Brussels, 26/05/2005 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday, the European Parliament adopted three reports on the integrated guidelines proposed by the European Commission for the period 2005-2008 with a view to implementing the Lisbon strategy (EUROPE 8926, p.12). Approving the Robert Goebbels report by 388 votes to 69 and 45 abstentions, parliamentarians support the use of unified guidelines but want more specific recommendations for each Member State. The report by Ana Mato Adrover was approved by a show of hands and that by Ria Oomen by 243 votes to 131 and 56 abstentions.
The EU can do better, but “an entity that accounts for over one quarter of world trade is obviously competitive”, Luxembourg socialist Robert Goebbels, rapporteur on the Broad Economic Policy Guidelines (BEPG) in the context of integrated guidelines for growth and employment, said during the debate. “The situation in Europe is far from being a disaster” in many sectors, the rapporteur says, noting that “the European time lost is essentially limited to a number of high-tech sectors: bio-technology, medicines, GMOs” and research. There are disparities, however, within the EU and the guidelines must take this more into account, Mr Goebbels stresses, reproaching them for being over general and calling on the Commission to adopt a communication that specifies the challenges facing each Member State. Joaquin Almunia, Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs, agreed that there was “excessive pessimism” in Europe when “we have conditions for greater growth that should strengthen investor and consumer confidence”. The Commissioner announced preparatory meetings for June and July with the Member States on the National Action Plans (NAP) when areas of priority action will be suggested. “It is not growth that creates jobs but new jobs that create growth”, Gunnar Hökmark (EPP-Ed, Sweden) said, stressing that the EU above all needs reforms and flexibility. “World growth brings Europe face to face with the major challenges for its future putting the European social model to the test, a model that makes us very proud”, Italian ALDE member Patrizia Toia said, supporting instruments for integrated guidelines. She went on to warn that: “No society is strong economically if it lives too much on situations of inequality and if it loses its human capacity”. John Whittaker (IND-DEM, UK), on the other hand, felt the integrated guidelines are just pie in the sky. The single text is “a step in the right direction”, Elisabeth Schroedter, German Green member, said, however, regretting the lack of any strong reference to sustainable development. Jean Lambert of the UK recalled the position of the Greens-EFA Group on a specific point of the Goebbels report, saying: “We are not in favour of increasing research on biotechnology or on stem cells”. Pia Kauppi (EPP-ED, Finland) saw things somewhat differently, noting that “voters are not happy with the economic situation” and that growth should be strengthened through reform, especially fiscal reform. Her Spanish colleague, José Manuel Garcia Margallo y Marfil, of the same group spoke along the same lines, saying “Europe is ailing”, although “Mr Goebbels does not wish to add fuel to the flames”. Europeans suffer from “existential pessimism” given the liberalisation, competition of emerging countries, immigration and “feeble responses that we give”, he said, adding: “The Commission must not be just a letter box and signature” for NAPs but Member States should be made to keep to their commitments. Speaking on behalf of the PES, Ieke van den Burg of the Netherlands also approved the integrated approach but warns: “We do not want superficial discussion”. The chairperson of the parliamentary committee on economic and monetary affairs, French Socialist Pervenche Berès, stressed that “you cannot decree confidence if it is not there, which means that structural reforms will be neither acceptable nor accepted”.
Employment: European social model is essential for successful Lisbon Goals
- Vladimir Spidla: in support of an integrated approach - support to EP amendments
In order to allow the creation of more quality jobs by 2010 and also to revive citizens' confidence in the social Europe, we need a European social model with all its components. Such is the argument formulated by Ana Mato Androver (EPP-ED, Spain) and Ria Oomen-Ruijten (EPP-ED, NL), rapporteurs for Member State employment guidelines and the European Social Agenda respectively. A European social model that is not a “failure”, European Commissioner Vladimir Spidla stressed, happy that the Parliament's amendments do not aim to review the fundamental guidelines of the Commission's proposal. The Commission will take into account the amendments of the Parliament in the text that it will submit to the Employment and Social Policy Council of 2 June in Luxembourg, the Commissioner said. After the debate, Mr Spidla mainly stressed the importance, if one wants Europe to succeed, of an integrated approach for a coherent policy founded on our values, an economically effective cohesion society with good quality of life.
In the current context of the debate in France and the Netherlands on the Constitution, Ria Oomen-Ruitjen commented in a speech that the social market economy is the text's main theme. “We must translate social market economy into all the policies under discussion”, she said. In her view, if one wants to achieve full quality employment, SMEs must also be given a chance as the best job generators. Taking the floor on behalf of the Women Rights Committee, Astrid Lulling '(EPP-ED, Luxembourg) said she was “very sad not to find the ideas of this committee reflected in the text of the employment committee”. She therefore called on Commissioner Spidla to take into account the comments made by the committee on women's rights that had above all placed emphasis on the ability of girls to find jobs, on positive action in favour of quality work for women, on self-employed workers and their helpers and on the promotion of voluntary part-time work. Ms Oomen-Ruijten stressed the need to reconcile family and professional life and to take into account the consequences of demographic ageing on social security, the essential role of cooperation of the regions in the creation of jobs being emphasised by José Silva Peneda (EPP-Ed, Portugal), equal pay for men and women by Jean Lambert and the need for workers to be able to take part in corporate governance by Luca Romagnoli (NA, Italy, elected member of Movimento Sociale). Noting the gap between the economic and the social dimension, Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL, Portugal) called for her part for a change in direction in the management and organisation of European affairs.