EP - employee social security V employers flexibility : Plenary Session ( Brussels ) 28-29 November 2007
Tuesday, November 27th, 2007EP News
Plenary Session ( Brussels )
28-29 November 2007
How to combine social security for employees and flexibility for employers?
On Wednesday, the European Parliament will vote on a report by Danish MEP Ole Christensen which comments on the European Commission’s recent Communication on ‘More and better jobs through flexibility and security’. On behalf of the Parliament’s Employment and Social Affairs Committee, Mr Christensen’s report highlights the need for a well-educated and adaptable workforce in the EU. The report agrees that ‘flexibility can be in the interests of the employee as well as the employer’, but it emphasises that the policy of ‘flexicurity’ (a combination of labour market flexibility and social security for the employee) ’should be based on common values that underpin the European Social Model’. MEPs call on EU Heads of State and Government at the next summit meeting of the European Council (December 2007) to “adopt a balanced set of common principles of flexicurity”, which would include “core rights for all workers regardless of their employment status”, adaptable but reliable contracts coupled with action against abusive labour practices, measures to reconcile work and private life, gender equality and equal opportunities.
Irish MEPs on this issue: Marian Harkin ( Ind. - North West ); Kathy Sinnott (Ind. - South); Mary Lou McDonald (SF - Dublin ); Proinsias De Rossa (Labour - Dublin )
Quality of tourism in the EU
Italian MEP Paolo Costa has drafted a report on behalf of the European Parliament’s Committee on Transport and Tourism, which looks at tourism in the EU and the drawbacks associated with EU Member States interpreting the classification of accommodation for example (number of stars, etc.) differently. The report argues that this and other difficulties have hampered growth in tourism across the EU. MEPs claim that an EU-wide classification should be introduced with a standard EC quality mark. The importance of accessibility for all is emphasised in the report, not only for accommodation, but also for museums, restaurants, etc. Procedures relating to the issuing of visas to non-EU tourists are also dealt with in the report, although the recommendations focus primarily on the Schengen Member States.
Irish MEPs on this issue: Liam Aylward (FF - East); Jim Higgins (FG - North West ); Kathy Sinnott (Ind. - South);
The EU’s Charter of Fundamental Rights
This week’s Plenary Session in Brussels will begin on Wednesday with a debate about the EU’s Charter of Fundamental Rights, to which the European Parliament has been asked to give its approval. This Charter sets out the rights to which EU citizens are entitled and aims to ensure that in all of its activities, the EU institutions respect those rights. The Charter will also apply in the EU’s Member States when EU law is being implemented. Jo Leinen MEP, Chairperson of the Parliament’s Constitutional Affairs Committee will recommend on Wednesday that the Parliament approves the Charter.
Irish MEPs on this issue: Proinsias De Rossa (Labour - Dublin ); Kathy Sinnott (Ind. - South); Seán Ó Neachtain (FF - North West ); Marian Harkin ( Ind. - North West );
In addition:
The Future of Europe
Brian Crowley (FF - South), Mary Lou McDonald (SF - Dublin ); Proinsias De Rossa (Labour - Dublin ) and Gay Mitchell (FG - Dublin ) will participate in the debate on the Future of Europe with the Prime Minister of Spain, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero. Marian Harkin ( Ind. - North West ) will also ask the Council of the EU about a consolidated text (one easy-to-read text) for the new Treaty.
Economic Partnership Agreements with the 78 ACP countries
Eoin Ryan (FF - Dublin) and Gay Mitchell (FG - Dublin) will speak during the discussion which will follow the European Commission’s statement on progress relating to the new Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) currently being negotiated with 78 African, Caribbean and Pacific countries. The current agreements are due to expire at the end of this year.
Agricultural development and food security in Africa
Gay Mitchell (FG - Dublin ) and Kathy Sinnott ( Ind. - South) will participate in the debate on the European Parliament’s resolution on advancing African agriculture.
Railways
Jim Higgins (FG - North West ), Kathy Sinnott (Ind. - South) and Bairbre De Brún (SF - Northern Ireland ) will speak during the debate on three reports dealing with the railway network in the EU. The measures are aimed at revitalising the network by removing the obstacles to the free circulation of trains throughout the EU.
Court of Auditors
Mairéad McGuinness (FG - East) and Gay Mitchell (FG - Dublin ) will speak following the presentation of the Court of Auditors’ Annual Report for 2006.
Humanitarian Aid
Kathy Sinnott ( Ind. - South) and Gay Mitchell (FG - Dublin ) spoke during the debate on humanitarian aid which took place in Strasbourg earlier this month. MEPs will vote on a resolution on this issue on Thursday.
Trade and Climate Change
Kathy Sinnott ( Ind. - South) and Bairbre De Brún (SF - Northern Ireland ) will participate in the debate on the role of trade policy in climate change.
Individual MEPs:
· Avril Doyle (FG - East) will deliver a speech to the European Landowners Organisation on the links between climate change and biodiversity; she will also participate in a meeting of the Parliament’s working group on Islam.
· Kathy Sinnott ( Ind. - South) will speak about the following issues which will be on the Agenda of this week’s Plenary Session - GM food and feed; medicinal products for human use; residue levels of pesticides in food or feed; export and import of dangerous chemicals.
· Mairéad McGuinness (FG - East) will participate in the Agriculture Committee’s hearing on the CAP Health Check on Tuesday.
· Mary Lou McDonald (SF - Dublin ) will participate in the debate on the forthcoming constitutional referendum in Venezuela .
