Brussels, 20/01/2015 (Agence Europe) - The European Parliament's employment and social affairs committee will discuss three draft reports on Wednesday 21 and Thursday 22 January. One relates to a platform to address undeclared work, a second is on the European jobs network (EURES) and a third is on a draft directive on seafarers.
These three legislative issues are those on which inter-institutional negotiations are scheduled to begin in the first half of the year. The Latvian Presidency of the Council of the EU has identified them as its social affairs priorities, with first reading agreement on the proposal to set up a European platform to tackle undeclared work the first objective. Latvian Social Affairs Minister Uldis Augulis is likely to highlight this objective when he sets out his priorities for the Parliament committee on Wednesday 21 January.
Undeclared work. On Thursday 22 January, the Parliamentary committee will discuss all the amendments to the draft report by Georgi Pirinski (S&D, Bulgaria). The draft, just like the Council agreement, makes it compulsory for all member states to be involved in the platform. Thus, in terms of how it is to work, differences are more of a technical nature, such as the proposal by the rapporteur that the platform's work programmes be both annual and multiannual, while the Council opted, in mid-October, for bi-annual programmes. The basic difference lies in the new European platform's determining purpose and aim. Pirinski wants less emphasis to be put on ending undeclared work than on efforts to bring it under the rules.
EURES. The draft report on EURES was drafted by Heinz Becker (EPP, Austria) with 44 amendments to the European Commission's initial text and it will be discussed by the committee on Wednesday 21 January. Council adopted its position in mid-December 2014. The draft report and the text agreed in Council are not, for the moment, substantially different. Becker suggests bringing apprenticeships and training schemes within the network, on condition, however, that there is a proper employment contract on offer. Public employment services (PESs) should have a particularly important position and should automatically be designated as members by the member states, while other services, including private, could be members or partners.
Seafarers. The amending draft directive on seafarers was born of an agreement concluded by the European social partners and seems to satisfy everyone. The rapporteur, Elisabeth Morin-Chartier (EPP, France), has proposed bringing amendments to the initial text by the Commission similar to those already made by the Council. The draft report will be discussed on Thursday 22 January. (JK)