Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2012-11-19-Speech-1-199-000"
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"en.20121119.25.1-199-000"2
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Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, Commissioner, it gives me immense pleasure today to present this report on the Social Investment Pact – as a response to the crisis, which the members of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs adopted almost unanimously at its meeting on 10 July this year. The report is part of the wide-ranging debate which has been going on for several years at European level concerning the strategy for overcoming the economic and social crisis. As a result of the crisis, which continues to be a real threat to the stability of many European Union countries, we have had to contend for a long time with huge problems on the European labour market, with unemployment at over 10 %, a high level of youth unemployment and a chronic shortage of jobs for people with low qualifications. The situation is aggravated by demographic problems, an education and training system unsuited to the needs of the labour market and growing pressure on the social security system. All the measures aimed at restoring the stability of public finances in the European Union and the associated budgetary spending cuts were, and continue to be, necessary in order to ensure the stability of the European economy. Without them, the effects of the crisis would undoubtedly be even more painful. However, those measures need to be accompanied by well-directed social investments, aimed at preparing citizens for the changing economic conditions and needs of the labour market.
The crisis demands that Member States rethink their social policies and effectively transform the welfare state into an activating state that invests in people and gives its citizens hope and incentive, rather than simply reacting to damage caused by the imperfections of the market. Member States’ budgetary policies must therefore be supplemented, among other things, by measures aimed at achieving a lasting improvement on the labour market, promoting investment in education and training, and combating poverty and social exclusion. Social investments cover many different policy areas and are therefore essential for ensuring a proper level of employment and greater European competitiveness. Since their purpose is to reconcile social and economic aims, governments must treat them not as expenditure but, above all, as investments that will yield real profit in the future.
Experience shows that previous attempts at a coordinated European Union approach to social investments, such as the Lisbon Strategy and the European Employment Strategy, failed because of poor management. It is accordingly essential to ensure better monitoring of the implementation of social and employment policies in the Member States. In the report, we therefore propose that the Member States accede to the Social Investment Pact, which will enable us to establish better machinery for managing and monitoring implementation of the employment, social policy and education objectives laid down
in the Europe 2020 strategy. The monitoring of those policies must also figure in the European Semester 2013. In addition, if these measures are to become a reality, the multiannual financial framework for 2014-2020 will have to include adequate budget funding for social investments.
In presenting a report entitled the ‘Social Investment Pact – as a response to the crisis’, I wish to stress very clearly that every recommendation it contains is the outcome of far-reaching agreement among all the political groups. Let me take this opportunity to thank the shadow rapporteurs most warmly for their constructive and effective work on the provisions of the report, as well as all colleagues who have tabled amendments. I would also like to express my gratitude to Professor Frank Broeker, in particular, whose scholarly work inspired me to draw up a report on the subject of social investments. I call on the representative of the European Commission to act on the recommendations contained in the report and propose instruments that will enable a set of good ideas to be put into practice, and thus make it possible for our European society to cope with the present difficult situation. Thank you."@en1
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