kfajdsl/voxpopuli huggingface dataset:
i am therefore grateful for the opportunity to formally present to you today immediately after their adoption by the commission two concrete initiatives which address issues which we have discussed at length and where we are in agreement that significant measures need to be taken.
i have previously reported to this house on some of the targeted measures we are taking such as support for small and medium sized enterprises the youth employment initiative and the commission action teams which are working in member states facing a more acute situation in terms of youth unemployment.
in that case how can you talk about sustainable growth?
paul krugman was right yesterday to write about the apparent determination of european leaders to commit economic suicide for the continent as a
are you aware that according to the commission in two thousand and thirteen eighteen out of the twenty five countries will have structural deficits greater than that allowed by the treaty?
you talk about sustainable growth but you want to institutionalise austerity across europe with the austerity treaty' which will turn the recession into a deep depression.
are you aware that meeting the targets will mean cuts and extra taxes across europe of over eur one hundred and sixty six billion?
i would like to ask you a few questions which i think the people of ireland who will vote in six weeks' time on this treaty deserve an answer to.
your treaty will turn europe into an economic wasteland.
you talk about jobs but because of your policies unemployment is at the highest level since the introduction of the eurozone twenty five million people across the eu.
spain's debt to gdp ratio was smaller than germany's but the european union insisted that the government slash spending to force the deficit down.
spain's banks are now entirely dependent on emergency loans from the european central bank.
youth unemployment is at. fifty one hundreds of thousands of people are on the streets demonstrating against the austerity which is destroying their country.
this caused growth to stagnate unemployment to boom and private investment to stall leading to the protracted implosion we are witnessing.
it allowed the real estate boom and enabled private debt to soar but when the bubble burst banks could not maintain liquidity and faced insolvency.
finally the debate seems to be shifting to the real economy and to the actual people who live in europe.
firstly will the commission adapt the scoreboard for macroeconomic imbalances in such a way that excessive wage moderation is considered an imbalance as well? secondly will the commission address country specific recommendations to those countries without decent minimum wages?
thirdly how do you envision making a tripartite forum for monitoring wage developments at eu level fruitful and durable?
this will lead to export led expansion in each country.
austerity measures are strangling the economies of these ailing countries they need expansion not suffocation. the embrace of neo liberalism and globalism must be abandoned.
the challenge from the emerging economies like china must be tackled head on.
infrastructure must be rebuilt repaired and brought up to date by public initiative.
this must be financed by delayed payment quantitative easing and not by interest bearing debt.
president obama introducing his american job spill saw the contradiction between infrastructure and disrepair and unemployed construction workers.
we nationalists have a principle.
what is physically possible should be financially possible.
mr president the sovereign debt crisis has raised many different opinions on the best way to resolve it and how to return the eurozone and the eu as a whole to economic growth.
although we do not currently have all the answers there are already important lessons to be learned from the eurozone crisis some of which need to be learned in my own constituency.
it is clear that one of the problems identified in spain has been the level of public debt and liabilities assumed by their regional governments to which a clear value of the amount outstanding is only now emerging.
it has left the spanish debt market in disarray and lacking investor confidence.
any welsh debt would ultimately be the liability of the uk government and would replicate the failed spanish experiment.
under the new eu stronger economic governance and debt management regimes surely those liable for the debt need to assume control for all monies raised whether privately through the eib or more worryingly in the capital markets?
when member states rightly bear the ultimate responsibility for the debt and the resulting debt ratios systems of accountability need to be ensured.
i hope the silk commission in wales and those that favour eurobonds in the eurozone heed the spanish experience.
two thousand and twenty three it is disappointing because all the uk candidate cities would have been excellent capitals of culture but more disappointing because i believe this is a direct consequence of brexit and also a consequence of the ineffective way that the uk tory government has acted since the referendum.
last but certainly not least we need to create more jobs.
to improve the situation and reduce existing disparities one possible avenue for discussion offered by the agenda adopted today could be to extend the use of open ended contractual arrangements.
over time this would allow employees to acquire full rights while firms would have sufficient but decreasing flexibility during the probation period removing the inhibiting elements that often prevent employees from taking on new recruits for the long term.
job quality and working conditions;
in addition to reviewing eu legislation the agenda on new skills and jobs proposes an integrated approach that includes so called soft instruments from codes of conduct and recommendations to implementing guidelines benchmarking and exchange of good practices.
an agenda for new skills and jobs sets out action in four areas functioning of labour markets;
we propose to improve the framework conditions for job creation especially in fast moving and rd intensive sectors by reducing the administrative burden and taxes on labour and by helping entrepreneurs. we also propose action to foster entrepreneurship and support people who are in the process of setting up a business or have done so recently.
the agenda proposes thirteen specific actions at eu level to be carried out in partnership with governments social partners and civil society.
we need to make sure the legislation works better that it is in line with new working patterns and new technology and that it is easier to understand and apply for people and businesses.
in the foreseeable future there could be even more serious shortages of workers than today ict practitioners doctors nurses researchers as well as people with the green skills to help us move towards a greener economy. new skills and jobs' proposes practical tools in this respect.
we need to ensure that the younger generation can benefit from the social model we have developed.
the eu has very ambitious legislation in this field which needs now to be reviewed.
the european union has plenty of talent.
the agenda points to flexible but reliable contractual arrangements comprehensive lifelong learning active labour market policies and modern social security systems.
one of the lessons learned in the past two years is that flexicurity policies have contributed to weathering the crisis. we now propose to discuss with member states and social partners all components of flexicurity and how to improve them building on the eu common principles of flexicurity.
we know that even now some employers are struggling to fill vacancies because they cannot find people with the right skills.
for men and women by two thousand and twenty and today the commission adopted yet another flagship initiative under the europe two thousand and twenty strategy an agenda for new skills and jobs' outlining how we intend to make progress towards full employment. it is complementary to the flagship youth on the move' adopted in september.
yes the crisis has wiped out millions of jobs.
on the contrary it is a call to act and shape our future.
we must enable everyone who can work to actually do so.
and we have to face dramatic consequences but this situation did not deter the european commission from proposing ambitious objectives in the europe two thousand and twenty strategy and the european union has set ambitious targets to meet in the not too distant future. we have a headline target for an employment rate of seventy five
creating more and better jobs is in our hands.
both should contribute to reach our two thousand and twenty employment and education targets.
yes we face increasing international competition but that is no excuse to shy away from taking action.
there are highly segmented labour markets in the eu where employees with permanent safe contracts coexist and sometimes work side by side in the same workplace doing the same job with employees who live under temporary contracts with few social safeguards and slim prospects of a permanent job.
first we have to make sure our labour markets function better by carrying out labour reforms that ensure the necessary flexibility and security.
this reveals not only that we need more skills and the right skills but also that there are persistent mismatches in the eu labour market between available skills and needs.
experience with implementation tells us when and where there is room for improvement.
let us make sure that the ideas and innovations around lead to the creation of quality jobs.
we will bring more transparency on skill needs and promote better matching namely through the eu skills panorama to help people see more easily which skills are most needed now and in the future.
we need to allow the workforce to generate new ideas and set up new businesses.
third we propose to improve the quality of jobs and ensure better working conditions.
an agenda for new skills and jobs can make a real difference if we all work together.
commissioner vassiliou will be able to say more about this.
job creation is needed for growth but there are too many obstacles in the way.
i look forward to discussing these issues with you and i am confident that together with the european parliament the member states and the social partners we can make them work better.
these would have a sufficiently long probation period and a gradual increase in protection rights access to training lifelong learning and career guidance for all employees.
second we need to equip people with the right skills for the jobs on the market today and in the future.
this is also very important if we want to speak about quality jobs.
these are initiatives for ten years and for all member states.
we want to facilitate more mobility because we believe that the young generation is the one that can better take advantage of the integrated european labour market and develop their own skills and improve their competitiveness through taking advantage not only of the market itself but also of the institutions that the european union
i would like to address some of the points that have been discussed or perhaps even challenged in the discussion because some of them need further explanation.
we want to address segmentation as a major challenge of the current european labour market and we put forward a very concrete example the open ended contract which can help.
we cannot assume that all the ten years will be spent amidst financial emergencies.
it is not about addressing short term emergency financial situations in certain member states.
moreover in order to develop a knowledge based society we need our children to be better at science maths and technology.
mr president honourable members with europe two thousand and twenty we set our targets and our aspirations.
this will build on the popular europass cv. my last point is that neither education nor employment alone can deliver the right mix of skills. we must seek new forms of cooperation and partnership with education and training providers business and other stakeholders including trade unions and public employment services.
the agenda for new skills and jobs explains how europe can contribute to reaching our targets.
secondly we need to provide people with the right skills for employment.
the agenda calls therefore for better matching of people's skills and job opportunities and capitalising on europe's potential.
this is the reason why we need to invest in people and in their capacity to innovate to create new enterprises and new jobs.
there are more than eighty million adults in europe hampered by severe deficiencies in basic skills.
two thousand and twenty jobs occupied by highly qualified people are expected to rise by sixteen million between now and two thousand and twenty while those held by low skilled workers will decline by around twelve million over the same period.
this is the reason why two flagship initiatives youth on the move' and an agenda for new skills and jobs' have important education and training as well as employment dimensions.
without significant and sustained investment in high skill levels and education our economies will struggle to emerge from the crisis quickly.
finally even in times of crisis and high unemployment rates some employers are reporting difficulties in recruiting.
specific emphasis should be put on basic skills in reading mathematics and science.
we need to focus on education systems delivering the right mix of skills.
now is the time to make progress towards our aspirations and to determine our reform strategy.
the low qualified have very few opportunities to participate in continuous training in all member states. this should change with the joint effort of all partners governments employers and citizens.
mr president commissioner i will deal with just one of your four key priorities stronger policies to promote job creation and demand for labour.
according to this document recovery must be based on job creating growth but since the economic crisis economic growth in europe has been uneven and weak.
as an irish mep i am acutely aware of how we are being told to implement austerity measures and the real fear is that this will smother any opportunity for growth.
so my question is will this agenda for new jobs and growth not apply to ireland or greece or indeed any country that is implementing these severe austerity measures?
there are excellent ideas in this document;
i am not trying to minimise them. one crucial one is how we connect our investment and research and development and innovation to the production system itself.
there is an absolute necessity to lock the two together.
proposals to engage the social economy cooperatives mutual societies and micro enterprises in a sustained effort to provide employment opportunities at local level are very timely and indeed i believe that mobilisation at local level and on a not for profit basis through mutual societies can be a driver for sustainable development.
the promotion of entrepreneurship will allow citizens themselves to play a real part in our economic recovery.
last week i hosted a meeting in parliament on social inclusion and mental illness and a mild mannered lady from austria said that politicians have to stop talking about jobs and growth nobody believes them!
i am not saying that that feeling is widespread but it is spreading and i think that is why our words here have to be translated into action. there is a real urgency about this and we need to start thinking outside the box.
yes to green jobs digital jobs but do not forget local jobs and as i said the promotion of a not for profit ethos not as a replacement but as a counterbalance to the profit driven model which right now threatens the euro and the stability of the union.
no one takes responsibility.
ultimately this place could remember that eu money really belongs to the taxpayers of each member state.
but just three hours ago this very chamber voted in favour of parliamentary delegations and junkets.
that is a bigger advertising budget than coca cola.
if the political will existed in this chamber you could have just one seat for the european parliament and save hundreds of millions of euros a year.
where is the political will?
well we will soon know whether the european parliament has the guts to take the decisions necessary to bring this back under control.
we do not even have pre set failure criteria for eu funded projects to know whether they have achieved what they promised.
and is it not amazing how empty this chamber is today as we discuss such an important issue?
if the political will existed in this chamber you would scrap the eur three billion a year the eu spends promoting itself.
we do need some tough decisions.
we do not need more of the same.
if the political will existed in this place you could scrap many of the luxuries that we enjoy as meps and take a lead in showing that economy begins at home.
no staff are dismissed when taxpayers' money has been wasted.
the answer is not to go back cap in hand to national governments and to ask them to fleece taxpayers for even more money.
once implementation provided compelling evidence that more payment appropriations were needed.
eleven two billion was eventually made available to cover outstanding needs. this approach in agreeing the budget in successive stages makes the budgetary process almost unintelligible and undermines the eu's credibility.
this must be taken with seriousness and realism addressing all the foreseen needs in the knowledge that the new multiannual financial framework provides the tools to address unforeseen needs should they arise.
the commission has consistently made it clear that the overall payment ceiling defined in the two thousand and fourteen two thousand and twenty mff would require the implementation of specific and maximum flexibility and that it would make use of available flexibility instruments as provided for in the mff regulation if and where needed.
let me take this opportunity to give a face to this problem.
these proposals are also a key condition to kick start the new investments in infrastructure innovation growth and jobs needed for the new period two thousand and fourteen two thousand and twenty precisely in line with the strategic priorities for the union as agreed by the heads of state and government on twenty six and twenty seven june.
exceptional additional revenue from fines stemming from the enforcement of competition policy will accrue on the eu budget in two thousand and fourteen meaning that the additional payments requested for two thousand and fourteen will be at virtually no cost to the member states.
such a request is justified by the payment shortages experienced in several programmes and by a number of unforeseen circumstances including a higher than expected pace of implementation in cohesion policy which led to an unprecedented level of unpaid bills
for the two thousand and fifteen draft budget the commission proposes to make full use of the payment ceiling agreed in the multiannual financial framework.
at the end of two thousand and thirteen to be covered with appropriations in the two thousand and fourteen budget.
combined with a careful management of resources these measures should curb the global growth of outstanding commitments and provide the means to address our obligations stemming from previous years' commitments.
at the budgetary trilogue last week parliament and the council had a first opportunity to exchange views on the commission proposals for the three amending budgets for two thousand and fourteen and for the two thousand and fifteen draft budget.
the commission will have to mitigate these risks.
in this context the risk of sme bankruptcy will be one important factor to consider.
this is what the commission did in late may this year by presenting draft amending budget no three with a request to use the remaining margin under the payment ceiling some eur seven hundred million and the activation of the contingency margin mechanism for an amount of eur four billion.
it is not just about ministries or universities or even member states as such getting money back later than expected.
the eu budget should serve to implement our common priorities.
the commission proposals for the two thousand and fifteen draft budget and for amending the two thousand and fourteen budget reflect a responsible and realistic approach but again realistically they will only lead to stabilising the overall situation.
over the last few years the budgetary authority has effectively followed a two step approach whereby first an artificially low level of payment appropriations was authorised in the budget with the understanding reflected in a recurrent joint statement that a supplementary amending budget might be needed in the course of the year
we cannot accumulate unpaid bills.
for the draft amending budget for two thousand and fourteen and the draft budget for two thousand and fifteen are adopted by the budgetary authority as proposed.
this is necessary.
i think the reason for today's situation is clear starting from a few years ago it is a result of budgetary negotiations which provided payment appropriations at such an artificially low level so low that it prevented us from being able to pay legitimate bills. this must be stopped and it can be stopped provided that the commission proposals
this is why the commission proposed the three draft amending budgets for two thousand and fourteen including a contingency margin and a draft budget for two thousand and fifteen at the ceiling level.
mr president first of all the obvious but painful fact has to be stated once again the situation is absolutely unbearable.
and not just that but unfortunately the payment nightmare of the european union is also such that it will not go away even if we manage to solve the acute cash flow crisis.
so the first thing that should be done is to mobilise all instruments available to cover the shortfall.
every year we commit ourselves to a certain number of programmes.
so we all agreed to a certain total of bills and now those bills have to be paid.
this can only be done by temporarily increasing the level of payments as far as i can see.
but as i said this alone does not get us far.
as the total sum of outstanding commitments keeps rising year after year there are only painful answers left given that we genuinely want to solve the budget crisis.
ironically the post financial crisis position of the council does make sense in the way that we can spend only what we can afford to spend.
but it is ironic because member states were there when commitments were made.
so if we want to be logical in building a better union we first have to answer our own call. after but only after that has been done can we reduce the level of payments.
the level of commitments we can and perhaps should reduce cautiously.
but even more importantly we should make sure that what we commit ourselves to makes sense in terms of creating new economic activity which will in turn help us out of this vicious circle and this means that we have to achieve the badly needed growth and that growth will then bring employment.
you are talking about trying to eat yourselves thin.
the whole point is that the whole of the western world is in debt massively bankrupted.
hear some constructive commentary from my friend who mentioned it earlier save this money cut back on all these needless programmes and stop trying to interfere in every part of everyone's lives.
they could then give a really nice tax cut so that people could decide what to do with their own money.
mr president i supported and approved a reduction in the size of the eu budget.
i also fully support and approve the commission's proposals to increase spending on jobs growth and competitiveness.
but unless there is also a significant reduction in the other traditional spending patterns then an ever deepening payments crisis is inevitable.
it is a crisis which along with the long standing and growing problems with rals means that the current spending plans are unsustainable.