A3-0270/94

Resolution on the Green Paper entitled: 'European Social Policy - Options for the Union' (COM(93)0551 - C3-0490/93)

The European Parliament,

-having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and, in particular Articles 117-124 and 130 thereof,

-having regard to the Agreement on Social Policy set out in the Protocol on Social Policy annexed to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

-having regard to the Community Charter of the Fundamental Social Rights of Workers and the accompanying social action programme,

-having regard to the Commission's Green Paper entitled: 'European Social Policy - Options for the Union' (COM(93)0551 - C3-0490/93),

-having regard to its resolutions of 22 November 1989 on the Community Charter of Fundamental Social Rights, 13 September 1990 on the Commission's action programme relating to the implementation of the Community Charter of fundamental social rights for workers - priorities for 1991-1992, 8 July 1992 on the European labour market after 1992 and 15 December 1992 on the first report on the application of the Community Charter of the Fundamental Social Rights of Workers,

-having regard to the report of the Committee on Social Affairs, Employment and the Working Environment and the opinion of the Committee on Women's Rights (A3-0270/94)

A.whereas the Commission Green Paper on Social Policy has the aim of encouraging debate on the future of the social policy to be pursued by and in the Union and broadening this debate; whereas there is a need for a broad debate on the future course of social policy to ensure the optimum social and economic functioning of the Union, and whereas in itself it is a welcome development that the many sections of society involved are being given the opportunity to participate in the intensive debate on the future of social policy in the European Union,

B.whereas the Union's social policy needs to be reviewed, as this policy has not been pursued with the same determination as other policies for the completion of the internal market, and seems to have come to a standstill and not to be benefiting from the new procedures provided for by the Treaty on European Union; whereas it is also necessary that there should be fresh attempts made to complete the 1989 Social Action Programme,

C.whereas this state of affairs has caused anxiety and discontent on the part of public opinion in the Union and discredited the whole process of European integration,

D.whereas the greater focus on subsidiarity in the Treaty on European Union shows that there is a need to determine the appropriate level of decision-making in establishing the framework of the new social and economic order, and how cooperation should be undertaken with the competent authorities, social partners or welfare organizations to this end,

E.whereas the initiation of the social debate by means of this Green Paper must not result in a renewed debate about, or undermine, the powers of the Union in the field of social affairs,

F.whereas the envisaged debate should result in the creation of specific policies and agreements for action between the social partners at the european, national and local level; the Member States; the institutions of the Union; local and regional authorities and the non-governmental sector,

G.whereas the Green Paper lists the achievements of the EU's social policy and outlines the challenges which will face the EU in the 21st Century and the far-reaching changes in society (in terms of demography, composition of households, technology, etc.) which require a response,

H.deploring in the strongest terms the fact that, after the round of consultations in September 1993, specific proposals were not immediately put forward for redefining social policy, together with a new action programme, set of priorities and assignment of the policy priorities to the institutions responsible for them, and condemning the continual failure of the Commission and especially the Council to make full use of the qualified majority voting procedure, thus impeding further progress in the social dimension,

I.deploring likewise the fact that, because of the long period involved in discussion of the Green Paper, the Commission has not submitted any new specific legislative proposals, especially those designed to complete the work of the Social Action Programme,

J.whereas, as has been said many times by the Council, lasting rapid (labour-intensive, sustainable, ecologically sound and economic) growth is a precondition for a satisfactory social policy, and whereas it is very important to coordinate financial, fiscal, economic and social policy within the Union,

K.whereas the practical proposals arising from the debate on the Green Paper must be prepared in close coordination with the implementation of the White Paper, 'Growth, Competitiveness and Employment',

L.mindful of the views it has expressed on many previous occasions on the social dimension of the European Union, the need for a substantial and coherent European social policy and the measures which should be taken in this connection, and whereas its resolution abovementioned of 13 September 1990 on the Commission's 1989 action programme contained more than 100 specific proposals,

M.believing that the Union has an important role to play in the realization and underpinning of the European social model; recognizing that the European social model as traditionally understood is under challenge because of persistent high levels of structural unemployment, the changing nature of production and work, globalization and greater interdependence in the world economy, rising levels of poverty and social exclusion and general social inequality; but convinced that, while it may need to be adapted to new economic and social circumstances, the European social model and its goals remain valid as the fundamental basis for European society,

N.taking the view that the fight against unemployment, including long-term unemployment, whether among men or women, the disabled or the disadvantaged must be treated as the main priority of European economic and social policies in the medium to long term,

O.whereas labour market policy must tackle the qualitative and quantitative imbalances on the labour market; whereas, moreover, there is a strong need to organize the labour market differently and better, as a result of which greater flexibility and sharing of available jobs, as well as changes in the composition of households, should be better reflected in the distribution of employment,

P.whereas, in order to promote labour-intensive growth, measures must be taken such as reducing labour costs and in particular wage-incidental costs, reducing the differential between gross and net wage costs, differentiation of VAT rates in favour of labour, etc.,

Q.whereas the social protection systems must help to combat exclusion and whereas solidarity should retain priority as a premise; whereas these social protection systems must take account of the changes which have occurred in the demographic situation, including the fact that the family is no longer the only possible type of household in our community,

R.whereas efforts at national and Community level to combat exclusion and to improve social conditions can help to create employment; whereas there is a need to provide publicly run centres for children and the elderly and a need for better homes and a healthier, more secure environment, especially in the major cities suffering from urban disadvantage and exclusion; whereas the social development of neighbourhoods involving the local residents themselves is essential for their reintegration into the mainstream of city life,

S.whereas, in the social field, the Union's external relations are geared to gaining acceptance by other trading blocs, or worldwide, of standards prevailing within the Union,

T.whereas it is now widely recognised that the development of human potential is a precondition for attaining the economic, social and quality of life objectives that the Community has set; whereas the quality of human resources and the continuous adaptation of manpower skills are a competitive advantage for Europe when it comes to international competition; whereas the tradition of a thorough vocational training should therefore be encouraged and promoted by the Union,

1.Welcomes the publication of the Commission's Green Paper, in the belief that a thorough debate on the future of European social policy can in fact strengthen the case for and the legitimacy of the Union carrying out actions in the social field; believes, however, that such a debate should not be an excuse for undermining or undoing the achievements and the Community "acquis", legislative and non-legislative, that have been attained in the social field at European level;

2.Takes the view that the imbalance between economic integration and the social dimension of the internal market must not be accentuated by using the Green Paper to delay any and all legislative proposals and initiatives and by referring to the implementation of a possible new white paper on social policy, perhaps in 1995;

3.Points out that the Community "acquis" remains incomplete, given that a number of important proposals from the social action programme have still to be adopted by the Council (protection of young people at work, atypical work, posting of workers, parental leave, reversal of the burden of proof); insists that a new, fully implemented social action programme should form the basis of the next stage in European social policy; recalls in this connection that the Charter of the Fundamental Social Rights of Workers must remain a reference point for Community social legislation and that the use of the Protocol on Social Policy should make it possible to overcome the existing blockages;

4.Notes that Member States of the European Union have a strong social tradition, which urgently needs to be extended to Union level; believes that the need to renew and adapt this tradition in accordance with the requirements of our times must not lead to the dismantling of social legislation, but that the established social rights which are the result of trade union action and consultation must be preserved and extended so that more people can enjoy the benefits they confer;

5.Reaffirms its commitment to the European social model based on the social market economy; takes the view, moreover, that rules should be adopted at European level in order to prevent social dumping and competition to adopt the lowest standards, to guarantee social cohesion and to develop fiscal harmonisation;

6.Takes the view, furthermore, that the right to employment is an essential element in the European social market economy;

7.Disputes the notion that a social policy carried out at European level must be halted because it may be a burden or cost on society, believing instead that it is an essential prerequisite for economic prosperity and the proper functioning of markets;

8.Is dismayed at attempts to block funding for the European Union's new medium-term Action Programme to combat exclusion and promote solidarity, the total cost of which, over a five and a half year period, amounts to only ECU 121 million and therefore urges that immediate efforts be made at every possible level to ensure the full and early implementation of the programme, to safeguard the doubling of the funds and to show solidarity with the poorest members in society;

9.Considers that the Commission's paper fails to demarcate clearly the regional, national and European spheres of competence;

10.Expresses the fear that some may take advantage of the subsidiarity debate as a pretext to avoid pursuing any Community social and fiscal policy; therefore expresses its distrust at the Green Paper's division of European Union policy-making among different spheres of competence and does not wish to express any a priori opinion concerning the nature and strategy of Community instruments other than that they must comply with the rules and procedures laid down in the Treaty;

11.Takes the view that the Union's actions in the social field can be divided into three kinds:

(a)actions which are exclusive to the Union and can only be achieved through action by the Union (e.g. free movement of workers, promotion of minimum social standards, social measures accompanying the transition to EMU, economic and social cohesion and international aspects);

(b)actions which the Union shares with Member States but where it is legitimate that the Union should take the lead in their realization (e.g. equal opportunities, promotion of the social dialogue, combating unemployment);

(c)actions which the Union also shares with Member States but where the Member States retain the leading role, the function of the Union being to provide a common framework of priorities (e.g. development of human resources, combating social exclusion, action to help the elderly and disabled and the homeless, convergence of social security systems) and to promote exchanges of views and information about the various social policies of the Member States, to process the information and to make proposals in the form of recommendations designed to bring about convergence of social policies;

12.Expresses its concern at the fact that the Conservative Government of the United Kingdom persists in its refusal to accede to the Agreement on Social Policy;

13.Takes the view that in these actions the Union should be guided by the following priorities: employment, workers' rights, including strengthening the role of the two sides of industry, social protection, combating exclusion, equal treatment;

14.With regard to the various 'priorities' referred to in paragraph 13:

(a)employment, labour market policy and growth conducive to the generation of employment: takes the view that, in the interests of employment, within the framework of the growth initiatives proposed in the Commission White Paper and at the Brussels Summit of 10 and 11 December 1993, the following should be implemented:

-better functioning of the labour market, by strengthening and adapting public employment services and agencies, eliminating rigidities and encouraging mobility, particularly at Community level. Special attention should be devoted to the difficulties encountered by transfrontier workers;

-reorganization of total working hours subject to agreement between the two sides of industry, with a view to promoting job creation (encouraging part-time working, reducing daily or weekly working hours, training credits, sabbatical years or parental leave, etc.);

-reduction of the non-wage costs of labour, especially in the case of unskilled work, by means of appropriate fiscal measures;

-reduction of wage-incidental costs by appropriate fiscal measures;

(b)education, continuous education and vocational training: believes that it is a fundamental right of every resident to receive education and training; attaches value to the adoption of targeted and financial measures at European level in the field of training, especially vocational training with the view that new measures should be adopted as a matter of urgency to enable 2.5% of the workforce to undergo training each year;

(c)transfrontier working: observes that, in regions straddling national borders, employers and employees still operate in isolation from each other, particularly as regards transfrontier working; believes that the two sides of industry should take action in this respect and advocates greater interregional cooperation, which could, inter alia, serve to promote collective agreements on terms of employment in transfrontier regions; believes that when Member States plan to introduce new legislation, they should assess its impact on transfrontier working and transfrontier workers; considers that the Commission ought to set up a special monitoring unit, similar to that for cartel policy, to check that Member States are not violating the rights of EU citizens as laid down in the Treaty on European Union and Community regulations, and that individual citizens should be able to contact that unit;

(d)working conditions and workers rights: notes that a certain amount has already been achieved by the Community with regard to working conditions and takes the view that consolidation, monitoring of compliance and, where necessary, adjustments to the existing rules in the light of current knowledge and technology are needed and that directives urgently need to be adopted:

-concerning the prohibition on discrimination against employees who uphold their rights or refuse to carry out unacceptable instructions in the course of their work,

-concerning the right to be consulted and to participate in the affairs of the enterprise,

-concerning protection of the individual against dissemination and communication of data,

-concerning appropriate protection against dismissal,

-concerning the continued payment of wages on public holidays and during illness;

-concerning a labour clause in public works contracts.

The role of the Community with regard to the adoption of rules concerning the working environment - health, safety, the environment, recognition of occupational diseases - should be maintained and expanded. Future directives and framework regulations should state the objectives and principles of application in order to facilitate satisfactory compliance with the subsidiarity principle, the framework approach being supplemented with specific directives or regulations according to the subjects or sectors concerned. The active role of the two sides of industry should be strengthened at both European and national level. The application of the Protocol on Social Policy should be undertaken at an early date, including the transposition of Community legislation through collective bargaining at national level;

(e)equal treatment and actions in favour of people with disabilities: stresses that people with disabilities are Citizens of the European Union and that the question of their equal treatment is a human rights issue; calls on the Commission

-to create a new Directorate within DG V with responsibility for developing policy initiatives in favour of disabled people

-along with other institutions of the Union, to set an example by ensuring that people with disabilities are employed at all levels within them

-to this end, to investigate current best practice within the member states to see which might be most appropriate and effective, and on this basis to produce a new code of conduct for the Unions's institutions and a proposed Recommendation on the integration of disabled persons in the labour market

-to ensure that all legislative and other proposals are monitored for their implications for people with disabilities

-to ensure that, following the amalgamation of Horizon into a broader Community Initiative, people with disabilities will continue to receive a guaranteed proportion of available funds

-to ensure that people with disabilities, through their representative organisations, are consulted on all issues and decisions affecting their interests.

Finally calls on the Member States to take the opportunity provided by the reexamination of the Treaty in 1996 to add an Article outlawing all forms of discrimination;

(f)measures in favour of older people: calls on the Member States to put into practice the Declaration on older people and solidarity between generations;

(g)social protection and social security: believes that it would be unwise to adopt a passive attitude with regard to social protection at European level, and urges the Commission, Council, management and labour to adopt a European approach to maintaining and improving social protection; when social security and social protection systems are revised, calls for them to be designed to meet the needs of each category of people (needs related to age, sex, family situation, health or socio-economic status), to encourage people to participate actively in the labour market, and to create genuine opportunities for them to do so; calls on the Member States to implement the Council recommendation on convergence of the objectives of social protection and policies and on the Commission to promote effective exchanges of information, on a comparable basis, about all social security systems with a view to obtaining a better understanding of the level of convergence achieved among these systems, which can act as a basis fo

r developing minimum European standards and the gradual harmonization of social protection systems; believes that genuine convergence of social protection is urgently needed and that the problem of financing it cannot be ignored; a possible overhaul of the financing of social security must not result in the level of protection being reduced, and new income must be sought through taxation;

(h)combating exclusion: believes that combating social exclusion should be a priority in the policies of the Union and its Member States which thus entails increasing and making optimum use of the Structural Funds, and active employment policies;

(i)equal treatment for men and women and integration: regards equal treatment for men and women in the Union as an important aspect of social policy for the future, calls on the Council therefore to adopt without delay the two directives on the reversal of the burden of proof and on parental leave; calls for incentives to create equal rights and opportunities with regard to participation by men and women in employment, particularly as regards promotion of continuous education and access to parental leave/carers' leave and child care facilities.

Stresses the importance of a Community policy on the authorisation of immigration by third-country nationals, the right of asylum and immigration guaranteeing migrant workers and their families equal rights and the best possible opportunities to become integrated;

15.Believes that all the above objectives should be pursued and actions for their realization included in a new social action programme to be presented by the Commission in the autumn of 1994 and is of the opinion that the Union must create for itself all the instruments required to implement social policy at European level;

16.Recalls furthermore its call for social and environmental clauses to be incorporated in international trade agreements;

17.Wishes the review of the Treaty in 1996 should primarily facilitate a social and fiscal policy and result in the establishment of the fundamental social rights of citizens as a constitutional element of the European Union;

18.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, Commission, the Economic and Social Committee and governments of the Member States.