Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2007-11-13-Speech-2-056"
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"en.20071113.4.2-056"2
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"Mr President, Mr Barroso’s slogan is ‘delivering results for Europe’, but these results must also be in the area of intangible business, not only in the market.
Mr Barroso’s Commission was to become the champion of citizens’ freedoms and rights. That has been very disappointing up until now, but with less than two years to go perhaps there is light at the end of the tunnel. As far as I am concerned, the highlight of the 2008 work programme is the proposal for a directive on equality outside the workplace, that is, a general prohibition of discrimination.
At last the Commission is listening to what Parliament has been calling for over the last number of years. Priority must be given to this matter. However, the Commission must guarantee better compliance with the existing legislation because there is a discrepancy between the excellent anti-discrimination laws we already have and the Commission’s inability to actually enforce them.
The anti-discrimination principle must also be introduced in other areas, such as inheritance taxes and wills, and the Commission must recognise modern family set-ups in this respect.
I also welcome the proposals to reinforce equality between men and women, for example by reconciling work and family life.
As regards the position of women in the labour market, the proposals for more flexibility are important. Flexibility is, as it happens, good for women. Rigid rules for the protection of employees put women at a disadvantage.
Intercultural dialogue has been highlighted as a priority. The intention is to get rid of social tensions by means of dialogue, but in reality this is often inter-religious dialogue and I therefore object to it, Commissioner. There is nothing concrete in the proposals for the coming year, and it is therefore not clear what the intercultural dialogue will be, but I fear that it might be the annual photograph of Mr Barroso with the generally conservative ecclesiastical leaders.
I would like the agenda of these ..."@en1
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