Brussels, 18/02/2011 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 17 February, the European Parliament endorsed the European Commission's suggestion that the 2010 employment policy guidelines be continued in 2011. Although it “considers that the annual growth survey and the framework provided by the European semester are crucial tools for the enhanced coordination of economic policies, it notes, however, that these tools should not replace or diminish the importance of the existing tools provided for under the Treaty, in particular the broad economic policy guidelines and the guidelines for the employment policies of the member states”.
Following adoption of the European Commission's annual growth survey, the Commission suggested that the 2010 employment policy guidelines should be carried over into 2011. Voting through a resolution on implementation of the member states' employment policy guidelines by 511 to 59 and 8 abstentions, the European Parliament “calls on the European Council not to make employment issues secondary concerns when considering the Commission's recommendation in the annual growth survey to make rigorous fiscal consolidation the first priority for the 2011/2012 period”.
The EP “calls on the member states to reconsider their national employment targets, so that the EU headline target can be met, and to take these targets as seriously as their fiscal consolidation ones.”
Another EP concern is that countries will determine their reform programmes in line with the annual growth survey but this will not leave the EP any say in the matter. The EP wants greater attention to be paid to the vulnerable (young people, women, older workers and the disabled).
During the debate, rapporteur Pervenche Berès (S&D, France) said that jobs and unemployment seemed to be secondary in the debate around budget consolidation targets and that the EP sees the suggestions by the member states that the retirement age be raised and unemployment benefit reduced, as a dangerous intrusion in a social agreement. (L.C./transl.fl)