The report by German MEP Helmut Geuking (EPP) on employment and social policy aspects of the ‘European Semester’ budget process was overwhelmingly rejected (97 votes in favour, 279 against, 314 abstentions) on Wednesday 9 March.
“That is why there is nothing to prevent us from voting in favour of this report, whatever group we belong to, and that is why I am asking you to vote in favour of this report”, the rapporteur said ahead of the vote. “Please show European citizens that they are worthy of us, that we stand up for them and make our society more resilient to crises. This report is a small contribution in this regard”, he implored.
In the end, he was not heard. The report was supported by Renew Europe, but the EPP groups, the conservative ECR, and some of the Identity and Democracy (ID) group voted against, while the S&D, Greens/EFA groups, a large part of The Left and part of the ID group abstained.
The rejection from the EPP and the ECR was due to the many progressive amendments incorporated, such as making the general safeguard clause conditional on an assessment of the social and health situation in the Member States, according to two parliamentary sources.
The report also called for a permanent Recovery and Resilience Facility. It was requested that young people have guaranteed access to high-quality, paid internships. The report also called for a review of the economic governance framework to allow for massive public investment in the social sector, including the improvement of social housing. The left side of the European Parliament abstained for the opposite reasons: the text did not go far enough in many areas.
This report poses many difficulties each year, as positions between the groups differ so strongly, a source told us. But, as we reported earlier (see EUROPE 12901/22), the rapporteur’s inflexible positions spoiled the negotiations.
According to one source, the progressive groups have indicated that if the report does not mark a clear improvement in the social field in the autumn package, they will vote against it. The report of the Committee on Economic and Financial Affairs (ECON) was adopted by 534 votes to 85, with 73 abstentions. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)