2012/2257(INI) | [ParlTrack]

Motion for a resolution
Citation 2

– having regard to Article 9225 of the Treaty o~~n the~~f Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), and in particular Articles 9, and 151 and 153, thereof;

Amendment 10 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A e (new)

A e. whereas employment destruction is being particularly severe in those Member states where fiscal consolidation efforts are being particularly rigid; whereas an excessive fiscal consolidation suffocates growth and hampers job creation;

Amendment 100 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)

20 a. Calls on the Commission to explore and promote the necessary reforms to exclude productive investments such as investments in education and research and development from deficit targets established in the EU rules;

Amendment 101 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)

20 a. Calls on Member States to incorporate the mechanisms of the European exchange programmes for education, training, youth and sports into measures taken in the framework of the European semester;

Amendment 102 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

22. ~~Welcomes the fact that~~Takes note the 2013 AGS addresses poverty and social exclusion, as well as tackling the social consequences of the crisis; calls on the Commission to stress these measures in the country-specific recommendations and, in particular, to address in-work poverty, poverty among people with limited or no links to the labour market and poverty among elderly people; calls on the European Council to endorse this guidance as a priority;

Amendment 103 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)

23 a. Stresses that fiscal policies must have as its main objectives the use of resources of Member States in productive investment and job creators, particularly in agriculture and industry, in targeted support for exporting companies that innovate, a fairer distribution of income and sacrifices and end with the fiscal privileges to the big economic groups;

Amendment 104 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24

24. Acknowledges the ~~need to continue~~ fiscal consolidation programmes ~~in order to guarantee the sustainability of public finances, but warns about th~~have negative short-term growth and employment effects ~~thereof~~, especially in countries in recession or with marginal growth rates;

Amendment 105 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24

24. ~~Acknowledges the need to continue fiscal consolidation programmes in order to guarantee the sustainability of public finances, but warns about the negative short-term~~Stresses that the impact of fiscal consolidation programmes should be evaluated critically with regard to their impacts on growth and employment effects ~~thereof~~in the short term, especially in countries in recession or with marginal growth rates; Calls on the Commission and European Council to allow for investments to achieve the EU2020 strategy and to make full use of the flexibility in times of economic downturn that Regulation (EU) No 1175/2011 and Council Regulation (EU) No 1177/2011 provide for;

Amendment 106 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24

24. Acknowledges th~~e need to continue~~at acute and rapid fiscal consolidation programmes ~~in order to guarantee the sustainability of public finances, but warns about the negative short-term~~have negative growth and employment effects ~~thereof,~~in the short term especially in countries in recession or with marginal growth rates;

Amendment 107 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24

24. Acknowledges the need to continue fiscal consolidation programmes in order to guarantee the sustainability of public finances, but warns about the negative short-term growth and employment effects thereof and the decrease in social standards, especially in countries in recession or with marginal growth rates;

Amendment 108 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24

24. Acknowledges th~~e need to continue~~at fiscal consolidation programmes ~~in order to guarantee the sustainability of public finances, but warns about the negative short-term~~have negative growth and employment effects ~~thereof~~in the short term, especially in countries in recession or with marginal growth rates;

Amendment 109 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24

24. Acknowledges the need to continue fiscal consolidation programmes in order to guarantee the sustainability of public finances, but warns about the negative short-, medium and long term growth and employment effects thereof, especially in countries in recession or with marginal growth rates;

Amendment 11 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A f (new)

A f. whereas a large number of international organisations, and among them the IMF, are alerting the European Commission of an error in its fiscal multipliers which are systematically underestimating the effect of a fiscal consolidation on growth and job creation;

Amendment 110 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)

24 a. Warns that a large number of international organisations, and among them the IMF, are alerting the European Commission of an error in its fiscal multipliers which are systematically underestimating the effect of a fiscal consolidation on growth and job creation; Urges the Commission to revise these multipliers since policy recommendations based on them are seriously damaging growth and job creation in many member states;

Amendment 111 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25

25. Considers that fiscal consolidation ~~must contin~~has to be pursued in a proportionalte and growth-friendly ~~manner and that~~way and the rhythm of consolidation ~~must~~has to be differentiated across countries according to their fiscal space~~, in order to achieve the proper balance between potential~~ to avoid negative growth and negative employment effects ~~and the risks to~~while ensuring medium and long term debt sustainability;

Amendment 112 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25

25. Considers that fiscal consolidation must continue in a proportional and growth-friendly manner and that the rhythm of consolidation must be differentiated across countries according to their fiscal space, in order to achieve the proper balance between potential negative growth and employment effects and the risks to debt sustainability; Asks the Commision to take into account that a spread and delaying in fiscal consolidation is possible in due respect of current EU fiscal rules. Whereas a more balanced fiscal consolidation of 0,5point of GDP, in accordance with the treaties and the fiscal compact, would give, for 2013 alone, a concrete margin of manoeuvre, of more than 85 billion euros to finance an ambitious growth and jobs strategy;

Amendment 113 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25

25. Considers that the strategy of fiscal consolidation ~~must continue in a proport~~has pushed many Member States back into recessional and growth-friendly manner and that the rhythm of consolidation must be differentiated across countries according to their fiscal space, in order to achieve the proper balance between potential negative growth and employment effects and the risks to debt sustainabilit, through negative feedback effects, has been self defeating and unable to bring public debt ratios under control. Calls on the Commission, the ECB, and the Council to implement a temporary but immediate moratorium on new austerity measures, followed by a fundamental revision of deficit targets so as to adapt the rhythm of consolidation in function of the state of the real economy;

Amendment 114 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25

25. Considers that fiscal consolidation must continue in a proportionalte and growth-friendly manner and that the rhythm of consolidation must be differentiated across countries according to their fiscal space, and that of the broader European economy in order to achieve the proper balance between potential negative growth and employment effects and the risks to debt sustainability;

Amendment 115 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)

25 a. Calls on the European Commission to recalibrate its models on the impact of the multiplier effect of fiscal cuts on the budgets of Member States in line with recent revisions by the IMF;

Amendment 116 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26

26. Calls on the European Council to ensure coherence between the different priorities in its policy guidance, so that fiscal consolidation does not compromise sustainable growth and job creation potential, increase poverty and social exclusion, or prevent the provision of public services of quality; believes that the main priority must be to put into place integrated reform measures and investments that promote growth and job creation while guaranteeing the sustainability of public finances;

Amendment 117 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26

26. Calls on the European Council to ensure coherence between the different priorities in its policy guidance, so ~~that fiscal consolidation does not~~as not to compromise growth and job creation potential, increase poverty and social exclusion, or prevent the provision of public services of quality; believes that the main priority must be to put into place integrated reform measures and investments that promote growth and job creation while guaranteeing the sustainability of public finances;

Amendment 118 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26

26. Calls on the European Council to ensure coherence between the different priorities in its policy guidance, so ~~that fiscal consolidation does not~~as not to compromise growth and job creation potential, increase poverty and social exclusion, or prevents the provision of public services of quality; believes that the main priority must be to put into place integrated reform measures and investments that promote growth and job creation whilest guaranteeing the sustainability of public finances;

Amendment 119 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26

26. Calls on the European Council to ensure coherence between the different priorities in its policy guidance, so ~~that~~ fiscal consolidation does not compromise growth and job creation potential, increase poverty and social exclusion, or prevents the ~~provision of~~universal access to public services of quality; believes that the main priority must be to put into place integrated reform ~~measures and investments that promote growth and job creation while guaranteeing the sustainability of public finances~~;

Amendment 12 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A g (new)

A g. whereas a spread and delay in fiscal consolidation is possible in due respect of current EU fiscal rules; whereas a more balanced fiscal consolidation of 0,5point of GDP, in accordance with the treaties and the fiscal compact, would give, for 2013 alone, a concrete margin of manoeuvre of more than 85 billion euros to finance an ambitious growth and jobs strategy;

Amendment 120 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)

26 a. Calls on European Council, should it endorse the first priority of the AGS "differentiated growth friendly fiscal consolidation", to specifically explain how this can be implemented in full compliance with the aim to increase social cohesion and combat poverty as outlined in its fourth priority "tackling unemployment and the social consequences of the crisis";

Amendment 121 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 b (new)

26 b. Calls on the Commission to include social indicators into the scoreboard for the correction of macro-economic imbalances such as income inequality and labour market participation;

Amendment 122 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27

27. Stresses the need to attain ~~a correct bala~~full coherence between budgetary consolidation and economic measures on the one hand and social policy, growth and employment measures on the other.

Amendment 123 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)

27 a. Warns that the adjustment burden is not being spread evenly between deficit and surplus countries; Stresses that while deficit countries are being required to put in place an internal devaluation via reduction of salaries and hence internal demand, surplus countries are not required the same efforts on the opposite sense. Notes that surplus countries have margin of manoeuvre that should be used. Urges these countries to put in place a needed expansionary fiscal policy and take other appropriate steps to increase the pace nominal wage and price growth in order to encourage internal demand and favour an increase in external demand of deficit countries;

Amendment 124 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 b (new)

27 b. Warns that in order to increase greater competitiveness focus has been made, in many member states, on an excessive adjustment of unit labour costs via salary reductions having as result a major erosion of the purchasing power of many EU workers;

Amendment 125 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 c (new)

27 c. Urges countries of the euro area to develop the necessary tools to manage their competitiveness. Stresses that these efforts require coordination at European level to avoid the twin evils of beggar-thy- neighbour strategies and excessive wage- price spirals;

Amendment 126 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 d (new)

27 d. Asks the Commission to establish the necessary mechanisms to surveil and ensure that member states accomplish the social recommendations introduced in the European semester and in the National Reform Programme; deplores that this had not been done in the previous semesters;

Amendment 127 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28

28. ~~Is concerned~~Deplores the fact that the European Parliament and national parliaments continue to play a limited role in the European Semester; highlights the fact that policy guidance in the AGS initiated by the Commission, and to be endorsed by the European Council, lacks parliamentary involvement and, therefore, democratic legitimacy;

Amendment 128 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28

28. Is concerned about the fact that the European Parliament ~~and~~, national parliaments, social partners and the civil society continue to play a limited role in the European Semester; hHighlights the fact that policy guidance in the AGS initiated by the Commission, and to be endorsed by the European Council, lacks parliamentary and civil involvement and, therefore, democratic legitimacy;

Amendment 129 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 a (new)

29 a. Asks the Commission to require Member States to guarantee the maximum transparency in the elaboration of NRP as well as a wide involvement in this process of national parliaments and social agents;

Amendment 13 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A h (new)

A h. whereas tensions in financial markets have not been reduced and imbalances in access to financing prevail between Member States; whereas high premium risks increase in excess sovereign debts burdens, requiring heavier fiscal consolidation, deepening the crisis and hence hampering growth and job creation;

Amendment 130 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 a (new)

29 a. Emphasises that Europe needs a macroeconomic framework to support sustainable development, and an increase in employment and social cohesion; considers that monetary and tax policies in the EU have had a negative impact on the growth of the economy and employment, and recalls that monetary policy should contribute to strengthening economic recovery and fighting unemployment, locking in the immediate destruction of thousands of jobs in the EU and creating quality jobs with rights;

Amendment 131 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30

30. Recalls that strengthening job-rich growth calls for employment policies that generate favourable conditions for job creation, facilitate positive transitions from job to job and from unemployment to employment, ~~increase the labour supply~~redistribute the volume of labour and improve its geographic and skills matching with labour market needs.

Amendment 132 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31

31. Stresses the need for reforms in the labour market to ~~increase labour productivity and efficienc~~put a strong focus on promoting quality in wor~~der to~~k, improve ~~the EU economy's competitiveness and guarantee su~~d social security and social inclusion, enhancing existain~~able growth and job creation; believes that reforms in labour markets should be implemented in such a way as to promote job quality~~g and introducing new workers rights, promoting health and safety at work, better social risk management and the reconciliation of work and non-work life;

Amendment 133 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31

31. Stresses the need ofor reforms in the labour market to increase labour productivity and efficiency in order to improve ~~the~~ EU economy's competitiveness and ~~guarantee~~enable a sustainable growth and job creation; bBelieves that reforms in labour markets should be implemented in such a way as to promote job quality;

Amendment 134 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31

31. Stresses the need for reforms in the labour market to increase labour productivity and efficiency in order to improve the EU economy's competitiveness and guarantee sustainable growth and job creation while strictly respecting both the letter and spirit of the European Social Aquis and its principles; believes that reforms in labour markets should be implemented in such a way as to promote job quality;

Amendment 135 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31

31. Stresses the need ofor reforms in the labour market to increase labour productivity and efficiency in order to improve ~~the~~ EU economy's competitiveness and guarantee a sustainable growth and job creation~~; b~~ while strictly respecting both the letter and spirit of the European Social Aquis and its principles; Believes that reforms in labour markets should be implemented in such a way as to promote job quality;

Amendment 136 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32

32. Suggests that Member States reduce taxation on labour when fiscal conditions allow, especially with regard to low-paid and low-skilled workers and vulnerable groups; considers that well targeted temporary reductions in social security contributions or job subsidy schemes for new recruits, especially for the low-skilled and long-term unemployed, are very effective incentives to promote job creation;deleted

Amendment 137 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 a (new)

32 a. Underlines that measures to enhance security by phasing out precarious employment and those atypical contractual arrangements related to such insecure forms of employment should be strongly launched by Member States,, with a view to restrict and reduce atypical forms of employment, whose misuse should be punished. Member States must therefore introduce a combination of secure and reliable employment contracts, active and integrative labour market policies, effective lifelong learning, high quality social security systems to secure professional transitions accompanied by clear rights for the unemployed to be entitled to adequate benefits and tailor- made measures to find quality employment or training and upgrading of their skills and competencies if needed;

Amendment 138 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33

33. Stresses the need to undertake the necessary reforms in order to guarantee the sustainability of pension systems; ~~believes that retirement age should be linked to the evolution of life expectancy, but r~~Recalls that there is ~~still~~a scope to raise the actual retirement age without raising the mandatory retirement age by reducing early exit from the labour market; believes that, if actual retirement ages are to be raised successfully, reforms in pension systems need to be accompanied by policies that develop employment opportunities for older workers' access to life-long learning, and introduce tax benefit policies giving incentives to stay longer at work, and support active healthy ageing;

Amendment 139 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33

33. Stresses the need to undertake the necessary reforms ~~in order~~ to guarantee the sustainability of pension systems; believes that retirement age shcould be ~~linked to~~evaluated against the evolution of healthy life expectancy, but recalls that there is still scope to raise the actual retirement age without raising the mandatory retirement age by reducing early exit from the labour market in particular by improving working conditions; believes that, if actual retirement ages are to be raised successfully, reforms ~~in pension systems need to be accompanied by policies that~~primarily need to develop employment opportunities for older workers' access to life-long learning, and introduce tax benefit policies giving incentives to stay longer at work, and support active healthy ageing;

Amendment 14 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A i (new)

A i. whereas productive investments in areas such as education and training and research and development are key for a sustainable exit of the crisis but also to consolidate the EU economy in a path of competitiveness and productivity; whereas deficit targets should exclude investments in these areas ;

Amendment 140 #

Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO, Frédéric DAERDEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33

33. Stresses the need to undertake the necessary reforms in order to guarantee the sustainability of pension systems; believes that retirement age should be linked to the evolution of life expectancy, but recalls that there is still scope to raise the actual retirement age without raising the mandatory retirement age by reducing early exit from the labour market; believes that, if actual retirement ages are to be raised successfully, reforms in pension systems need to be accompanied by policies that develop employment opportunities for older workers' access to life-long learning, and introduce tax benefit policies giving incentives to stay longer at work, and support active healthy ageing ensuring public social security systems aiming fair reforms allowing to live with dignity;

Amendment 141 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33

33. Stresses the need to undertake the necessary reforms ~~in order~~ to guarantee the sustainability of the pensions systems; bBelieves that retirement age should be linked to the evolution of life expectancy, but recalls that there is still ~~scop~~margin of manoeuvre to raise the ~~actual~~effective retirement age without raising the mandatory retirement age by reducing early exit from the labour market; bBelieves that~~, if actual retirement ages are to be raised successfully~~ to successfully higher effective retirement ages, reforms in pension systems need to be accompanied by policies that develop employment opportunities for older workers' access to life-long learning, and introduce tax benefit policies giving incentives to stay longer at work, and support active healthy ageing;

Amendment 142 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33

33. Stresses the need to undertake the necessary reforms ~~in order~~ to guarantee the sustainability of the pensions systems; bBelieves that retirement age should be linked to the evolution of the healthy life expectancy, but recalls that there is still ~~scop~~margin of manoeuvre to raise the ~~actual~~effective retirement age without raising the mandatory retirement age by reducing early exit from the labour market; bBelieves that~~, if actual retirement ages are to be raised successful~~ to successfully higher effective retirement ages, reforms in pension systems, notably to restrict access to early, re~~forms in pension systems~~tirement schemes and other early exit pathways, need to be accompanied by policies that develop employment opportunities for older workers' access to life-long learning~~, and introduce tax benefit policies giving incentives to stay longer at work, and support active healthy ageing~~ must become obligatory provided;

Amendment 143 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34

34. Calls on the Commission to work with the Member States to ensure that austerity programmes do not hinder employment creation measures and growth-promoting policies, and do not compromise social protection; urges Member States to prioritise growth-friendly expenditure such as education, lifelong learning, research and innovation energy efficiency, and at the same time to ensure the efficiency of this spending;

Amendment 144 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35

35. Welcomes the attention given to on exploitation of the job-creation potential of key sectors such as ~~the green economy~~innovative industries, services, health and social care, and the ICT sector in the AGS priorities ~~for~~ 2013; cCalls on the Commission and ~~the~~ Member States to support initiatives that facilitate the development of theses sectors with high employment potential;

Amendment 145 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35

35. Welcomes the attention given ton exploitation of the job-creation potential of key sectors such as the green economy, health and social care (the so called white sector), and the ICT sector in the AGS priorities ~~for~~ 2013; cCalls on the Commission and ~~the~~ Member States to support initiatives that facilitate the development of theses sectors with high employment potential;

Amendment 146 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36

36. ~~Recalls that the full exploitation of t~~The job creation potential of these new sectors will require adaptation, especially among lower skilled and older workers, and new skills; calls on the Commission and the Member States not only to anticipate skill needs ~~in these sectors and th~~but also to increase investments in education and training to provide those skills;

Amendment 147 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36

36. Recalls that ~~the full exploitation of~~(deleted) the job creation potential of these new sectors will ~~require~~need adaptation, especially ~~among~~of lower skilled and older workers, and new skills; cCalls on the Commission and ~~the~~ Member States not only to anticipate skills needs ~~in these sectors and th~~(deleted) but also to increase investments in education and training to provide those skills;

Amendment 148 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37

37. Regrets that absolutely no mention is made of steps to implement gender mainstreaming in the priorities of the Annual Growth Survey 2013; considers that significantly increasing women's participation in the labour market is key to achieving the Europe 2020 headline target for the employment rate; calls on the Commission and the Member States to adopt the necessary measures to promote higher employment rates among women, such as affordable care and child care, adequate maternity, paternity and parental leave schemes ~~and flexibility in working hours and places of work~~;

Amendment 149 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38

38. Calls on the Member States to improve the environment for businesses, especially for SMEs, and calls on the Commission and the European Council to step up efforts to improve the Single Market, to enhance the digital economy and to focus on smart regulation in order to reduce unnecessary red tape; ~~welcomes the Single Market Act II and calls for swift and full implementation thereof;~~

Amendment 15 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas in 2012 the employment situation has worsened and the prospects for 2013 are pessimistic; whereas labour market segmentation has continued to rise, long-term unemployment has reached alarming levels, in-work poverty is still a major problem, average household incomes are declining in many Member States and indicators point to a trend of higher levels and deeper forms of poverty and social exclusion, with in-work poverty and social polarisation on the rise in many Member States.

Amendment 150 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38 a (new)

38 a. Calls the Commission to make single market governance a key priority, since it contributes substantially to reaching the targets of the European Semester, namely sustainable economic growth and employment; takes the view that the Commission's country-specific recommendations should, at the same time, offer the Member States more practical solutions for improving the functioning of the single market, so that stronger public support and political commitment are created to encourage the completion of the single market;

Amendment 151 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39

39. Welcomes the recognition of the importance of access to finance for SMEs, as they are the cornerstone of employment and job creation within the EU and have significant potential for addressing youth unemployment and the gender imbalance; urges Member States to make access to finance for SMEs an absolute priority in their national growth plans; urges Member States to provide easy access to the European Funds dedicated to that end;

Amendment 152 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40 a (new)

40 a. Calls on the European Commission that Social Entrepreneurship should be strongly supported under the Multi Annual Framework 2014-2020, as there is an evident high potential for new jobs and innovative growth;

Amendment 153 #

Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO, Frédéric DAERDEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41

41. ~~Stress~~Urges the ~~need~~Commission to fully mobilise EU instruments and financial support to achieve the Europe 2020 Strategy objectives; calls on the Member States to make full use of the Structural Funds in order to enhance employability and combat structural, long-term and youth unemployment effectively.

Amendment 154 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41 a (new)

41 a. Asks the Commission to explore the possibility of excluding Member States participation in co financing of EU funds or programs, within the heading 1 "sustainable growth" of the Multiannual Financial Framework, from the calculation of the structural deficit as defined in the two-pack

Amendment 155 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41 b (new)

41 b. Urges the Commission, to fully address and underline the role of the EU budget in the European Semester process by providing factual and concrete data on its triggering, catalytic, synergetic and complementary effects on overall public expenditure at local, regional and national levels; believes, moreover, that funding at EU level can generate savings for the Member States' budgets and that this should be emphasised; considers that in terms of stimulating growth and boosting job creation, as well as successfully reducing macroeconomic imbalances throughout the Union, the EU budget has a vital role to play;

Amendment 156 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42 a (new)

42 a. Stresses the need to combat with effective measures, discrimination in access to employment and wages suffered by young girls, even when they have higher academic qualifications than young boys;

Amendment 157 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42 a (new)

42 a. It is crucial to help young people to acquire skills more effectively which requires greater cooperation and communication between companies, governments and education providers;

Amendment 158 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43

43. Welcomes the Commission's announcement that it is to present a youth employment package; calls on the Member States to promote and develop, in close cooperation with the social partners, a Youth Guarantee, with the aim of offering every young person in the EU a job, an apprenticeship, additional training or combined work and training after a maximum period of four months' unemployment; recalls that this can be co- financed by the European Social Fund; calls on the Commission to provide Member States and regions with technical assistance to make good use of the ESF in order to develop Youth Guarantee schemes; Calls on Member States to implement the Youth Guarantee with concrete measures;

Amendment 159 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43 a (new)

43 a. Considers that Union funding of Youth Guarantee Schemes should play a key role and that the ESF in particular should be structured to enable the guarantee to financed, and therefore should be allocated at least 25% of cohesion funds; believes, however, that an appropriate balance between EU and member state funding should be strived for;

Amendment 16 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)

E a. whereas after the European Council of 30 January 2012, as part of its "Youth Opportunities Initiative", the Commission called on Member States to develop and implement comprehensive initiatives for youth employment, education and skills, and to develop youth jobs plans within their national reform programmes, however these have not been presented in most Member States;

Amendment 160 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43 b (new)

43 b. Welcomes the Commission's suggestion to establish through the "Employment Committee" a multilateral surveillance of the implementation of the Youth Guarantee schemes and asks for the European Parliament to be associated;

Amendment 161 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43 c (new)

43 c. Calls the Commission to ensure the effective implementation of the Youth Guarantee, which is now part of the AGS, in the country specific recommendations; calls on the Commission to give practical support to Member States implementing such a youth guarantee, for instance through fostering the dissemination of the information related to EU funds promoting youth mobility in those Member States, notably in education (Erasmus - Erasmus Mundus), vocational training (Leonardo) and job mobility (EURES);

Amendment 162 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43 d (new)

43 d. Recommends that the Youth Guarantee, initially foreseen for all people up to the age of 25 years, is also extended to recent graduates under 30, and that it becomes a truly Europe-wide guarantee, stresses the need therefore for the EU institutions to be involved in coordinating and implementing the guarantee;

Amendment 163 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43 e (new)

43 e. Recognises that young people are not a homogenous group and that they face different social environments, and therefore that Member States have different level of readiness for the adoption of a youth guarantee. In this framework, all young people should firstly receive a personalised assessment of their needs, and be provided with tailored and personalised services

Amendment 164 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43 f (new)

43 f. Notes that Youth Guarantee Schemes should be accompanied by a quality framework in order to ensure that the education, training and jobs offered include appropriate pay, working conditions and health and safety standards;

Amendment 165 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43 g (new)

43 g. Emphasizes that the national sectoral partners in close cooperation with local and regional authorities should play a key role in the implementation of Youth Guarantee Schemes;

Amendment 166 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 44 a (new)

44 a. Stresses that the European Council in January 2012 proposed a pilot action to help the eight Member States with the highest levels of youth unemployment to re-allocate some of their EU structural funds allocations to tackle youth unemployment; Regrets that in May 2012 the Commission significantly lowered the estimations on available funds for reallocation from € 82 billion to € 29.800 billion lowering the scope of the pilot actions; Deplores that only a small portion of these funds have been, so far, been redirected to help young people find a job;

Amendment 167 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 45

45. Welcomes the proposal for greater use to be made of the European Social Fund for youth employment measures in the programming period 2014-2020; calls for the use of ESF funds for youth-related measures to be focused especially on apprenticeships/traineeships and entrepreneurship; welcomes the redeployment of unspent Structural Fund monies from the EU's 2007-13 financial period for the purpose of tackling the high youth unemployment rate and promoting small and medium-sized enterprises.

Amendment 168 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 45 a (new)

45 a. Calls the European Commission and the EU Council to commit in finding sufficient EU resources beyond re- allocation of existing EU structural funds to help the Member States, that have youth unemployment rates higher than the EU average, to put in place decisive policy measures to tackle youth unemployment;

Amendment 169 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47

47. C~~alls on the EU and Member States to foster cooperation and synergies between the~~onsiders that the institutions of education and/or training ~~sector and enterprises to anticipate skills' needs and adapt education and training systems to the needs of the labour market, with the aim of provid~~must ensure internships to complement the curriculum to their students as a way to gain experience ing the ~~workforce with the necessary skills and~~field they have chosen to facilitat~~ing~~e the ~~transition from education and training to work~~ir learning and connection labour practice;

Amendment 17 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E b (new)

E b. whereas the European Council in January 2012 also proposed a pilot action to help the eight Member States with the highest levels of youth unemployment to re-allocate some of their EU structural funds allocations to tackle youth unemployment; whereas in May 2012 the Commission significantly lowered the estimations on available funds for reallocation from € 82 billion to € 29.800 billion lowering the scope of the pilot actions; whereas it is worrying that only a small portion of these funds have so far, been redirected to help young people in finding a job;

Amendment 170 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47

47. Calls on the EU and Member States to foster cooperation and synergies between the education ~~and~~ -training sector and enterprises to anticipate skills' needs and adapt education and training systems to the needs of the labour market, with the aim of providing the workforce with the necessary skills and facilitating the transition from education and training to workwithout being narrowed down to serve the needs of the labour market;

Amendment 171 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47

47. Calls on the EU and Member States to foster cooperation and synergies between the education ~~and~~ -training sector and enterprises to anticipate skills' needs and adapt education and training systems to the needs of the labour market, with the ~~aim of~~objective to provid~~ing~~e the workforce with ~~the~~ necessary skills, accordingly to changing working environments and individual needs of ageing workforce, and facilitat~~ing~~e the transition from education and training to work;

Amendment 172 #

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 13

More adaptive, dynamic and inclusive labour markets and better-quality employment

Amendment 173 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 53

53. Believes that structural labour market reforms should introduce internal flexibility to maintain employment in times of economic disruption, and ensure job quality, security in employment transitions, unemployment benefit schemes ~~based on strict activation requirement~~linked with reintegration policies that maintain work incentives while ensuring sufficient income, contractual arrangements to combat labour market segmentation, anticipate economic restructuring, and ensure access to lifelong learning;

Amendment 174 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 53

53. Believes that structural labour market reforms should be introduce ~~internal flexibility to maintain employment~~ d to create an inclusive labour market, promoting times of economic disruption, and ensure job quality, security in employment transitions, unemployment benefit schemes based on strict activation requirements that maintain work incentives while ensuring sufficient inche quality of work, improving levels of education and expanding training programs and recycling, improving gender equality and the integration of women, ~~contractual arrangements to combat labour market segmentation, anticipate economic restructuring, and ensure access to lifelong learning~~migrants, young workers and older workers and other disadvantaged groups in the labour market;

Amendment 175 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 53 a (new)

53 a. Notes that the increase of atypical employment as a result of greater flexibility excludes a growing number of workers social benefits, since eligibility for benefits depends on the worker's employment status, whereas this way, the flexibility also endangers the financial sustainability of social security systems;

Amendment 176 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 55

55. Calls on ~~the~~ Member States to simp~~lify~~rove employment legislation where necessary, and support and develop conditions for offering more flexible working arrangements together with adequate level of social security, especially for older and younger workers, and to promote workers' mobility through mobility support schemes;

Amendment 177 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 55

55. Calls on the Member States to simplify employment legislation ~~and support and develop conditions for more flexible working arrangements~~, especially for older and younger workers, and to promote workers' voluntary mobility through mobility support schemes;

Amendment 178 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 55

55. Calls on the Member States to simplify employment legislation with a view to promoting stable employment relationships and support and develop conditions for more flexible working arrangements, especially for older and younger workers, and to promote workers' mobility through mobility support schemes;

Amendment 179 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 55

55. Calls on ~~the~~ Member States to simplify employment legislation with a view to promoting stable employment relationships and support and develop conditions for more flexible working arrangements, especially for older and younger workers, and to promote workers' mobility through mobility support schemes;

Amendment 18 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E c (new)

E c. whereas reallocation of existing EU Funds is not sufficiently ambitious to tackle the enormous challenge of youth unemployment in many Member States and new resources must be found by the Commission in order to help those countries with the highest rates of youth unemployment;

Amendment 180 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 56

56. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to address the low ~~level of~~ labour market participation of disadvantaged groups, including people belonging to minorities (e.g. Roma) and people with disabilities, and to respect decent living wages at all times;

Amendment 181 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 56

56. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to address the low ~~level of~~ labour market participation of people aged from 55-65, disadvantaged groups, including people belonging to minorities (e.g. Roma) and people with disabilities;

Amendment 182 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 57

57. Calls on the Member States to increase the coverage and effectiveness of active labour market policies, in close cooperation with social partners, mutually supported by activation incentives~~, such as welfare-to-work programmes,~~ and adequate benefit systems in order to maintain employability, support people back into work and safeguard decent living conditions;

Amendment 183 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 58

58. Calls on ~~the~~ Member States to anticipate restructuring processes with the ~~aim of saving jobs, fostering internal and external mobility and~~objective of minimiszing ~~the~~it's possible negative effects ~~of restructuring processes~~, fostering internal and external mobility; cCalls on ~~the~~ Member States ~~effectively~~ to implement in an effective way national law and existing E~~U d~~uropean Union Directives, such as the Collective Redundancies ~~Directive, the~~, Transfer of Undertakings ~~Directive and the~~and Framework Information and Consultation ~~Framework Directive, with due~~, respect ~~for~~ing the principle of subsidiarity; cConsiders that EU fFunds should play an important role into avoid~~ing~~, minimi~~sing~~ze or palliat~~ing~~e possible negative effects ofr restructuring processes;

Amendment 184 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 60

60. Calls on the Commission and ~~the~~ Member States in order to deepen the European labour market integration to take steps to improve mobility within and across labour markets ~~and to~~by removeing legal and administrative barriers to free movement of workers within the EU ~~in order to deepen European labour market integration~~such as the transitional labour market restrictions for workers from Romania and Bulgaria and by improving the social security rights and working conditions of workers making use of their right to free movement; cCalls on ~~the~~ Member States to increase their use of EURES in order to enhance ~~the~~ matching of jobs and job-seekers across borders.;

Amendment 185 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 61

61. ~~Draws attention to~~Recalls about the increase in poverty and unemployment amongst all age groups; calls on the Commission and ~~the~~ Member States, t~~herefore, to~~o consequently adopt new commitments to address this situation, especially ~~with regard to~~ in-work poverty, poverty among people with limited or no links to the labour market, including long-term unemployed older workers and poverty among eolderly people;

Amendment 186 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 61 a (new)

61 a. Calls on the Member States to ensure that negative effects of fiscal consolidation on gender equality, female employment and poverty are reversed by adopting a gender mainstreaming approach in national budgets, addressing stronger gender-specific recommendations to Member States, and disaggregating the EU 2020 headline targets and the corresponding national targets by gender;

Amendment 187 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 61 a (new)

61 a. Emphasizes that, to emerge stronger from the economic crisis, be more competitive and convergent, have higher levels of growth and ensure our systems of welfare in the long term, Europe should promote quality public services, making full use of its workforce potential work to ensure workers' rights, promote collective bargaining and public social security and universal;

Amendment 188 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 62

62. Calls on the Member States to improve the adequacy and effectiveness of social protection systems and to ensure that these continue to act as buffers against poverty and social exclusion; at the same time notes that the European Social Model requires modernisation in the direction of 'activating welfare states', that invest in people and provide instruments and incentives with a view to create sustainable jobs and growth as well as prevent social distortions;

Amendment 189 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 64 a (new)

64 a. Calls on the Member states to ensure decent housing and access to adequate social services to all, notably to the vulnerable and disadvantaged groups;

Amendment 19 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E d (new)

E d. whereas the cost of inaction concerning young people not in employment, education or training (NEETs) is estimated to amount to 153 billion Euros across the EU and there are currently 7.5 million NEETs under 25 in the EU;

Amendment 190 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 70 a (new)

70 a. Calls on the European Council and the Commission to better integrate the monitoring and evaluation of employment, social and education goals of the Europe 2020 strategy in the European Semester 2013;

Amendment 191 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 73 a (new)

73 a. Calls for an obligatory involvement of social partners and civil society to increase the adequacy and effectiveness of social policies;

Amendment 192 #

Motion for a resolution
Recommendation 1 a (new)

1 a. Structurally reconsiders the strategy of austerity and the type of structural reforms which have been pursued thus far. Ensure that labour markets reforms, if such reforms are necessary and feasible, are done through social dialogue and strictly respect the letter and the spirit of the European Social Aquis.

Amendment 193 #

Motion for a resolution
Recommendation 2.1 - 2nd paragraph

NJPs must include: - comprehensive measures for job creation ~~and green employment,~~, especially in sectors related to EU 2020 - a link between employment policies and financial instruments~~, labour market reforms,~~ - labour market reforms, if necessary - active labour market policies targeted to young unemployed, long-term unemployed, senior unemployed and other vulnerable collective groups, - a quality framework indicator of jobs and trainings including pay, working conditions and health and safety standards, - an indicator of labour market protection rights, - a clear timetable for rolling out the multiannual reform agenda over the next 12 months and an indication of both the fields and regions experiencing specialisation shortages and surpluses;

Amendment 194 #

Amendment 195 #

Motion for a resolution
Recommendation 2.2 - 2nd paragraph

Member States should ~~consider to reduce taxation on labour when fiscal conditions allow, especially well targeted temporary reductions in social security contributions or job subsidy schemes for new recruits,~~shift the tax burden away from labour towards environmentally harmful activities when fiscal conditions allow, stimulating new recruits and benefiting especially on low paid and low skilled workers, long-term unemployed and other vulnerable groups.

Amendment 196 #

Motion for a resolution
Recommendation 2.2 - 2nd paragraph

Member States should consider to reduce taxation on labour when fiscal conditions allow, ~~especially well targeted temporary reductions in social security contributions or job subsidy schemes for new recruits,~~ specially on low paid and low skilled workers, long-term unemployed and other vulnerable groups, while ensuring sustainability of public pension systems in the long run.

Amendment 197 #

Motion for a resolution
Recommendation 2.2 - 2nd paragraph a (new)

The European Commission must bear in mind that the use of reductions in social security contributions, as recommended in the AGS 2013, must be focalised on target groups in order to ensure there maximum efficiency and avoid a serious risk for the sustainability of social security systems;

Amendment 198 #

Motion for a resolution
Recommendation 2.3 - 1st paragraph

~~Transform informal and undeclared work into regular employment.~~deleted

Amendment 199 #

Motion for a resolution
Recommendation 2.3 - 1st paragraph

Transform informal and undeclared work into regular employment amongst others by increasing the capacity of labour inspections.

Amendment 2 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 24 a (new)

- having regard to its resolution of 20 November 2012 on Social Investment Pact- as a response to the crisis;

Amendment 20 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)

F a. whereas there is a need to undertake the necessary reforms to guarantee the sustainability of the pensions systems; whereas in order to do so there is still margin of manoeuvre to raise the effective retirement age without raising the mandatory retirement age by reducing early exit from the labour market; whereas in order to successfully increase effective retirement ages, reforms in pension systems need to be accompanied by policies that develop employment opportunities for older workers access to life-long learning, and introduce tax benefit policies giving incentives to stay longer at work, and support active healthy ageing;

Amendment 200 #

Motion for a resolution
Recommendation 2.4 - 1st paragraph

~~Modernise wage-setting systems to align wages with productivity developments~~Ensure that wages evolve in line with productivity developments while providing decent living wages. Efforts should be increased to coordinate collective bargaining at the EU and eurozone level in order to tackle macro-economic imbalances in a socially responsible manner.

Amendment 201 #

Motion for a resolution
Recommendation 2.4 - 1st paragraph

~~Modernise~~Strengthen the coordination of wage- setting systems to ~~align wages with productivity development~~ensure fair wages and align real wages with productivity trends for the overall economy while respecting the autonomy of collective bargaining and the diversity of national models of industrial relations.

Amendment 202 #

Motion for a resolution
Recommendation 2.4 - 1st paragraph

Modernise ~~wage-setting systems to align wages with productivity developments.~~ and strengthen the coordination of wage-setting systems to ensure fair wages and align real wages with productivity trends for the overall economy while respecting the autonomy of collective bargaining and the diversity of national models of industrial relations.

Amendment 203 #

Motion for a resolution
Recommendation 2.5 - 1st indent

- REffective retirement age should be ~~linked to the evolution of~~put on a sustainable footing, taking into account healthy life expectancy and inequalities in life expectancy.

Amendment 204 #

Motion for a resolution
Recommendation 2.5 - 1st indent

- Retirement age should be linked to the evolution of life expectancy but, taking into account that there is still margin of manoeuvre to raise the effective retirement age without raising the mandatory retirement age.

Amendment 205 #

Motion for a resolution
Recommendation 2.5 - 2st indent

- Raise the effective retirement age by improving working conditions, reducing early exit from the labour market (for example by introducing tax benefit policies giving incentives to stay longer at work) and enable workers to make flexible transitions from work into retirement

Amendment 206 #

Motion for a resolution
Recommendation 2.5 - 3rd indent

- ~~Reforms in pension systems need to be accompanied by policies that develop~~Policies to increase employment opportunities for older workers, access to life-long learning, and ~~support~~ active healthy ageing need to be at the core of reforms in pension systems to prevent longer periods of unemployment for older workers;

Amendment 207 #

Motion for a resolution
Recommendation 2.6 - 1st paragraph

- ASust~~erity programm~~ainable growth friendly fiscal consolidation measures should not hinder employment creation measures and growth-promoting policies, neither compromise social protection.

Amendment 208 #

Motion for a resolution
Recommendation 2.6 - 2st paragraph

- Member States should prioritise growth- friendly investments in education, lifelong learning, research and innovation and energy efficiency.

Amendment 209 #

Motion for a resolution
Recommendation 2.6 - 1st paragraph

Austerity programmes should not hinder employment creation measures and growth-promoting policies, neither compromise social protection. Stresses that despite budgetary constraints in several member states a decrease in allocations for productive investments hampers the exit from the crisis and reduces the competitiveness of their economies,

Amendment 21 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)

G a. whereas in order to increase competitiveness, via internal devaluation, in deficit countries, millions of European workers have seen a drastic decrease or freeze in their salaries; whereas this major erosion of purchasing power due to salary cuts and unemployment reduces internal demand and hampers growth stimulation;

Amendment 210 #

Motion for a resolution
Recommendation 2.6 - 2nd paragraph

Member States should ~~prioritise growth- friendly~~increase budget allocations for productive investments in education, lifelong learning, research and innovation. in order to foster a sustainable exit for the crisis while consolidating the EU economy in a path of competitiveness and productivity,

Amendment 211 #

Motion for a resolution
Recommendation 2.6 - 2nd paragraph a (new)

Deficit targets should exclude productive investments in education, lifelong learning, research and innovation;

Amendment 212 #

Motion for a resolution
Recommendation 2.7 - 1st paragraph

Commission and Member States should support initiatives and investments that facilitate the development of sectors with high employment potential such as the ~~green economy~~innovative industries, services, health and social care, and the ICT

Amendment 213 #

Motion for a resolution
Recommendation 2.8 - 1st paragraph

~~Take into due consideration~~Apply gender mainstreaming in the policy guidance to be adopted by the European Council

Amendment 214 #

Motion for a resolution
Recommendation 2.9 - 1st paragraph a (new)

The Commission's country-specific recommendations should, at the same time, offer the Member States more practical solutions for improving the functioning of the single market, so that stronger public support and political commitment are created to encourage the completion of the single market;

Amendment 215 #

Motion for a resolution
Recommendation 2.11 - 1st paragraph a (new)

The Commission must explore ways of increasing co-financing in the case of Member States with the highest rates of unemployment in order to allow full implementation of Structural Funds; At least 25% of cohesion funds must be preserved exclusively for ESF

Amendment 216 #

Motion for a resolution
Recommendation 2.11 - 1st paragraph b (new)

The European Commission and the Council should commit in finding sufficient EU resources beyond re- allocation of existing structural funds to put in place decisive active labour policy measures to tackle unemployment;

Amendment 217 #

The European ~~Council~~Institutions should make youth unemployment a priority in its 2013 policy guidance. Youth job plans, within the National Job programmes must be presented by Members States with no delay, and European Commission must monitor the policy targets within them.

Amendment 218 #

Motion for a resolution
Recommendation 3.1 - 2nd paragraph - 1st indent a (new)

- The establishment of Youth Guarantee schemes with the aim that every young person in the EU is offered a decent job or apprenticeship, additional quality training or combined work and training after a maximum period of four months in unemployment, with support for its effective implementation from the European Institutions. Union funding should play a key role and the ESF in particular should be structured to enable the guarantee to financed

Amendment 219 #

Motion for a resolution
Recommendation 3.1 - 2nd paragraph - 4th indent a (new)

- Measures to ensure that every training and job offered to young people include appropriate pay, working conditions and health and safety standards;

Amendment 22 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital G b (new)

G b. whereas labour market reforms in many Member states have fostered flexibility by establishing favourable conditions for firms to opt out of higher- level collective bargaining agreements and to review sectoral wage agreements leaving millions of EU workers without the right of freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining of collective agreements turning the core identity of the European social project vulnerable;

Amendment 220 #

Motion for a resolution
Recommendation 3.2 - 1st paragraph

Member States with the support of EU Institutions should develop comprehensive strategies for young people who are not in employment, education or training (NEET)

Amendment 221 #

Motion for a resolution
Recommendation 3.2 - 2nd paragraph

Member States and regions should ~~promote and develop~~implement, in close cooperation with the social partners, a Youth Guarantee with the aim that every person under 25 years in the EU ~~is offered a job, an apprenticeship, additional training or~~ receives a good-quality offer of employment, continued education, an apprenticeship or a traineeship within four months of becombing unemployed wor~~k and training after a maximum period of four months’ unemployment~~ leaving formal education.

Amendment 222 #

Motion for a resolution
Recommendation 3.2 - 2nd paragraph

Member States and regions, should promote and develop, in close cooperation with the social partners, a Youth Guarantee ~~with the aim that every person under 25 years in the EU is offered a job, an apprenticeship, additional training or combined work and training after a maximum period of four months’ unemployment~~Schemes in which NEETs should be considered in a prioritary manner.

Amendment 223 #

Motion for a resolution
Recommendation 3.2 - 2nd paragraph a (new)

Urges the European Council to integrate progress on the implementation of the Youth Guarantees in the European Semester process

Amendment 224 #

Motion for a resolution
Recommendation 3.3 - 2nd paragraph a (new)

Pilot actions to help the eight Member States with the highest levels of youth unemployment to re-allocate their EU structural funds to tackle youth unemployment should be implemented more efficiently in order to guarantee full and more rapid allocation of the funds to help young people find a job;

Amendment 225 #

Motion for a resolution
Recommendation 3.3 - 2nd paragraph b (new)

An increase of co-financing for these countries should be explored as well as other resource funding to help them tackle youth unemployment;

Amendment 226 #

Motion for a resolution
Recommendation 4.2 - 1st paragraph

Ensure efficient investment in education and training ~~while pursuing the consolidation of public finances~~as recommended in the Europe 2020 Strategy.

Amendment 227 #

Motion for a resolution
Recommendation 5.1 - 1st paragraph

Promote, if necessary, structural labour market reforms always through social dialogue strictly respecting the European Social Aquis, to increase labour productivity and efficiency in order to improve EU economic competitiveness and guarantee sustainable growth and job creation.

Amendment 228 #

Motion for a resolution
Recommendation 5.1 - 1st indent

- Introduction of internal flexibility together with adequate level of social security, with the objective to maintain employment in times of economic distress,

Amendment 229 #

Motion for a resolution
Recommendation 5.1 - 1st indent a (new)

- Putting in place the conditions for combining labour and care responsibilities

Amendment 23 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital I

I. whereas social protection expenditure has decreased in nearly all Member States and whereas the Social Protection Committee (SPC) warns of increasing numbers of people at risk of income poverty, child poverty, severe material deprivation and social exclusion because of the impact of fiscal consolidation measures;

Amendment 230 #

Motion for a resolution
Recommendation 5.1 - 3rd indent

- Unemployment benefits schemes ~~based in strict activation requirement~~linked with reintegration policies that maintains incentives for work whilst ensuring sufficient income,

Amendment 231 #

Motion for a resolution
Recommendation 5.1 - 3rd indent

- Unemployment benefit schemes ~~based in strict~~linked with effective active labour policies and activation requirements that maintain incentives for work whilst ensuring sufficient income,

Amendment 232 #

Motion for a resolution
Recommendation 5.1 - 3rd indent a (new)

- Strict respect of workers’labour and social rights such us the right to collective bargaining agreements and sectoral wage agreements

Amendment 233 #

Motion for a resolution
Recommendation 5.1 - 4th indent

- Contractual arrangements t~~o combat~~hat avoid labour market segmentation and precarious work,

Amendment 234 #

Motion for a resolution
Recommendation 5.1 - 4th indent

- Co~~ntractual arrangements to co~~mbatting labour market segmentation,

Amendment 235 #

Motion for a resolution
Recommendation 5.1 - 6th indent

- Guarantee access to lifelong learning for all types of working contracts and self- employed

Amendment 236 #

Motion for a resolution
Recommendation 5.1 - 9th indent

-Increase the coverage and effectiveness of active labour market policies, in close cooperation with social partners, mutually supported by activ~~ation incentiv~~e labour market policies, such as welfare-to-work programmes, and adequate benefit systems in order to maintain employability, support people back into work and safeguard decent living conditions;

Amendment 237 #

Motion for a resolution
Recommendation 5.1 - 10th indent

- ~~Simplify~~Improve employment legislation and support and develop conditions for more flexible working arrangements, especially for older and younger workers.

Amendment 238 #

Motion for a resolution
Recommendation 5.1 - 10th indent

- Simplify employment legislation and support and develop conditions ~~for more flexible working arrangements~~, especially for older and younger workers.

Amendment 239 #

Motion for a resolution
Recommendation 5.2 - 2nd paragraph

Remove legal and administrative obstacles to free movement of workers within the EU ~~in order to deepen the European labour market integration~~.

Amendment 24 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital J a (new)

J a. whereas the current crisis is a social and employment crisis. Whereas social governance must therefore be improved at EU level in parallel with economic governance. whereas the EU Semester is the most appropriate process for doing this;

Amendment 240 #

Motion for a resolution
Recommendation 5.2 - 2nd paragraph

Remove legal and administrative obstacles and improve working conditions and social security to supporto free movement of workers within the EU in order to deepen the European labour market integration.

Amendment 241 #

Motion for a resolution
Recommendation 5.3 - 4th paragraph

~~Ensure the effective enforcement of the Directive establishing a general framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation;~~deleted

Amendment 242 #

Motion for a resolution
Recommendation 5.3 - 1st paragraph

The European Council should ~~pay attention to~~include job quality in its 2013 policy guidance, in particular ~~in relation to~~guarantee that workers’ have access to a core set of labour rights as enshrined by the Treaties and without prejudice to the Member States legislation, and that these are not compromised by other elements of the policy guidance.

Amendment 243 #

Motion for a resolution
Recommendation 6.2 - 1st paragraph

T~~ackle the increase of~~he European Council should make combating poverty and unemployment amongst all age groups, especially in-work poverty, poverty among people with limited or no links to the labour market and poverty among elderly people a priority in its policy guidance;

Amendment 244 #

Motion for a resolution
Recommendation 6.2 - 4th paragraph a (new)

Ensure that negative effects of fiscal consolidation on gender equality, female employment and poverty are reversed by adopting a gender mainstreaming approach in national budgets, addressing stronger gender-specific recommendations to Member States, and disaggregating the EU 2020 headline targets and the corresponding national targets by gender.

Amendment 245 #

Motion for a resolution
Recommendation 6.2 - 5th paragraph

Develop policies and measures to reduce in-work poverty, fostering a sufficient labour market participation ~~in the household~~ and facilitating upward transitions for those trapped in low-paid or precarious jobs.

Amendment 246 #

Motion for a resolution
Recommendation 7 - 1st paragraph

~~Pursue with~~Delay and spread fiscal consolidation programmes in due respect of the EU rules in order to guarantee the sustainability of public finances, but iat ~~has to continue in a proportional and growth- friendly way~~the same time create a needed margin of manoeuvre to promote investments hence growth and job creation.

Amendment 247 #

Motion for a resolution
Recommendation 7 - 1st paragraph

Pursue with fiscal consolidation programmes in order to guarantee the sustainability of public finances, but it has to continue in a proportional and growth- friendly way allowing for investments to achieve the EU2020 strategy and making full use of the flexibility that the Stability and Growth pact provides for.

Amendment 248 #

Motion for a resolution
Recommendation 7 - 1st paragraph a (new)

Revise its fiscal multipliers to avoid systematic underestimation of the effect of fiscal consolidation on growth and job creation in a recessionary context;

Amendment 249 #

Motion for a resolution
Recommendation 7 - 2nd paragraph

The rhythm of consolidation has to be differentiated across countries according to their fiscal space ~~to reach the right balance between potential~~avoid negative growth and negative employment effects ~~and the risks to~~, while debt sustainability should be guaranteed;

Amendment 25 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital J a (new)

J a. whereas targeted social investments should be major part of Member States' response to the crisis as they are key to reaching the employment, social and education objectives of the Europe 2020 strategy;

Amendment 250 #

Motion for a resolution
Recommendation 7 - 2nd paragraph

TRevise the rhythm of consolidation ~~has to be~~in order to differentiated across countries according to their fiscal space to reach the right balance between potential negative growth and employment effects and the risks to debt sustainability;

Amendment 251 #

Motion for a resolution
Recommendation 7 - 3rd paragraph

Ensure coherence between the different priorities in its policy guidance, so fiscal consolidation does not compromise sustainable growth and job creation potential, increase poverty and social exclusion, or prevents the provision of public services of quality.

Amendment 252 #

Motion for a resolution
Recommendation 7 - 2nd paragraph

Amendment 253 #

Motion for a resolution
Recommendation 7 - 3rd paragraph

Ensure coherence between the different priorities in its policy guidance, so fiscal consolidation does not ~~compromise~~hamper growth and job creation ~~potential~~, increase poverty and social exclusion, or prevents the provision of public services of quality.

Amendment 254 #

Motion for a resolution
Recommendation 7 - 4th paragraph

Attain ~~a correct bala~~full coherence between budgetary consolidation and proposed economic reform measures on the one hand and ~~social policy, growth and~~poverty reduction and increasing employment ~~measur~~rates on the other;

Amendment 255 #

Motion for a resolution
Recommendation 8 - 3rd paragraph a (new)

Enter into an Interinstitutional Agreement with the Parliament in order to give the Parliament a full role in the drafting and approval of the Annual Growth Survey and the Economic Policy and Employment Guidelines;

Amendment 256 #

Motion for a resolution
Recommendation 8 a (new)

The adjustment burden must be spread evenly between deficit and surplus countries. These surplus countries have margin of manoeuvre that must be used to put in place expansionary fiscal policies, and to take other appropriate steps to increase the pace of nominal wage and prise growth in order to encourage internal demand and, hence, favour an increase in external demand of deficit countries. Countries of the Euro area must develop the necessary tools to manage their competitiveness. These efforts must require coordination at European level to avoid between evils of beggar-thy- neighbour strategies and excessive wage crises spirals.

Amendment 26 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital J b (new)

J b. whereas there is a worrying imbalance in the surveillance of social and employment policies and national economic policies; whereas there is a pressing need for the enhancement of the surveillance of the first ones;

Amendment 27 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital J c (new)

J c. whereas recommendations have been made to several Member States regarding wages; whereas the Commission's practice of determining wage formation and wage levels in programme countries may increase the risk of in-work poverty or wage inequalities which harm low- income groups while at the same time infringed the autonomy of the social partners needed to guarantee social protection of labour and efficient labour markets;

Amendment 28 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital J d (new)

J d. whereas more ambition in building EU social governance is needed; whereas unjustified blocking minorities preventing progress in this sense should be avoided; whereas enhanced cooperation in social and employment policies should be explored;

Amendment 29 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital K a (new)

K a. whereas in its Communication on the 2013 AGS, the Commission states that economic policies to exit the crisis are a shared responsibility between Member States and EU Institutions; whereas Member States are making substantial efforts to accomplish every requirement made by the EU Institutions, however, the continuous lack of ambition from the EU Council and Commission in the accomplishment of the objectives set out in the EU Council meetings to build a stronger economic and social governance is hampering national efforts to foster economic recovery;

Amendment 3 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas the employment and social consequences of the crisis are far- reaching, and are now exacerbated by the impact of fiscal consolidation introduced in certain countries in response to the sovereign debt crisis and a constricted monetary policy in the eurozone, which contrasts with that implemented by other major economic regions and is unable to give an effective response to the sovereign debt crisis and promote growth; whereas the eurozone is in recession and the EU is currently the only major region in the world where unemployment is still risingdramatic and the Eurozone has already entered a double dip recession;

Amendment 30 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital K b (new)

K b. whereas the European Council in June 2012 stated that the crisis surrounding sovereign debt and the weakness of the financial sector, together with persistent low growth and macroeconomic imbalances, are slowing down economic recovery and creating risks for the stability of EMU and that this is having a negative impact in terms of unemployment;

Amendment 31 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital L

L. whereas fiscal consolidation ~~must continue in view of the high debt levels and long-term challenges to public finances; whereas fiscal consolidation can~~ can have negative growth and employment effects in the short term, especially in countries in recession or with marginal growth rates, compromising future growth and job- creation potential; ~~whereas fiscal consolidation must therefore continue in a growth-friendly manner;~~

Amendment 32 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital L

L. whereas fiscal consolidation ~~must continu~~has to be a medium to long term objective in view of the high debt levels and long-term challenges to public finances; whereas fiscal consolidation can have negative growth and employment effects in the short term, especially in countries in recession or with marginal growth rates, compromising future growth and job-creation potential; whereas fiscal consolidation ~~must therefore continue in a growth-friendly manner~~, in a growth- friendly manner, must therefore take the state of the economy and its position in the business cycle into account;

Amendment 33 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital L

L. wWhereas fiscal consolidation ~~must continu~~has to be a medium to long term objective in view of the high debt levels and long-term challenges to public finances; whereas fiscal consolidation can have negative growth and employment effects in the short term, especially in countries in recession or with marginal growth rates, compromising future growth and job-creation potential; wWhereas therefore fiscal consolidation ~~must therefor~~should take the state of the econ~~tinue in a growth-friendly manner~~omy and its position in the business cycle into account;

Amendment 34 #

Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO, Frédéric DAERDEN

Motion for a resolution
Recital L

L. whereas fiscal consolidation must continue in view of the high debt levels and long-term challenges to public finances but the pace of consolidation must be managed so that it does not damage the growth potential of the economy or its social fabric; whereas fiscal consolidation can have negative growth and employment effects in the short term, especially in countries in recession or with marginal growth rates, compromising future growth and job-creation potential; whereas fiscal consolidation must therefore ~~continue~~be managed in a growth-friendly manner;

Amendment 35 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital L a (new)

L a. whereas the European budget is primarily an investment budget, with 94% of its total being reinvested back in the Member States, and Heading 1 of this budget is precisely named "sustainable growth";

Amendment 36 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital M

M. whereas, in spite of the urgency of the situation, , the European Union is failing on almost all of the Europe 2020 targets, and progress in Member States in delivering on the Europe 2020 objectives has been disappointing; whereas commitments set in the National Reform Programmes 2012 are insufficient to meet most of the EU-level targets;

Amendment 37 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital M

M. whereas, in spite of the urgency of the situation, the European Union is failing on almost all of the Europe 2020 targets, and progress in Member States in delivering on the Europe 2020 objectives has been disappointing; whereas commitments set in the National Reform Programmes 2012 are insufficient to meet most of the EU-level targets;

Amendment 38 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital M a (new)

M a. whereas there is a lack of a needed surveillance of past objectives of previous EU semesters particularly in what concerns job creation, job quality and the fight against poverty and social exclusion; whereas this is essential in order to enhance the efficiency of the EU Semester process;

Amendment 39 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital M b (new)

M b. whereas there is a serious democratic deficit in the elaboration of the National Reform Programmes particularly in the participation of the national parliaments as well as in the involvement of social agents that needs to be readdressed;

Amendment 4 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas the employment and social consequences of the crisis are far-reaching, and are now exacerbated by the impact of fiscal consolidation introduced in certain countries in response to the sovereign debt crisis and a constricted monetary policy in the eurozone, which contrasts with that implemented by other major economic regions and is unable to give an effective response to the sovereign debt crisis and promote growth; whereas the crisis has negative effects on the quality and quantity of social investments in Europe; whereas the eurozone is in recession and the EU is currently the only major region in the world where unemployment is still rising;

Amendment 40 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital N

N. whereas investment in research, innovation, education and training, key areas for economic growth and job creation, is still lower in the EU than in its main economic partners and competitors elsewhere in the world;deleted

Amendment 41 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital N

N. wWhereas investment in ~~research, innovation,~~ education and training, research and innovation – key areas for economic growth and job creation, – is still lower in the EU than in its main economic partners and competitors elsewhere in the world;

Amendment 42 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital O

O. whereas the gender dimension is crucial to achieving the EU 2020 headline targets, as women form the greatest reserve of as yet unused labour force; whereas women form the majority of those living in poverty in the EU; whereas cuts to public services such as child care and other dependants care will have a disproportionate impact on women and consequently their ability to participate in the labour market, whereas specific attention needs to be paid therefore to gender mainstreaming and specific policies targeted at women throughout the European Semester process;

Amendment 43 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital O

O. whereas the gender dimension is crucial to achieving the EU 2020 headline targets, as women form the greatest reserve of as yet unused labour force; whereas women form the majority of those living in poverty in the EU; whereas cuts to public services such as child care and other dependants care will have a disproportionate impact on women and consequently their ability to participate in the labour market, 'whereas specific attention needs to be paid therefore to gender mainstreaming and specific policies targeted at women throughout the European Semester process;

Amendment 44 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital O

O. whereas the gender dimension is crucial to achieving the EU 2020 headline targets, as women form the greatest reserve of as yet unused labour force; whereas women form the majority of those living in poverty in the EU; whereas specific attention needs to be paid therefore to gender mainstreaming and specific policies targeted at women throughout the European Semester process; stresses the need to align the legal retirement age of women to the one of men;

Amendment 45 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital O a (new)

O a. whereas structural reforms can only yield results in the medium to long term and may not per se solve the recessionary spiral in which the EU currently finds itself;

Amendment 46 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital P

P. whereas there is a need to ensure greater interaction between employment, social and economic policies in the context of the European Semester as set out in Art. 121 and Art. 148 TFEU;

Amendment 47 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital Q a (new)

Q a. whereas social protest movements against austerity measures in various EU Member States also express increasing dissatisfaction with the democratic quality of the European decision making process and the lack of social dialogue in the EU Semester context;

Amendment 48 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph -1 (new)

-1. Calls on the Commission and Council to enter into an Interinstitutional Agreement with the Parliament in order to give the Parliament a full role in the drafting and approval of the Annual Growth Survey and the Economic Policy and Employment Guidelines;

Amendment 49 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Deplores the fact that priorities identified during last year's European Semester cycle, in particular those relating to job creation, job quality and the fight against poverty and social exclusion have not given the expected results and were not put at the centre of the AGS 2013;

Amendment 5 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)

A a. whereas the EU is currently the only major region in the world where unemployment is still rising;

Amendment 50 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Deplores the fact that priorities identified during last year's European Semester cycle, in particular those relating to job creation, job quality and the fight against poverty and social exclusion have not ~~given the expected results~~been prioritarly for Member States and have not been claimed by the Commission;

Amendment 51 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Points out that the economic situation and the social consequences of the crisis have further deteriorated during the last year and therefore stresses the importance of critically evaluating the short term impact of fiscal consolidation on employment and social inclusion, and stepping up the Member States' commitment to following the 2013 policy guidance, in particular in the employment and social policy area.

Amendment 52 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Points out that the economic situation and the social consequences of the crisis have further deteriorated during the last year and therefore stresses the importance of stepping up the Member States' commitment to following the 2013 policy guidance, in particular in the employment and social policy area. and therefore stresses the importance of structurally reconsidering the strategy of austerity and the type of structural reforms in particular in the employment and social area that the AGS 2013 is recommending and which many member states have been implementing with dire consequences on economic performance, employment and social cohesion;

Amendment 53 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Points out that the economic situation and the social consequences of the crisis have further deteriorated during the last year and stresses therefore ~~stresses~~ the importance of stepping up the commitment of Member States~~' commitment~~ to follow~~ing~~ the 2013 policy guidance, in particular in the employment and social policy area.; and therefore stresses the importance of structurally reconsidering the strategy of austerity and the type of structural reforms in particular in the employment and social area that the AGS 2013 is recommending and which many member states have been implementing with dire consequences on economic performance, employment and social cohesion;

Amendment 54 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Calls on the European Council to ensure that the yearly policy guidance set out on the basis of the AGS is fully focused on fulfilling all the objectives of the Europe 2020 Strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth; Regrets that no EU2020 progress report was included in the AGS 2013, calls on the Commission to deliver this report in time before the Spring European Council meeting;

Amendment 55 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Deplores the fact that the 2012 policy guidance and its implementation have not been sufficiently effective as regards the attainment of the political targets enshrined in the Europe 2020 strategy; Deplores the fact that some Member States are moving further away from the 2020 target;

Amendment 56 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5 a. Considers that the Europe 2020 Strategy, and in this context the Commission must recognize that changes of existing macroeconomic policies are necessary, (i.e. discontinue the fiscal pact, stop the privatisation and liberalisation processes, etc) to give priority to the creation of quality work with rights, with better wages, less poverty and more social inclusion and progress;

Amendment 57 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

~~7. Calls on the Member States to adopt the necessary commitments in the 2013 National Reform Programmes towards the fulfilment of the Europe 2020 objectives;~~deleted

Amendment 58 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Calls on the Member States to ~~adopt~~increase the necessary commitments in the ~~2013~~ National Reform Programmes 2013 towards the fulfilment of the Europe 2020 objectives; calls on the Commission to accommodate for public investments in EU2020 related expenditure in its assessment of Stability and Convergence Programmes and excessive deficit procedures;

Amendment 59 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Considers it regrettable that last year most Member States did not respect their commitment to submit a National Job Plan (NJP) as part of their 2012 NRPs; calls on the Member States to respect this commitment in 2013; stresses that NJPs should include comprehensive measures for job creation and green employment, a link between employment policies and financial instruments, labour market reforms, a cleNotes that the neoliberal measures, so- called austerity, which have been reinforced, notably as part of the so-called National Reform Plans, Economic Governance and the European Semester, are contributing to the deepening of the social and economic crisis in a number of countries with more fragile economies, making life more and more difficult for families of the working class and in par ti~~metable for rolling out the multiannual reform agenda over the next 12 months and an ind~~cular for women and children, who are the main vicationms of ~~both the fields and regions experiencing specialisation shortages and surpluses~~the increase of poverty, unemployment and precarious and poorly paid work;

Amendment 6 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)

A a. whereas high levels of unemployment across the EU result from the eurozone public debt crisis followed by economic stagnation (even recession in some Member States) and persisting inflexible labour markets;

Amendment 60 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. ~~Considers it regrettable~~Deplores that last year most Member States did not respect their commitment to submit a National Job Plan (NJP) as part of their 2012 NRPs; calls on the Member States to respect this commitment in 2013; stresses that NJPs should include comprehensive measures for job creation and green employment, a link between employment policies and financial instruments, labour market reforms, a clear timetable for rolling out the multiannual reform agenda over the next 12 months and an indication of both the fields and regions experiencing specialisation shortages and surpluses;

Amendment 61 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

~~10. Regrets that the Commission has not made NJPs a mandatory requirement and calls on the Commission to oversee their preparation during each year's European Semester cycle;~~deleted

Amendment 62 #

Philippe BOULLAND, Elisabeth MORIN-CHARTIER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

~~10. Regrets that the Commission has not made NJPs a mandatory requirement and calls on the Commission to oversee their preparation during each year's European Semester cycle;~~deleted

Amendment 63 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)

10 a. Stresses the importance of ensuring greater social cohesion, without neglecting cooperation by companies in achieving this, which could be encouraged notably by allowing them to promote their innovative and virtuous actions in social matters through a label which would attract new investors and promote the development of a European social model in the long term;

Amendment 64 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Calls on ~~the~~ Member States to adopt measures favourable to job creation such as labour tax reforms that ~~provide~~incentives employment ~~incentives~~, promote and support genuine and voluntary self-employment and business start-ups, improve the framework for doing -business, and facilitate the access to financing for SMEs, transform informal and undeclared work into regular employment, reform labour markets to make them more adaptive, dynamic and inclusive, ~~modernise wage-setting systems to align wages with productivity development~~develop with social partners the coordination of collective bargaining across borders to ensure that wages develop in line with productivity developments within the boundaries of decent living wages, exploit the high employment potential of sectors such as the green economy, health and social care, and ~~the~~ ICT sector to create jobs.;

Amendment 65 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Calls on ~~the~~ Member States to adopt measures favourable to job creation such as labour tax reforms that ~~provide~~incentives employment ~~incentives~~, promote and support self- employment and business start-ups, improve the framework for doing -business, and facilitate the access to financing for SMEs, ~~transform informal and undeclared work into regular employment,~~ reform labour markets to make them more ~~adap~~productive, competitive, dynamic and inclusive, modernise wage- setting systems to align wages with productivity developments, exploit the high employment potential of sectors such as the green economy, health and social care, and ~~the~~ ICT sector to create jobs.;

Amendment 66 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Calls on the Member States to adopt measures favourable to job creation such as labour tax reforms that provide employment incentives, promote and support self-employment and business start-ups, improve the framework for doing business, facilitate access to financing for SMEs, transform informal and undeclared work into regular employment, reform labour markets ~~to make them more adaptive, dynamic and inclusive, modernise~~, if necessary and feasible always through social dialogue strictly respecting the European Social Aquis, strengthen the coordination of wage- setting systems to ensure fair wages and align real wages with productivity ~~development~~trends while respecting the autonomy of collective bargaining and the diversity of national models of industrial relations, exploit the high employment potential of sectors such as the green economy, health and social care, and the ICT sector to create jobs.;

Amendment 67 #

Konstantinos POUPAKIS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Calls on the Member States to adopt measures favourable to job creation such as labour tax reforms that provide employment incentives, promote and support self-employment and business start-ups, improve the framework for doing business, facilitate access to financing for SMEs, transform informal and undeclared work into regular employment, reform labour markets to make them more adaptive, dynamic and inclusive~~, modernise wage-setting systems~~ while ensuring adequate security for employees, modernise wage-setting systems - with the active participation of the social partners, within the framework of social dialogue - to align wages with productivity developments taking into consideration their adequacy, exploit the high employment potential of sectors such as the green economy, health and social care, and the ICT sector to create sustainable and quality jobs;

Amendment 68 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Calls on ~~the~~ Member States to adopt measures favourable to job creation such as labour tax reforms that ~~provide~~incentives employment ~~incentives~~, promote and support self- employment and business start-ups, improve the framework for doing -business, and facilitate the access to financing for SMEs, transform informal and undeclared work into regular employment, reform labour markets ~~to make them more adaptive, dynamic and inclusive, modernise~~, if necessary and feasible and through social dialogue strictly respecting the European Social Aquis, strengthen the coordination of wage- setting systems to ensure fair wages and align real wages with productivity ~~development~~trends for the overall economy while respecting the autonomy of collective bargaining and the diversity of national models of industrial relations, exploit the high employment potential of sectors such as the green economy, health and social care, and ~~the~~ ICT sector to create jobs.;

Amendment 69 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Calls on the Member States to adopt measures favourable to job creation ~~such as labour tax reforms~~ that provide employment incentives, promote and support self-employment and business start-ups, improve the framework for doing business, facilitate access to financing for SMEs, transform informal and undeclared work into regular employment~~, reform labour markets to make them more adaptive, dynamic and inclusive,~~ with rights, recovery of wages and modernise wage- setting systems ~~to align wages with productivity developments~~, exploit the high employment potential of sectors such as the green economy, health and social care, and the ICT sector to create jobs;

Amendment 7 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)

A b. whereas internal imbalances have aggravated between Member States;

Amendment 70 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Calls on the Member States to adopt measures favourable to job creation such as labour tax reforms that provide employment incentives, promote and support self-employment and business start-ups, improve the framework for doing business, facilitate access to financing for SMEs, transform informal and undeclared work into regular employment, reform labour markets to make them more adaptive, dynamic and inclusive, provide employers with skills and instruments that enable them to adopt to changing labour markets; modernise wage-setting systems to align wages with productivity developments, exploit the high employment potential of sectors such as the green economy, health and social care, and the ICT sector to create jobs.

Amendment 71 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11 a. Notes that recommendations have been made to several Member States regarding wages; stresses that wages are, above all, the income that workers need to live on; stresses that the Commission's practice of determining wage formation and wage levels in programme countries may increase the risk of in-work poverty or wage inequalities which harm low- income groups; calls on the Commission to step up policy guidance to those Member States in which wages have stagnated in comparison with productivity levels, while respecting the autonomy of the social partners, as protected inter alia in Articles 152 and 153(5) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU)

Amendment 72 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)

11 b. Warns that a general and disproportionate use of reductions in social security contributions as recommended in the AGS 2013 can entail a serious risk for the sustainability of social security systems. In any case these practices must be focalised on target groups in order to ensure their maximum efficiency;

Amendment 73 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 c (new)

11 c. Warns about the necessity of ensuring adequate and sufficient unemployment benefits and that these should be linked with effective active labour policies; Deplores that several member states, in spite of rises in their unemployment rates, have reduced budget allocations to finance active labour policies;

Amendment 74 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 d (new)

11 d. Warns that member states must preserve in their labour laws the necessary balance between the redundancy costs and the causality that can justify these redundancies in order to avoid a complete lack of protection of workers;

Amendment 75 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 e (new)

11 e. Deplores that a widening of the establishment of conditions for firms to opt out of higher-level collective bargaining agreements and to review sectoral wage agreements implies an exclusion of a large number of workers from their right to collective bargaining;

Amendment 76 #

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 4

Youth unemployment

Amendment 77 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12 a. Strongly supports the initiative by the Commission to propose a Council Recommendation on Youth Guarantee Schemes with 'the objective that within a few months of leaving school, young people receive a good quality offer of employment, continued education, apprenticeship or a traineeship;

Amendment 78 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)

12 b. Considers that Union funding of Youth Guarantee Schemes should play a key role and that the ESF in particular should be structured to enable the guarantee to finance, and therefore should be allocated at least 25% of cohesion funds; believes, however, that an appropriate balance between EU and member state funding should be strived for;

Amendment 79 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Calls on the Member States to take decisive measures to fight youth unemployment, including targeted active labour-market policy measures, measures tackling skills mismatches in the labour market, in particular by preventing early drop-out from school or apprenticeship schemes and ensuring that education and training systems provide young people with the relevant skills in an efficient way, and promote entrepreneurship and effective business development support for young people and frameworks securing the transition from education to work; by implementing the Youth Guarantee as proposed by the Commission without delay, and ensuring sufficient funding for it;

Amendment 8 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A c (new)

A c. whereas systematic errors in the Commission's economic forecasts in terms of growth and unemployment in the past years give evidence to the need of a change in the diagnosis and strategy to end the crisis;

Amendment 80 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Urges Member States to develop comprehensive strategies for young people who are not in employment, education or training (NEET). Urges Member States to show financial solidarity in the development of these strategies towards Member States with limited fiscal space;

Amendment 81 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)

14 a. Stresses that the European Council in January 2012 proposed a pilot action to help the eight Member States with the highest levels of youth unemployment to re-allocate some of their EU structural funds allocations to tackle youth unemployment; Regrets that in May 2012 the Commission significantly lowered the estimations on available funds for reallocation from € 82 billion to € 29.800 billion lowering the scope of the pilot actions; Deplores that only a small portion of these funds have been, so far, been redirected to help young people find a job;

Amendment 82 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)

14 b. Calls the European Commission and the EU Council to commit in finding sufficient EU resources beyond re- allocation of existing EU structural funds to help the Member States, that have youth unemployment rates higher than the EU average, to put in place decisive policy measures to tackle youth unemployment;

Amendment 83 #

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 5

More adaptive, dynamic and inclusive labour markets and better-quality employment

Amendment 84 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. ~~Reg~~Deplorets that the 2013 AGS does not address the quality of jobs and that too little attention is paid to putting in place the necessary preconditions for increasing labour market participation, notably that of women, people with disabilities and the most deprived;

Amendment 85 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Regrets that the 2013 AGS does not address the quality of jobs and that too little attention is paid to putting in place the necessary preconditions for increasing labour market participation, notably that of women, notably workers at the age 45 +, people with disabilities and the most deprived;

Amendment 86 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)

15 a. Deplores that the Council failed to take into account Parliament's call for a focus on job quality in its guidance for 2012; agrees with the Commission that all employment contracts should give workers access to a core set of rights, including pension rights, social protection and access to lifelong learning; calls the Commission to include job quality, training and advanced training, core workers' rights, and support for labour market mobility, self-employment and cross-border mobility by increasing security for workers in transition between jobs in the country specific recommendations of the AGS 2013;

Amendment 87 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Recalls that the gap between Member States in employment and social indicators is widening; points out that Member States with relatively un-segmented labour markets, strong welfare systems and an ability to temporarily adjust working hours, working time and other flexible working arrangements (internal flexibility) and robust collective bargaining practice, have proved more resilient in the face of the employment and social consequences of the crisis;

Amendment 88 #

Philippe BOULLAND, Elisabeth MORIN-CHARTIER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Recalls that the gap between Member States in employment and social indicators is widening; ~~points out~~Signals that Member States with relatively un-segmented labour markets, strong welfare systems and an ability to temporarily adjust working hours, working time and other flexible working arrangements (internal flexibility) ~~have proved more resilient in the fa~~and robust collective bargaining practice, have shown better resilience tof the employment and social consequences of the crisis;

Amendment 89 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Warns that austerity measures should not compromise the quality of employment, nor social protection and health and safety standards; encourages Member states to promote identification of companies and SMEs doing effort to be more socially virtuous than minimal legal obligations.

Amendment 9 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A d (new)

A d. whereas there is no sign of recovery since one sided austerity measures further aggravate the negative social consequences of the crisis; whereas the lack of the revision of this strategy will continue exacerbating the recessionary spiral of low growth and high unemployment and social exclusion, hampering an effective response to the sovereign debt crisis and promotion of growth;

Amendment 90 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Warns that austerity measures ~~should not~~ compromise the quality of employment, ~~nor~~ social protection and health and safety standards.;

Amendment 91 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Warns that so called austerity measures ~~should not~~are compromiseing the quality of employment, ~~nor~~the social protection and health and safety standards.

Amendment 92 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)

18 a. Calls on the Member States to enforce health prevention measures already from childhood on a lifelong perspective in order to ensure people are leaving in a healthy condition during their work life.

Amendment 93 #

Philippe BOULLAND, Elisabeth MORIN-CHARTIER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Underlines the key role of education and training in achieving the Europe 2020 Strategy objectives; Underlines the importance of keeping young people in education in order to decrease the number of the NEET Group;

Amendment 94 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Calls on ~~the~~ Member States, while pursuing fiscal consolidation, to ~~sec~~ensure efficient investments in education lifelong learning and training.

Amendment 95 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Calls on the Member States~~, while pursuing fiscal consolidation,~~ to secure efficient investment in education and training.

Amendment 96 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Calls on ~~the~~ Member States, while pursuing sustainable, growth friendly and differentiated fiscal consolidation, to ~~sec~~ensure efficient and sufficient investments in education and training.

Amendment 97 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Calls on the Member States, while pursuing fiscal consolidation, to ~~secure efficient~~commit to increased investment in education and training.;

Amendment 98 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Calls on the Member States, while pursuing fiscal consolidation, to secure efficient investment in education and training. Stresses that despite budgetary constraints in several member states a decrease in allocations for these necessary productive investments hampers the exit from the crisis and reduces the competitiveness of their economies;

Amendment 99 #