European Semester for economic policy coordination: employment and social priorities for 2024

Wording as published by the EP, in English.

1. Amendment 1Rejected

   Recital R

   Tabled by Eugenia Rodríguez Palop, Leila Chaibi · The Left

   … known as the ‘preventive arm of the Stability and Growth Pact’; whereas Removed: the proposal aims at developing more credible and flexible fiscal rules and strengthening the investment, democratic and social dimensions of this framework, including through the implementation of the EPSR and occupational safety and health standards; Added: this means a return to austerity; whereas these new rules will entail a massive, unrealistic and unsustainable fiscal adjustment that will have terrible social consequences, as it will be implemented by squeezing and degrading public services, enacting structural reforms that undermine workers’ rights and social protection, and continuing chronic underinvestment in critical collective and public infrastructure;

2. Amendment 2Rejected

   Paragraph 4

   Tabled by Eugenia Rodríguez Palop, Leila Chaibi · The Left

   … EU in tackling long-term unemployment, including local initiatives on the creation of Removed: jobs; Added: jobs by enacting employment guarantee schemes at national level with financial backing from the EU; stresses the importance of devoting particular attention to the younger generation, which …

3. Amendment 3Rejected

   Paragraph 12

   Tabled by Eugenia Rodríguez Palop, Leila Chaibi · The Left

   12. Removed: Takes note of Added: Regrets the Commission’s proposals for new regulations within the revision of the economic governance framework of April Removed: 2023 to strengthen debt sustainability and its reduction and enhance sustainable and inclusive economic growth through investment and reforms, including fiscal adjustment paths that allow for social investment; Added: 2023; condemns the return of austerity with the fiscal rules agreed on in the Economic Governance Review; warns that these new rules will entail a massive, unrealistic and unsustainable fiscal adjustment that could exceed EUR 100 billion overall for Member States in order to comply with the debt and deficit reduction criteria imposed; underlines that, over a four year period, the yearly adjustments to meet the deficit reduction targets could be as high as EUR 26 billion for France, EUR 25 billion for Italy, EUR 14 billion for Spain and EUR 11 billion for Germany; emphasises that such a steep reduction in public expenditure will entail a rise in unemployment and will have terrible social consequences, as it will be implemented by squeezing and degrading public services, enacting structural reforms that undermine workers’ rights and social protection, and continuing chronic underinvestment in critical collective and public infrastructure, in line with the general direction of the EU’s economic governance so far; calls on the Commission to assess which expenditures, reforms and investments are … socioeconomic objectives required to comply with common EU priorities defined in the Removed: revised economic governance framework, as well as milestones in the national recovery and resilience plans, and required to implement country-specific recommendations as well as future medium-term fiscal structural plans; calls on the Commission to propose a new system for excessive deficit calculations based on this assessment in order to increase fairness during the green and digital transitions, social resilience and the implementation of the EPSR, while ensuring the sustainability of public finances in the Member States; Added: EPSR;

4. Amendment 6Rejected

   Paragraph 3 a (new)

   Tabled by Dominique Bilde, Guido Reil · ID

   Added: 3a. Stresses that immigration is not the right solution to address labour shortages in the different Member States; calls on the Member States to implement effective education and training policies in order to respond to the needs of SMEs;

5. Amendment 7Rejected

   Paragraph 1 a (new)

   Tabled by Pedro Marques, Agnes Jongerius, Lina Gálvez Muñoz · S&D

   Added: 1a. Is convinced that a governance framework for a stronger European social market economy should be anchored in a reform integrating the EPSR and a social progress protocol in the Treaties, so as to give social rights the same level of protection as economic freedoms in the single market and thereby to achieve social and environmental justice; calls on the Commission and the Member States to lay the foundations for the development of green social protection schemes at national level with EU funding support, to strengthen social resilience against the impacts of climate change and environmental degradation, as well as to protect those most affected by the green transition and related policies, including: a) social health protection for people affected by events associated with climate change; b) unemployment protection, complemented by active labour policies for workers who suffer a cut in working hours or lose their jobs owing to extreme climate conditions or related events, or who are laid off as a result of the closure of carbon-intensive industries; c) public works programmes that provide cash or in-kind support and help rehabilitate assets and infrastructure while enhancing workers’ skills and employability; d) social assistance benefits for people affected by climate shocks, supporting their income and food security; e) employment guarantee schemes that create new opportunities for communities that can no longer earn their livelihood through their previous activities owing to environmental protection measures;

6. Amendment 8Adopted

   Paragraph 1 b (new)

   Tabled by Pedro Marques, Agnes Jongerius, Lina Gálvez Muñoz · S&D

   Added: 1b. Stresses that the housing crisis is endangering social cohesion in Europe, increasing homelessness and poverty, and undermining confidence in democracy; calls on the Commission and the Member States to make the right to adequate housing and its progressive realisation a recognised and enforceable fundamental human right through applicable European and national legislative provisions; calls for the housing sector to be included as one of the Social Services of General Interest, and not only social housing, as this is essential to guarantee the right to affordable and decent housing for all; asks the Commission to revise the EU State aid rules to broaden the target group for affordable housing in order to guarantee an adequate supply of affordable housing for all, as well as the following measures: preventing any privatisation of public or social housing that would reduce the capacity of the state to ensure the right to adequate housing, and maintaining a regulatory framework for rented housing that safeguards security of tenure and ensures affordable housing for tenants, including through rent caps, controls or rent freezes where needed; highlights that the EU and Member States should ensure the provision of sufficient, adequate and affordable social housing to cover the housing needs of the three bottom quintiles of society and reduce by half the overburden of housing costs faced by these groups by 2030 and should establish a standard that at least 30 % of all new houses be affordable housing for the lower-income group, and at least 30 % affordable housing for the middle-income group; calls on the Commission and the Member States to introduce green social housing in their housing investment plans, including social housing sustainability criteria, as well as other aspects such as the provision of care facilities, access to recreational facilities, community centres, parks and green spaces especially in the most deprived areas, as a way to improve residents’ living conditions;

7. Amendment 8Rejected

   Paragraph 1 b (new)

   Tabled by Pedro Marques, Agnes Jongerius, Lina Gálvez Muñoz · S&D

   Added: 1b. Stresses that the housing crisis is endangering social cohesion in Europe, increasing homelessness and poverty, and undermining confidence in democracy; calls on the Commission and the Member States to make the right to adequate housing and its progressive realisation a recognised and enforceable fundamental human right through applicable European and national legislative provisions; calls for the housing sector to be included as one of the Social Services of General Interest, and not only social housing, as this is essential to guarantee the right to affordable and decent housing for all; asks the Commission to revise the EU State aid rules to broaden the target group for affordable housing in order to guarantee an adequate supply of affordable housing for all, as well as the following measures: preventing any privatisation of public or social housing that would reduce the capacity of the state to ensure the right to adequate housing, and maintaining a regulatory framework for rented housing that safeguards security of tenure and ensures affordable housing for tenants, including through rent caps, controls or rent freezes where needed; highlights that the EU and Member States should ensure the provision of sufficient, adequate and affordable social housing to cover the housing needs of the three bottom quintiles of society and reduce by half the overburden of housing costs faced by these groups by 2030 and should establish a standard that at least 30 % of all new houses be affordable housing for the lower-income group, and at least 30 % affordable housing for the middle-income group; calls on the Commission and the Member States to introduce green social housing in their housing investment plans, including social housing sustainability criteria, as well as other aspects such as the provision of care facilities, access to recreational facilities, community centres, parks and green spaces especially in the most deprived areas, as a way to improve residents’ living conditions;

8. Amendment 8Rejected

   Paragraph 1 b (new)

   Tabled by Pedro Marques, Agnes Jongerius, Lina Gálvez Muñoz · S&D

   Added: 1b. Stresses that the housing crisis is endangering social cohesion in Europe, increasing homelessness and poverty, and undermining confidence in democracy; calls on the Commission and the Member States to make the right to adequate housing and its progressive realisation a recognised and enforceable fundamental human right through applicable European and national legislative provisions; calls for the housing sector to be included as one of the Social Services of General Interest, and not only social housing, as this is essential to guarantee the right to affordable and decent housing for all; asks the Commission to revise the EU State aid rules to broaden the target group for affordable housing in order to guarantee an adequate supply of affordable housing for all, as well as the following measures: preventing any privatisation of public or social housing that would reduce the capacity of the state to ensure the right to adequate housing, and maintaining a regulatory framework for rented housing that safeguards security of tenure and ensures affordable housing for tenants, including through rent caps, controls or rent freezes where needed; highlights that the EU and Member States should ensure the provision of sufficient, adequate and affordable social housing to cover the housing needs of the three bottom quintiles of society and reduce by half the overburden of housing costs faced by these groups by 2030 and should establish a standard that at least 30 % of all new houses be affordable housing for the lower-income group, and at least 30 % affordable housing for the middle-income group; calls on the Commission and the Member States to introduce green social housing in their housing investment plans, including social housing sustainability criteria, as well as other aspects such as the provision of care facilities, access to recreational facilities, community centres, parks and green spaces especially in the most deprived areas, as a way to improve residents’ living conditions;

9. Amendment 9Adopted

   Paragraph 7 a (new)

   Tabled by Pedro Marques, Agnes Jongerius, Lina Gálvez Muñoz · S&D

   Added: 7a. Calls on the Commission to ensure quality jobs and fair working conditions through a revision of the Public Procurement Directive1a to further strengthen the social clause and to introduce social conditionalities and gender equality requirements for European funds and State aid, in order to ensure quality jobs and collective bargaining; considers that this revision should help Member States meet the objective of an 80 % collective bargaining coverage rate as set out in the Adequate Minimum Wages Directive; furthermore, calls on the Commission to present a directive on the anticipation and management of change in order to ensure just transitions, based on collective bargaining and social dialogue, and to address the challenges of digitalisation in the world of work, in particular the ‘Human in control’ principle for artificial intelligence (AI) in the world of work regulating algorithmic management in all sectors, as well as better support for work-life balance, though legislative proposals on AI in the workplace, on telework, and on the right to disconnect; warns the Commission and the Member States about the need to improve occupational health and safety, particularly as regards well-being and mental health at work, with a directive on psychosocial risks and an initiative to reduce working time for a better quality of working life; ________ 1a Directive 2014/24/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014 on public procurement, OJ L 94, 28.3.2014, p. 65.

10. Amendment 9Rejected

    Paragraph 7 a (new)

    Tabled by Pedro Marques, Agnes Jongerius, Lina Gálvez Muñoz · S&D

    Added: 7a. Calls on the Commission to ensure quality jobs and fair working conditions through a revision of the Public Procurement Directive1a to further strengthen the social clause and to introduce social conditionalities and gender equality requirements for European funds and State aid, in order to ensure quality jobs and collective bargaining; considers that this revision should help Member States meet the objective of an 80 % collective bargaining coverage rate as set out in the Adequate Minimum Wages Directive; furthermore, calls on the Commission to present a directive on the anticipation and management of change in order to ensure just transitions, based on collective bargaining and social dialogue, and to address the challenges of digitalisation in the world of work, in particular the ‘Human in control’ principle for artificial intelligence (AI) in the world of work regulating algorithmic management in all sectors, as well as better support for work-life balance, though legislative proposals on AI in the workplace, on telework, and on the right to disconnect; warns the Commission and the Member States about the need to improve occupational health and safety, particularly as regards well-being and mental health at work, with a directive on psychosocial risks and an initiative to reduce working time for a better quality of working life; ________ 1a Directive 2014/24/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014 on public procurement, OJ L 94, 28.3.2014, p. 65.

11. Amendment 9Rejected

    Paragraph 7 a (new)

    Tabled by Pedro Marques, Agnes Jongerius, Lina Gálvez Muñoz · S&D

    Added: 7a. Calls on the Commission to ensure quality jobs and fair working conditions through a revision of the Public Procurement Directive1a to further strengthen the social clause and to introduce social conditionalities and gender equality requirements for European funds and State aid, in order to ensure quality jobs and collective bargaining; considers that this revision should help Member States meet the objective of an 80 % collective bargaining coverage rate as set out in the Adequate Minimum Wages Directive; furthermore, calls on the Commission to present a directive on the anticipation and management of change in order to ensure just transitions, based on collective bargaining and social dialogue, and to address the challenges of digitalisation in the world of work, in particular the ‘Human in control’ principle for artificial intelligence (AI) in the world of work regulating algorithmic management in all sectors, as well as better support for work-life balance, though legislative proposals on AI in the workplace, on telework, and on the right to disconnect; warns the Commission and the Member States about the need to improve occupational health and safety, particularly as regards well-being and mental health at work, with a directive on psychosocial risks and an initiative to reduce working time for a better quality of working life; ________ 1a Directive 2014/24/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014 on public procurement, OJ L 94, 28.3.2014, p. 65.

12. Amendment 9Rejected

    Paragraph 7 a (new)

    Tabled by Pedro Marques, Agnes Jongerius, Lina Gálvez Muñoz · S&D

    Added: 7a. Calls on the Commission to ensure quality jobs and fair working conditions through a revision of the Public Procurement Directive1a to further strengthen the social clause and to introduce social conditionalities and gender equality requirements for European funds and State aid, in order to ensure quality jobs and collective bargaining; considers that this revision should help Member States meet the objective of an 80 % collective bargaining coverage rate as set out in the Adequate Minimum Wages Directive; furthermore, calls on the Commission to present a directive on the anticipation and management of change in order to ensure just transitions, based on collective bargaining and social dialogue, and to address the challenges of digitalisation in the world of work, in particular the ‘Human in control’ principle for artificial intelligence (AI) in the world of work regulating algorithmic management in all sectors, as well as better support for work-life balance, though legislative proposals on AI in the workplace, on telework, and on the right to disconnect; warns the Commission and the Member States about the need to improve occupational health and safety, particularly as regards well-being and mental health at work, with a directive on psychosocial risks and an initiative to reduce working time for a better quality of working life; ________ 1a Directive 2014/24/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014 on public procurement, OJ L 94, 28.3.2014, p. 65.

13. Amendment 10Rejected

    Paragraph 8 a (new)

    Tabled by Pedro Marques, Agnes Jongerius, Lina Gálvez Muñoz +1 · S&D

    Added: 8a. Considers that the taxation structure in the EU currently places a much heavier burden on labour than capital, which contributes to significant income and wealth inequalities across the Union; calls for the adoption of a general and permanent EU windfall profits taxation framework in all sectors; stresses that the revenues generated should be allocated to public welfare, economic development, or other socially beneficial initiatives; calls for the implementation of other progressive forms of taxation in order to fight inequalities and promote social, economic, environmental and tax justice; calls on the Commission to present a proposal for new own resources based, among other things, on revenues from a common EU wealth tax on the super-rich, and a minimum EU capital gains tax, to reduce inequalities, finance the ecological and digital transitions and ensure sustainable and shared prosperity in the EU;

14. Amendment 11Adopted

    Paragraph 9 a (new)

    Tabled by Pedro Marques, Agnes Jongerius, Lina Gálvez Muñoz · S&D

    Added: 9a. Highlights that initiatives such as NextGenerationEU, the European instrument for temporary Support to mitigate Unemployment Risks in an Emergency (SURE), and other policies have secured growth and economic resilience and reduced inequalities; calls for the promotion of the European social market economy model through an investment plan for the green and digital transitions to create new quality and well-paid jobs, empowering Member States to invest in a green and social future for the people; stresses the need for permanent EU investment capacity, to protect European citizens against austerity policies and to reinforce social welfare systems and the provision of quality public services, as well as the need for an ambitious European budget, including a complementary unemployment reinsurance mechanism, to support Member States in cases of crisis and protect living and working conditions and workers’ purchasing power;

15. Amendment 11Rejected

    Paragraph 9 a (new)

    Tabled by Pedro Marques, Agnes Jongerius, Lina Gálvez Muñoz · S&D

    Added: 9a. Highlights that initiatives such as NextGenerationEU, the European instrument for temporary Support to mitigate Unemployment Risks in an Emergency (SURE), and other policies have secured growth and economic resilience and reduced inequalities; calls for the promotion of the European social market economy model through an investment plan for the green and digital transitions to create new quality and well-paid jobs, empowering Member States to invest in a green and social future for the people; stresses the need for permanent EU investment capacity, to protect European citizens against austerity policies and to reinforce social welfare systems and the provision of quality public services, as well as the need for an ambitious European budget, including a complementary unemployment reinsurance mechanism, to support Member States in cases of crisis and protect living and working conditions and workers’ purchasing power;