Strasbourg, 07/07/2016 (Agence Europe) - In its adoption, in Strasbourg on Wednesday 6 July (by 417 votes in favour, 209 against and 17 abstentions) of a joint resolution by the EPP, S&D and ALDE groups on the European Commission's working programme for 2017, the European Parliament called for new proposals on the relocation of asylum seekers and a proposal for a European 'pillar' of social rights.
The resolution marks the start of the work for the presentation of the Commission's working programme for 2017, which has obviously hit choppy waters following the United Kingdom's vote in favour of the country leaving the EU. On 14 September, the Commission is to send a letter of intent to the Parliament laying out its priorities for the coming year. The Commission will approve and present its working programme to the MEPs on 25 October in Strasbourg, following the State of the Union debate, to take place in September.
During the debate, Frans Timmermans, the vice-president of the Commission, took issue with the statements of the Eurosceptics. He also said that the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) should be extended beyond 2018. The Commission is to speed up its work on the European migration agenda. Next week, it will present its proposals to reinforce the common European asylum system.
Coherent response to growing influx of migrants. The EP notes that the European policy on asylum and migration “is inadequate and must be fundamentally reviewed”. It argues that no reform of the common European asylum regime should lead to a “reduction of the level of protection currently afforded by EU law on asylum”. The MEPs are demanding the definition of programmes which are “systematic and applicable to the direct resettlement and relocation of asylum seekers”.
Security. The EP is calling for proposals for a legal basis for the European anti-terrorism centre within Europol.
Tax policies. The EP stresses that the Union should work towards an “obligatory common consolidated tax base for corporate tax”, step up its efforts to investigate state aid infringements of a fiscal nature, apply common rules for the use and transparency of tax rulings and adopt a determined common approach to putting an end to tax havens.
Budget. The EP calls upon the Commission to present a re-examination of the functioning of the MFF (multi-annual financial framework of the EU) before the end of 2016 and to act resolutely to raise the ceilings of the MFF and to increase its flexibility, so that it can react to circumstances that were not foreseeable in 2013.
EMU. The MEPs stress that the results of the reflection on the setting in place of a budgetary capacity for the Economic and Monetary Union are worthy of being taken into account. They call upon the Commission to present a raft of proposals to complete the Economic and Monetary Union.
Fundamental rights and democracy. The EP expresses concern at the fact that the current crises have not only undermined the cohesion of the European societies, but have also eroded the confidence of the European citizens in the democratic institutions at EU level and, in some cases, at national level. The EP argues that Europe should give absolute priority to reinforcing the democratic legitimacy of the Union and to re-establishing confidence in its ability to serve the citizens' interests. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)