
14
14
11
10
9
11
7
6
5
4
4
14
icon: PPE-DE PPE-DE
230
4
2
4

Denmark PPE-DE

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1

Malta PPE-DE

2

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2
icon: PSE PSE
178

Czechia PSE

2

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2

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1

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1

Malta PSE

2

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For (1)

1
icon: ALDE ALDE
77
2

Austria ALDE

1

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1

Latvia ALDE

1

Slovenia ALDE

2

Cyprus ALDE

For (1)

1

Estonia ALDE

2

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2
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
36

United Kingdom Verts/ALE

4

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2

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1

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2

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31

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3

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25

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3

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3
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22

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Rapport Mavrommatis A6-0185/2005 - am. 2 #

2005/07/05 Outcome: +: 610, 0: 13, -: 7
DE FR GB PL ES IT NL CZ EL HU BE PT AT SK FI LT DK IE LV SI CY EE SE MT LU
Total
84
69
72
50
49
54
24
22
21
20
19
19
18
14
13
12
12
10
9
7
6
5
14
4
3
icon: PPE-DE PPE-DE
231
2

Denmark PPE-DE

For (1)

1
4

Malta PPE-DE

2

Luxembourg PPE-DE

2
icon: PSE PSE
177

Czechia PSE

2

Lithuania PSE

2

Ireland PSE

1

Slovenia PSE

For (1)

1

Malta PSE

2

Luxembourg PSE

For (1)

1
icon: ALDE ALDE
78
2

Austria ALDE

1

Ireland ALDE

For (1)

1

Latvia ALDE

1

Slovenia ALDE

2

Cyprus ALDE

For (1)

1

Estonia ALDE

2

Sweden ALDE

Against (1)

1
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
36

United Kingdom Verts/ALE

4

Italy Verts/ALE

2

Netherlands Verts/ALE

Abstain (1)

3

Belgium Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Austria Verts/ALE

2

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For (1)

1

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1

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1

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1
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
32

France GUE/NGL

3

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1

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1

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2

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2

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1

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25

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3

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1

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2
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Rapport Mavrommatis A6-0185/2005 - résolution #

2005/07/05 Outcome: +: 618, -: 10, 0: 4
DE FR IT GB PL ES NL CZ HU EL BE PT AT FI SK SE DK LT IE LV SI CY EE MT LU
Total
84
69
55
72
48
48
25
22
21
21
19
19
18
14
14
15
12
11
10
9
7
6
5
4
4
icon: PPE-DE PPE-DE
231

Denmark PPE-DE

For (1)

1
2
4

Malta PPE-DE

2

Luxembourg PPE-DE

2
icon: PSE PSE
177

Czechia PSE

2

Lithuania PSE

For (1)

1

Ireland PSE

1

Slovenia PSE

For (1)

1

Malta PSE

2

Luxembourg PSE

For (1)

1
icon: ALDE ALDE
79
2

Austria ALDE

1

Sweden ALDE

Against (1)

2

Ireland ALDE

For (1)

1

Latvia ALDE

1

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2

Cyprus ALDE

For (1)

1

Estonia ALDE

2
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
38

Italy Verts/ALE

2

United Kingdom Verts/ALE

4

Belgium Verts/ALE

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1

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2

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1

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1

Denmark Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Latvia Verts/ALE

1

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

For (1)

1
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
33

France GUE/NGL

3

United Kingdom GUE/NGL

1

Spain GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Netherlands GUE/NGL

2

Greece GUE/NGL

Abstain (1)

2

Portugal GUE/NGL

2

Finland GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Sweden GUE/NGL

2

Cyprus GUE/NGL

2
icon: NI NI
23

United Kingdom NI

Abstain (1)

3

Czechia NI

1

Austria NI

2
icon: UEN UEN
22

Denmark UEN

For (1)

1

Lithuania UEN

2
icon: IND/DEM IND/DEM
29

France IND/DEM

2

Netherlands IND/DEM

2

Czechia IND/DEM

1

Greece IND/DEM

1

Denmark IND/DEM

1

Ireland IND/DEM

For (1)

1

History

(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)

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date
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activities
  • date: 2005-02-24T00:00:00 body: EP type: Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading committees: body: EP responsible: True committee: DEVE date: 2004-12-02T00:00:00 committee_full: Development rapporteur: group: PPE-DE name: MAVROMMATIS Manolis body: EP responsible: False committee: INTA date: 2005-01-17T00:00:00 committee_full: International Trade rapporteur: group: ALDE name: KARIM Sajjad
  • date: 2005-06-06T00:00:00 body: EP committees: body: EP responsible: True committee: DEVE date: 2004-12-02T00:00:00 committee_full: Development rapporteur: group: PPE-DE name: MAVROMMATIS Manolis body: EP responsible: False committee: INTA date: 2005-01-17T00:00:00 committee_full: International Trade rapporteur: group: ALDE name: KARIM Sajjad type: Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
  • date: 2005-06-15T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A6-2005-185&language=EN type: Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading title: A6-0185/2005 body: EP type: Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading
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docs
  • date: 2005-04-28T00:00:00 docs: title: PE357.560 type: Committee draft report body: EP
  • date: 2005-05-13T00:00:00 docs: title: PE357.882 type: Amendments tabled in committee body: EP
  • date: 2005-05-23T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE353.517 title: PE353.517 committee: INTA type: Committee opinion body: EP
  • date: 2005-06-15T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A6-2005-185&language=EN title: A6-0185/2005 type: Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading body: EP
  • date: 2005-07-05T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P6-TA-2005-272 title: T6-0272/2005 url: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/JOHtml.do?uri=OJ:C:2006:157E:SOM:EN:HTML title: OJ C 157 06.07.2006, p. 0020-0084 E summary: The European Parliament adopted a resolution based on the own-initiative report drafted by Emmanouil MAVROMMATIS (EPP-ED, EL) on the exploitation of children in developing countries, with a special focus on child labour. (Please see the summary of 06/06/2005.) Parliament also pointed out that 5 million children are being exploited at places of work in eastern Europe and the Mediterranean region and in particular (it would appear) in EU Member States, which is particularly unacceptable. It recommended that the Commission make the implementation of core labour standards a permanent element in bilateral consultations at all levels, both with countries where violations occur and with countries which are involved with them through trade and investment. In addition, the ratification of and compliance with ILO Conventions 138 and 182 must be two of the requirements which the Commission and the Council should impose on countries applying to join the EU. The Commission must ensure that the EU's trade policies are consistent with its commitment to protecting children's rights. Parliament urged an investigation into the introduction of an EU scheme for the labelling of goods imported into the EU to attest that they have been produced without the use of child labour at any point in the production and supply chain, and implementing "child-labour free" labels for these products, whilst ensuring that such a scheme complies with World Trade Organization (WTO) international trade rules. In the interim, products and produce from developing nations should be labelled "responsibly grown/manufactured without child labour". Link between education, poverty and elimination of child labour: Parliament reiterates its view that there is a mutually reinforcing relationship between a lack of education and child labour, making education the basic instrument for achieving the Millennium Development Goals by 2015. Particular attention should be paid to the primary education of girls, who encounter more barriers and obstacles than do boys (cultural factors such as early marriage, discrimination, their social and family role and so, on playing a part) preventing them from enrolling and remaining in school and from completing their studies. Worst forms of child exploitation: the Commission was asked to support programmes combating less common forms of child labour such as domestic work and the selling of children to pay off family debts (debt bondage). Parliament proposed the appointment of an EU special representative for children who are victims of armed conflict, wars, displacement, drought, hunger, natural disasters or AIDS, or children who are caught up in the trafficking of human beings, and to ensure that due attention is given to such situations. Parliament called for the support of the WTO in the form of a ban on child labour in trade and suggested that child-labour free products be marked and labelled as such for consumer awareness of responsible practices. Corporate responsibility: Parliament welcomed the fact that the Commission has taken the initiative to draw up a communication on corporate social responsibility. It recommended that the Commission investigate the creation of appropriate EU-level legal mechanisms which identify EU-based importers who import products which allow the violation of the core ILO conventions, including the use of child labour, in any part of the supply chain. The Commission needs to explore the possibility of creating incentives for EU importers who carry out independent monitoring of the manufacture of their products in all third countries forming part of the production chain. The Commission and the Council should promote the fair trade initiatives, in particular in new EU Member States, monitoring producers to ensure that their methods are consistent with fair trading standards. Parliament went on to recommend that the Commission identify companies which persistently use child labour in any part of the production and supply chain and called for such a list to be made available to EU importers. The Commission should make compliance with core labour standards a precondition in its purchasing and contracting policy, and develop a policy which makes it possible for small producers in developing countries likewise to comply with these standards. Lastly, Parliament asked the Council to support the OECD’s guidelines for multinational enterprises and the UN’s Global Compact. Moreover, it recommended that the Commission propose the extension of the scope of the OECD Guidelines from investment to trade, enhance the implementation instruments and reach agreements with governments of developing countries on the way in which enterprises can contribute to the effective abolition of child labour. type: Text adopted by Parliament, single reading body: EP
  • date: 2005-07-14T00:00:00 docs: url: /oeil/spdoc.do?i=4111&j=0&l=en title: SP(2005)2923 type: Commission response to text adopted in plenary
  • date: 2005-11-03T00:00:00 docs: url: /oeil/spdoc.do?i=4111&j=1&l=en title: SP(2005)3776/2 type: Commission response to text adopted in plenary
events
  • date: 2005-02-24T00:00:00 type: Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading body: EP
  • date: 2005-06-06T00:00:00 type: Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading body: EP summary: The committee adopted the own-initiative report by Emmanouil MAVROMMATIS (EPP-ED, EL) on the exploitation of children in developing countries, with a special focus on child labour. The report recognised the deplorable situation of 352 million working children in the world, 179 million of whom are victims of the worst forms of child labour, according to ILO findings. It looked at ways to tackle such child exploitation and identified two categories of child labour which merit special attention: work that is so harmful to the health of children that it must be stopped as a matter of urgency and work where it is possible to prevent violations of child workers' rights through improving conditions or providing alternatives. The committee called on the Commission to implement " child-labour free " labels for goods imported into the EU so as to create consistency between the EU's trade policies and its obligation to protect and promote children's rights. It also called on the WTO to introduce such labelling, and wanted a WTO role in securing a ban on child labour in trade. MEPs further recommended that the implementation of core labour standards be part of all bilateral trade agreements and strategic partnerships, including the incorporation of a clause banning child labour, and a special reference to respect for the minimum age for employment. The committee also wanted the Commission to monitor the impact of EU funding for basic education as part of the drive to get child workers into full-time schools while ensuring that humanitarian aid does not suffer as a result of this commitment. It was also in favour of an EU special representative for victimised or endangered children. Finally, the report called for corporate responsibility as regards the use of child labour, and recommended the setting up of an EU mechanism to identify and prosecute EU-based importers who are in violation of ILO rules. The use of child labour, in any part of the supply chain, would be enough to constitute violation. The Commission should also offer incentives for importers to play an active role in ensuring the compliance of their products. Transnational companies would also be required to adapt their business practices accordingly, and governments of their home countries to monitor and report back on the contribution of these companies to the abolition of child labour and implementation of ILO core labour standards.
  • date: 2005-06-15T00:00:00 type: Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A6-2005-185&language=EN title: A6-0185/2005
  • date: 2005-07-05T00:00:00 type: Results of vote in Parliament body: EP docs: url: https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=4111&l=en title: Results of vote in Parliament
  • date: 2005-07-05T00:00:00 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P6-TA-2005-272 title: T6-0272/2005 summary: The European Parliament adopted a resolution based on the own-initiative report drafted by Emmanouil MAVROMMATIS (EPP-ED, EL) on the exploitation of children in developing countries, with a special focus on child labour. (Please see the summary of 06/06/2005.) Parliament also pointed out that 5 million children are being exploited at places of work in eastern Europe and the Mediterranean region and in particular (it would appear) in EU Member States, which is particularly unacceptable. It recommended that the Commission make the implementation of core labour standards a permanent element in bilateral consultations at all levels, both with countries where violations occur and with countries which are involved with them through trade and investment. In addition, the ratification of and compliance with ILO Conventions 138 and 182 must be two of the requirements which the Commission and the Council should impose on countries applying to join the EU. The Commission must ensure that the EU's trade policies are consistent with its commitment to protecting children's rights. Parliament urged an investigation into the introduction of an EU scheme for the labelling of goods imported into the EU to attest that they have been produced without the use of child labour at any point in the production and supply chain, and implementing "child-labour free" labels for these products, whilst ensuring that such a scheme complies with World Trade Organization (WTO) international trade rules. In the interim, products and produce from developing nations should be labelled "responsibly grown/manufactured without child labour". Link between education, poverty and elimination of child labour: Parliament reiterates its view that there is a mutually reinforcing relationship between a lack of education and child labour, making education the basic instrument for achieving the Millennium Development Goals by 2015. Particular attention should be paid to the primary education of girls, who encounter more barriers and obstacles than do boys (cultural factors such as early marriage, discrimination, their social and family role and so, on playing a part) preventing them from enrolling and remaining in school and from completing their studies. Worst forms of child exploitation: the Commission was asked to support programmes combating less common forms of child labour such as domestic work and the selling of children to pay off family debts (debt bondage). Parliament proposed the appointment of an EU special representative for children who are victims of armed conflict, wars, displacement, drought, hunger, natural disasters or AIDS, or children who are caught up in the trafficking of human beings, and to ensure that due attention is given to such situations. Parliament called for the support of the WTO in the form of a ban on child labour in trade and suggested that child-labour free products be marked and labelled as such for consumer awareness of responsible practices. Corporate responsibility: Parliament welcomed the fact that the Commission has taken the initiative to draw up a communication on corporate social responsibility. It recommended that the Commission investigate the creation of appropriate EU-level legal mechanisms which identify EU-based importers who import products which allow the violation of the core ILO conventions, including the use of child labour, in any part of the supply chain. The Commission needs to explore the possibility of creating incentives for EU importers who carry out independent monitoring of the manufacture of their products in all third countries forming part of the production chain. The Commission and the Council should promote the fair trade initiatives, in particular in new EU Member States, monitoring producers to ensure that their methods are consistent with fair trading standards. Parliament went on to recommend that the Commission identify companies which persistently use child labour in any part of the production and supply chain and called for such a list to be made available to EU importers. The Commission should make compliance with core labour standards a precondition in its purchasing and contracting policy, and develop a policy which makes it possible for small producers in developing countries likewise to comply with these standards. Lastly, Parliament asked the Council to support the OECD’s guidelines for multinational enterprises and the UN’s Global Compact. Moreover, it recommended that the Commission propose the extension of the scope of the OECD Guidelines from investment to trade, enhance the implementation instruments and reach agreements with governments of developing countries on the way in which enterprises can contribute to the effective abolition of child labour.
  • date: 2005-07-05T00:00:00 type: End of procedure in Parliament body: EP
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