Brussels, 08/02/2011 (Agence Europe) - The Party of European Socialists (PES) has certain concerns about the draft single permit for migrants living and working in European Union. This permit is due to be voted on next week in Strasbourg during the plenary session. In a press release, the Socialists say that the single permit package would create a “caste system” for workers. The party is also critical of the initiative launched by the Conservatives and Liberals insofar as the text “has been separated from employment policy issues, including proposals regarding seasonal workers and intra- corporate transferees”.
The PES and its Spanish rapporteur on this question at the EP employment committee, Alejandro Cercas, are concerned that “the current package would create a two-tier system that would allow for massive disparities in the way workers were categorised”. The Socialists also denounced the way in which the final text was prepared, namely, during the separate civil liberties committee, after having excluded the employment committee from the work (EUROPE 10310). On 3 February, MEPs from the civil liberties committee adopted their position on presenting the draft during the plenary session and only voted on two amendments. This ignored questions linked to employment and which had been endorsed last December in Strasbourg. The Socialists find this procedure unacceptable. PES President Poul Nyrup Rasmussen said that “it is clear that Conservative tactics aim to get this package through 'on the sly', with negligible public debate”. (S.P./transl.fl)