Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2001-10-23-Speech-2-062"
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"en.20011023.4.2-062"2
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"Mr President, I should also like to begin by thanking the rapporteur for an excellent report. When we look back at the very short period during which we have worked on employment policy within the EU, we have to note that it has been relatively successful. The level of employment has increased and unemployment has gone down, and that is indeed progress.
Now that the economy is in decline, the moment of truth has, however, arrived, and I believe that the need for a coordinated employment policy is even greater than before. Even though the situation is encouraging now, we still see shortcomings, such as women’s low share of the labour market. It is not just that women’s share of that market is much lower than men’s. Rather, women are over-represented when it comes to atypical and precarious jobs in the labour market, even in countries which have a very high proportion of women in gainful employment.
As has been observed in recent years, there are also problems when it comes to the older workforce. It is really a pity that such a small proportion of the population between the ages of 55 and 65 are in work. In this area, a range of measures relating to the working environment, skill development etc. is needed if we are going to be able to increase these figures. There are also very large regional differences and, for groups such as immigrants and the disabled, levels of employment are still very low.
I welcome the discussion about quality at work and about not only creating more job opportunities but also increasing the quality of those jobs. In this area, a long list of measures is, however, required. That applies, of course, to the working environment, and especially to the new problems arising in the working environment in connection with people being stressed, excluded, burned out and such like. It also applies, however, to the issue of life long learning. I believe that this is perhaps the most central issue if we are to be able to obtain economic growth and create more employment opportunities in the future, and that is why I am supporting this universal right.
I genuinely want to see a framework agreement at European level in which the social partners agree to this right. I do not know whether that is possible. Otherwise, the Commission will have to act. However, it would be the best solution. This right to skill development must then be adapted at national level within different sectors.
Finally, a view of the open coordination method. The open coordination method exists parallel to legislation in the areas of employment law and the working environment. The open coordination method is good, but is lacking in the areas of democratic control and transparency. We must free the European Parliament to exercise influence on this process. The open coordination method has grown in importance over the course of a long period of time. It has operated relatively well, but there is a lack of democratic control."@en1
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