Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2008-09-02-Speech-2-951"
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"en.20080902.4.2-951"2
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".
Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, the Commission’s social package is a long-awaited reform to the building of the Union’s social dimension. Like many of my colleagues, however, I would like to have seen the Commission adopt a slightly bolder and more ambitious approach to its proposals and reforms. In my opinion, the package was especially wanting when it came to safeguarding basic public services.
The package does, however, contain many good proposals. I would especially like to thank the Commission for deciding, after long deliberations, to draw up a horizontal anti-discriminatory directive that covers all grounds for discrimination. Citizens who encounter discrimination in different forms and for different reasons should not be treated unequally. The horizontal approach is the only real way of guaranteeing equal treatment for all. Furthermore, the proposal to strengthen the role of the European Works Councils is very welcome.
The proposal for a directive on patients’ rights in cross-border health care, which received relatively less publicity, will have a tangible impact on the ordinary lives of many Europeans. With European borders opening up and increased opportunities in the health care sector, it is especially important to clarify who is responsible for a patient’s health and how far that responsibility extends. The Commission’s proposal for a directive is a welcome clarification of pan-European rules.
Despite its shortcomings, the package is definitely a step in the right direction, and I hope that the Commission will continue its efforts to improve the feelings that European citizens have about social security in the years to come. In this connection, I would like to urge the Commission to get on with its plans to draft a directive on extending maternity leave from 14 to 18 weeks. May the directive become future practice as quickly as possible. I would like it, however, if the Commission’s proposal were to focus in particular on extending parental leave and thus improve the rights and opportunities of both parents to stay at home after their child is born."@en1
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