Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2003-06-03-Speech-2-031"
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"en.20030603.1.2-031"2
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"Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, I should like to begin by thanking Mr Schmid for his excellent work. I should also like to thank him for his effort to find common ground, even though we might not all agree on everything.
The Lisbon European Council set a strategic objective for the European Union. The Union was to become the most dynamic and competitive knowledge-based economy in the market. It was to be capable of sustainable economic growth and of generating more and better jobs. Social cohesion was to increase. The European Union’s commitment to jobs was consolidated and strengthened at the European Councils of Stockholm and Barcelona held in 2001 and 2002 respectively. I therefore believe that at a time when the European economy is stagnant and enlargement imminent, it is right to reiterate the ambitions stated at Lisbon and Barcelona. These ambitions should be adjusted to suit the current economic situation.
Furthermore, the right of each and every citizen of the European Union to work is enshrined in Article 15 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. Economic activity, jobs and favourable conditions for development cannot be isolated and dealt with as a self-contained area. I would therefore like to focus on some cross cutting ideas. I am aware of the time restrictions and only intend to offer a few suggestions, given that Mrs Regina Bastos has already emphasised the need to abide by the Stability Pact, to continue combating illegal immigration and to ensure the integration of legal immigrants when appropriate.
I have in mind specific ideas, such as the commitment to more and better jobs. These should be jobs in which flexibility and stability need not threaten workers’ rights. There is also the idea of making social policies such as those on accidents in the workplace horizontal. I refer to developing a culture of prevention, and to combating such accidents. After all, this report does contain specific commitments on reducing the number of accidents in the workplace. Then there are the policies on equal opportunities. It is important to go beyond issues relating to earnings and women’s access to the labour market. As I see it, it is also essential to ensure that the demands of the workplace can be reconciled with those of family life. National parliaments, regional assemblies, national and local authorities all have a part to play in this. They are in a good position to identify needs. As Commissioner Vitorino stated, they are also well placed to help explore new employment opportunities with all the parties involved."@en1
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