15 Amendments of Birgit SIPPEL related to 2011/0217(COD)
Amendment 18 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 1 a (new)
Recital 1 a (new)
(1a) Pursuant to Article 18 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, there shall be no discrimination on the grounds of nationality, be it direct or indirect.
Amendment 19 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 1 b (new)
Recital 1 b (new)
(1b) By involving men and women equally, the European Year of Citizens may contribute to promoting equality and combating discrimination based on sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation by including everyone on an equal basis. However, common horizontal anti-discrimination legislation is needed to remove barriers to free movement.
Amendment 30 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) In particular, free movement and workers' mobility help addressing the consequences of demographic change on the labour market, while also increasing the employability of people and improving the competitiveness of European industries. Greater intra-Union mobility of workers could also contribute to achieving the Europe 2020 goal of having 75% of 20-64 year-olds in employment by 2020. At the same time, free movement either enables, as an essential condition, or stimulates the exercise by citizens of a broad range of rights available to them under Union law, such as their rights as consumers to access goods and services or, their rights as passengers and tourists, their right to equal treatment with national workers concerning employment, remuneration and other working conditions, the portability of social security benefits or their right to family reunification. Facilitating free movement has therefore the potential to enhance citizens' possibilities to fully benefit from the single market, whilst being a key driver for growth. The exchange of experience and workers also enhances economic, social and territorial cohesion in the Union.
Amendment 35 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 7 a (new)
Recital 7 a (new)
(7a) To enhance the mobility of Union citizens and the development of a common sense of belonging, it is of the utmost importance to reinforce mobility instruments such as the European programme for lifelong learning or the Flagship initiative 'Youth on the move' and to better inform all citizens about their existence and function. Disadvantaged groups who have a more difficult access to Union mobility, such as persons with little education, older people or disabled people should have special support and be addressed by specific initiatives of the European Year.
Amendment 43 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 9
Recital 9
(9) Despite the fact that the right to free movement and residence is firmly anchored in primary Union law and substantially developed in secondary law, a gap still remains between the applicable legal rules and the reality confronting citizens when they seek to exercise this right in practice. Aside from an uncertainty over the advantages of being mobile, Union citizens perceive too many practical obstacles with regard to living and working elsewhere in the Union. Achieving genuine freedom of movement, equal treatment and mobility within the EU-27 will demand a greater effort to integrate the new Member States and their inhabitants within the notion of Union citizenship and identity. However, this will only be possible if, at Union, national and local levels, social cohesion is promoted and industrial relations systems and collective agreements are respected and not called into question.
Amendment 48 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 9 a (new)
Recital 9 a (new)
(9a) In many sectors, the importance of cross-border labour markets is on the increase. However, most of the cross- border workers involved have very limited knowledge of the rules and regulations that apply to their job or workplace, including labour rights, working conditions and social security. It is important to provide proper information to mobile workers about their labour and social rights and to promote the unionization of these groups as a way to help them be better protected.
Amendment 57 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) In particular, Union citizens considering whether to make use of their right to free movement should be informed about their rights to acquire or preserve social security rights by virtue of the Union rules on coordination of social security systems; these rules ensure that they will not lose out on their social security rights when choosing to move within Europe. They should further be informed about their right to obtain recognition of their professional qualifications and about the social and civic competences which form part of the European framework of ‘Key Competences for lifelong learning’ and which can equip them to fully participate in civic life and empower them to exercise their rights under Union law. Union law also entitles them to equal treatment with national workers as regards employment, remuneration and other working conditions, without their having to apply for a work permit, and as regards tax benefits. When a Union Citizen works in another Member State, his or her family members have the right to stay and work in that country, regardless of their nationality. Children have the right to education.
Amendment 68 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 18
Recital 18
(18) The year 2013 will be the 20th anniversary of the establishment of Union citizenship by the Treaty of Maastricht, which entered into force on 1st November 1993. The European Year of Citizens will be marked by the follow up to the EU Citizenship Report and of an action plan toward completing the removal of remaining obstacles standing in the way of citizens' enjoyment of their rights as Union citizens. This European Year will give visibility to Union citizenship and its concrete benefits for individuals, including by demonstrating the tangible impact of Union policies in citizens' lives, in particular in terms of removing obstacles to the enjoyment of their rights. The achievement of the single market, as well as the active and correct implementation of Union law in all areas involving the right to free movement, taking into account the social dimension and the effects on the labour market, are necessary for the enhancement of the mobility of Union citizens. The right to mobility cannot exist without the complementary recognition of social rights, trade union rights and social protection.
Amendment 69 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 18 a (new)
Recital 18 a (new)
(18a) In recent years, however, trade unions and workers across the Union have faced great difficulty in ensuring the recognition, application and enforcement of equal treatment, social rights and social protection for migrant and mobile workers (including posted workers). In turn, this has challenged the solidarity structures of social systems and the trade union movement.
Amendment 70 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 18 b (new)
Recital 18 b (new)
(18 b) Union citizens in the new Member States are still partly concerned by transitional rules on the right to work and reside freely in another Member State. The positive experience of countries which did not apply transitional periods has shown that the free movement of workers in the Union has no negative effects on the labour market or on wages.
Amendment 73 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 2 – paragraph 1
Article 2 – paragraph 1
The general purpose of the European Year shall be to enhance awareness of the rights attached to Union citizenship, in order to help citizens make full use of their right to move and reside freely within the territory of the Member States. In this context, the European Year shall focus, among others, on the opportunities for civic participation and access to rights by Union citizens residing in another Member State than their own, by students, workers, consumers, and providers of goods and services across the Union. However, the rights of third- country nationals with a permanent residence permit and of family members of Union citizens should also be taken into account.
Amendment 84 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – indent 1
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – indent 1
– information, education and awareness raising campaigns targeted at the general public and more specific audiences (e.g. disadvantaged groups such as persons with little education, older people or disabled people);
Amendment 93 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – indent 6 a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – indent 6 a (new)
- the introduction of a European Day of Citizens on the anniversary of the introduction of Union Citizenship on 1 November 1993, to enhance and continue with the successes of the European Year of Citizens.
Amendment 100 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 3 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. When implementing the initiatives mentioned in Article 3(1), the European Commission and the Member States shall take care to actively include the representatives of civil society, e.g. the social partners.
Amendment 105 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 8 – paragraph 1
Article 8 – paragraph 1
By 31 December 2014, the Commission shall submit a report to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on the implementation, results and overall assessment of the initiatives provided for in this Decision, to serve as a basis for future Union policies, measures and actions in this field. Pursuant to the experience of the European Year of Citizens, the report shall also present ideas and proposals on how to better inform citizens of their rights, even after the end of European Year 2013.