Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2008-09-02-Speech-2-013"
| Predicate | Value (sorted: default) |
|---|---|
| rdf:type | |
| dcterms:Date | |
| dcterms:Is Part Of | |
| dcterms:Language | |
| lpv:document identification number |
"en.20080902.4.2-013"2
|
| lpv:hasSubsequent | |
| lpv:speaker | |
| lpv:spoken text |
"Mr President, this social package is a welcome step forward in the building of a European community which cares for its citizens.
The draft directive should go further than it does. There are still loopholes, still opportunities for discrimination to rear its head. Why, for example, Commissioner, is it right to outlaw discrimination in the workplace, but to allow Member States to use discriminatory schoolbooks in the classroom?
Nonetheless, Europe is breaking down the barriers of discrimination, piece by piece.
My group welcomes the commitment of the Commission and the Council to further that process, just as we insist on the full involvement of this House in framing the measures that complete it.
In February Mr Barroso brought to us a major package of measures to fight climate change. Today, the Commission’s proposals on social policy demonstrate to its detractors that Europe cares for community cohesion and that liberal economic policies need be no threat to progressive policies for a healthy environment and a society served by solidarity.
Mr Schulz bemoans the predominance of centre-right governments in the European Union, but we live in a democracy and people choose their governments. They are distinctly unconvinced by what the Socialists are offering.
The people who cast votes against the European Constitution and the Lisbon Treaty sent a clear message. The message is they will not give the European Union new powers simply because we want them. Our people want to know what kind of European Union we are building.
This package is extensive and controversial, and we must make sure that people know the benefits that it will bring to their lives.
There is much to praise, as Commissioner Špidla says, in the European Works Council Directive and, of course, in the proposal on patients’ rights in cross-border health care, for which my group has fought so hard.
But I want today to concentrate on two specific measures in this package. First, the revision of the Globalisation Adjustment Fund, which helps people who have lost their jobs to find new ones. At present, a thousand posts must be under threat before a company can apply. Liberals and Democrats welcome the proposal to lower that threshold and to simplify claims procedures, not because the European Union should plan work for Europe – that role is best filled by the internal market – nor in the belief that the EU should provide unemployment benefit – that is for Member States. Rather, we welcome this proposal because it is based on a sound liberal principle: that employment is the best source of welfare.
With growth grinding to a halt and some Member States already in recession, this policy will help prevent a spiral of sudden job losses that create welfare dependency.
Second, the Anti-Discrimination Directive: my group has fought for this from the beginning of this Commission’s term of office.
The definition of discrimination will now cover the main spectrum of minorities – older people, gay people, disabled people, people of all faiths and none – and it will apply to clients and consumers, as well as employees.
This, too, is a liberal measure which will proffer practical benefits, the kinds that come from knowing you can do your job and live your life free from the tyranny of prejudice."@en1
|
| lpv:spokenAs | |
| lpv:unclassifiedMetadata | |
| lpv:videoURI |
Named graphs describing this resource:
The resource appears as object in 2 triples