Progress: Procedure completed
Role | Committee | Rapporteur | Shadows |
---|---|---|---|
Lead | EMPL | DE ROSSA Proinsias ( S&D) | BASTOS Regina ( PPE), BENNAHMIAS Jean-Luc ( ALDE), DELLI Karima ( Verts/ALE), GIEGOLD Sven ( Verts/ALE) |
Committee Opinion | IMCO | ABAD Damien ( PPE) | Matteo SALVINI ( ENF) |
Committee Opinion | ECON | AUCONIE Sophie ( PPE) | |
Committee Opinion | FEMM | OVIIR Siiri ( ALDE) | |
Committee Opinion | REGI | ALVES Luís Paulo ( S&D) | Filiz HYUSMENOVA ( ALDE) |
Lead committee dossier:
Legal Basis:
RoP 54
Legal Basis:
RoP 54Subjects
Events
The European Parliament adopted a resolution on the future of social services of general interest (SSGI).
Parliament recalls that the provision of universally available, high-quality, accessible and affordable SSGI within the meaning of the Commission’s 2007 communication on services of general interest can therefore be regarded as an essential pillar of the European social model and as the basis for a good quality of life and for the achievement of EU employment, social and economic objectives. In this context, it reaffirms the importance of SSGI and proposes a framework to strengthen their quality and efficiency.
Fundamental Rights and Universality: SSGI encompass statutory and complementary social security schemes and universally available services provided directly to the person, aiming to enhance the quality of life of all . They play a preventative, social cohesion and inclusion role and deliver on fundamental rights as proclaimed in the European Charter of Fundamental Rights and the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. In this context, Parliament urges the Member States to maintain the availability of accessible, affordable, high quality social services as during the period of fast economic growth, and to guarantee non-discriminatory access to these services regardless of gender, income, race or ethnic origin, religion or beliefs, disability, age, sexual orientation or employment conditions. It calls on the Member States to ensure the availability, within policies geared to achieving a work-life balance, of accessible, affordable, good-quality, diversified forms of care services for children as described in the Barcelona objectives.
Parliament emphasises that, where SSGI are concerned, the subsidiarity principle must take precedence over internal market rules. SSGI are funded mainly by the Member States, as they fall primarily within their field of competence. It considers, nevertheless, that the European Union can play an important role and assist Member States in their modernisation and adjustment to new conditions. It also regrets the trend of liberalisation in the sector and, in an amendment adopted in plenary, it stresses the importance of conducting, as a matter of urgency, an assessment of the social consequences and impact on people's lives of liberalisation measures in sectors that are essential to social progress.
Economic contribution: noting that SSGI must not be defined by their economic impact, Parliament confirms that SSGI make a major economic contribution in terms of jobs, economic activity and purchasing power and that the health and social services sector accounts for 5% of economic output and employs 21.4 million people. It calls on regional and local authorities to play a role in defining, financing, providing and attributing SSGI within the framework of Member States’ social service and social protection systems: it is estimated that the local and regional government sector is worth 15.9% of EU-27 GDP, with local government alone accounting for 12.9%, and its social protection expenditure accounting for 3% of GDP (EUR 378.1 billion). National, regional and local authorities should extend the application of Public-Private Partnerships in the area of SSGI in order to increase their efficiency and availability.
Social contribution: Parliament highlights the need to promote a policy of social progress, ensuring universal access to high-quality public services, with special consideration for disadvantaged groups, such as single mothers, women, elderly people, children, migrants and those with any kind of disability. It stresses that it is inappropriate for public funds allocated to SSGI to be used otherwise than to fulfil the objectives of the service . The legitimate objective of profit maximisation which underlies private commercial provision of commercial services conflicts unacceptably with the principles and objectives of SSGI. In the event that Member State authorities choose to use indirect delivery of SSGI, the general interest must be protected, and they should, while ensuring quality, innovation, efficiency and cost effectiveness, support social economy enterprises, where any surplus is reinvested in the service and in innovation, and encourage them to operate as providers. It recalls the traditional role of the state as provider of social services of general interest, yet considers that opening up this sector to private service providers will enhance the accessibility and quality of services and increase consumer choice. Overall, Parliament reaffirms its commitment to modern, high-quality SSGI, which are a means of giving effect to many of the values embodied in the European project.
Regulatory constraints on delivery of SSGI: in Parliament’s view, the national, regional and local authorities engaged in providing or mandating SSGI need legal certainty for their services and expenditures. It considers that it is neither efficient nor democratically acceptable that current interpretation of legislation results in the ECJ being continually asked to adjudicate on the limits of single market rules with regard to SGI, including SSGI, which is a clear indication of the lack of legal certainty. This aspect has been the subject of a long-standing and ongoing stakeholder dialogue and Parliament calls on the Commission finally to take action .
Economic and budgetary policy: Parliament emphasises that SSGI are an indispensable investment for Europe’s economic future, and that they are under severe pressure in some Member States as a result of the economic and banking crises and government austerity programmes, which are resulting in even greater demand for them . Parliament believes that in order to guarantee delivery of high-quality SSGI, Member State governments need to provide for an adequate financial framework for SSGI, which guarantees continuity of services with stable financing. Parliament notes that Member States need new income.
Deficiencies in the regulatory framework for SSGI: there is a broad European consensus that SSGI are essential to the well-being of our peoples and an efficient economy and that while there has been some progress in addressing the difficulties that arise for providers in the delivery and development of SSGI from the application of EU rules to such services, there is no consensus so far within or between the Commission and the Council on the implementation of further practical measures to overcome the obstacles identified by stakeholders. Parliament emphasises that it is for Member States and local authorities freely to decide how SSGI are funded and delivered, so as to ensure that their social objectives are achieved. Parliament also calls on the Commission to take the necessary steps, based on impact assessments at national and EU level, to introduce proposals for European statutes for associations, mutual societies and foundations, which would enable them to operate on a transnational basis.
State aid: Parliament calls for the introduction of differentiation in the rules and for a revision of the criteria for calculating compensation of public service obligations that take account of, among other things, social criteria and the social added value of these services. It calls for clarification of basic principles on the control of state aid to enhance legal certainty and transparency for clarity of concepts such as ‘act of entrustment’ and ‘public authorities’ and for the introduction of differentiation in the rules. It calls on the Commission to reassess the appropriate level of the de minimis threshold applicable to SSGI and to propose a system which takes into account Member State GDP in calculating the de minimis threshold, so that a specific de minimis threshold can be calculated for each Member State, thus preventing distortions of competition caused by the existence of a uniform, EU-wide threshold. It points out that neither the sector, the status of an entity carrying out a service nor the way in which it is funded determines whether its activities are deemed economic or non-economic , but rather the nature of the activity itself and its preventive effect.
In a series of amendments adopted in plenary, Parliament rejects all of the proposals regarding public procurement put forward by the Committee responsible (simplification of rules regarding public procurement so that SGI obligations can be efficiently and effectively fulfilled and for alternatives to public procurement for the delivery of SGI).
Initiative to Advance Reform: in the context of the revision already under way of public procurement and state aid rules, Parliament urges the Commission to undertake a programme of reform, adaptation and clarification to support and recognise the specific non-market characteristics of SSGI, to ensure full conformity not only with single market provisions but also with the social obligations of the Treaties. The plenary is of the view (in contrast to the committee responsible) that a compulsory framework for certain categories of SSGI is not a central issue at this time . It proposes the establishment of a high-level multi-stakeholder working group which is open, flexible and transparent, broadly representative of stakeholders and focused on achieving reforms such as the policy initiatives. This working group shall be co-chaired by the European Parliament and the Commissioner responsible for Social Affairs. This group would i) s eek to achieve broad consensus on steps to clarify legal obscurities and ambiguities regarding SSGI; ii) evaluate whether European single market regulations which impact negatively on SSGI provision need to be redesigned; iii) examine how the Member States, when defining social services of general interest, can take account of gender-specific services; iv) consider how Member States can develop forms of home help including support for elderly and vulnerable persons, by both men and women, and reduce the negative employment and pension impact on those who take care of dependent family members.
European Voluntary Quality Framework: Parliament urges Member States to use the VQF to draw up or improve existing monitoring and quality accreditation systems as appropriate for each Member State. It considers that the VQF principles could be used to help define service quality criteria for application to revised public procurement rules for tendering and contracts, including subcontracts. Lastly, it proposes that further improvement of the VQF should include reference to funding and service provider status.
It should be noted that the plenary rejected a proposal for an alternative resolution put forward by the Greens/EFA political group.
The Committee on Employment and Social Affairs adopted the own-initiative report drafted by Proinsias De ROSSA (S&D, IE) on the on the future of social services of general interest.
Members recall that the provision of universally available, high-quality, accessible and affordable SSGI within the meaning of the 2007 Commission communication on services of general interest can therefore be regarded as an essential pillar of the European social model and as the basis for a good quality of life and for the achievement of EU employment, social and economic objectives. Social services of general interest (SSGI), and their quality and efficiency, are essential for the achievement of the objectives of the EU's 2020 strategy.
Fundamental Rights and Universality : SSGI encompass statutory and complementary social security schemes and universally available services provided directly to the person, aiming to enhance the quality of life of all . They play a preventative, social cohesion and inclusion role and deliver on fundamental rights as proclaimed in the European Charter of Fundamental Rights and the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. In this context, Members urge the Member States to maintain the availability of accessible, affordable, high quality social services as during the period of fast economic growth, and to guarantee non-discriminatory access to these services regardless of gender, income, race or ethnic origin, religion or beliefs, disability, age, sexual orientation or employment conditions.
The report calls on the Member States to ensure the availability, within policies geared to achieving a work-life balance, of accessible, affordable, good-quality, diversified forms of care services for children as described in the Barcelona objectives.
Members emphasise that, where SSGI are concerned, the subsidiarity principle must take precedence over internal market rules. SSGI are funded mainly by the Member States, as they fall primarily within their field of competence. Members consider nevertheless that the European Union can play an important role and assist Member States in their modernisation and adjustment to new conditions. The report stresses the importance of conducting, as a matter of urgency, an assessment of the social consequences and impact on people’s lives of liberalisation measures in sectors that are essential to social progress and urges the Commission to prevent any further liberalisation measures from being taken until this assessment has been submitted. It stresses that it is important to reinforce the social dimension of the single market and to take better account of the special nature of SSGI, with emphasis on a pragmatic approach in which the accessibility, universality, fairness, quality and efficiency of such services are the prime considerations.
Economic contribution : noting that SSGI must not be defined by their economic impact, Members confirm that SSGI make a major economic contribution in terms of jobs, economic activity and purchasing power and that the health and social services sector accounts for 5% of economic output and employs 21.4 million people. They stress that, regional and local authorities play a fundamental role in defining, financing, providing and attributing SSGI within the framework of Member States’ social service and social protection systems: it is estimated that the local and regional government sector is worth 15.9 % of EU-27 GDP, with local government alone accounting for 12.9 %, and its social protection expenditure accounting for 3 % of GDP (EUR 378.1 billion). National, regional and local authorities should extend the application of Public-Private Partnerships in the area of SSGI in order to increase their efficiency and availability.
Social contribution : the report highlights the need to review liberalisation policies in order to promote a policy of social progress, ensuring universal access to high-quality public services. It stresses that it is inappropriate for public funds allocated to SSGI to be used otherwise than to fulfil the objectives of the service .
The legitimate objective of profit maximisation which underlies private commercial provision of commercial services conflicts unacceptably with the principles and objectives of SSGI. Members are of the opinion that where Member State authorities choose to use indirect delivery of SSGI, the general interest must be protected, and that they should, while ensuring quality, innovation, efficiency and cost effectiveness, support social economy enterprises, where any surplus is reinvested in the service and in innovation, and encourage them to operate as providers. They recall that the traditional role of the state as provider of social services of general interest, yet considers that opening up this sector to private service providers will enhance the accessibility and quality of services and increase consumer choice. Overall, Members reaffirm their commitment to modern, high-quality SSGI, which are a means of giving effect to many of the values embodied in the European project.
Regulatory constraints on delivery of SSGI : according to Members, the national, regional and local authorities engaged in providing or mandating SSGI need legal certainty for their services and expenditures. They stress that national and local authorities are responsible for ensuring that SSGI operate properly and for maintaining a high standard of quality. They consider that it is neither efficient nor democratically acceptable that current interpretation of legislation results in the ECJ being continually asked to adjudicate on the limits of single market rules with regard to SGI, including SSGI, which is a clear indication of the lack of legal certainty.
Economic and budgetary policy : Members emphasise that SSGI are an indispensable investment for Europe’s economic future, and that they are under severe pressure in some Member States as a result of the economic and banking crises and government austerity programmes, which are resulting in even greater demand for them. The report points out that the economic and financial crisis and the austerity policies imposed by Member States should not encourage disinvestment in SSGI but that, on the contrary, given their importance and absolutely essential nature, such services need to be consolidated in order to meet people’s needs. Members believe that in order to guarantee delivery of high-quality SSGI, Member State governments need to provide for an adequate financial framework for SSGI, which guarantees continuity of services with stable financing. The report notes that Member States need new income.
Deficiencies in the regulatory framework for SSGI : there is a broad European consensus that SSGI are essential to the well-being of our peoples and an efficient economy and that while there has been some progress in addressing the difficulties that arise for providers in the delivery and development of SSGI from the application of EU rules to such services, there is no consensus so far within or between the Commission and the Council on the implementation of further practical measures to overcome the obstacles identified by stakeholders. The report emphasises that it is for Member States and local authorities freely to decide how SSGI are funded and delivered, so as to ensure that their social objectives are achieved. In this context, Members call on the Commission and the Member States to respect the diversity of the methods of organising and managing SSGI, of their resources and of the methods of funding these services. They call on the Member States to reverse ‘reforms’ which have institutionalised market-based models of welfare provision, with competition and tendering obligations, and to cease promoting public-private partnerships.
State aid : Members call for clarification of basic principles on the control of state aid to enhance legal certainty and transparency for clarity of concepts such as ‘act of entrustment’ and ‘public authorities’ and for the introduction of differentiation in the rules . They call on the Commission to reassess the appropriate level of the de minimis threshold applicable to SSGI and to propose a system which takes into account Member State GDP in calculating the de minimis threshold, so that a specific de minimis threshold can be calculated for each Member State, thus preventing distortions of competition caused by the existence of a uniform, EU-wide threshold. The report points out that neither the sector, the status of an entity carrying out a service nor the way in which it is funded determines whether its activities are deemed economic or non-economic, but rather the nature of the activity itself and its preventive effect.
In the framework of current EU legislation, Members call for clarification of the concepts and reform of the classification criteria used to differentiate between economic and non-economic SSGI, and for a common understanding of SGI with a view to ensuring that their intended aims can be achieved.
Procurement : Members emphasise that public procurement rules need to be simplified so that SGI obligations can be efficiently and effectively fulfilled. Tendering in the field of SSGI can be an acceptable means of selecting a provider, but the report emphasises that other transparent forms of provider selection may allow greater flexibility. The Commission is called upon to recognise alternatives to public procurement for the delivery of SGI, including SSGI, such as ‘in-house’ and ‘service concession’ methods, and explicitly accord equal legal value to all options for the contracting and financing of SSGI. The report calls for the extension of the concept of ‘most economically advantageous offer’ such that calls for tender and procurement contracts, as well as subcontracts for provision of SGI, including SSGI, would have to include the relevant Member State's national and/or local social, environmental and service quality criteria, which should be linked to best international practice.
Initiative to Advance Reform : Members urge the Commission to undertake a programme of reform, adaptation and clarification to support and recognise the specific non-market characteristics of SSGI, to ensure full conformity not only with single market provisions but also with the social obligations of the Treaties.
According to the Members, a compulsory framework for certain categories of SSGI needs to be explored. They consider that an EU framework regulation on SGEI, permissible under Article 14 TFEU, is not the central issue at this time. The report proposes the establishment of a high-level multi-stakeholder working group which is open, flexible and transparent, broadly representative of stakeholders and focused on achieving reforms such as the policy initiatives. This working group shall be co-chaired by the European Parliament and the Commissioner responsible for Social Affairs.
European Voluntary Quality Framework : Members urge Member States to use the VQF to draw up or improve existing monitoring and quality accreditation systems as appropriate for each Member State. They consider that the VQF principles could be used to help define service quality criteria for application to revised public procurement rules for tendering and contracts, including subcontracts. Lastly, they propose that further improvement of the VQF should include reference to funding and service provider status.
The Council adopted conclusions entitled "Social Services of General Interest: at the heart of the European Social Model", calling upon the Social Protection Committee to work further on this issue with the aim inter alia of preparing for the next Forum on social services of general interest. The conclusions invite the Commission to further clarify the application of EU rules to social services of general interest, in order to enhance their legal certainty. The Commission should also for instance outline its views on how to identify a social service as an economic or non-economic service of general interest.
Ministers were briefed about a Social Protection Committee document on a voluntary European quality framework for social services ( see Council Doc. 16319/10 ) establishing quality standards which should be met by social services of general interest. They also heard an oral presentation by the Commission of its biannual report on social services of general interest, giving an overview of the initiatives taken by the Member States to improve the quality of such services.
Documents
- Commission response to text adopted in plenary: SP(2011)8297
- Results of vote in Parliament: Results of vote in Parliament
- Decision by Parliament: T7-0319/2011
- Debate in Parliament: Debate in Parliament
- Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading: A7-0239/2011
- Committee report tabled for plenary: A7-0239/2011
- Committee opinion: PE443.061
- Committee opinion: PE458.568
- Committee opinion: PE440.016
- Amendments tabled in committee: PE460.966
- Committee opinion: PE452.520
- Committee draft report: PE438.251
- Debate in Council: 3053
- Committee draft report: PE438.251
- Committee opinion: PE452.520
- Amendments tabled in committee: PE460.966
- Committee opinion: PE440.016
- Committee opinion: PE458.568
- Committee opinion: PE443.061
- Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading: A7-0239/2011
- Commission response to text adopted in plenary: SP(2011)8297
Votes
A7-0239/2011 - Proinsias De Rossa - § 3/1 #
A7-0239/2011 - Proinsias De Rossa - § 3/2 #
A7-0239/2011 - Proinsias De Rossa - § 63/1 #
A7-0239/2011 - Proinsias De Rossa - § 63/2 #
Amendments | Dossier |
407 |
2009/2222(INI)
2010/12/15
ECON
30 amendments...
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion Paragraph -1 (new) -1. considering Article 14 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and Protocol No 26 annexed to the treaties,
Amendment 10 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 Amendment 11 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 Amendment 12 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Calls on the Commission to consider the advisability of putting forward a de minimis regulation specific to social services of general interest or to adjust the de minimis threshold for such services, in order to focus EU checks on State aid on social services likely to have a significant impact on cross-border trade within the EU;
Amendment 13 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 Amendment 14 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Calls on the Commission to ex
Amendment 15 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Calls on the Commission to exempt from the notification requirement subsidies granted under the terms of contracts concluded as a result of competitive
Amendment 16 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Calls on the Commission to continue to exempt from the notification requirement subsidies granted under the terms of contracts concluded as a result of competitive tendering if they fall under the General Block Exemption Regulation or the De Minimis Regulation;
Amendment 17 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 a (new) 4a. Calls on the Commission, in order to compensate for damage caused to services and operators by inappropriate competitive tendering, to direct Member States to use competitive tendering only in the case of services for which genuine and natural market demand and supply exist, because competitive tendering for services for which there is no genuine and natural market gives rise to unnecessary costs and administrative burdens;
Amendment 18 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Calls on the Commission to clarify how the concepts of economic and non- economic activit
Amendment 19 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1.
Amendment 20 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 6. Stresses that
Amendment 21 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 6. Stresses that where an official act of entrustment has been transparently drawn up and made public and includes parameters for calculating compensation based on coverage of the actual cost of providing social services of general interest, systematic monitoring of overcompensation should be replaced by intervention only following a substantiated complaint
Amendment 22 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 a (new) 6a. Given that social services of general interest are person-oriented services, and that they address the need of the most disadvantaged people, therefore enabling individuals to play a significant part in the economic and social life of society (Council's conclusions of 6/7 December), takes the view that basis banking services should be considered as services of general economic interest and submitted to universal service obligations in order to guarantee accessibility, affordability, transparency and a high degree of quality to the citizens;
Amendment 23 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 b (new) 6b. Calls on the Commission as recommended in the conclusions of the 3rd Forum on SSGI to set up an inter- institutional and inter-sector High level Task force or a High level Group, on SSGI to create a new dynamic in reaching consensus on the best way forward in overcoming the legal and administrative obstacles to effective delivery and access to universal SSGI;
Amendment 24 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 c (new) 6c. Asks the Commission to put forwards legislative proposals for Project Bonds in order to ensure long-term and affordable financing for EU relevant and sustainable services of general economic interest, particularly in the field of social housing (as regards energy efficiency in building renovations) as well as in the renovation of public buildings;
Amendment 25 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 d (new) 6d. Recalls that it is for Member States and their local authorities to define, organise and fund services of general interest; points out that the diverse and dynamic nature of services of general interest across the EU makes it neither possible nor desirable to create a One- Size-Fits-All European model;
Amendment 26 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 e (new) 6e. Asks the Commission to further clarify and assess the application of EU rules to social services of general interest in order to enhance their legal certainty, as stated in Art 14 TFEU and Protocol 26;
Amendment 27 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 f (new) 6f. Stresses that the calculation of compensation should not be done exclusively on the basis of economic and financial criteria but should also take account of social criteria;
Amendment 28 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 g (new) 6g. Asks the Commission that control of over-compensation is used only if the risk of damaging violation of competition is ascertained;
Amendment 29 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 h (new) 6h. Welcomes the various steps taken in recent years in clarifying and simplifying the application of Community rules to services of general interest;
Amendment 3 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Given that social services of general interest make a major contribution to the achievement of the EU's goals as enshrined in the Treaties, particularly in terms of promoting economic, social and territorial cohesion, calls on the Commission to
Amendment 30 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 i (new) 6i. Is looking forward to the results of the evaluation of the Monti-Kroes package, that will demonstrate if and where further adjustment is needed;
Amendment 4 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Given that social services of general interest make a major contribution to the achievement of the EU's goals as enshrined in the Treaties, particularly in terms of promoting economic, social and territorial cohesion, calls on the Commission to use the evaluation and revision of the Monti- Kroes package to strengthen legal security in the field of social services of general interest, using a tailored approach which can easily be applied by organising public authorities and takes into account the specific ways in which social services are organised, their legal status and their strongly local nature, as well as the responsibility of the Member States for organising and financing these services;
Amendment 5 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Stresses that the organisation of social services of general interest in the Member States has come about through a process of historical development and is the outcome of different cultural traditions, so that a flexible approach is called for, which, while respecting the principle of subsidiarity, must have due regard for the right to local self-government of regional and local authorities and allow sufficient scope for specific developments in accordance with the different organisational forms of the Member States;
Amendment 6 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 b (new) 1b. Unequivocally rejects EU framework legislation on services of general interest;
Amendment 7 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 Amendment 8 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Calls on the Commission to adopt a
Amendment 9 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Calls on the Commission to adopt a communication establishing a methodology
source: PE-452.844
2011/03/01
IMCO
34 amendments...
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion 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 to the development of a highly competitive social market economy and the promotion of economic, social and territorial cohesion in the Union; stresses here that it is important to reinforce the social dimension of the internal market by taking better account of the special nature of SSGI, with emphasis on a pragmatic approach in which the accessibility, universality, fairness, quality and efficiency of such services are the prime considerations;
Amendment 10 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Considers that, given the place which these services have in Europe, especially against a background of economic crisis, the EU should
Amendment 11 #
Draft opinion 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 promote their importance; asks the Commission, therefore, to explore
Amendment 12 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Considers that, given the place which these services have in Europe, especially
Amendment 13 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 a (new) 2a. Stresses the interest for a better understanding of common concepts regarding the quality of SSGI of the voluntary European quality framework for social services adopted in 2010 by the Social Protection Committee; wishes to see a definition of the common coordination instruments, with a view to optimising the use of this voluntary framework and exchanging best practices with the aim of determining comparable quality indicators;
Amendment 14 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 a (new) 2a. Calls on the Commission to continue its efforts to identify the specific characteristics of social services of general interest and to find a common accepted definition of services of general interest, while fully respecting the responsibilities of the member States and taking into account the distinctive and individual ways in which these services are tailored across Europe;
Amendment 15 #
Draft opinion 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 SSGI, particularly with regard to new management approaches such as in-house procurement and increased emphasis on quality criteria in the tender selection process, ensuring the participation of SMEs on an equal footing;
Amendment 16 #
Draft opinion 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 continuity and quality of social services and making them more effective; considers, therefore, that discussion is required
Amendment 17 #
Draft opinion 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 SSGI
Amendment 18 #
Draft opinion 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,
Amendment 19 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Believes that a high quality of social services is essential to achieve the fundamental objectives of the European Union, therefore calls on the Commission to develop a framework which would serve as minimum guidelines for high quality standards, accessibility and affordability of social services for the benefit of all European citizens;
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion 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 to the development of a highly competitive
Amendment 20 #
Draft opinion Subheading 3 a (new) Draws the attention to the rules regulating competition for service providers; emphasizes the importance of taking these rules into account while applying competition rules for public and private businesses providing SSGI; regrets that SSGI are not included in the scope of the Services Directive;
Amendment 21 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Emphasises the need to clarify the legal uncertainties affecting SSGI; welcomes the updating of the Commission’s guide on the application of EU state aid, public procurement and internal market rules to SSGI
Amendment 22 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Emphasises the need to clarify the legal uncertainties affecting SSGI;
Amendment 23 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Emphasises the need to clarify the legal uncertainties affecting SSGI;
Amendment 24 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Emphasises the need to clarify the legal
Amendment 25 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Emphasises the need to clarify the legal uncertainties affecting SSGI; welcomes the updating of the Commission's guide on the application of EU state aid, public procurement and internal 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 and those calling for more use of regulations in stead of directives; 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 pilot SSGI sector such as that of services to the elderly, which, in future, will have a major role to play;
Amendment 26 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 a (new) 4a. Believes a legislative package needs to be introduced including a regulatory framework for economic services of general interest, on the basis of Article 14 TFEU, defiining services of general interest and delimiting the impact of market rules. These rules should distinguish clearly between economic and non-economic services of general interest and should, simultaneously, consolidate and clarify the general principles and common conditions for the operationality of such services.
Amendment 27 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 a (new) 4a. Asks Member States ensure that the quality requirements are met by public and private businesses providing SSGI ; calls on the Commission to gather information on national quality requirements in addition to information on good practices in Member States
Amendment 28 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 a (new) 4a. Stresses the need to further analyse the relationship between the application of Community law in the area of internal market, competition, state aid and public procurement and social services of general interest in view of the social aims of the European Union; Believes that reform of procurement and state-aid rules is needed in order to introduce social quality criteria, which do not undermine the legitimate social and economic objectives of the Member States and of the Union;
Amendment 29 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 b (new) 4b. Welcomes the Commission's initiative to improve transparency and awareness in the field of state aid, public procurement, public-private partnership and concession by developing communication tools in the field of social services; However, a number of issues are still pending and rules need to be adapted accordingly to the needs of local authorities and small providers, therefore the Commission should continue to provide a clear legal foundation and information on the application of EU rules, with the aim that services of general interest are capable of fulfilling their mission and contribute to a better quality of life for European citizens;
Amendment 3 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Considers that social services of general interest (SSGI) play a
Amendment 30 #
Draft opinion 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 therefore a further consideration which should inform discussions aimed at clarifying the link between the European level and local, regional and national levels.
Amendment 31 #
Draft opinion 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 therefore a further consideration which should inform discussions aimed at clarifying the link between the European level and local and national levels in the sense that SSGI should remain under the competence of national public authorities and preserve their universal character.
Amendment 32 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Draws attention to the range of public- service models in Europe and the fact that observance of the principle of subsidiarity
Amendment 33 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 a (new) 5a. Stresses the importance of closer cooperation between providers and stakeholders in the context of SSGI, and of greater user involvement with a view to improving the definition of expectations and improving quality;
Amendment 34 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 b (new) 5b. Points out that a wide range of social services have been excluded from the scope of the directive on services in the internal market; hopes the Commission will soon draw up a balance-sheet concering the transposition of those exclusion measures, with particular reference to Member States' interpretation of the concepts of 'charity', 'persons in need' and 'providers mandated by the state';
Amendment 4 #
Draft opinion 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 to 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 reinforce the social dimension of the internal 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
Amendment 5 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Points out that social services are designed to respond to vital human needs, in particular the needs of users in vulnerable position as well as people with disabilities; underlines the preventive and socially cohesive role of the services, which are addressed to the whole population regardless of wealth or income; believes, therefore, that the dynamic nature of the services demands their exclusion from the internal market rules;
Amendment 6 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Reiterates the fact that SSGI are constantly evolving in response to new economic, social, institutional and technological developments; calls on the Commission and the Member States to continue the process of modernising the infrastructure, the organisation and the financing of services of general interest in light of constant changes in the internal market and the essential needs of European citizens;
Amendment 7 #
Draft opinion Subheading 1 a (new) 1a. Stresses the importance of involving political and institutional players, civil society and stakeholders, promoting a holistic appproach to services of general interest that takes account of Europe's citizens and of SMEs, which are often overlooked in this area of the European social economy;
Amendment 8 #
Draft opinion 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 promote 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
Amendment 9 #
Draft opinion 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 promote their importance; asks the Commission, therefore, to
source: PE-458.561
2011/03/04
REGI
18 amendments...
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion Paragraph B B. whereas social services of general interest (SSGI), and their quality and efficiency, are essential for the achievement of the objectives of the EU's 2020 strategy, and have positive effects in terms of economic growth, employment and social and territorial cohesion,
Amendment 10 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Stresses that SSGI also cover non- economic activities which are not and should not be subject to the rules of the internal market
Amendment 11 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 Amendment 12 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Urges the Commission to act in response to the
Amendment 13 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Urges the Commission to act in response to the
Amendment 14 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Urges the Commission to act in response to the lack of regulation currently affecting SSGI, by creating an unambiguous legislative framework grounded in legal certainty, in line with the wishes of
Amendment 15 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 a (new) 5a. Calls on the Commission to study the feasibility of territorial cooperation with regard to SSGI to eliminate in due course any obstacles arising from financing rules;
Amendment 16 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 6.
Amendment 17 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 6.
Amendment 18 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 a (new) 6a. Believes that national, regional and local authorities should extend the application of Public-Private Partnerships in the area of SSGI in order to increase their efficiency and availability.
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion Paragraph B a (new) Ba. whereas SSGI contribute in a relevant, useful and effective way to the development of the regions, particularly the remotest, the least developed and the most sparsely populated, by enabling the State and local or regional authorities to perform a role which the private sector would refuse to perform out of a concern for profitability,
Amendment 3 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Recalls that the diversity of models of SSGI among Member States needs to be respected in line with the principle of subsidiarity; advocates the dissemination of best practice and the transfer of know- how from those Member States and regions with most experience in providing such services;
Amendment 4 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Urges the Commission
Amendment 5 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3.
Amendment 6 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Stresses the fundamentally structuring and inclusive character of SSGI in the regions and considers that there is a specific imperative to preserve them in rural and vulnerable regions; stresses the vital role of SSGI in limiting risks of segregation of marginalised communities;
Amendment 7 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Stresses the important role of the Cohesion policy instruments for improving accessibility and quality of SSGI in all EU regions and especially in those lagging-behind, and believes that cooperation and the exchange of good practice are crucial for their future development.
Amendment 8 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Calls on the Commission to ensure that SSGI are not dismantled or reduced by Member States in such a way as to penalise the development of certain regions, particularly the most vulnerable, the remotest or the most sparsely populated;
Amendment 9 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 b (new) 3b. Stresses the importance of supporting the supply of social services of general interest by social economy enterprises;
source: PE-460.649
2011/03/28
EMPL
325 amendments...
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 1 – having regard to the Treaty on European Union, in particular Articles 2 and 3(2) thereof, and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, in particular Articles 9, 14, 106, 151, 153(1)(j) and (k), 159, 160, 161 and
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion Recital A (new) A. whereas social services of general interest play an essential role in combating social exclusion and discrimination, protecting human rights and human dignity, and promoting social justice and protection, equality between women and men, solidarity between generations, protection of the rights of the child, the balancing of private and professional life and the achievement of economic, social and regional cohesion,
Amendment 10 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 29 c (new) Amendment 10 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Points out that the expansion of social SGI has been a driving force in drawing more women into the labour force, refers to the 2008 Labour Force survey showing that 79% of the workforce in the human health services, 81% in residential care services and 83% of social work activities without accommodation were women;
Amendment 100 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 Amendment 101 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 9. Considers that
Amendment 103 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10. Emphasises that SSGI are an indispensable investment for Europe's future
Amendment 104 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10. Emphasises that SSGI which have played the prominent role of a socio- economic automatic stabiliser during the economic and banking crises – notably social via security systems –, are an indispensable investment for Europe
Amendment 105 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10. Emphasises that SSGI are an indispensable investment for Europe’s future, and are under severe pressure due to the economic and banking crises
Amendment 106 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10. Emphasises that SSGI are an indispensable investment for Europe
Amendment 107 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10. Emphasises that SSGI are an indispensable investment for Europe's economic future, and are under severe pressure due to the economic and banking crises and government austerity programmes, which are resulting in even greater demand for them;
Amendment 108 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 a (new) 10a. Stresses that at times of public finance crisis leading to social service budget cuts, special attention should be given to women, who are primary beneficiaries and employees of social services;
Amendment 109 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 a (new) 10a. Emphasises that the key challenge of the moment for the delivery of SSGI is maintaining their quality and scope in a situation in which there are strong pressures on public finances in the individual EU Member States;
Amendment 11 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 29 d (new) - having regard to the Written declaration 84/2010 on the establishment of European Statutes for Mutual societies, Associations and foundations,
Amendment 11 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Calls on the Member States to carry out a gender-based impact assessment of the various services of general interest and establish modern proactive welfare strategies to ensure effectiveness and efficiency of social spending, also taking into account gender-equality principles; notes that these policies, including the promotion of
Amendment 110 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 a (new) 10a. Stresses that, in the current climate of uncertainty over growth and jobs, the need for SSGIs is steadily growing, not least because demographic change is giving rise to new needs;
Amendment 111 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 a (new) 10a. Points out that the economic and financial crisis and the austerity policies imposed by Member States should not encourage disinvestment in SSGIs, but that, on the contrary, given their importance and absolute necessity, such services need to be consolidated in order to meet people’s needs;
Amendment 112 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 Amendment 113 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 Amendment 114 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Considers that the principle of solidarity and the strengthening of the European Union
Amendment 115 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Considers that the principle of solidarity and the strengthening of the European Union require that the crisis, with its growth in unemployment and poverty, must be addressed by
Amendment 116 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Considers that the principle of solidarity and the strengthening of the European Union require that the crisis, with its growth in unemployment and poverty, must be addressed
Amendment 117 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Considers that the principle of solidarity and the strengthening of the European Union require that the crisis, with its growth in unemployment and poverty, must be addressed by
Amendment 118 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Considers that the principle of solidarity and the strengthening of the European Union require that the crisis, with its growth in unemployment and poverty, must be addressed by a greatly enhanced EU budget relying on new EU own resources, by strengthened structural funds, in particular the European Social Fund, and by a new European debt agency;
Amendment 119 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 a (new) 11a. Proposes to establish a European fund for social innovation which aims to support and develop civil society organisations' capacity for experimentation and innovation in relation to SSGI;
Amendment 12 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 30 a (new) - having regard to the United Nations Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities which was concluded by the European Community on 26 November 2009,
Amendment 12 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 a (new) 2a. Calls, with a view to tailoring services as closely as possible to the individual needs of users and improving service quality, for greater attention to be paid to the need for training and preparatory courses for people working with particularly vulnerable groups, such as children, problem youths and elderly people;
Amendment 120 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 Amendment 121 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 12. Believes that for the delivery of quality SSGI
Amendment 122 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 12.
Amendment 123 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 12. Believes that the delivery of quality SSGI requires Member State governments to ensure
Amendment 124 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 12. Believes that the delivery of quality SSGI requires Member State governments to ensure a financial framework for SSGI which guarantees continuity of services and stable financing, as well as decent incomes and working conditions and training for those
Amendment 125 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 a (new) 12a. Stresses, furthermore, that all transfers of competence for SSGIs from Member States to local or regional authorities require the introduction of coordination arrangements, in order to avoid any disparities in the quality of the services provided in the various areas, and must go hand-in-hand with the transfer of the resources required to ensure the continued provision of high-quality universal services that can fulfil the rights and needs of users in an effective manner;
Amendment 126 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 Amendment 127 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 Amendment 128 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 Amendment 129 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 Amendment 13 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A A. whereas
Amendment 13 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 a (new) 2a. Encourages Member States to conduct campaigns to provide more information about the risks of women’s cancers; calls on Member States to take appropriate steps to offer women preventive check- ups, which would also lead to savings for the health sector on future expensive treatment costs;
Amendment 130 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 Amendment 131 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13. Considers that
Amendment 132 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13. Considers that, in order to maintain the delivery of quality SSGI, the Member States need new income streams
Amendment 133 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13. Considers that, in order to maintain the delivery of quality SSGI, the Member States need
Amendment 134 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13. Considers that, not least in order to maintain the delivery of quality SSGI, the Member States need new income streams
Amendment 135 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13. Considers that, in order to maintain the delivery of quality SSGI, the Member States need new income streams, such as a financial transaction tax, as endorsed by the European Parliament on 20 October 2010 and 8 March 2011; Therefore calls on the Commission to swiftly produce a feasibility study on FTT and to come forward with concrete legislative proposals;
Amendment 136 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13. Considers that, in order to maintain the delivery of quality SSGI, the Member States need new income streams, such as a
Amendment 137 #
Motion for a resolution Title and subtitle before paragraph 14 (new) Deficiencies in Regulatory Framework of SSGI General
Amendment 138 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 14. Believes there is a broad European consensus that SSGI are essential to the well-being of our peoples and an efficient economy
Amendment 139 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 14. Believes there is a broad European consensus that SSGI are essential to the well-being of our peoples and an efficient economy
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A A. whereas the Treaties affirm the Member States’ objective as the constant improvement of living and working conditions, and the Union’s aim as the well-being of its peoples, to be achieved through sustainable development of Europe based on balanced economic growth, a highly competitive social market economy geared to supporting small and medium- sized enterprises and aiming at full employment and social progress, protection and improvement of the environment, combating social exclusion and discrimination, promoting social justice and protection, equality between women and men, solidarity between generations and protection of the rights of the child,
Amendment 14 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Underlines th
Amendment 140 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 14. Believes there is a broad European consensus that SSGI are essential to the well-being of our peoples and an efficient economy but that there is no agreement within or between the Commission and the Council on the implementation of practical measures to
Amendment 141 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Underlines
Amendment 142 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Underlines the fact that Member States and local authorities must be free to decide how SSGI are funded and delivered, whether directly or otherwise, using all available instruments
Amendment 143 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Underlines the fact that Member States and local authorities must be free to decide in the cases involved how SSGI are funded and delivered, whether directly or otherwise, using all available instruments
Amendment 144 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Underlines the fact that Member States and local authorities must be free to decide how SSGI are funded and delivered
Amendment 145 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Underlines the fact that Member States and local authorities must be free to decide how SSGI are funded and delivered, whether directly or otherwise, using all available instruments
Amendment 146 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Underlines the fact that
Amendment 147 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Underlines the fact that Member States and local authorities must be free to decide how SSGI are funded and delivered, whether directly or otherwise; that SSGI providers themselves need to have a capacity for initiative that can enable them to anticipate public decisions, using all available instruments so as to ensure that the Union
Amendment 148 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Underlines the fact that Member States and local authorities must
Amendment 149 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Underlines the fact that Member States and local authorities must be free to decide how SSGI are funded and delivered, whether directly or otherwise, using all available instruments and especially alternatives to tendering so as to ensure that the Union
Amendment 15 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A A. whereas the Treaties affirm the Member States’ objective as the constant improvement of living and working conditions, and the Union’s aim as the well-being of its peoples, to be achieved through sustainable development of Europe based on balanced economic growth, a highly competitive social market economy aiming at full employment and social progress, protection and improvement of the environment, combating social exclusion and discrimination and inequalities in access to health care, promoting social justice and protection, equality between women and men, solidarity between generations and protection of the rights of the child,
Amendment 15 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Underlines the fact that it is essential to promote stronger user-orientation and user- empowerment
Amendment 150 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Underlines the fact that Member States and local authorities must be free to decide how SSGI are funded and delivered, whether directly or otherwise, using all available instruments so as to fully ensure th
Amendment 151 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Underlines the fact that Member States and local authorities must be free to decide how SSGI are funded and delivered, whether directly or otherwise, using all available instruments so as to ensure that the Union's social objectives are not weakened by single market rules, while at the same time supporting an environment that promotes quality, accessibility , affordability and efficiency in the delivery of the services;
Amendment 152 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 a (new) 15a. Emphasises that the quality of services must be based around regular and integrated consultation of users, who are taxpayers, since services must first and foremost meet their needs;
Amendment 153 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 a (new) 15a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to respect the diversity of the methods of organising and managing SSGIs, of their resources and of the methods of funding these services; calls on the Member States to reverse ‘reforms’ which have institutionalised market-based models of welfare provision, with competition and tendering obligations, and to cease promoting public-private partnerships or externalising social services to the private sector as these are misleading strategies for ‘modernising’ social services; considers that taking care to promote the general interest and ensure the provision of efficient and high-quality services by both the public sector and the not-for-profit 'third’ sector or the social economy is the most appropriate strategy for ensuring high-quality, integrated and inclusive social services;
Amendment 154 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 16. Calls for EU legislation to
Amendment 155 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 16. Calls on the Commission to take the necessary steps to introduce proposals for European statutes for associations, mutual societies and foundations, to propose a feasibility study and an impact assessment for the statutes for associations and mutual societies, and to complete the impact assessment for the statute for foundations in due course; calls for EU legislation to enable mutual societies, associations and foundations to operate on a transnational basis;
Amendment 156 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 16.
Amendment 157 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 16. Calls
Amendment 158 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 16. Calls for EU legislation to enable mutual societies, associations and foundations to operate on a transnational basis thanks to the appropriate European statutes;
Amendment 159 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 Amendment 16 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A a (new) Aa. whereas Article 9 TFEU requires that in defining and implementing its policies and activities, the Union shall take into account requirements linked to the promotion of a high level of employment, the guarantee of adequate social protection, the fight against social exclusion, and a high level of education, training and protection of human health,
Amendment 16 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Underlines that it is essential to promote stronger user-orientation and user- empowerment as well as to enhance access to social rights, particularly for disadvantaged groups, including single mothers and elderly women, in a context where the need for services is becoming increasingly sophisticated and complex; calls on the Commission to ensure and safeguard the universal access to health care and social services and propose effective strategies to combat multiple discrimination;
Amendment 160 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 a (new) 16a. Welcomes ideas about promoting foundations, cooperatives and mutual associations, however, proposes that before proceeding with a legal framework, that the Commission carries out an impact assessment about the benefits, as opposed to encouraging action at Member State level;
Amendment 162 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 Amendment 163 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 17. Calls for clarification of basic principles on the control of state aid,
Amendment 164 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 17. Calls for clarification of basic principles on the control of state aid, and for a review of the criteria for calculating
Amendment 165 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 17. Calls for clarification of basic principles on the control of state aid, and for a review of the criteria for calculating compensation of public service obligations, with an eye to transparency vis-à-vis the taxpayer;
Amendment 166 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 a (new) 17a. Calls for a clarification of several notions such as act of entrustment or public authorities;
Amendment 167 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 b (new) 17b. Considers that during the transposition of the services directive, several Member States narrowly translated into their domestic legislation the list of social services excluded from the scope of the directive, without taking into account the potential effects on the general interest nature of these services;
Amendment 168 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 Amendment 169 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 18. Calls
Amendment 17 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B B. whereas Article 14 of the TFEU and Protocol 26 thereto explicitly address services of general interest (SGI) which include social services of general interest (SSGI)
Amendment 17 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Recommends the Member States, when defining social services of general interest, to take account of gender-specific services, especially advisory and social services particularly designed for women, and important services that contribute to women’s quality of life and to equality, such as health services, particularly sexual and reproductive health services, education and the care of the elderly;
Amendment 170 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 18.
Amendment 171 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 18.
Amendment 172 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 18. Calls for the 2005 Monti-Kroes response to the Altmark case to be broadened so as to simplify the rules, improve flexibility in their application, and expand the derogations.
Amendment 173 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 18. Calls for the 2005 Monti-Kroes response to the Altmark case to be
Amendment 174 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 18. Calls for the 2005 Monti-Kroes response to the Altmark case to be broadened so as to simplify the rules, improve flexibility in their application, and expand the derogations.
Amendment 175 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 18. Calls for the 2005 Monti-Kroes response to the Altmark case to be broadened so as to simplify the rules, improve flexibility in their application, and expand the derogations. The de minimis threshold should be raised at least for the SSGI to at least EUR 500 000 over a three- year cycle;
Amendment 176 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 a (new) 18a. Points out that neither the sector, the status of an entity carrying out a service nor the way in which it is funded, which determines whether its activities are deemed economic or non-economic but it is the nature of the activity itself and its preventive effect;
Amendment 177 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 19 Amendment 178 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 19 Amendment 179 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 19 19.
Amendment 18 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B B. whereas Article 14 of the TFEU and Protocol 26 thereto explicitly address services of general interest (SGI) which include social services of general interest (SSGI), both economic and non-economic; and whereas it is confirmed that national, regional and local authorities, which are more in touch with the needs of the communities and areas concerned, have the essential role and wide discretion in providing, commissioning and organising
Amendment 18 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 b (new) 3b. Recommends the Commission and the Member States to consult all the relevant parties, including the representatives of organisations for women, immigrants, minorities, the disabled, the elderly and those for the rights of the child;
Amendment 180 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 19 19. Calls for reform of the criteria for
Amendment 181 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 19 19. Calls for reform of the criteria for classifying economic and non-economic SGI including SSGI in the framework of current EU legislation;
Amendment 182 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 19 19. Calls for
Amendment 183 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 19 19. Calls for reform of the criteria for classifying economic and non-economic SSGI in the framework of current EU legislation, in order to see if SSGI currently considered as economic could not be considered as non economic in the future;
Amendment 184 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 19 19. Calls for reform of the criteria for classifying economic and non-economic SSGI in the framework of current EU legislation so as to remove them from the sphere of competition policy, which has the effect of jeopardising their intended aims;
Amendment 185 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 19 a (new) 19a. Expresses regret that only certain SGI and SSGI are exempted from the scope of the Services Directive (2006/13/EC), calls for a pluralist and independent appraisal of the transposition of that directive to be performed as swiftly as possible, taking into account its partial exemptions and the impact in terms of practical access to SGI and SSGI;
Amendment 187 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 20 20.
Amendment 188 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 20 20. Emphasises that public procurement rules need to be
Amendment 189 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 20 20. Emphasises that public procurement rules need to be simplified
Amendment 19 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B a (new) Ba. whereas access to Services of General Interest is a fundamental right as a part of the economic, social and cultural rights recognised in the Universal Declaration on Human Rights,
Amendment 19 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Requests that the Commission use the promotion of equal opportunities as an indicator in assessing the performance of social services of general interest;
Amendment 190 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 20 20. Emphasises that public procurement rules need to be simplified and made more flexible so that public service obligations can be fulfilled; insists that amendment of procurement rules must remain neutral as regards private versus public ownership in accordance with Article 345 TFEU;
Amendment 191 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 20 20. Emphasises that public procurement rules need to be simplified and made more flexible
Amendment 192 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 20 20. Emphasises that public procurement rules need to be simplified and made more flexible so that public service obligations can be fulfilled, in particular by means of eProcurement, which has the advantage of reducing costs without lowering the quality of services;
Amendment 193 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 21 Amendment 194 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 21 Amendment 195 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 21 21. Calls on the Commission
Amendment 196 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 21 21. Calls on the Commission formally to recognise
Amendment 197 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 21 21. Calls on the Commission formally to recognise other modalities for the selection of providers, such as ‘in-house’
Amendment 198 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 21 21. Calls on the Commission formally to recognise other modalities for the selection of providers
Amendment 199 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 21 21. Calls on the Commission formally to recognise other modalities for the selection of providers, such as ‘in-house’ and ‘service concession’ methods, and explicitly to accord equal value to all options for the contracting and financing of SSGI;
Amendment 2 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 5 a (new) - having regard to the conclusions of the European Council of 17 June 2010, the conclusions of the European Council of 11 December 2009 and the conclusions of the Heads of State or Government of the Euro Area of 11 March 2011 on a financial transaction tax,
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion Recital A (new) A. Whereas gender segregation in social services, both sectoral and occupational, has a detrimental impact on working conditions and pay levels and the unpaid domestic work, child care and elderly care work are predominantly performed by women,
Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C Amendment 20 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Points to the need to amend liberalisation policies in order to promote a policy of social progress making for universal access to high-quality public services, with special consideration for disadvantaged groups, such as single mothers, women, elderly people, children, migrants, and those with any kind of disability;
Amendment 200 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 21 21. Calls on the Commission formally to recognise other modalities for the selection of providers, such as ‘in-house’ and ‘service concession’ methods, and explicitly to accord equal value to all options for the contracting and financing of SSGI
Amendment 201 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 21 21. Calls on the Commission formally to recognise other modalities for the selection of providers, such as ‘in-house’ and ‘service concession’ methods, and explicitly to accord equal value to all options for the contracting and financing of SSGI; calls for the expansion of the ‘in- house’ method to include service providers who meet specific general interest criteria; calls furthermore for recognition of tried and tested Member State procedures based on the principle that all providers which are able to comply with the conditions previously laid down by law should be permitted to provide services, irrespective of their legal form, provided that account is taken of the principles of equal treatment, non-discrimination and transparency laid down in primary law;
Amendment 202 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 22 Amendment 203 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 22 Amendment 204 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 22 22. Supports the normative anchoring of a practical ‘in-house’ tendering option for SSGI, based on the model of the revised Regulation 1370/2007 on public passenger transport services by rail and road, w
Amendment 205 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 22 22. Supports the
Amendment 206 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 22 22. Supports the normative anchoring of a practical ‘in-house’ tendering option for SGI including SSGI, based on the model of the revised Regulation 1370/2007 on public passenger transport services by rail and road, which would provide that any competent local authority may decide to provide services itself or to award public service contracts to a legally distinct entity over which the competent local authority exercises control similar to that exercised over its own department;
Amendment 207 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 23 23. Believes that local authorities must be involved in
Amendment 208 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 23 23. Believes that regional and local authorities must be involved in an ongoing bottom-up process of overhauling procurement rules to avoid discrepancies between the rules and modes of organisation on the ground;
Amendment 209 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 23 23. Believes that local authorities must be involved in an ongoing bottom-up process of overhauling procurement rules to avoid discrepancies between the rules and
Amendment 21 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C C. whereas the provision of universally available, high quality, accessible and affordable SSGI in the sense of the 2007 Commission communication on Services of General Interest can therefore be regarded as an essential pillar of the European social model and as the basis for a good quality of life and for achievement of EU employment, social and economic objectives,
Amendment 21 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 b (new) 3b. Points out that the economic and financial crisis and the austerity policies imposed by Member States should not encourage disinvestment in SSGIs, but that, on the contrary, given their importance, such services need to be further consolidated in order to meet women’s needs;
Amendment 210 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 23 23. Believes that local authorities must be involved in an ongoing bottom-up process of
Amendment 211 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 23 23. Believes that local authorities and social partners must be involved in an ongoing bottom-up process of overhauling procurement rules to avoid discrepancies between the rules and modes of organisation on the ground;
Amendment 212 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 24 Amendment 213 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 24 Amendment 214 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 24 24.
Amendment 215 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 24 24. Calls for redefinition of the concept of ‘most economically advantageous offer’
Amendment 216 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 24 24. Calls for redefinition of the concept of ‘most economically advantageous offer’ so as to make national and local social criteria – with particular reference to working and pay conditions, health protection and inclusion – environmental criteria and quality criteria for the delivery of SSGI an
Amendment 217 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 24 24. Calls for redefinition of the concept of ‘most economically advantageous offer’ so as to make national and local social and quality criteria - meeting internationally agreed standards (e.g. ILO Convention) - for the delivery of SSGI an obligatory requirement in procurement contracts, including subcontracts;
Amendment 218 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 24 24. Calls for
Amendment 219 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 24 a (new) 24a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to support initiatives which help bring about a more social and green policy agenda by encouraging the European Commission to publish a guide on social procurement;
Amendment 22 #
Motion for a resolution Recital D Amendment 22 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Requests that the Commission ensure that the assessment of proposed EU acti
Amendment 220 #
Motion for a resolution Title before paragraph 25 (new) Amendment 221 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 25 25. Stresses that the problems which SSGI providers have identified need prompt solutions; 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 SSGI sector such as that of services to the elderly, which, will have a major role to play as the EU will face substantial demographic changes in near future;
Amendment 222 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 25 25. Stresses that the problems which SSGI providers and beneficiaries have identified need prompt solutions;
Amendment 223 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 25 a (new) 25a. Recognizes the high value of mutual learning and good practice exchange in inspiring and promoting the further modernisation of SSGI in different Member States and urges the Commission to continue proactively to initiate and support such activities;
Amendment 224 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 26 Amendment 225 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 26 26. Calls for a programme of reform, to include
Amendment 226 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 26 26. Calls for a programme of reform, to include legislative adaptation and clarification at European level, to support the specific characteristics of SSGI;
Amendment 227 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 26 26. Calls for a programme of reform, to include legislative adaptation and clarification at European level, to support the specific characteristics of SSGI; rejects, however, any amendment to European law or any European framework directive for SSGI;
Amendment 228 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 26 26. Calls for a programme of reform, to include legislative adaptation and clarification at European level, to support the specific characteristics of SSGI, notably in relation with the principles contained in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union;
Amendment 229 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 26 a (new) 26a. Points out that a wide range of social services have been excluded from the scope of the directive on services in the internal market; hopes the Commission will soon draw up a balance-sheet concerning the transposition of those exclusion measures;
Amendment 23 #
Motion for a resolution Recital D D. whereas Articles 4(2) and 5(3) TEU encompass subsidiarity at local level, give formal recognition to regional and local self-government and
Amendment 23 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Requests that the Commission ensure that the assessment of
Amendment 230 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 27 27. Considers that the Social Protection Committee has made an important contribution to the understanding and role of SSGI
Amendment 231 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 27 27. Considers that the Social Protection Committee has made an important
Amendment 232 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 28 Amendment 233 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 28 Amendment 234 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 28 Amendment 235 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 28 Amendment 236 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 28 28.
Amendment 237 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 28 28. Proposes the establishment of a high- level multi-stakeholder taskforce – initially with a two-year mandate – that is open, flexible and transparent, to pursue implementation of the policy initiatives identified in this report and in the 3rd Forum recommendations, the Commission's second Biennial Report and the SPC reports, as well as any other relevant proposals;
Amendment 238 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 28 28. Proposes the establishment of a high- level multi-stakeholder taskforce – initially with a two-year mandate – that is open,
Amendment 239 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 28 28. Proposes the establishment of a high- level multi-stakeholder taskforce – initially with a two-year mandate – that is open, flexible and transparent, to pursue implementation of the policy initiatives identified in this report and in the 3rd SSGI Forum recommendations, the Commission's second Biennial Report and the SPC reports, as well as any other relevant proposals; to initiate a full review of all rules, particularly state-aid and procurement rules, which impact on SSGI and to evaluate how they need to be redesigned so as to respect and support Member States' responsibilities in the definition and delivery of SSGI, taking account of the current Commission review of rules;
Amendment 24 #
Motion for a resolution Title before paragraph 1 (new) Fundamental Rights and Universality
Amendment 24 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4.
Amendment 240 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 29 Amendment 241 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 29 Amendment 242 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 29 Amendment 243 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 29 29.
Amendment 244 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 29 29. Considers that, as part of its mandate, the proposed taskforce would also consider innovations such as a European resource centre for SSGI, a Member State register of SSGI,
Amendment 245 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 29 29. Considers that, as part of its mandate, the proposed taskforce would also consider innovations such as
Amendment 246 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 29 a (new) 29a. Proposes to establish a European resource centre for SSGI, which would act as a technical reference point between Member States, the Commission and representatives of civil society at European level, would act as an early- warning mechanism in cases of legislation infringing on SSGI, would formulate opinions on its own or at the request of the Parliament, the Committee of the Regions, the European Economic and social affairs Committee, would fund research work and studies in the field and would play a key role for the exchange of good practices between Member States;
Amendment 247 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 30 Amendment 248 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 30 30. Calls for a 4th European Forum on SSGI, organised by Parliament’s Employment and Social Affairs Committee and Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection, to continue the initiative of the 2007 Ferreira report, and to review progress on reform; and for the taskforce to submit a progress report to the 4th Forum, providing the Forum with continuity, direction and substance;
Amendment 249 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 31 Amendment 25 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 1. Considers that SSGI and their users have a number of special characteristics in addition to the common characteristics of SGI
Amendment 25 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Calls on the Member States to ensure
Amendment 250 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 31 Amendment 251 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 31 Amendment 252 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 31 31.
Amendment 253 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 31 31. Urges that the taskforce be co-chaired by the
Amendment 254 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 31 31. Urges that the taskforce be chaired by the Commission’s DG Social Affairs; that its membership include DG Competition, DG Single Market, DG Environment, DG Sanco and
Amendment 255 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 31 31. Urges that the taskforce be chaired by the Commission
Amendment 256 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 31 31. Urges that the
Amendment 257 #
Motion for a resolution Title before paragraph 32 (new) European Voluntary Quality Framework
Amendment 258 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 32 32. Welcomes the VQF but insists that
Amendment 259 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 32 32. Welcomes the VQF but insists that
Amendment 26 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 1. Considers that SSGI and their users have a number of special characteristics in addition to the common characteristics of SGI
Amendment 26 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Calls on the Member States to ensure availability, within policies geared to achieving a work-life balance, of accessible, affordable, high-
Amendment 260 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 32 a (new) 32 a. Welcomes that the European Commission, in the Key Initiatives annexed to the Communication on European Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusion, proposes to develop, at a sectoral level, the Voluntary European Quality Framework on social services including in the field of long-term care and homelessness;
Amendment 261 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 32 a (new) 32a. Supports the development of a European voluntary quality framework for SSGI which could be used as a basis for developing sector-specific quality frameworks to meet the needs of different types of social services (emergency, residential, childcare, disability, social housing, etc);
Amendment 262 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 33 Amendment 263 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 33 33. Urges that Member States use the VQF to draw up quality
Amendment 264 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 33 33. Urges that Member States use the VQF to draw up quality
Amendment 265 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 33 33. Urges that Member States use the VQF to draw up or to improve quality accreditation and monitoring systems, and that implementation of the VQF be evaluated with reference to the Charter of
Amendment 266 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 33 a (new) 33a. Calls on the Member States to encourage employment creation and the growth potential of the social, health and education services sector by investing in further training for staff and creating an attractive environment for volunteers, as qualified staff and volunteers are essential for the provision of quality services;
Amendment 267 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 33 a (new) 33a. Invites the European Commission to clarify the link between the quality framework outlined in the Promotheus programme and the VQF to avoid any duplication;
Amendment 268 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 34 34. Emphasises that full respect for workers’ rights, the development of collective bargaining and social dialogue, decent, stable working and pay conditions and quality continuing training are essential for the delivery of quality social services; considers that steps should be taken to combat undeclared and illegal employment, particularly in the healthcare sector; points out that while volunteers have a valuable role to play they cannot take the place of an adequate number of professionally trained staff in the SSGI sector;
Amendment 269 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 34 34. Emphasises that decent, stable working conditions and quality training for social workers are essential for the delivery of quality social services;
Amendment 27 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 1. Considers that SSGI and their users have a number of special characteristics in addition to the common characteristics of SGI. SSGI encompass
Amendment 27 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Calls on the Member States to ensure the availability of accessible, affordable, high- quality, diversified forms of
Amendment 270 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 34 34. Emphasises that decent, stable and quality working conditions and
Amendment 271 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 34 34. Emphasises that decent, stable working conditions and quality training, user's participation and their empowerment are essential for the delivery of quality social services;
Amendment 272 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 34 34. Emphasises that decent, stable working conditions safeguarded by wages set under collective agreements or payment of the minimum wage and quality training are essential for the delivery of quality social services;
Amendment 273 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 34 34. Emphasises that decent, stable working conditions and quality training are essential for the delivery of quality social services; underlines also a need of hiring a high class specialists;
Amendment 274 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 34 a (new) 34a. Calls on the Member States to encourage employment creation and the growth potential of the social, health and education services sector by offering migrants and EU citizens decent working conditions and access to comprehensive social protection systems;
Amendment 275 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 34 a (new) 34a. Emphasises the importance of the services provided by social workers and stresses the need for them to analyse supported environments on a regular basis;
Amendment 276 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 34 b (new) 34b. Considers that, among the tasks performed by social workers, particular importance should be given to activities aimed at increasing motivation to undertake work, education or economic activity with a view to becoming independent and self-sufficient;
Amendment 277 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 35 Amendment 278 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 35 35. Considers that the VQF principles should be used to help define
Amendment 279 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 35 35. Considers that the VQF principles should be used to help define
Amendment 28 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 1. Considers that SSGI and their users have a number of special characteristics in addition to the common characteristics of SGI. SSGI encompass
Amendment 28 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Calls on the Member States to ensure availability of accessible, affordable, high- quality, diversified forms of childcare provision as an essential step towards equal opportunities in employment for women and men, since childcare services not only facilitate participation by women in the labour market but also offer job opportunities mainly for women; requests the Commission and Member States to take actions for the recognition of unpaid household, child and elderly care providers, mostly women, who have a very important role for the sustainability of the social systems;
Amendment 280 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 35 35. Considers that the VQF principles
Amendment 281 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 35 35. Considers that the VQF principles and payment in accordance with the customary wages set under collective agreements in the area concerned should be used to help define obligatory quality criteria for application to revised public procurement rules;
Amendment 282 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 36 Amendment 283 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 36 Amendment 284 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 36 36. Proposes
Amendment 285 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 37 37. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the parliaments and governments of the Member States and of the candidate countries
Amendment 29 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 1. Considers that SSGI and their users have a number of special characteristics in addition to the common characteristics of SGI. SSGI encompass, in addition to health services, both statutory and complementary universally available services, provided directly to
Amendment 29 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Calls on the Member States to
Amendment 3 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 8 a (new) - having regard to the Commission staff working document (SEC(2010)1545) entitled 'Guide to the application of the European rules on state aid, public procurement and the internal market to services of general economic interest, and in particular to social services of general interest,
Amendment 3 #
Draft opinion Recital A a (new) Aa. whereas social services of general interest, and in particular access to services for the care of children, the elderly and other dependants, are essential for the equal participation of women and men in the labour market, education and training,
Amendment 30 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 1. Considers that SSGI, their providers and their users have a number of special characteristics in addition to the common characteristics of SGI. SSGI encompass, in addition to health services, both statutory and complementary universally available services, provided directly to the person, that play a preventative and social cohesion and inclusion role and make tangible fundamental social rights;
Amendment 30 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 a (new) 5a. Believes it necessary to ensure that affordable care services are available for at least 40 % of children from 0 to 3 years of age, and to make education available to all children between the age of 3 and the mandatory school age;
Amendment 31 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 Amendment 31 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 b (new) 5b. Draws attention to the importance of ensuring that the national, regional and local authorities facilitate access to social housing for women in need or at risk of exclusion, and for women who have been the victims of gender violence, in both cases especially when they have dependent children;
Amendment 32 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Recognises that, in the case of SSGI, there are two contrasting factors which have to be reconciled: on the one hand, the principle of subsidiarity which upholds the national public authorities´ freedom to define, organise and finance SSGI as they see fit, in conjunction with the principle of proportionality, and on the other hand, the responsibility incumbent on the Community and Member States for their respective areas of competence under the Treaty;
Amendment 32 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 c (new) 5c. Points out that it is vital to safeguard the access of the most vulnerable women’s groups to training and employment services in order to secure their financial independence and full inclusion in society;
Amendment 33 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Stresses the importance of public services – publicly owned and managed, with democratic involvement of users of such services – in areas essential to people's welfare, such as health, education, justice, water, housing, transport, childcare and care for the elderly;
Amendment 33 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 a (new) 5a. Points to the importance of public services – publicly owned and managed, with democratic involvement of their users – in areas essential to the welfare of women and children, namely health, education, justice, water, housing, transport, childcare, and care for the elderly;
Amendment 34 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Stresses that the general interest nature of a social service does not depend on its field but on the way it is provided, through a variety of evidences such as non profit status or non selection of beneficiaries;
Amendment 34 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 a (new) 5a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure that specific gender budgeting is built into all programmes and policies implemented in the EU or the Member States;
Amendment 35 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Stresses that certain actors in the field of SSGI are especially at risk of being regarded as just any commercial service; stresses their need to be recognised as SSGI and that their problems must be adequately address;
Amendment 35 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 a (new) 5a. Notes that due to demographic change, care, health and social services in general are a growth sector that has potential to create jobs for both women and men; calls on the Member States to tap this potential by strengthening these underpaid and undervalued sectors where women are over-represented, by improving wages, infrastructures and professional training;
Amendment 36 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Rejects emphatically the idea of EU framework legislation for social services of general interest;
Amendment 36 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 a (new) 5a . Calls on the Member States to promote agreements between the social partners on work-life balance policies and corporate and territorial welfare initiatives, with due regard for the positive measures taken on a contractual basis in recent years and experiments financed by the European Social Fund;
Amendment 37 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 b (new) Amendment 37 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 b (new) 5b. Calls on the Commission to take an active part in efforts to achieve the objective of framing and adopting a set of rules agreed by the social partners at EU level aimed at upholding fundamental rights as regards equal opportunities and extending gender-related legal guarantees to cover access, pay and working conditions, life-work balancing measures, training, career development and safety;
Amendment 38 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 b (new) 1b. Emphasises that, in respect of SSGI, the subsidiarity principle must take precedence over internal market rules;
Amendment 38 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 6. Notes that, in order to avoid difficulties in attracting qualified employees, staff shortages and a decline in the quality of social services of general interest in future, Member States should pay more attention to the
Amendment 39 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 c (new) 1c. Emphasises that, as a matter of principle, responsibility for decisions on designing, funding and delivering social services of general interest (SSGI) must lie with Member States and local authorities; respects and supports this principle and urges the European institutions also to espouse this position;
Amendment 39 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 a (new) 6a. Points to the need for greater recognition to be given to the work performed by people employed in the social services sector, the majority of whom are women, because their jobs are difficult, call for a caring attitude and great personal commitment and are not very socially prestigious.
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 8 a (new) - having regard to the Commission Staff working document "Guide to the application of the European Union rules on state aid, public procurement and the internal market to services of general economic interest, and in particular to social services of general interest",
Amendment 4 #
Draft opinion Recital A b (new) Ab. whereas the expansion of social services of general interest has been a driving force in drawing more women into the labour market,
Amendment 40 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 Amendment 40 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 a (new) 6a. Calls on the Member States to encourage, including by means of tax incentives and specific financial aid, forms of home help and support for elderly and vulnerable persons – especially women – and to reduce the negative impact on the employment of relatives, in particular women, who take care of dependent family members.
Amendment 41 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Stresses that access to SSGI must be regulated by the competent authorities in Member States; they shall decide whether and to what extent access can be universal and independent of wealth or income
Amendment 42 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Stresses that access to SSGI must be universal and independent of wealth or income
Amendment 43 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Stresses that access to SSGI must be universal, accessible to all, and independent of wealth or income, and are not only for vulnerable users;
Amendment 44 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Stresses that access to SSGI must be universal and independent of wealth or income, and are not charity, nor only for vulnerable users; care should be taken to ensure equitable access for the most vulnerable groups, such as the homeless;
Amendment 45 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Stresses that access to SSGI must be universal and independent of wealth or income, and that SSGI are not only for vulnerable users; calls the Commission not to consider the universal access to SSGI as a manifest error of assessment of service of general interest; calls on the Commission to fully respect universal access to SSGI;
Amendment 46 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 a (new) 2a. Emphasises that SSGI are funded mainly by the Member States as they fall primarily within their field of competence; considers nevertheless that the European Union can play an important role and assist Member States in their modernisation and adjustment to new conditions, and possibly give voice to citizens' requirements regarding the quality and scope of services;
Amendment 47 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 a (new) 2a. Believes that access to SSGI should be made easier for gifted individuals from large families or low-income families;
Amendment 48 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 a (new) 2a. Stresses the importance of conducting, as a matter of urgency, an assessment of the social consequences and the impact on people’s lives of liberalisation measures in sectors that are essential to social progress (transport, energy, water, postal services, telecommunications, etc.) and urges the Commission to prevent any further liberalisation measures from being taken until this assessment has been submitted;
Amendment 49 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 a (new) 2 a. Stresses that it is important to reinforce the social dimension of the single market and take better account of the special nature of SSGI, with emphasis on a pragmatic approach in which the accessibility, universality, fairness, quality and efficiency of such services are the prime considerations;
Amendment 5 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 10 a (new) Amendment 5 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. As social services of general interest are
Amendment 50 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 a (new) 2 a. Stresses the importance of SSGI for people in poverty and at risk of poverty; recalls the specific difficulties encountered by marginalised communities such as Roma people;
Amendment 51 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 Amendment 52 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 3.
Amendment 53 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 3. Endorses the recommendation in the Monti report that
Amendment 54 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 3. Endorses the recommendation in the Monti report that broadband internet and banking services be new universal services, which should be
Amendment 55 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 3. Endorses the recommendation in the Monti report that broadband internet and banking services be new universal services
Amendment 57 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4. Highlights the fact that SSGI make a major economic contribution in terms of
Amendment 58 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4. Highlights the fact that SSGI make a major economic contribution in terms of jobs, economic activity and purchasing power – the Commission's second Biennial Report indicating that the health and social services sector accounts for 5% of economic output and employs 21.4 million people
Amendment 59 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4. Highlights the facts that SSGI make a major economic contribution in terms of jobs, economic activity and purchasing power – the Commission
Amendment 6 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 10 b (new) - having regard to the Commission Communication on the Taxation of the financial sector (COM(2010)0549), along with the accompanying staff working document (SEC(2010)1166),
Amendment 6 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1.
Amendment 60 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4. Highlights the fact that SSGI make a major economic contribution in terms of jobs, economic activity and purchasing power – the Commission
Amendment 61 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4. Highlights the fact that SSGI make a major economic contribution in terms of jobs, economic activity and purchasing power – the Commission’s second Biennial Report indicating that the health and social services sector accounts for 5% of economic output and employs 21.4 million people – and that SMEs in particular are reliant on high quality SSGI; considers that the economic importance of SSGI does not, however, justify applying internal market rules to them;
Amendment 62 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 a (new) 4a. Stresses that SSGIs help to enable citizens to exercise their rights and are geared to ensuring social, territorial and economic cohesion through the implementation of various forms of solidarity;
Amendment 63 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 5. Stresses that regional and local authorities play a fundamental role in defining, financing, providing and attributing SSGI: it is estimated that the local and regional government sector is worth 15.9% of EU-
Amendment 64 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 5. Stresses that local authorities play a fundamental role in defining, financing, providing and attributing SSGI: it is estimated that the local and regional government sector is worth 15.9% of EU- 27 GDP, with local government alone accounting for 12.9%, and its social protection expenditure for 3% (EUR 378.1 billion); stresses that some social economy enterprises (cooperatives, associations, mutual societies, foundations and other form of enterprises that share the same characteristics and values) play an essential role in SSGI’s provision;
Amendment 65 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 a (new) 5a. Determines that the national, regional and local public authorities play a significant role regarding the organisation, financing and arrangement of SSGI within the framework of the social protection systems of the relevant Member States;
Amendment 66 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 a (new) 5a. Notes that national, regional and local authorities have a key role to play in organising, funding and designing social services;
Amendment 68 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Stresses that the primary purpose of SSGI is to achieve social policy objectives
Amendment 69 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Stresses that the
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 18 a (new) - having regard to the report entitled Assessment of Social Dimension of the Europe 2020 Strategy prepared by the Social Protection Committee in 2011,
Amendment 7 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. As social services of general interest are generally driven by the principle of solidarity and are highly dependent on public financing, urges the Member States,
Amendment 70 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Stresses that the primary purpose of SSGI is to achieve social policy objectives and make tangible the social rights of individuals and groups and that SSGI are often an integral part of social security
Amendment 71 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 a (new) Amendment 72 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 a (new) 6a. Notes that the SSGI are the pillar of the European social model, essential for ensuring economic, social and territorial cohesion;
Amendment 73 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 a (new) 6a. Stresses that SSGIs play an important part in meeting the Europe 2020 strategy objectives and that watering them down means severely jeopardising the success of that strategy;
Amendment 74 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 a (new) 6a. Highlights the need to review liberalisation policies in order to promote a policy of social progress ensuring universal access to high-quality public services, with special consideration for disadvantaged groups, such as single mothers, women, elderly people, children, migrants and those with any kind of disability;
Amendment 75 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 Amendment 76 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 Amendment 77 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 Amendment 78 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 7. Considers th
Amendment 79 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 7. Considers that
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 29 a (new) - having regard to its resolution of 20 October 2010 on the financial, economic and social crisis: recommendations concerning the initiatives to be taken1,
Amendment 8 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Insists on the need to prevent the current financial and economic crisis and future economic prospects from putting at risk the development of social services of general interest, as this would in the long term harm the growth of employment, economic growth in the EU, the increase in fiscal contributions, the rise in birth- rates and the promotion of equality between women and men;
Amendment 80 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 7.
Amendment 81 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 7. Considers that
Amendment 82 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 7. Considers that experience demonstrates th
Amendment 83 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 7. Considers that
Amendment 84 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 7. Considers that experience demonstrates that the profit maximisation objective of commercial providers of SSGI might conflict
Amendment 85 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 7. Considers that experience demonstrates that the profit maximisation objective of commercial providers of SSGI does not conflict
Amendment 86 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 a (new) Amendment 87 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 a (new) 7a. Emphasises the traditional role of the state as provider of social services of general interest, yet considers that opening this sector to private service providers will enhance the accessibility and quality of services and increase consumer choice;
Amendment 88 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 a (new) 7a. Reaffirms its commitment to modern and high-quality SSGI, which are means of giving effect to many of the values embodied in the European project, such as equality, solidarity, the rule of law and respect for human dignity, as well as and to the principles of accessibility, universal service, efficiency, economic management of resources, continuity, proximity to service users and transparency;
Amendment 89 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 a (new) 7a. Considers it important, in this connection, to emphasise that processes for the privatisation of SSGI provision are not necessarily beneficial in economic terms, in terms of the quality of the services provided and in terms of meeting the objectives laid down;
Amendment 9 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 29 b (new) - having regard to its resolution of 8 March 2011 on innovative financing at a global and European level2,
Amendment 9 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Maintains that an assessment needs to be conducted as a matter of urgency to gauge the social consequences of, and determine how women’s lives are being affected by, liberalisation measures in sectors essential to social progress (transport, energy, water, postal services, telecommunications, etc.) and urges the Commission to halt further liberalisation processes for as long as such an assessment has not been produced;
Amendment 90 #
Motion for a resolution Title before paragraph 8 (new) Regulatory Constraints on delivery of SSGI
Amendment 91 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8.
Amendment 92 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Stresses that national and local authorities engaged in providing or mandating SSGI need
Amendment 93 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Stresses that national and local authorities engaged in providing or mandating SSGI need
Amendment 94 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Stresses that national and local authorities engaged in providing or mandating SSGI need a clear legal basis for their services and expenditures, and that
Amendment 95 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Stresses that national and local authorities engaged in providing or mandating SSGI need a clear legal basis for their services and expenditures, and that while the information and clarification service developed by the Commission is essential, it is insufficient and does not pro
Amendment 96 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Stresses that national and local authorities engaged in providing or mandating SSGI need a clear legal basis for their services and expenditures, and that while the information and clarification service developed by the Commission is essential, it is insufficient and does not protect SSGI providers from legal challenge however, there is still lack of legal certainty;
Amendment 97 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 a (new) 8a. Stresses that national and local authorities are responsible for ensuring that SSGIs operate properly and for maintaining a high standard of quality;
Amendment 98 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 a (new) 8a. Considers that steps must be taken to address the current legal uncertainty as regards SSGI, making it clear that public goods, public services, services of general interest and the not-for-profit sector are not subject to rules on competition, public aid, public contracts and the internal market, but form a sector geared solely towards the public interest and that is organised in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity within the exclusive competence of the Member States and their respective regional and local authorities, with a view to ensuring its proper functioning;
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