Plenary sitting
4.7.2016
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION
to wind up the debate on the statement by the Commission
pursuant to Rule 37(3) of the Rules of Procedure and the Framework Agreement on relations between the European Parliament and the Commission
on the strategic priorities for the Commission Work Programme 2017
( 2016/2773(RSP) )
Enrique Guerrero Salom, Maria João Rodrigues
on behalf of the S&D Group
European Parliament resolution on the strategic priorities for the Commission Work Programme 2017
( 2016/2773(RSP) )
The European Parliament,
– having regard to the Political Guidelines for the European Commission, entitled ‘A New Start for Europe: My Agenda for Jobs, Growth, Fairness and Democratic Change’ and presented by Jean-Claude Juncker on 15 July 2014,
– having regard to the Commission communication entitled ‘Commission Work Programme 2016 – No time for business as usual’ ( COM(2015)0610 ), and Annexes 1 to 6 thereto,
– having regard to the Interinstitutional Agreement on Better Law-Making of 13 April 2016,
– having regard to the Conference of Committee Chairs’ Summary Report, which provides complementary input to this resolution from the point of view of parliamentary committees and which the Commission should take duly into account when drafting and adopting its Work Programme for 2017,
– having regard to its resolution of 28 June 2016 on the decision to leave the EU resulting from the UK referendum[1],
– having regard to the European Council conclusions of 28-29 June 2016,
– having regard to the contribution of the Committee of the Regions to the Commission’s 2017 Work Programme,
– having regard to the Commission statement of 6 July 2016 on the Commission Work Programme 2017,
– having regard to Rule 37(3) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas the European integration process has brought peace and contributed to security and prosperity in Europe for decades;
B. whereas Europe now faces many common and global challenges, but also increasing frustration and mistrust among many citizens about uncertain life prospects and a lack of opportunities that citizens expect decision-makers to respond to; whereas, if it is to succeed, European integration cannot let itself be reduced to a mere economic project; whereas it is urgent to win back the hearts of Europeans in favour of the European project and to strengthen economic, social and territorial cohesion;
C. whereas the EU’s overlapping crises require effective European solutions, strongly anchored in a more democratic process through the community method, and with the full involvement of the European Parliament and the national parliaments;
D. whereas the EU is our common house and it must offer a safe home and a stable economic environment with real equality of opportunity for its citizens; whereas sustainability and economic growth are compatible and can be mutually reinforcing; whereas it is important to bring the EU out of the lengthy economic crisis and deliver social progress by stepping up sustainable investments, reducing disparities and developing better policies, in particular by deepening the internal market and completing the Economic and Monetary Union;
E. whereas we have chosen to pursue a common future, as a community based on shared values and cherishing the richness and diversity of our traditions and history; whereas we want Europe to play its role and take up its responsibility on the global stage, committed to solidarity, multilateralism, our external partnerships and promoting convergence on better standards; whereas we want to secure our common project of shared peace, prosperity and democracy, with a view to creating an appealing future for all generations;
Improving the working and living conditions of European citizens
1. Recalls that Europe’s economic recovery has been modest and unbalanced, with many regions of the Union still experiencing unacceptable levels of unemployment, poverty, inequality and a severe lack of prospects for younger generations; stresses that the EU must therefore work towards a dynamic and inclusive labour market embedded in the European social market economy model, improving citizens’ living and working conditions at their places of origin and enabling fair mobility, while respecting in every Member State the core European principle of free movement of workers; is convinced that all EU citizens must count on a fundamental set of fair working conditions, full compliance with European standards on health and safety at work and access to quality education, social protection and essential services which enable a work-life balance;
2. Calls on the Commission, to that end, to build on the ongoing public consultation and Parliament’s forthcoming report by putting forward, in line with Treaty objectives and the Charter of Fundamental Rights, an ambitious proposal on a European pillar of social rights, to be translated into concrete initiatives, in particular to:
– promote the accessibility, affordability and quality of early education, childcare and healthcare, which are crucial to ensuring that no child is left behind; the Commission should therefore reflect on further actions to develop social investment, and in particular to reduce child poverty through the adoption of an EU Child Guarantee;
– close the skills gap and ensure access to quality education, training, vocational training and lifelong learning for all;
– reduce social inequalities and promote quality jobs, especially for young people and the long-term unemployed;
– address work-life balance challenges and the gender gap in pay and pensions, including through new legislative proposals on the Maternity Leave Directive, the Carers’ Leave Directive and on paternity leave;
3. Stresses that the Commission should monitor, encourage and support Member States’ efficient and effective spending of funds to boost youth employment and quality job creation, in particular in regions with high unemployment levels, through programmes financed by the Youth Employment Initiative, the European Structural and Investment Funds, the European Fund for Strategic Investments and the European Investment Bank;
4. Emphasises that the Commission, in cooperation with the Member States and social partners, should also reinforce the European social dialogue with a view to better reconciling labour markets and social protection systems in order to address social inequalities and new challenges arising from globalisation and digitalisation;
5. Underlines that the Commission should ensure the principle of non-discrimination and equal pay for equal work at the same place for all workers, regardless of the underlying contract, including for mobile and posted workers;
Strengthening economic recovery and long-term competitiveness with a view to creating jobs, raising living standards and generating prosperity
6. Is convinced that the EU can be a world leader by unleashing the full potential of its single market and promoting entrepreneurship, fair competition and investment in innovation;
7. Calls for re-launching the sustainable growth and employment strategy Europe 2020, with a real ambition for the future, in particular for improving our social market economy model and bringing about broadly shared prosperity; is convinced that boosting employment remains the top priority, and that the EU needs targeted investments to accelerate the transition towards an innovative, resource-efficient, digital economy with a view to reindustrialising Europe;
8. Asks the Commission to design a new, ambitious industrial strategy that builds on and complements the Circular Economy Package; points out that additional private and public investments are needed for energy transition, eco-innovative SMEs, research and education;
9. Calls on the Commission to propose more measures which would foster research and development, innovation, cultural diversity and creativity as key drivers of job creation, while bearing in mind that companies’, and in particular SMEs’, access to capital is vital in order to encourage development and production of new products and services in both traditional and emerging sectors and effective protection of intellectual property rights;
10. Considers that the single market needs to be further integrated, in particular in the digital area, creating a fair environment for consumers and SMEs and removing unjustified barriers; is deeply convinced that a globally competitive, innovative, citizen-oriented digital single market is a possible way forward to respond to the challenges of the 21st century; considers that economic growth in the EU can be further expanded by fully exploring the potential of the travel and tourism sector, and stresses that the Commission must play a central role in ensuring that all priorities related to competitiveness, digitalisation, good governance, skills and qualifications, sustainability and connectivity in the tourism sector are taken into consideration across political frameworks;
11. Expects the Commission to mobilise all its powers and competences to promote a transition to a better growth model consistent with the principles of sustainable development which entails its economic, social and environmental dimensions;
Responding to climate change and ensuring energy security
12. Reiterates that efforts must be stepped up to achieve the Energy Union, with a view to guaranteeing energy security and affordable, sustainable energy for all citizens and businesses, paying particular attention to addressing energy poverty;
13. Notes the human and economic consequences of climate disasters in Europe; highlights the importance of continuing to address the root causes of climate change with an ambitious climate strategy that includes energy efficiency;
14. Calls for more ambitious targets to be set at EU level for greenhouse gas reduction, renewables and energy efficiency for the post-2020 period, in the context of the Paris UN climate change conference (COP 21) agreement;
15. Asks the Commission to develop a common strategy for energy and climate diplomacy that would address these global concerns;
16. Asks the Commission to coordinate efforts to phase-out fossil fuel subsidies;
Ensuring a consistent response to the increased inflow of refugees
17. Is of the opinion that the European Union must work out concrete solutions to address the refugee emergency in line with international law, in particular by addressing its root causes, by strengthening cooperation with countries of transit and origin of migration flows and by using all available policies and instruments to ensure their stabilisation, rehabilitation and development;
18. Encourages the Commission, in cooperation with the Member States, to pursue necessary humanitarian assistance and ensure decent living conditions in refugee camps, combined with longer-term development programmes, especially in the field of education;
19. Points out that the EU asylum and migration policy is not fit for purpose and needs a fundamental rethink, based on Article 80 TFEU; maintains that no reform of the Common European Asylum System should lead to lowering the current level of protection in EU asylum law; calls on the Commission to promote a fair distribution of asylum-seekers between the Member States, replacing the current Dublin system, which is obsolete;
20. Calls for systematic, enforceable programmes to be put in place urgently for the direct resettlement and relocation of asylum-seekers;
21. Calls for conditions to be created within the EU for a well-managed reception of asylum-seekers that would ensure their safety and humane, gender-based treatment, paying particular attention to the needs of vulnerable groups; stresses, at the same time, that sufficient resources must be guaranteed to ensure labour market integration and social inclusion of refugees that ensures access to education, healthcare and social security; highlights, in this context, the need for increased funding for the European Social Fund and the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived (FEAD) in the framework of the mid-term revision of the multiannual financial framework;
22. Asks the Commission to make proposals for establishing a proper EU economic and legal migration policy that builds on existing instruments for students, researchers and highly skilled workers, and in the longer term for establishing more general rules based on equal treatment governing entry and residence for those third country nationals seeking employment in the Union with a view to filling the gaps identified in the EU labour market;
23. Believes that, as international migration is a global phenomenon that is growing in scope, complexity and impact, the EU and the rest of the international community must assume their respective responsibilities in this field;
Addressing the security concerns of citizens
24. Stresses that internal and external security are increasingly linked;
25. Urges the Commission, following the adoption of the proposal for a European Border and Coast Guard, to ensure its rapid start-up, and allocation of the necessary human and logistical capacities, with a view to safeguarding the EU and completing the Schengen area with the accession of all Member States seeking to join;
26. Calls on the Commission, with a view to addressing the threats of terrorism and violent extremism, to monitor closely the transposition and implementation of EU counter-terrorism measures, including effective police and judicial cooperation, timely sharing of information among national authorities and through Europol and Eurojust, and measures to tackle emerging trends of terrorism financing; stresses, furthermore, that the Commission should launch infringement proceedings against Member States that fail to comply with EU law in this area, especially as regards the effective exchange of information;
27. Calls on the Commission to mobilise expertise and technical and financial resources in order to ensure EU-level coordination and exchanges of best practices in the fight against violent extremism and terrorist propaganda, radical networks and recruitment by terrorist organisations through offline and online means, with a particular focus on prevention, integration and re-integration strategies;
28. Urges the Commission and the Member States to ensure full implementation of security legislation already adopted; reiterates its call for an in-depth evaluation of the EU counter-terrorism strategy, assessing both the application of the adopted measures and their effectiveness; expects the Commission to update the security agenda as required in the light of the evolving terrorist threat;
29. Calls on the Commission to present its announced proposals for a proper legal basis for the European Counter Terrorism Centre within Europol, proposals to improve and develop existing information systems, address information gaps and move towards interoperability, as well as proposals for compulsory information sharing at EU level, accompanied by necessary data protection safeguards;
Deploying an ambitious external action agenda: on neighbourhood and on the global system
30. Welcomes the presentation of the EU Global Strategy, which positions the EU as a geopolitical player in a rapidly changing world, and expects the Commission and the European External Action Service to mobilise in a coherent way all EU external action instruments with a view to achieving improved global governance, wide convergence on better standards, improved security and stronger respect for human rights in the world; stresses, to that end, that the following key elements should be moved to the top of the EU’s external affairs agenda:
– Promoting stability and prosperity in the EU’s neighbourhood, through initiatives fostering development, democracy, good governance and the rule of law, by enhancing civilian conflict prevention and reconciliation measures, security dialogue and activities in the context of the common security and defence policy, including with the appropriate involvement of NATO, which, for those states which are members of it, remains the foundation of their collective defence and the forum for its implementation;
– Reviving, with the support of the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the common security and defence policy, which can no longer be the weakest link in the EU integration process; ensuring that structures, mechanisms or tools that already exist become an operational reality;
– Moving forward the enlargement negotiation process by strengthening social, political and economic stability and democracy in the candidate countries, without concessions on the Copenhagen accession criteria;
– Making development cooperation policy more effective and better coordinated and coherent with other EU external action instruments, while respecting its primary objective as set out in the Lisbon Treaty, and ensuring coherence and consistency between development and security policies, as they are both interlinked, interdependent and mutually reinforcing;
– Integrating the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Policy Coherence for Development (PCD) in the EU’s external and internal policies; urges the Commission to report on its plan for implementation, monitoring, follow-up and incorporation of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs;
– Promoting trade as an important instrument for fostering growth, jobs and competitiveness and promoting EU standards relating to human rights and sustainable development; the Union’s trade defence instruments must be modernised and vigorously applied, and non-standard methodologies used where appropriate;
– Adopting solutions to counter hybrid threats and foster the resilience of the EU and Member States, as well as that of EU partners, notably in the EU neighbourhood;
– Implementing the strategy for international cultural relations, an important soft diplomacy tool for improving relations with EU partner countries and supporting inclusive growth and job creation;
Fair taxation policies for adequate resources
31. Stresses that there has never been a more urgent need to step up the fight against tax evasion and tax avoidance, which represents potential income to national budgets of up to EUR 1 trillion; considers that these resources could have been spent on investing in the future, boosting employment and reducing inequalities;
32. Underlines that the Commission must continue to act without delay to ensure that profits are taxed in countries where the actual economic activity and value is created in Europe; the EU should work towards a mandatory common consolidated corporate tax base, step up efforts to investigate tax-related state aid breaches, apply common rules on the use and transparency of tax rulings and pursue a determined common approach to close down tax havens;
33. Calls on the Commission to include in its fight against tax evasion and tax avoidance an external dimension, preventing profits from leaving the EU without being taxed and fighting illicit capital flows from third countries that hinder development and undermine the fight against poverty;
Strengthening the EU budget and financial instruments
34. Is of the opinion that, in order to act effectively, the EU needs a new financial and fiscal strategy; considers that the Commission should, to this end, propose measures based on the following principles and elements:
– Mobilising adequate resources swiftly; it is inevitable to reform the system of financing the Union by strengthening genuine own resources or introducing new ones, such as a financial transaction tax, a reformed EU system of emissions trading and carbon taxation or taxation for multinational corporates, in order to make the Union budget more stable, more sustainable and more predictable; at the same time, it is important to respect the principle of universality and to improve transparency;
– For maximum results, EU budgetary instruments must be managed with close attention to performance and cost-effectiveness, while ensuring compliance and protecting EU financial interests;
– The EU should take steps to put together resources for responding to the challenges of high youth and long-term unemployment, poverty and social exclusion, and the internal and external dimensions of the refugee emergency;
– After only two years of implementation, the multiannual financial framework (MFF) has reached its limits; furthermore, without a comprehensive mid-term revision of the MFF, the EU budget will be unable to address additional financial needs and new political priorities, and unable to avoid the resurgence of a payment crisis; calls on the Commission to present a review of the functioning of the MFF before the end of 2016 and to take decisive action to revise the ceilings of the MFF upward and expand its flexibility to respond to circumstances not foreseen in 2013;
– The European Fund for Strategic Investment (EFSI) needs to be managed in a way that maximises additionality, enables all Member States to undertake higher levels of strategic investment and ensures that funding for investment is contributing to the transition to a sustainable economy and society; EFSI governance should be reformed to enhance accountability and democratic control over this instrument; the Commission’s proposal for the EFSI’s next phase should be based on these objectives;
– Effective implementation of cohesion policy for 2014-2020 should be accompanied by preparations for its post-2020 phase, respecting its true nature as set out in the Treaties, its importance for the development of the single market and its potential as an investment tool accessible to all regions in the EU; any decrease in cohesion policy budget should be avoided, and synergies between the European Structural and Investment Funds, the EFSI and other EU funding instruments should be strengthened with a view to accelerating smart, green, inclusive growth, with a credible balance between grants and financial instruments being developed;
– Calls on the Commission to present proposals to reduce the bureaucratic complexity of the CAP for farmers; calls on the Commission to devise improved instruments to deal with extreme crises on the agricultural markets; believes that framework legislation at EU level is necessary to tackle unfair trading practices in the food supply chain so as to ensure that European farmers and consumers may benefit from fair selling and buying conditions;
Completing the Economic and Monetary Union
35. Insists that democratic accountability must be ensured for all decisions taken in the context of European economic governance;
36. Holds the view that the EU needs to be working towards upward economic and social convergence, in line with the Europe 2020 Strategy, the Stability and Growth Pact rules and the European Semester governance framework;
37. The Commission should continue its monitoring of debts, deficits and macroeconomic imbalances and seek to optimise the euro area’s aggregate fiscal stance in a way that respects the Stability and Growth Pact and encourages economic growth and job creation;
38. Believes that the EU needs to improve the credibility, consistency, national ownership and democratic legitimacy of the European Semester in order to pursue fiscal responsibility and tackle inequalities and imbalances;
39. Calls for closer economic policy coordination with a view to addressing the euro area’s investment gaps and strengthening reform efforts in order to increase competitiveness and job creation and to sustain demand;
40. Considers that the banking union needs to be completed;
41. Asks the Commission to consider with great attention the outcomes of the ongoing reflection on developing an Economic and Monetary Union fiscal capacity;
42. Asks the Commission to present a consistent and well-substantiated set of proposals on completing the Economic and Monetary Union as identified by the Five Presidents’ Report; notes that this process should remain open to Member States committed to adopting the euro;
43. Calls on the Commission to deliver on the promises made when presenting the Capital Markets Union and speed up the process of making European capital markets deeper, more harmonised and truly cross-border, with legislative initiatives that follow the community method, including proposals to upgrade in parallel the role and mission of the relevant supervisory authorities;
Strengthening fundamental rights and democracy
44. Is concerned that the ongoing crises have not only damaged the cohesion of European societies, but also shaken the confidence of European citizens in democratic institutions at EU and sometimes national level; believes, therefore, that enhancing the EU’s democratic legitimacy and restoring trust in its capacity to serve the interests of citizens must be Europe’s highest priority;
45. Recalls that many of today’s challenges, from climate change to asylum and migration, from financial markets to corporations’ supply chains, and from terrorist networks to failed and rogue states, are transnational and require European solutions defined through the community method, with the full involvement of the Commission and Parliament;
46. Recalls that, as the guardian of the Treaties, the Commission is responsible for promoting the general interest of the Union (Article 17 TEU), namely peace, its values and the well-being of its peoples (Article 3 TEU); points out that Parliament also has a particular political responsibility in helping to overcome divisions between Member States, defend the general interest of Europeans and ensure democratic legitimacy for decisions taken at European level; at the same time, calls on national parliaments to exert full democratic control over their representatives in the European Council; and calls on the Commission to ensure that all initiatives, including those of the European Council, are based on the Treaties;
47. Asks the Commission to take initiatives with a view to strengthening the European institutions and encouraging EU citizens to be more involved in European political life; calls for all the EU institutions to connect better with younger generations and their platforms for debate; believes that stronger actions are also possible to inform EU citizens about their rights, reform the European Citizens’ Initiative and strengthen the role of the EU Ombudsman;
48. Calls on the Commission to enhance cooperation to ensure media literacy and to safeguard media diversity and press freedom;
49. Asks the Commission to put forward proposals for a Democracy, Rule of Law and Fundamental Rights Pact, taking into consideration Parliament’s forthcoming report; believes that it should also continue to progress towards EU accession to the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), taking into account the Court of Justice opinion on the matter and addressing the remaining legal challenges; calls, as a matter of urgency, for the EU and all its Member States to ratify the Istanbul Convention in order to better protect women and girls from violence;
50. Calls for all the EU institutions to strive for the highest possible standards of transparency, accountability and integrity, and to fight conflicts of interest that are detrimental to the efficiency, fairness and reliability of the laws;
51. Asks the Commission to propose legislative provisions on the protection of whistle-blowers at EU level, providing legal ways of disclosure and effective sanctions;
52. Is committed to using all its tools and resources to act as a driving force in a renewed democratic process towards the reform of the European Union;
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53. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission.