kfajdsl/voxpopuli huggingface dataset:
the directive will help to end the exploitation of illegally staying third country nationals by some employers who pay them inadequate salaries and impose unsatisfactory working conditions. one step forward would be agreement on the proposal for a directive on a single permit which provides for a common set of rights for third country workers residing legally in a member state.
the commission followed the discussions actively and facilitated coordination among the experts of the member states during the first round of discussions at the ilo in.
for the time being the commission has no plans to amend the framework directive on occupational safety and health.
the project encourages exchanges of best practice in particular involving precarious workers' collective representation.
a number of member states have useful experience in working to reduce the informal sector and precarious employment for example by introducing service voucher systems.
in this connection i want to mention a private project which the commission is currently implementing at the request of this house and which seeks to encourage the conversion of precarious work into work associated with rights.
it is worth pointing out that the definition of domestic workers in the draft ilo convention is very wide.
in the next and final round of discussions in june the commission will continue to play an active coordination and facilitation role by working with member state experts.
not all work in precarious conditions they are a vulnerable category and the commission encourages the member states to ensure they are properly protected by developing and enforcing their labour rights.
i would add that directive two thousand seventy eight ec establishing a general framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation does not exclude domestic workers so no amendment is needed for the ratification of the ilo convention.
the pilot project will also involve a study to gain a better understanding of precarious work in twelve member states and to promote its conversion into employment relationships carrying more social rights in particular by looking at what the member states can do in practical terms to encourage this transformation and identify a core of basic social rights.
lastly eu occupational and safety and health legislation provides minimum requirements and does not therefore prevent any member state from introducing more stringent measures at national level. consequently the member states are free to include domestic servants within the scope of their national legislation.
the commission expects the problem of undeclared work by non eu nationals to be dealt with in part by the employers' sanctions directive two thousand and nine fifty two ec which the member states have to transpose into national legislation by twenty july this year.
the commission issued a report on the application of the directive in two thousand and eight and will continue to follow its implementation in the member states closely. the fourth point concerns ways of informing domestic workers of and strengthening their rights. although not all domestic workers are low skilled and do
we need to bear in mind the sector's potential in terms of job creation and reconciling work and family responsibilities and thus its role in meeting the objectives of the employment strategy. however we must not forget the need to ensure that domestic jobs not all of which should be regarded as precarious and undervalued or underpaid are indeed decent jobs.
it not only covers persons working in private households but also for them as well as persons employed by employment agencies.
following a call for proposals issued under the pilot project in two thousand and ten the commission is co funding a project that focuses on the consequences of the economic and financial crisis for precarious domestic migrant and young workers and on member state measures to improve their rights.
let me now turn to the fifth and last point regarding the commission's role in promoting exchanges of best practice involving policy on domestic workers.
two thousand and ten it has analysed the instruments as they developed during the negotiations in the light of eu legislation.
nevertheless the commission considers that the current ilo initiative is a good opportunity to reflect on the situation of domestic servants in europe.
there are many reasons for developing new standards in the area of domestic work.
as you know the european commission is a firm supporter of the ilo's decent work agenda.
that is why it is crucial to raise domestic workers' professional profile and improve their image.
their precarious status and the fact that they often fall within the informal sector are also very important issues.
traditionally of course in the eu it was women's work although that is changing.
migrants and people from more marginalised communities are also more likely to work in a domestic situation.
the value of domestic work is not included in our gdp calculations and for that reason among others domestic work is very often invisible and is certainly undervalued. without any doubt this leaves domestic workers in a precarious position and very often they have to rely on the goodwill of employers.
this is simply not acceptable.
as we say in the resolution it leaves domestic workers more likely to face discrimination and indeed multiple forms of discrimination.
the importance of this ilo convention is that it will provide legal recognition of domestic work as work.
following on from that domestic workers should be in a stronger position to exercise their rights.
i think it is crucial that domestic workers have a right to core labour standards.
that of course includes access to social security health and safety protection and maternity protection as well as provisions on working and rest time.
because domestic work takes place largely within the family home there can be issues of privacy involved. we need to find innovative and workable solutions to ensuring the health and safety of domestic workers and in the overall context to ensure that their rights are fully respected.
i also want to say that i am very happy to support the amendments from the green group where they talk about the inclusion of au pairs and undeclared work but come forward with practical suggestions to ensure we are proactive in ensuring access to the open labour market for domestic workers.
in addition we must make sure that such a cost explosion does not occur in the future and have it ring fenced in the next multiannual financial framework.
however i do not agree that this project should continue to get massive financial injections without ensuring any kind of democratic control.
we will need more scientists and engineers to deal with the challenges posed by nuclear power but also to make the most of the opportunities it offers for growth innovation health and many other applications. that is why we must dedicate more investment to training and we must change public perception to attract students and encourage scientific careers
in research one always invests without knowing if and when the scientific breakthrough will be made.
and excellence in this field.
it is worrying to see the decreasing interest of science students in nuclear engineering.
now parliament is required to agree on additional funding of eur.
i believe the minimum we should demand is to be regularly informed and updated on the construction progress and have access to internal audit documents.
lastly the commission will soon make its proposal on the modernisation of public procurement and i believe that proper and transparent public procurement should also be a part of a european nuclear safety policy because corruption and mismanagement in building nuclear power plants could have unimaginable or imaginable consequences.
each member state as mr bezina rightly said is free to determine its own energy supply mix and some of the largest eu countries do use nuclear energy but some of the consequences of those choices do not stop at one's own borders.
that creates uncertainty for a lot of researchers all around europe who do not know if they will continue to receive funding from one january.
it is absolutely urgent as the house knows that this decision be taken as soon as possible.
as you know this is the clear direction we are taking especially in the context of preparing horizon. two thousand and twenty however some practical results of our simplification policy are already visible in this proposal.
europe fought for years to be the host of this project and now after more than one year of debate we have not yet been able to take the financing decision needed to bring this project forward.
i have already mentioned the nuclear safety and security aspect.
giving a strong priority to nuclear safety and security in the programme is a point of convergence between the three institutions.
for example tomorrow the european commission will represent the eu at an iter council meeting with our international partners while the next trialogue meeting takes place on friday.
training will also be a principle activity of this programme since the eu urgently needs to address some human capital issues within this sector.
europe cannot afford to lose these researchers or lose their knowledge and their competences.
this report also supports funding for research activities in the field of fusion energy including the iter project.
regarding iter specifically this report also contains parliament's position regarding the financing of this project for two thousand.
i am thinking in particular about those employed in jet.
fusion is a promising research field that aims to provide a totally new energy source for the future. this programme seeks to pave the way for the success of iter and establishes a set of accompanying measures to ensure that europe will continue to be the major player in this field.
prominent among these measures is the funding of jet located in the uk a facility that is set to make major scientific contributions to iter.
we also need this decision to maintain our credibility vis vis our international partners.
while implementing the programme the commission will certainly give priority to these areas to the extent allowed by the availability of funds and to the overall priority of safety.
in particular it integrates a number of measures adopted by the commission decision last january to cut red tape through simplification. let me also address your recommendation for the focus areas on which the framework programme should concentrate its efforts.
beyond that the commission agrees that most of the areas listed in your reports are of major importance such as radiation protection a research area that is also important beyond the energy sector in particular in the field of medicine.
as long as a decision is not taken the framework programme cannot be adopted.
and twelve and two thousand and thirteen the commission welcomes this position and takes note of the ongoing negotiations to reach an interinstitutional agreement on this proposal.
in the current european and international context europe certainly needs more not less eu level funding for research into nuclear safety and security and this is the focus of the framework programme.
the aim is to work towards a more sustainable energy mix for the future and this programme contributes to that effort.
i wish to underline that the report on the framework programme and the other reports recognise the importance of research funded under the euratom treaty for vital objectives such as enhancing the safety of nuclear energy and improving the management of nuclear waste.
of course we should not endanger one of the largest research projects in the world by internal european quarrelling on the budget;
he has done a very thorough and good job.
these issues will be on the table.
nuclear energy as many people mentioned is always a source of political debate but we must not forget that the proposal we are discussing today is for funding research to enhance the future of nuclear safety in europe to improve the management of nuclear waste also mentioned by a lot of members to make progress in the whole area of radiation protection and to create the human capital needed by the nuclear sector.
i think it is vital that the importance of these research areas for the european union in general goes beyond specific political choices.
the commission thanks parliament for issuing this important report and for the clear support that it gives to euratom funded research. i can guarantee that very many elements contained in the report will be taken into account during the implementation of the framework programme over the next two years and we hope we will have the opportunity to explain this to the institution.
we pay very close attention as you know to the opinion of this arm of the budgetary authority.
as i said before it is absolutely urgent that the decision is taken as soon as possible.
as long as the decision is not taken the framework programme cannot be adopted.
last but not least let me thank you for the strong support that you give to the commission's proposal on the specific programme for the direct actions of the joint research centre in this area.
the commission will continue to strengthen the role of the jrc to provide in house expertise in support of the union's policies in the areas of nuclear safety and security environmental protection and decommissioning.
according to europol specialists this agreement will be the first step of an enhanced cooperation aimed at tackling organised crime in particular of a financial and economic nature.
the strategic cooperation agreement between europol and the united arab emirates does not concern the exchange of personal data. therefore the commission believes that an assessment as foreseen in paragraph four of the resolution would not be appropriate.
in the current circumstances and in consideration of the current geopolitical instability in that geographical area it is hoped that the conclusion of this agreement will bring operational benefits to the eu in its efforts to prevent and fight serious and organised crime.
in the context of the negotiations on the europol regulation it has been agreed that the commission assesses the provisions contained in the cooperation agreements between europol and third countries allowing for the exchange of personal data.
the uk has a gdp per capita approximately ten times that of albania and a minimum wage level and social benefit structure that will draw albanians to britain like an electromagnet.
if i was an honest young man in albania today i would take english lessons and save up for a train ticket to london and pray that the brits vote to remain in the club on twenty three june.
and whilst ongoing reform in albania is obviously welcome i am concerned about what you said about that country commissioner.
i am glad to be able to say that because there are other countries for which there are much bigger issues at stake in the accession negotiations. although it is true that albania is also facing the classic problems of southeastern europe with endemic corruption and a number of other shortcomings
let me underline that a constructive and sustainable dialogue between the government and the opposition on eu related reforms will be vital for the success of these endeavours. i would like to commend albania on its full alignment with the eu's common foreign and security policy.
at the same time i would like to stress that significant challenges lie ahead and further efforts to fulfil the key priorities are still needed.
in addition we welcome the adoption of the decriminalisation legislation which should enhance citizens' trust in their political representatives and public institutions.
a solid track record of proactive investigations prosecutions and final convictions at all levels needs to be established.
progress is also needed to fight corruption as well as organised crime.
these are positive signals showing that albania is on the right path and we encourage it to continue these efforts.
let me also reiterate the need for effective legislative and policy measures to reinforce the protection of human rights and anti discrimination policies including the equal treatment of all minorities. as you know the european council will consider the opening of accession negotiations once albania has met the five key priorities.
in particular it will now be essential to swiftly adopt the judicial reform package in line with the venice commission's opinion.
we now look forward to concrete steps and results for its effective implementation.
in closing let me point out that we are closely monitoring the situation in albania with regard to the migration crisis and the possible development of an alternative balkan route across the sea to italy.
the council has invited the commission to report on these key priorities in a comprehensive and detailed manner in addition to its two thousand and sixteen report.
bold implementation will be key to delivering on the ground with far reaching policies providing for effective transparent and accountable institutions as well as higher living standards for the benefit of all albanian citizens.
now it is vital to keep the current momentum for reforms and to build on the achievement thus far.
this is why it is crucial for this house to acknowledge the reform efforts and ambitions of the authorities and to encourage the european aspirations of the albanian people.
i hope that the political parties will find a consensus on the reform.
implementation of the osc od recommendation is the key.
on the reform of the justice system.
this will help to embed the rule of law in the country.
this is a long overdue development that is in the interest of all citizens.
the last mile is always the hardest especially when we are in the final stage of a very comprehensive and slow reform process.
high level corruption needs to be tackled more effectively.
the same goes for the challenge posed by organised crime.
more results are needed to dismantle organised criminal networks that operate locally regionally and globally.
albania urgently needs to finalise the reform of the electoral system aligning all the relevant legislation to the recommendations issued by the osce odihr.
both civil servants and elected officials should be subject to the scrutiny mechanism foreseen in the law and sanctions applied whenever necessary.
i fully agree with you but let us wait until all the necessary reforms are implemented.
for the political leaders it is now important to overcome internal difficulties and continue on this path.
to conclude i would like to reiterate that the commission will continue to intensify its support monitoring and assessment of the results that albania achieves on the reform agenda.
concrete results will bring the country closer to the european union.
but most importantly concrete results are needed to guarantee that all the citizens throughout the country can rely on a functioning democratic state that successfully provides welfare security and opportunities.
once again i think albania is on a good path but now it needs the cooperation of all political parties in the country.
would you accept therefore mr gargani that the administration of the commission is structurally flawed?
in addition to these legal obligations staff are bound by codes of good administrative behaviour in almost all eu institutions bodies and agencies.
it. we are studying it carefully and i can assure you that in doing so we are guided by the same interests as yours in an open efficient and independent eu administration.
for example our services are currently looking into the cases of maladministration identified by the added value report and these cases are very useful in addressing the issue of how to improve our administrative practices. therefore taking your substance based report as a starting point the commission is examining whether there are examples of maladministration that result from weaknesses in the current framework and how such instances can be most effectively avoided in the future.
to involve the commission and the legislator in such an exercise may have some undeniable benefits in terms of legal security and legibility as stated clearly in the report.
i deeply resent this statement because it is simply not true.
two thousand and ten at the same time i would like to emphasise that compared to two thousand and nine european union official development aid increased by more than eur.
this also includes looking at mechanisms such as guarantees and blending loans and grants.
at the same time official development aid increases alone will not be sufficient to meet all the financing needs of the developing world to address the numerous global challenges.
it is also true that the european union budget could and should be a part of the increase of official development aid.
the proposed increase reflects the commitment to reach the.
the eurozone has had to turn to the developing world to ask for help as it is heading towards ruination due to the inept handling of the common currency.
foreign aid should be the sole concern of individual countries and should relate to the nation's foreign policy and development funding ethos.
it should not be the concern of the eu which has been proven time and again as unaccountable and ineffective.
mr president i welcome the statement by the council and by the commission. it is vital that we keep our promises in these very very difficult times.
it is a case of saying i am doing badly but you can do worse than me;
quite frankly that is unacceptable to parliament.
yes you are right we are the biggest donor in the world thus the importance of the eu and the devastation inflicted when we pull back on our commitments and fail to match our promises.
in good times we must deliver and equally in bad times.
aid effectiveness is based on long term planning and thereby the predictability of funding.
it is vital that we keep our word and our commitments to those most in need. aid is investment and it is necessary and vital for the wellbeing of all developed and developing countries.
think of that.
think of children dying from diseases which are preventable.
those are the crises we should be addressing and not necessarily a crisis which has been created through the pursuit of greed by banking and financial institutions.
we ask the poor to make the sacrifices and give up that which they do not have whilst at the same time we search for trillions of euros to satisfy rating agencies and bond markets which will never be satisfied.
sadly we have the ecr not wanting binding commitments to targets.
why not? why is the epp seeking to remove the commitments on the land grab issue?
economic reform in the long term will clearly be essential but in the short term there really is now only one solution a default coupled with a devaluation is the only way now to salvage something from the wreckage of the greek economy and to save a generation or more of young greeks from a miserable economic inheritance.
greece is suffering from a thirty loss of competitiveness against germany.
even the german finance minister who insisted on it does not seem to believe that it will save greece.
the risks are becoming too great for yet another of the many summits that come and go and which fail to face reality.
if politics has traditionally been seen as the art of the possible the eu is turning it into an art of delusion.
every summit and we have seen lots of them in recent months comes and goes with the same old mantras and demonstrations of hope triumphing over experience. a little bit more austerity and immediately confidence in the euro will somehow magically come flooding back.
and then at the end of them all we see the same ritual the stern faced leaders emerge they gaze at the cameras and they repeat the same old mantras we will do all we can to save the euro'.
another treaty package to tinker with the rules and the markets will suddenly realise that they have been wrong all along and the euro is in fact completely sound.
eu summits are becoming a political ritual somehow divorced from the real world.
surely eventually this nonsense needs to stop.