28 Amendments of Ilana CICUREL related to 2020/2039(INI)
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion
Recital -A (new)
Recital -A (new)
-A. whereas demographic changes have economic, social and environmental consequences, particularly in rural areas, and do not affect all countries and regions in a uniform manner; whereas youth and women are notably among those leaving these areas1a; whereas isolated areas and areas to which access is limited are most exposed to demographic decline, and such imbalances represent major challenges both for territories suffering from depopulation and for those experiencing a population influx; whereas this phenomenon is causing a shrinking working age population and aging population and may result in the risk of full disappearance of municipalities and villages across EU regions; _________________ 1aDemographic trends in EU regions, European Parliament Research Service, 2019
Amendment 3 #
Draft opinion
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the intensity and speed of demographic changes impose considerable economic and soci, social, cultural, educational, fiscal and environmental pressures on Member States’ governments and on local and regional authorities in terms of the provision and maintenance of public services, particularlyeducation, healthcare, social welfare, housing, social services and infrastructure; whereas these pressures will be exacerbated by a declining active population and a higher dependency ratio; whereas increased productivity, a more inclusive labour market and high-quality public and private services, especially childcare, long-term care and day-care facilities, will play a key role, and the role of telecare and telemedicine will need to be expanded to improve the quality of life and secure equal job opportunities for EU citizens in the most depopulated areas, particularly for persons with disabilities;
Amendment 8 #
Draft opinion
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas demographic changes impose considerable economic and social pressure on Member States’ governments and on local and regional authorities in terms of the provision of public services, particularly health, social welfare, social services and infrastructure; whereas these pressures will be exacerbated by a declining active population and, a higher dependency ratio; whereas and a growing prevalence of chronic diseases; whereas accessible, affordable and resilient high- quality public and private services, especially childcare, long-term care and day-care facilities, will play a key role, and the role of telecare and telemedicine will need to be expanded;
Amendment 12 #
Draft opinion
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas the importance of ambitious investments and jobs is greater in regions that are suffering depopulation in order to boost their economic recovery and long-term competitiveness in the Single Market and thus reverse negative demographic trends; whereas cohesion policy instruments need to address the multiple factors influencing the decision whether or not to stay in a particular area, which are linked to the lack of attractiveness, such as poor infrastructure, limited access to public services, low connectivity rates and the lack of education and job opportunities;
Amendment 15 #
Draft opinion
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas Europeans can enjoy a longer and healthier life, whereas life expectancy at birth has increased by about ten years both for men and women over the last five decades; whereas it should reach, in 2070, 86,1 for men and 90,3 for women1a; _________________ 1aEuropean Commission report on the impact of demographic change
Amendment 19 #
Draft opinion
Recital A b (new)
Recital A b (new)
Ab. whereas older people's poverty is likely to be a growing concern as demographic trends continue; whereas in 2018, in the EU-27, 15,5 % of people aged 65 or over were at risk of poverty1b; whereas women are more likely to be hit by poverty in old age; _________________ 1bEuropean Commission report on the impact of demographic change
Amendment 20 #
Draft opinion
Recital A b (new)
Recital A b (new)
Ab. whereas negative demographic trends increase the demand for stronger solidarity between generations; whereas the role of telecare and telemedicine will need to be expanded to guarantee access to healthcare in all EU regions;
Amendment 22 #
Draft opinion
Recital A c (new)
Recital A c (new)
Ac. Whereas rural areas and the agri- food sector constitute an important element for the social fabric and the achievement of a sustainable EU economy; whereas agricultural workers in rural areas, particularly those suffering from demographic disadvantages, face an exceptional higher risk of poverty and social exclusion;
Amendment 24 #
Draft opinion
Recital A c (new)
Recital A c (new)
Ac. whereas demographic change can also present opportunities and new development perspectives through, inter alia, a demand for quality food, rural and ecotourism or through the silver economy and social innovation;
Amendment 40 #
Draft opinion
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas it is important for the EU to mainstream demographic issues into all its policies, including by incorporating them in its relevant budget lines, and to collect and monitor large-scale reliable statistical data at EU level to develop effective policy solutions;
Amendment 46 #
Draft opinion
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas a high level of human health protection shall be ensured in the definition and implementation of all Union policies and activities;
Amendment 49 #
Draft opinion
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas the fight against unemployment among young people and older workers remains one of the greatest challenges facing the EU’s regions; whereas structural and investment funds should be used more proactively in order to improve the employability and stability of young and older people in the labour market, with special attention to the most highly depopulated rural and remote areas;
Amendment 61 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 (new)
Paragraph -1 (new)
-1. Calls on the European Commission to develop a European Strategy on Demographic Change that provides for a comprehensive and integrated approach to address demographic challenges and handicaps, as referred in Article 174 TFEU, thereby securing the economy, social inclusion of vulnerable groups and job creation in EU regions;
Amendment 62 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Calls on Member States to use Cohesion Fund resources, to enhance the attractiveness of areas experiencing severe and permanent demographic disadvantages, and in particular the ERDF and the ESF, to increase the accessibility of public spaces to children, the elderly and people with special needs, including persons with disabilities, children and the elderly; in accordance with the European Accessibility Act; highlights the need of ensuring the economic and social integration of workers with disabilities and combating all forms of discrimination to achieve a more inclusive labour market;
Amendment 66 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Calls on Member States to use Cohesion Fund resources, in particular the ERDF and the ESF, to increase the accessibility of public spaces to people with special needs, including persons with disabilities, children and the elderly; as well as to promote accessible, affordable and resilient healthcare systems within the Union;
Amendment 70 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Calls on the Member States to invest in health prevention and promotion campaigns, infrastructures, early diagnosis and social protection for long term care, in order to address the growing demand and to ensure that everyone has the right to timely access to affordable, preventive and curative health care of good quality, as enshrined in the European Pillar of Social Rights;
Amendment 85 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Calls for the greater involvement ofMember States to use ERDF resources in improvtackling transport isolation and improving digital and telecommunications infrastructure in, particularly broadband and Internet connectivity in rural, peripheral and remote areas that have high ageing rates, a high proportion of rural areas, and are facing depopulationnd are facing brain-drain, which should be accessible to all, in order to build on the potential of a green, innovative and digital economy, secure access to quality services and foster the establishment of businesses and people, especially youth, in those areas;
Amendment 93 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Considers that digital infrastructure and connectivity play an essential role in preventing digital divide, isolation and depopulation; stresses in this regard the paramount importance of supporting a more extensive use of work- at-home schemes by companies across the EU, which may serve as a tool to retain businesses, strengthen local communities and tackle rural depopulation; calls on the Commission to propose a legislative framework with a view to regulating minimum and clear standards and conditions for telework across the EU and ensuring decent working conditions;
Amendment 95 #
2a. Stresses that the demand for healthcare professionals is likely to rise, while some geographic areas are already experiencing shortages of healthcare workers; Calls on the Member States to tackle these shortages by investing in skills and by making healthcare professions more attractive, with a specific focus on rural and remote areas;
Amendment 99 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Calls on Member States for greater mobilisation of ESF resources to effectively counter the digital gap and digital exclusion, especially among older peoplthe young, the elderly and people with disabilities, as well as to secure access to digital tools; calls therefore for accessible and affordable opportunities to learn digital skills in a way that is adapted to the needs of the elderly; points out that these initiatives have greater chances of success when they are linked to opportunities of intergenerational exchange;
Amendment 110 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Stresses that the regions should make more active use of the European Structural and Investment Funds to address demographic change, particularly by supporting training programmeup-skilling and re-skilling of citizens to match the labour market's needs, entrepreneurshipial skills and the silver economy.; welcomes in this regard the Updated Skills Agenda for Europe, which may contribute to address the skill workforce shortages in regions lagging behind;
Amendment 125 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Highlights that successful regional absorption capacity of EU cohesion funds greatly depends on territorial economic preconditions; highlights the added value of social dialogue between civil society stakeholders and authorities, at all stages of programming, for better planning and improved absorption of European Structural and Investment Funds;
Amendment 127 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Believes that cohesion funds should be used to foster active ageing in particular through social innovation initiatives aiming, inter alia, at facilitating the employment of older people, updating their skills, ensuring their autonomy or encouraging intergenerational exchanges;
Amendment 131 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. Calls for the proactive exchange of good practices and initiatives between local and regional authorities in the EU to foster a better understanding of demographic challenges, anticipate their impact on local labour markets and develop innovative and effective strategies;
Amendment 134 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 c (new)
Paragraph 4 c (new)
4c. Stresses that reducing disparities between the levels of development of the various regions and the backwardness of the least favoured regions or islands, in particular rural areas, requires the further empowerment of women in those areas both in the economic and social terms, as well as securing work-life balance and promoting family-friendly policies;
Amendment 138 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 d (new)
Paragraph 4 d (new)
4d. Calls for a regulatory framework that guarantees quality care services and allows for a broader use of telecare and telemedicine, by providing care professionals with legal safeguards and laying down the necessary requirements for training, with the purpose of securing care and primary care to all EU citizens, whatever their age, in any geographical area;
Amendment 139 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 e (new)
Paragraph 4 e (new)
4e. Underlines the need to ensure the principles and objectives of the European Pillar of Social Rights, especially its principles on the right to equal opportunities, health, inclusion of people with disabilities, long-term care and access to essential services, old-age income and pensions, housing and assistance for the homeless are essential to support quality of life for people of all ages on local level; welcomes the plan of the European Commission to come forward with an Action Plan for the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights;
Amendment 140 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 f (new)
Paragraph 4 f (new)
4f. Stresses that the COVID-19 pandemic has proven the need for a EU model which promotes and safeguards the dignity and fundamental rights of the elderly; calls on the Commission to pursue an agenda that develops a European plan for the rights of the elderly on the basis of Article 25 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights;