Activities of Helga STEVENS related to 2015/2321(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
Refugees: social inclusion and integration into the labour market (debate) NL
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on refugees: social inclusion and integration into the labour market PDF (477 KB) DOC (199 KB)
Amendments (32)
Amendment 24 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the refugee crisis is first and foremost a humanitarian crisis, but one withthat will have long-term impacts and thus requiring long-term responson the labour markets and civil society in the Member States;
Amendment 41 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas the working-age population in the EU is projected to decline by 7.5 million by 2020; whereas projections on the development of labour market needs European Union is still struggling to overcome a deep crisis, facing very high levels of unemployment; whereas the EU and the Member States need to keep committing the EU point to emerging and future shortages in specific fieldmselves to economic growth and job creation, which is a precondition for a successful integration of refugees;
Amendment 47 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas there is a clear distinction between legal and economic migration, on the one side, and those seeking refuge and asylum, on the other, which need to be addressed separately; whereas asylum cannot solve structural shortcomings of the internal economy;
Amendment 50 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C b (new)
Recital C b (new)
Cb. whereas more flexibility in the labour market could contribute to the integration of refugees;
Amendment 54 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas social inclusion and integration of refugees into the labour market is a dynamic two-way process representing a challenge and an opportunity,, which will requiringe efforts from local administrations, host communities andboth the refugees themselves, as well as the involvement and support of snd the Member States, locial partners (representatives of employers and employees’ orgaand where applicable regional administrations) and civil society and volunteer organisationhost communities;
Amendment 62 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Da. whereas there is no such thing as 'the' refugee; whereas each refugee is an individual with his or her own personal background, qualifications and needs;
Amendment 66 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D b (new)
Recital D b (new)
Db. whereas third-country nationals face many difficulties in obtaining recognition of their skills and qualifications; whereas the recognition of qualifications from a third country goes hand in hand with screening of skills;
Amendment 76 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Stresses the need for the EU to base its immediate response to the situation on solidarity and fair sharing of responsibility, as stated in Article 80 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), and on a holistic approach that takes into account safe and legal migration and full respect for fundamental rights and values;
Amendment 93 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Stresses that significant differences exist in the times and modalities of processing requests for international protection within Member States; highlights that slow and excessively bureaucratic procedures may hinder refugees’ access to the labour market, as well as the activation of EU programmes and the use of funds in this field;
Amendment 104 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Highlights the fact that in order to facilitate the social inclusion and integration of refugees into the labour market, it is necessary to address serious and multi-faceted issues such as discrimination, linguistic barriers, diverse socio-economic and cultural backgrounds, health needs, including psychosocial and post-trauma support, family reunificdiscrimination and the significant share of disadvantaged groups among refugees, in particular worrying numbers of children, including unaccompanied children, people with disabilities, the elderly and women8 ; _________________ 8 http://www.keepeek.com/Digital-Asset- Management/oecd/social-issues-migration- health/making-integration-work- humanitarian-migrants_9789264251236-en
Amendment 123 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
Amendment 135 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Stresses the importance of a tailor- made integration approach based on equal opportunities, with the necessary attention for the needs and specific challenges of different target groups;
Amendment 142 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Believes that granting refugees access to the labour market is important to restoring their human dignity and self-worth and is also cost-efficient, as it would allow them to be self-sufficient and, to gain economic independence and contribute in a positive way to society, which is an essential step for their successful inclusion into society, and a responsible approach towards public finances, easing the cost borne by Member States while also enabling them to become active fiscal contributors, which is generally considered beneficial for their individual growth, development and self- esteem;
Amendment 160 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Points out that early interventionand effective intervention for the integration of refugees is crucial to allow for successful social inclusion and integration of refugees into the labour market;
Amendment 169 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Highlights the fact that labour market conditions within host countries are aone of the determining factors for the successful and durable integration of refugees; stresses that unemployment in the EU, in particular youth unemployment, is still at alarming levels, and that the Commission and the Member States should continue to prioritise policies and investments aimed at quality job creation and economic growth;
Amendment 181 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Stresses the need for an early, fair, transparent and free-of-charge assessment of refugees and asylum seekers’ formal and non-formal skills, as well as recognition of their qualifications, in order to develop tailored measures allowing them to make full use of their potential, and to match labour suppmake full use of potential, and to match labour supply and demand in the host countries; stresses that efforts of integration must be targeted to those people who will be in the EU for a longer period of time; highlights that on the one hand limited resources should be well- spent on the timely hand demling of asylum procedures, and ion the host countrithe other, the speedy and effective integration of refugees;
Amendment 192 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Stresses that more flexibility in the labour market can stimulate an early integration of refugees;
Amendment 197 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
Amendment 209 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. HighlightNotes that the main EU funds available for social inclusion and integration into the labour market, in particular the European Social Fund (ESF), as well as the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF), the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European Fund for Aid to the Most Deprived (FEAD), have differing focuses, target groups and management modes at Member State level;
Amendment 220 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Further highlights the fact that integration and inclusion measures aimed at refugees and asylum seekers should not draw on financial resources destined for programmes targeting other disadvantaged groups, but require additional social investmentsshould not create competition between the most disadvantaged groups in society; stresses, however, that the EU funds already available can and should be spend in a more efficient and effective manner, e.g. by targeting the funds at those who need it most;
Amendment 227 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Calls therefore calls on the Commission to raise the allocation of the European Social Fund to a 25 % share of the cohesion policyin the context of the review of the Multiannual Financial Framework to identify areas within existing budget lin tes whe revision of the Multiannual Financial Framework11 ; _________________ 11 http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/ne ws-room/20131118IPR25534/MEPs- approve-new-cohesion-policy- %E2%82%AC325bn-to-invest-in- Europe’s-regions savings can be made in order to allow for greater flexibility within the budget to deal with such unforeseen circumstances;
Amendment 238 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Stresses the need for strict correlationnsistency between all the legislative acts forming the EU Agenda on Migration12 in order to ensure good management of the extraordinary inflow of refugees; _________________ 12 http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/home- affairs/what-we-do/policies/european- agenda-migration/background- information/docs/communication_on_the_ european_agenda_on_migration_en.pdf
Amendment 245 #
18. Supports the Commission’s efforts in updating the European Agenda on Migration, in particular by revising the Dublin III Regulation; underlines the positive impact that intra-EU mobility of refugees would have on addressing labour shortages and refugees’ inclusion into the labour marketbelieves the focus of the review should be on improving its operation through simplification of the regulation, introducing greater flexibility and encouraging maximum compliance; stresses that further efforts are necessary to create a truly uniform Common European Asylum System and a comprehensive and sustainable legal migration policy in the EU to meet labour market demand in terms of skills, in which social inclusion and active integration policies play a central role; stresses however, that the basic principles of Dublin should not be changed regarding that asylum seekers should be processed in the first Member State they enter;
Amendment 254 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Deplores the factNotes that the Commission had to adopt 40 infringement decisions against many Member States for having failed to implement key policies of the Common European Asylum System, including letters of formal notice to 19 Member States for not having taken the necessary measures to transpose the Reception Conditions Directive, which lays down essential standards on matters such as access to employment, vocational training, schooling and education of minors, food, housing, healthcare, medical and psychological care and provisions for disadvantaged persons; firmly believes that the Commission must do more to ensure that existing rules are fully and effectively implemented; urges the Member States to rectify this situation, in compliance with the principles of solidarity, fair share of responsibility and sincere cooperation as enshrined in the Treaties;
Amendment 263 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. WelcomNotes President Juncker’s statement13 in the State of the Union 2015 address affirming his support for granting asylum seekers access to the labour market while their applications are being processed; _________________ 13 http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/home- affairs/what-we-do/policies/european- agenda-migration/proposal- implementation- package/docs/communication_on_managin g_the_refugee_crisis_en.pdftp://europa.eu/ rapid/press-release_SPEECH-15- 5614_en.htm
Amendment 268 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Points out that a lengthy processing of international protection applications, and a failed registration of refugees at their arrival, not only impedes timely and legal access of refugees and asylum seekers to the labour market but also generates the conditions for the development of undeclared work practices and forms of severe labour exploitation;
Amendment 272 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Stresses that access to justice and protection should be ensured to all victims of exploitation; highlights the crucial work done by trade unions, civil society and volunteer organisations in reaching out to these workers and in providing them with the information and support they need;
Amendment 284 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Calls on the Member States to ensure the swift and full labour market integration and social inclusion of refugees, including access to housing, healthcare and social protection;
Amendment 295 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23a. Calls on the Commission to review the Qualification Directive 2011/95/EU in line with the Convention of Geneva of 1951, so that Member States can establish and conduct effective activation and integration policies, taking into account inter alia the 'unemployment trap';
Amendment 331 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Calls on the Member States to ensure early and easy accessy access for refugees to quality training, including internships where possible, in order to ensure fulleffective integration into our societies and the labour market, taking into consideration the refugees’ existing skills and competences, talents and know- how;
Amendment 345 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Calls on the Commission to put forwardBelieves that a revision of the Blue Card Directive, by tak risks leading into account the extraordinary conditions with which refugees and asylum seekers are faced, as well as the needs of the EU labour market, in particular by looking at the scope and the rules on intra-EU mobility of the directivegreater confusion between different categories; believes that it is important to go back to a clear distinction between legal migration, asylum seekers and refugees;
Amendment 355 #
Stresses the need for the Commission and the Member States to step up their efforts in fighting all forms of discrimination, xenophobia and racism, including by raising awareness of anti-discrimination laws and by supporting civil society organisations, social partners and National Equality Bodies in their work;