A3-0226/94

Resolution on the social aspects of the transport sector

The European Parliament,

-having regard to the motions for resolutions by:

(a)Mr Amaral on the living and working conditions of persons employed in the different transport sectors (B3-0660/90),

(b)Mrs Muscardini on eliminating obstacles to the use of rail transport by disabled persons (B3-0698/91),

-having regard to the public hearing of 5 October 1993 on the social aspects of the transport sector,

-having regard to the report from the Commission to the Council concerning the actions to be taken in the Community regarding the accessibility of transport to persons with reduced mobility (COM(93) 0433)of 26 November 1993,

-having regard to Rule 45 of its Rules of Procedure,

-having regard to the report of the Committee on Transport and Tourism (A3-0226/94),

A.whereas in the preamble to the Treaty of Rome the Member States affirmed as an essential objective 'the constant improvement of the living and working conditions of their peoples'; whereas this includes improving the situation of disabled and elderly people,

B.whereas in the Social Chapter of the same Treaty, Article 117 states that 'Member States agree upon the need to promote improved working conditions and an improved standard of living for workers, so as to make possible their harmonization while the improvement is being maintained'; whereas it is unacceptable in terms of social justice, equality and democracy to exclude the disabled,

C.whereas on 13 May 1965, the Council adopted a Decision on the harmonization of certain provisions affecting competition in transport by rail, road and inland waterway; whereas section III of this Decision, concerning social provisions, states that regulations relating specifically to working conditions in transport by rail, road and inland waterway shall be approximated so as to improve such provisions, account being taken of any collective bargaining powers of the two sides of industry; whereas the Decision also specifies that working conditions shall not include wages or other forms of remuneration (Article 10); whereas Article 12 of the Decision states that provisions concerning working and rest periods in each mode of transport shall be harmonized,

D.whereas the Single European Act which came into force on 1 July 1987 has meant, in the transport sector, that air and sea transport are more closely integrated than before in Community transport policy,

E.whereas on 9 December 1989 the Community Heads of State and Government adopted the Community Charter of the Fundamental Social Rights of Workers, thus emphasizing that when the Single Market came into force, as much importance should be given to the social as to the economic aspects, with both being developed in a balanced manner,

1.Affirms that implementation of the Single Market is the most effective means of creating employment and that job creation should be paramount; with regard to competitiveness, the Community must meet the challenge while taking account of regional imbalances and the requirement of sustainable mobility;

2.Notes that infrastructure projects such as those advocated in the Commission White Paper will be socially beneficial only if it can be shown that the number of long-term, worthwhile jobs created in the regions concerned is commensurate with the volume of investment;

3.Takes the view that the consensus between the two sides of industry makes a contribution to improving firms' competitiveness and to creating employment;

4.Is convinced that the completion of the Internal Market should encourage levelling up of living and working conditions as well as economic and social cohesion in the European Community, while avoiding distortions of competition;

5.Draws attention to the fact that liberalization of the transport market may have a negative effect on employment and calls for businesses to be fully prepared for this; liberalization should take place only if accompanied by a systematic harmonization of social protection standards to a level acceptable to all workers;

6.Notes that, in accordance with the Commission White Paper on growth, competitiveness and employment, investment in the transport sector should give priority to increasing the number of skilled jobs, in view of the sector's probable growth by an average of 5% per year in the near future;

7.Welcomes the aim of the Social Charter to consolidate what the Member States, both sides of industry and the Community have already achieved in the social field but regrets that no substantial political guidelines have yet been set;

8.Calls for a decision on guidelines on working hours in each part of the transport sector, taking account of the different characteristics of each sector and in consultation with workers' representatives from the various sectors;

9.Notes that responsibility for action to implement social rights lies with the Member States or their constituent parts or with the European Community, subject to the principle of subsidiarity; calls for the active involvement and participation of both sides of industry, which is needed at all levels;

10.Points out that with regard to the application of social rights, a distinction must be made, particularly in the road transport sector, between one-man businesses and large firms, to avoid distortions of competition within the same transport sector;

11.Points out that the application of certain directives, for example on working hours, depends on the outcome of the dialogue between the two sides of industry and that if they are not applied this can lead to social dumping and to a deterioration in safety standards in the sector both for workers and users; calls on the Council and the Member States to devote more attention to monitoring compliance with social policy directives such as those on working and rest periods, and warns against social dumping;

12.Agrees that, for safety reasons and to prevent distortions of competition, a high level of harmonization of the various transport sectors' regulations is needed;

13.Regrets the great disparity in levels of training between the various transport sectors and fears that if there is no change in this situation this could lead to social dumping; therefore calls for thorough training and the harmonization of examination requirements and diplomas;

14.Points out that every individual should have the right to mobility and that an efficient urban transport system with the accent on public transport and respect for the environment is a prerequisite for enjoyment of that right; calls on the Commission, in cooperation with the Member States, to set quality standards to be included in a 'quality charter' applicable to public transport services;

15.Points out that disabled people, for whom transport is essential for their integration into society, have a right to transport;

16.Calls for all modes of transport to connect with each other as far as possible and be made much more accessible to all disabled people, whether they are handicapped workers or ordinary handicapped passengers; it must also be possible for them to travel from one Member State to another; it is also desirable for both means of transport and buildings to be adapted to the needs of the disabled (for example railway stations and platforms, underground stations, office buildings, schools, etc.);

17.Considers that when people with disabilities preventing them from travelling alone use public transport, the person accompanying them should travel free of charge;

18.Calls on the Member States to take action to make public transport more accessible to disabled people, and considers that manufacturers and public transport companies should pursue a policy on the accessibility of transport services which makes specific provision for the disabled;

19.Calls on the Member States to take steps to ensure that all forms of 'specialized transport' are better coordinated so that optimum use can be made of available manpower and resources;

20.Requests that, in general, the needs of disabled people be taken into account during the construction and operation of transport facilities; there must be coordinated research in this area at European level;

21.Advocates that the EU should develop a transport policy which aims above all to improve the mobility of socially disadvantaged groups;

22.Calls on the Commission to support pilot projects to promote improved and safer mobility for women;

23.Notes that lack of information is the greatest obstacle for many people with restricted mobility and therefore calls for an information system to be set up, also for the purposes of tourism, with a distinction being made between wheelchair users and those with restricted mobility, and greater account taken of the needs of blind people; the information must be adapted to the needs of the people concerned and must therefore be clear, up-to-date and easy to obtain and use;

24.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission and the Council.