Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2000-05-16-Speech-2-158"
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"en.20000516.7.2-158"2
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"Mr President, I join in the congratulations to all involved with this matter.
Rather than reiterate what other colleagues have said, I think the core issue is the junior doctors in training. Obviously, whilst nine years is not the perfect solution which Parliament originally sought, it is the best possible compromise. It is incumbent on us to send out a clear message that we would expect every government in the European Union to comply fully with the nine years. Even though I know there are rigorous tests and standards as to whether or not an extension would be granted, it should only be granted in the
exceptional circumstances and not for any willy-nilly ideology.
In addition, as Mr Hughes pointed out, the other parts of the entitlements come into force immediately. Even though the overall reduction in working hours may be postponed for some time, the actual rest-period times and so on come into force immediately.
I shall just deal very briefly with two other points concerning the whole working time directive. Firstly, concerning fishermen, there is some attempt to compromise within the proposals before us. However, it is a notoriously difficult area to enforce because of outside conditions, such as bad weather, that will affect the way fishermen operate. Perhaps we should review this at some stage in the near future and look at it anew to try to come up with a better solution.
Secondly, transport workers: when we already have tachograph legislation in place, why do we need to bring in a separate and new directive on transport workers, in particular lorry drivers and so on? Perhaps now is the time to look at this afresh. New technology – in particular digital tachographs and individual smart cards for individual drivers on the tachograph – could be the best way to regulate the hours during which drivers are on the road and at work. It will also ensure that they can have equal benefits with every other worker in the Union.
Finally, I wish to pay my compliments once again to Mrs Smet. I have one small, further request to the Commissioner. Perhaps now is the time, after we have agreed this conciliation and brought this new piece of legislation into being, to carry out an impact assessment on how the existing legislation is working, whether it is of benefit to the workers – increasing their health and safety – and whether it is increasing employment, which is one of the original arguments behind it."@en1
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