Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2011-12-12-Speech-1-132-000"
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"en.20111212.16.1-132-000"2
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"Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, Europe is currently undergoing a massive transformation: in economic, monetary, social, demographic and migratory terms. The changes sweeping across and shaking up Europe are considerable and call on us to reconsider European policies. Europe is at a turning point and we have a duty to address these challenges.
I would like to thank the European Commission and, in particular, Cecilia Malmström and her services, which have enabled the directive to see the light of day.
I would also like to thank the successive Spanish, Belgian, Hungarian and Polish presidencies for their commitment. I would like to thank my fellow Members for their relevant proposals and support in the negotiations.
We can now congratulate ourselves on the fruit of our labour. It is a step forward in which we can rejoice and which reflects the image of a fair and dignified Europe, which respects each worker that contributes to European growth.
One of the main challenges facing us in the years ahead is a shortage of labour. Our low population growth is the Achilles heel of Europe. By 2050, one out of three European citizens will be over 65 years old and 20 million skilled jobs will not be filled. We would need 3.2 million immigrants a year between now and 2050 to keep the age structure as it currently is. Resorting to immigration is justified and made necessary by this demographic deficit. It is high time we accepted this state of affairs, got to grips with these changes and ultimately did something about it.
Aware of this problem, the European Commission has proposed a package of measures: the blue card Directive in 2009, the Directive on the single permit, the Directive on seasonal workers or even intragroup transfers seek to address these issues. We should now seize the moment.
The ‘single permit’ Directive provides a partial response to the labour crisis looming on the European horizon. It also makes it possible to control the workforce. To regulate and simplify legal migration, it is better to control all forms of migration and remove any temptations for fraud and illegal migration. The ‘single permit’ Directive allows workers from third countries to come and work in Europe with standards and regulations in place. It protects workers from third countries from people traffickers and other criminal gangs profiting from and abusing their fragility.
Permit application procedures have been greatly simplified. A single residence and work permit can be obtained in a maximum of four months. Applications can be made either by the employer, in Europe, or by the worker, in the third country in which he or she resides. What is more, there is a right to appeal in the procedures of Member States in which the applications are made. Similarly, the information shown on the single permit is standardised and simplified throughout the European Union. It is the same information shown on the work permit. Additional information may be requested. It is optional and its content is closely supervised.
As well as significantly simplifying procedures for work and residence permits, the single permit will therefore allow us to give third-country workers and workers from the European Union a common set of rights. Until now there has been a genuine disparity between Member States, and we could not put up with this any longer. Failing to recognise the rights of foreign workers who bring so much to our economies was wrong. This step forward is both fair and necessary. The equal treatment of workers is at the heart of this directive, which puts third-country workers and European workers on an equal footing. Third-country workers enjoy the same rights as European workers in terms of pay and conditions for dismissal.
The same rules also apply to the recognition of diplomas, freedom of association and membership of a professional organisation, social security, tax benefits and access to public goods and services. In addition, those with a job will enjoy equal treatment when it comes to access to education and to employment. Employment services will also be accessible to the unemployed and thus to those most in need of such services.
The export of pensions will no longer be conditional on the existence of bilateral agreements between Member States and third countries. Equal treatment will again be the rule here. This step forward means we can recognise the value of work carried out by citizens from third countries and take this into account when giving them pension rights.
As a member of the Group of the European People’s Party (Christian Democrats), I am immensely proud to have taken part in these lengthy negotiations."@en1
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