Brussels, 16/07/2010 (Agence Europe) - Adopting a draft report on Wednesday 14 July (by 43 to 1 with 3 abstentions) by Elisabeth Schroedter (Greens/EFA, Germany), the European Parliament's employment and social affairs committee asked the European Commission to come up with a strategy before the end of the year, accompanied with legislation and non-legislative measures, to encourage the creation of “green jobs” and to draw up specific policies to make it easier to change to a green economy by re-training workers and helping EU industry take account of the environment.
The MEPs on the employment and social affairs committee say that the EU 2020 Strategy for Growth and Employment missed an ideal opportunity to expand on the potential of jobs in a sustainable new economy. A European Parliament press release explains that the Schroedter Report recommends the following:
(1) Member states should use the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund to introduce EU targets and promote new skills, including new, sustainable, green and high quality jobs;
(2) Regions should use the EU Structural Funds and Cohesion Funds to create sustainable new jobs;
(3) National education and training systems have to change to retrain workers affected by the transition to the new, sustainable economy; and
(4) Incentives are needed to encourage companies to invest in clean technology. Effective funding systems and tax relief should be introduced to help small businesses move towards employment strategies that respect the environment, guarantee innovation and ensure environmentally-friendly manufacture and production.
The report will be voted on in the first plenary in September. (G.B./transl.fl)