Activities of Marian HARKIN related to 2015/2223(INI)
Plenary speeches (3)
Meeting the antipoverty target in the light of increasing household costs (debate)
Meeting the antipoverty target in the light of increasing household costs (debate)
Meeting the antipoverty target in the light of increasing household costs (A8-0040/2016 - Tamás Meszerics)
Amendments (23)
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 16 a (new)
Citation 16 a (new)
- having regard to the OECD report 'In It Together: Why Less Inequality Benefits All' of 21 May 20151 a, __________________ 1ahttp://www.oecd.org/social/in-it- together-why-less-inequality-benefits-all- 9789264235120-en.htm
Amendment 29 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital Aa (new)
Recital Aa (new)
Aa. whereas the prices of essential goods and services, at certain times and in certain countries, have increased relatively rapidly, and, accordingly, family expenditure;
Amendment 35 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)
Recital A b (new)
A b. Whereas the increase in family expenditure, associated with the cost of accommodation, food, utilities (electricity, gas, water), transport, medical costs or costs associated with education, makes it difficult to achieve the objective of reducing poverty laid down in the Europe 2020 Strategy;
Amendment 44 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas not having adequate heatingliving conditions can hasve a negative impact on a person’s health, in particular for children and older persons;
Amendment 58 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. Whereas Directive 2012/27/EU calls on the Member States to develop programmes to raise awareness, and inform and advise individthe reduction of poverty and social exclusion is one of the specific objectives of the Union and of the Member States, and progress is made towards equality where all citizens have equals and households on energy efficiency; ccess to opportunities and basic resources;
Amendment 91 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to adopt integrated frameworks to combat energythe various forms of poverty by linking energy andconomic, education, employment, energy and transport policy, among others, and social policy, particularly poverty/social inclusion policies with short-term effects more closely;
Amendment 93 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to adopt integrated frameworks to combat energy poverty by linking energy and poverty/social inclusion policies more closely;
Amendment 95 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. In many cases, the most important costs in this area are those of renting or buying housing. The social pillar should put forward decisive measures in relation to social housing and the treatment of homeless families.
Amendment 97 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Calls on the Member States to sign up to a European winter heating disconnection moratorium so as to ensure that during a defined winter period no household can be cut off from energy or that those who are must be reconnected to energy needed for heating that meets World Health Organisation (WHO) standards for adequate housing temperature;
Amendment 99 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Calls on the Member States to sign up to a European winter heating disconnection moratorium so as to ensure that during a defined winter period no household can be cut off from energy or that those who are must be reconnected to energy needed for heating that meets World Health Organisation (WHO) standards for adequate housing temperatureevaluate the measures adopted to comply with the World Health Organisation (WHO) standards for adequate housing temperature, and in particular to move towards signing up to a European winter heating disconnection moratorium so as to take account of the minimum conditions to be met by the client to opt into such a benefit and the scheduling of outstanding payments between client and supplier and the public contribution. Energy companies will not be responsible for social policies, which will always be set by governments;
Amendment 109 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Invites the Commission to present, in the context of the announced social pillar, an EU framework directivEncourages Member States to introduce oan adequate minimum income in 2016line with national practices and traditions;
Amendment 118 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls on the Member States to ensure a more efficient and targeted use of the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESI Funds) by national, regional and local authorities in order to tackle enpovergty povertyand social exclusion within the Union;
Amendment 119 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls on the Member States to ensure a more efficient and targeted use of the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESI Funds) by national, regional and local authorities in order to tackle energy poverty, especially amongst poor households living in poor quality and inefficient housing stock;
Amendment 133 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 – introductory part
Paragraph 5 – introductory part
5. Finds regrettable that the EU2020 target to reduce poverty in Europe by lifting 20 million people out of poverty appears even further out of reach than when it was set; reiterates that one of the target groups is people that face severe material deprivation; calls on the Commission and the Member States to renew their commitment to the poverty reduction target by:
Amendment 148 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 – indent 3
Paragraph 5 – indent 3
- ensuring that the Member States provide everyone with accessible adequate income support, including minimum income above the poverty threshold throughout the life cyclefor as long as the duly documented situation of poverty persists;
Amendment 166 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 – indent 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 – indent 5 a (new)
- taking measures to address extreme forms of poverty that currently fall beyond the scope of the target, namely homelessness;
Amendment 173 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls for a Council recommendation similar to the Youth Guarantee on tackling poverty in order to reviveach the poverty target;
Amendment 179 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Welcomes the Commission’s intention to present a new social pillar; recalls that to deliver on Article 9 TFEU, such a pillar should be aimed at setting a European framework for a minimum income above the poverty level, continuing with a rights- based approach to social policy and improving implementation of existing social, labour and anti-discrimination legislation; Recalls the need to deliver on Article 9 TFEU;
Amendment 193 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Welcomes the Commission’s intention to aim for a social triple A score for the Union; finds regrettable that this is currently out of reach owing to increasing inequality, high poverty and social exclusion and less and less availability of quality and affordable social, health and care services; recalls that a social triple A mustshould be based on Article 9 TFEU aimed at a ‘high level of employment, the guarantee of adequate social protection, the fight against social exclusion and a high level of education, training and protection of human health’; recalls that achieving a social triple A as a benchmark requires assessing both policies that hinder and work towards achieving the benchmark; finds regrettable that so far the latter has not been addressed at Union level;
Amendment 217 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Stresses that a decent income is a fundamental element for being able to live your life in dignity and that a job is still the best way out of poverty; recalls that 16.7 % of the population in the EU 28 in 2013 were at- risk- of- poverty after social transfers; invites the Commission to present in 2016 in the context of the announced social pillar an EU framework directive on adequate minimum income and that in-work poverty remains unacceptably high;
Amendment 233 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Recommends that an EU framework directive on minimum income should specify which criteria Member States’ minimum income schemes would need to meet so as to lift people out of poverty; considers that such a framework would need to be rights-based, address the level of income, the non-discriminatory, efficient and easy access and the take-up, targeting especially those groups, who currently are excluded from or at risk of exclusion from minimum income schemes minimum income scheme at Member State level, in line with national practices and traditions, would help to specify which criteria minimum income schemes would need to meet so as to lift people out of poverty;
Amendment 241 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Stresses that minimum income schemes shouldat Member State level can prevent and lift households out of severe material deprivation and allow for an income above the poverty threshold; recalls that a minimum income is a key instrument forschemes which respect national practices and traditions are compatible with and will help to delivering on Article 9 TFEU guaranteeingtaking into account adequate social protection as well as on the fundamental right to decent living conditions, participating in societythe fight against social exclusion and protection of human health;
Amendment 353 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Calls on the Member States to sign up to a European winter heating disconnection moratorium so as to ensure that during a defined winter period no household can be cut off from energy or that those who are must be reconnected to energy needed for heating that meets World Health Organisation (WHO) standards for adequate housing temperature; points out that such a moratorium aims to decrease excess winter mortality,meet World Health Organisation (WHO) standards for adequate housing temperature; supporting the most vulnerable groups, especially young children, the elderly and permanently sick and disabled people so as to protect their health and well-being;