Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2003-09-02-Speech-2-158"
| Predicate | Value (sorted: default) |
|---|---|
| rdf:type | |
| dcterms:Date | |
| dcterms:Is Part Of | |
| dcterms:Language | |
| lpv:document identification number |
"en.20030902.7.2-158"2
|
| lpv:hasSubsequent | |
| lpv:speaker | |
| lpv:spoken text |
"Madam President, I would like to join my colleagues in thanking Jean Lambert for her work on this issue. I would also like to compliment the Commission and the Commission staff for their assistance.
Freedom of movement has been one of the core tenets of the single market. If this is to be a reality rather than an illusion, then the opportunity to move with social security benefit, with guaranteeing rights of social security, must be seized. Over the past few years there have been many moves to bring about a resolution to what seemed to be an intractable problem. I believe that the Council and the Commission text, as well as some of the proposals coming from this House, offer the best possible solution for ensuring that people who are forced or who wish to move across different countries can be secure in the rights to their benefits.
One of the difficulties we have faced over the last number of years with this regulation has been its complexity, not just for the individual who wishes to benefit from it, but also for the authorities that are forced to interpret it. One of the great things we have done so far in our work with Mrs Lambert and others has been to abridge that text, make it simple and readable.
More needs to be done but we have gone a long way towards that end.
One of the difficulties I have with some of the amendments being put forward is the question of harmonisation. As Mrs Lambert says in her own report, the fundamental principle here is about coordinating national systems, not replacing them. We have seen in other areas of work in the European Union that coordination achieves quicker and better results for the individual than merely trying to enforce harmonisation. Therefore I would have to oppose some of the amendments seeking tax harmonisation and also the equal right to unemployment benefit.
The last point I would make is on the question of the definition of the family. Again, this presents difficulties in many countries where certain types of unions and certain types of marriages are not recognised. We have to ensure that national legislation is applied in those areas. We can see advances being made in every country towards coordination.
The issues raised in Amendment No 38 in particular can best be dealt with in the context of the newly implemented regulation, and we should leave it at that."@en1
|
| lpv:spokenAs | |
| lpv:unclassifiedMetadata |
Named graphs describing this resource:
The resource appears as object in 2 triples