# EUR-Lex - 52008AP0207 - EN

Important legal notice

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# 52008AP0207

**Employment Policy Guidelines for Member States * European Parliament legislative resolution of 20 May 2008 on the proposal for a Council decision on guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States (COM(2007)0803 PART V — C6-0031/2008 — 2007/0300(CNS)) **

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Official Journal C 279 E , 19/11/2009 P. 0149 - 0162 *

Employment Policy Guidelines for Member States *

P6_TA(2008)0207

European Parliament legislative resolution of 20 May 2008 on the proposal for a Council decision on guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States (COM(2007)0803 PART V — C6-0031/2008 — 2007/0300(CNS))

(2009/C 279 E/32)

(Consulation procedure)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council (COM(2007)0803, PART V),

- having regard to Article 128(2) of the EC Treaty, pursuant to which the Council consulted Parliament (C6-0031/2008),

- having regard to Rule 51 of its Rules of Procedure,

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs and the opinion of the Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality (A6-0172/2008),

1. Approves the Commission proposal as amended;

2. Calls on the Commission to alter its proposal accordingly, pursuant to Article 250(2) of the EC Treaty;

3. Calls on the Council to notify Parliament if it intends to depart from the text approved by Parliament;

4. Asks the Council to consult Parliament again if it intends to amend the Commission proposal substantially;

5. Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council and the Commission.

Amendment 1

Proposal for a decision

Recital 2

(2) The examination of the Member States' National Reform Programmes contained in the Commission's Annual Progress Report and in the draft Joint Employment Report shows that Member States should continue to make every effort to address the priority areas of

(2) The examination of the Member States' National Reform Programmes contained in the Commission's Annual Progress Report and in the draft Joint Employment Report shows that Member States should continue to make every effort to achieve full employment, enhance job quality and equal opportunities, bring about social cohesion and address the priority areas of:

- attracting and retaining more people in employment, increasing labour supply and modernising social protection systems,

- creating more and quality jobs, attracting and retaining more people in quality employment, increasing labour supply and modernising social protection systems and ensuring inclusive labour markets,

- improving adaptability of workers and enterprises, and

- improving the adaptability and security of workers and enterprises in order to promote a flexible labour market, and promoting worker employability by means of lifelong learning and the accreditation of acquired skills,

- increasing investment in human capital through better education and skills.

- increasing investment in human capital through better education and skills and expansion of lifelong learning opportunities, and

- promoting mobility of workers across the European labour market.

Amendment 2

Proposal for a decision

Recital 3

(3) In the light of both the Commission's examination of the National Reform Programmes and the European Council conclusions, the focus should be on effective and timely implementation, paying special attention to the agreed quantitative targets and benchmarks, and in line with the conclusions of the European Council.

(3) In the light of both the Commission's examination of the National Reform Programmes and the European Council conclusions, the focus should be on strengthening the social dimension of the Employment Guidelines and their effective and timely implementation, paying special attention to the agreed qualitative and quantitative targets and benchmarks in line with the conclusions of the European Council.

Amendment 3

Proposal for a decision

Recital 5

(5) Member States should take the Employment Guidelines into account when implementing programmed Community funding, in particular of the European Social Fund.

(5) Member States should take the Employment Guidelines into account when implementing programmed Community funding, in particular of the European Social Fund, the European Regional Development Fund and the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund.

Amendment 4

Proposal for a decision

Recital 6

(6) In view of the integrated nature of the guideline package, Member States should fully implement the Broad Economic Policy Guidelines.

(6) In view of the integrated nature of the guideline package, Member States should take the employment guidelines fully into account when implementing the Broad Economic Policy Guidelines.

Amendment 5

Proposal for a decision

Article 2a (new)

Article 2a

1. In implementing the guidelines set out in the Annex, the Member States shall:

- take into account requirements linked to the promotion of a high level of employment, guaranteed adequate social protection, the fight against social exclusion, and a high level of education, training and protection of human health, and

- aim to combat discrimination based on sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age, or sexual orientation.

2. The Member States shall ensure strengthened interaction between the guidelines and the open method of coordination in relation to the Social Protection and Social Inclusion Process.

3. Member States, in cooperation with the social partners and in accordance with the national tradition of each Member State, shall examine and report in their National Reform Plans on how to improve compliance with and implementation of the principles and rules of European social legislation, agreements between the social partners and the fundamental principles of equal treatment and non-discrimination.

Amendment 6

Proposal for a decision

Annex — introductory part — paragraph – 1 (new)

Amendment 7

Proposal for a decision

Annex — introductory part — paragraph 1

Amendment 8

Proposal for a decision

Annex — introductory part — paragraph 1 — indent 1

- Full employment: Achieving full employment, and reducing unemployment and inactivity, by increasing the demand for and supply of labour through an integrated flexicurity approach is vital to sustain economic growth and reinforce social cohesion. This requires policies that address simultaneously the flexibility of labour markets, work organisation and labour relations, and employment security and social security;

- Full employment: Achieving full employment, and reducing unemployment and inactivity, by increasing the demand for and supply of labour through an integrated flexicurity approach is vital to sustain economic growth and reinforce social cohesion. This requires policies that address simultaneously the flexibility of labour markets, work organisation and labour relations, reconciliation of work and family life, and employment security and social security;

Amendment 9

Proposal for a decision

Annex — introductory part — paragraph 1 — indent 2

- Improving quality and productivity at work: Efforts to raise employment rates go hand in hand with improving the attractiveness of jobs, quality at work, labour productivity growth, reducing segmentation and the proportion of working poor. Synergies between quality at work, productivity and employment should be fully exploited;

- Improving quality and productivity at work: Efforts to raise employment rates go hand in hand with improving the attractiveness of jobs, quality at work, labour productivity growth, reducing segmentation, gender inequality, and the proportion of working poor. Synergies between quality at work, productivity and employment should be fully exploited;

Amendment 10

Proposal for a decision

Annex — introductory part — paragraph 2

Amendment 11

Proposal for a decision

Annex — paragraph following guideline 17 — indent 1

- attract and retain more people in employment, increase labour supply and modernise social protection systems,

- attract and retain more people in quality employment by facilitating reconciliation of work and family life, increase labour supply by enhancing employability, modernise social protection systems and ensure inclusive labour markets,

Amendment 12

Proposal for a decision

Annex — paragraph following guideline 17 — indent 1a (new)

- promote active social integration for all in order to combat poverty and social exclusion by ensuring a decent income and quality social services together with access to the employment market through opportunities for recruitment and initial or ongoing vocational training,

Amendment 13

Proposal for a decision

Annex — paragraph following guideline 17 — indent 2

- improve adaptability of workers and enterprises,

- improve adaptability and security of workers and enterprises,

Amendment 14

Proposal for a decision

Annex — paragraph following guideline 17 — indent 3

- increase investment in human capital through better education and skills.

- increase investment in human capital through better education and skills and adapt education and training systems to new competence requirements,

Amendment 15

Proposal for a decision

Annex — paragraph following guideline 17 — indent 3a (new)

- increase and improve investment in research, science and innovation,

Amendment 16

Proposal for a decision

Annex — paragraph following guideline 17 — indent 3b (new)

- eliminate all forms of sex discrimination in the workplace.

Amendment 17

Proposal for a decision

Annex — section 1 — title

1. Attract and retain more people in employment, increase labour supply and modernise social protection systems

1. Attract and retain more people in quality employment, increase labour supply and modernise social protection systems and ensure inclusive labour markets

Amendment 18

Proposal for a decision

Annex — section 1 — paragraph 1

Amendment 19

Proposal for a decision

Annex — section 1 — paragraph 2

Amendment 20

Proposal for a decision

Annex — section 1 — paragraph 3

Amendment 21

Proposal for a decision

Annex — section 1 — guideline 18

Guideline 18. Promote a lifecycle approach to work through:

Guideline 18. Promote a lifecycle approach to work through:

- a renewed endeavour to build employment pathways for young people and reduce youth unemployment, as called for in the European Youth Pact,

- a renewed endeavour to build employment pathways for young people and reduce youth unemployment, as called for in the European Youth Pact, whilst combating sex discrimination,

- measures to ensure that people combining work and care are not penalised later in life as regards pensions and social security benefits,

- measures to enable persons who lose their job later in life to get back to work, and action to eradicate age-based discrimination, aimed in particular at people over the age of 40 and including forms of self-employment and self-organisation,

- resolute action to increase female participation and reduce gender gaps in employment, unemployment and pay,

- resolute action to increase female participation and reduce gender gaps in employment, unemployment and vocational training, to ensure equal pay and promote gender equality, including measures strengthening equal opportunities and increasing the employment rate for women as called for in the European Pact for Gender Equality,

- particular focus on the different impact of benefits systems on men and women and review of any benefit structures that impact negatively on women's participation in the labour force,

- better reconciliation of work and private life and the provision of accessible and affordable childcare facilities and care for other dependants,

- better reconciliation of work and private and family life and the provision of accessible and affordable quality childcare facilities and care for other dependants including parental and other leave schemes,

- particular focus on women and men considering a return to paid work after an absence and examining how gradually to eliminate obstacles to such return without loss of job quality,

- support for active ageing, including appropriate working conditions, improved (occupational) health status and adequate incentives to work and discouragement of early retirement,

- support for active ageing, including appropriate working conditions, improved occupational health status and adequate incentives to work and encouraging workers to prolong their working lives if they wish to retire later,

- modern social protection systems, including pensions and healthcare, ensuring their social adequacy, financial sustainability and responsiveness to changing needs, so as to support participation and better retention in employment and longer working lives.

- modern social protection systems, including pensions and healthcare, ensuring their social adequacy, financial sustainability and responsiveness to changing needs, so as to support participation and better retention in employment and longer working lives.

Amendment 22

Proposal for a decision

Annex — section 1 — paragraph following guideline 18

Amendment 23

Proposal for a decision

Annex — section 1 — guideline 19 — indent 3

- development of new sources of jobs in services for individuals and businesses, notably at local level.

- development of new sources of jobs in services for individuals and businesses, the not-for-profit sector and the social economy, notably at local level.

Amendment 24

Proposal for a decision

Annex — section 1 — guideline 19a (new)

Guideline 19a. Ensure the active social integration of all and tackle poverty and social exclusion by guaranteeing a decent income and better access to quality social services together with better access to the labour market through the expansion of job opportunities and initial or ongoing vocational training.

Amendment 25

Proposal for a decision

Annex — section 1 — guideline 20 — indent 2a (new)

- promoting stakeholder partnership models to enhance the local and regional potential to be tapped in local entities, employing open, participatory forms of organisation,

Amendment 26

Proposal for a decision

Annex — section 1 — guideline 20 — indent 4a (new)

- preventing the brain drain from peripheral regions of the European Union or from Member States through regional economic, social and structural investment.

Amendment 27

Proposal for a decision

Annex — section 2 — title

2. Improve adaptability of workers and enterprises,

2. Improve adaptability and security for workers and enterprises (enhancing job security)

Amendments 28, 37 and 38

Proposal for a decision

Annex — section 2 — guideline 21

Guideline 21. Promote flexibility combined with employment security and reduce labour market segmentation, having due regard to the role of the social partners, through:

Guideline 21. Promote flexibility combined with security and reduce labour market segmentation, having due regard to the role of the social partners and taking into account the following key components:

- flexible and reliable contractual arrangements through modern labour laws, collective agreements and work organisation,

- comprehensive lifelong learning strategies to ensure the continual adaptability and employability of workers, particularly the most vulnerable,

- effective active labour market policies (ALMP) not involving an active early-retirement policy, but, rather, integrating older and experienced workers into working life to a greater extent, in order to help people cope with rapid change and reduce periods of unemployment and to ease transition to new jobs,

- modern social security systems that provide adequate income support, encourage employment and facilitate labour market mobility.

- the adaptation of employment legislation, reviewing where necessary the different contractual and working time arrangements,

- the adaptation of employment legislation, reviewing where necessary the different contractual and working time arrangements and guaranteeing core employment rights, regardless of employment status with the aim of promoting stable employment relationships,

- addressing the issue of undeclared work,

- applying preventive measures, backed up by penalties, to address the issue of undeclared work, with a view to reducing the prevalence of non-legal forms of work, via the reinforcement and capacity development of the specialist workplace inspection bodies,

- better anticipation and positive management of change, including economic restructuring, notably changes linked to trade opening, so as to minimise their social costs and facilitate adaptation,

- better anticipation and positive management of change, including economic restructuring, notably changes linked to trade opening, so as to minimise their social costs and facilitate adaptation,

- the promotion and dissemination of innovative and adaptable forms of work organisation, with a view to improving quality and productivity at work, including health and safety,

- the promotion and dissemination of innovative and adaptable forms of work organisation, with a view to improving quality and productivity at work, including workplace health and safety and the provision of reasonable accommodation for disabled people,

- support for transitions in occupational status, including training, self-employment, business creation and geographic mobility.

- support for transitions in occupational status, including training, self-employment, business creation and geographic mobility,

- paying particular attention to obstacles that hinder women who wish to set up new businesses or become self-employed, with a view to their removal.

Amendment 29

Proposal for a decision

Annex — section 2 — paragraph following guideline 21

Amendment 30

Proposal for a decision

Annex — section 2 — guideline 22 — indent 1

- encouraging social partners within their own areas of responsibility to set the right framework for wage bargaining in order to reflect productivity and labour market challenges at all relevant levels and to avoid gender pay gaps,

- encouraging social partners within their own areas of responsibility to set the right framework for wage bargaining in order to reflect productivity and labour market challenges at all relevant levels, to guarantee European citizens sufficient purchasing power and to avoid gender pay gaps and growing inequalities,

Amendment 31

Proposal for a decision

Annex — section 3 — paragraph 1

Amendment 32

Proposal for a decision

Annex — section 3 — guideline 23

Guideline 23. Expand and improve investment in human capital through:

Guideline 23. Expand lifelong learning opportunities and improve investment in human capital through:

- inclusive education and training policies and action to facilitate significantly access to initial vocational, secondary and higher education, including apprenticeships and entrepreneurship training,

- inclusive education and training policies and action to facilitate significantly access to initial vocational, secondary and higher education, including apprenticeships and entrepreneurship training and the accreditation of experience acquired,

- significantly reducing the number of early school leavers,

- reducing the number of early school leavers to as great an extent as possible in order to prevent pupils from leaving school without qualifications and thereby running a high risk of unemployment,

- efficient lifelong learning strategies open to all in schools, businesses, public authorities and households according to European agreements, including appropriate incentives and cost-sharing mechanisms, with a view to enhancing participation in continuous and workplace training throughout the life-cycle, especially for the low-skilled and older workers.

- efficient lifelong learning strategies open to all in schools, businesses, public authorities and households according to European agreements, including appropriate incentives and cost-sharing mechanisms, with a view to enhancing participation in continuous and workplace training throughout the life-cycle, especially for the low-skilled and older workers,

- ensuring the conditions for facilitating access by women to education, continuing training and lifelong learning, in particular access to training and the necessary qualifications for careers.

Amendment 33

Proposal for a decision

Annex — section 3 — paragraph following guideline 23

Amendment 34

Proposal for a decision

Annex — section 3 — guideline 24 — indent 1a (new)

- enabling educational techniques and teaching content to be passed on through successive generations of teachers,

Amendment 35

Proposal for a decision

Annex — Section 3 — Guideline 24 — indent 3a (new)

- providing for foreign language learning as part of initial and lifelong training.

Amendment 36

Proposal for a decision

Annex 1a (new)

ANNEX 1a

Targets and benchmarks

- that every unemployed person is offered a new start before reaching 4 months of unemployment in the case of young people and 12 months in the case of adults in the form of training, retraining, work practice, a job or other employability measure, combined where appropriate with on-going job search assistance,

- that 25 % of the long-term unemployed should participate by 2010 in an active measure in the form of training, retraining, work practice, or another employability measure, with the aim of achieving the average of the three most advanced Member States,

- that jobseekers throughout the EU are able to consult all job vacancies advertised through Member States' employment services, in order to promote mobility of jobseekers on the European labour market,

- an increase by five years, at EU level, of the effective average exit age from the labour market by 2010 (compared to 59,9 in 2001),

- the provision of childcare by 2010 to at least 90 % of children between 3 years old and the mandatory school age and at least 33 % of children under 3 years of age,

- an EU average rate of no more than 10 % early school leavers,

- that at least 85 % of 22-year olds should have completed upper secondary education by 2010,

- that the EU average level of participation in lifelong learning should be at least 12,5 % of the adult working-age population (25 to 64 age group).

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