Toespraak van minister Asscher in het Europees Parlement

Toespraak | 13-01-2016

Members of the European Parliament,

Ladies and gentlemen,

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.

These are the famous opening lines of Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities, a novel about the French Revolution in the late eighteenth century. Yet these lines could just as easily have been written for a toast to 2016.

Indeed we are living in an age in which start-ups are blooming, yet unemployment is soaring in some member states. An era in which possibilities seem endless, yet opportunity is becoming a luxury item. An epoch in which technology is pushing us forward, yet we are also stuck in a race to the bottom. Indeed, while our society is perhaps more civilized than ever, indecent and immoral employment conditions remain.

This toast to 2016 is not about the glass being half full or half empty. We can only prevent a European tale of radical opposites, if we — as politicians — focus on our mutual interests.

Regardless of our political colour, we all want a Europe that functions properly. A Europe in which our citizens take centre stage.

Dear members of the European Parliament,

It's an honour to be here today. This parliament is one of the most prestigious legislatures in the world. Your valuable work impacts the lives of all Europeans. I look forward to working with you as co-legislators during the Presidency ahead of us.

While the origin of the word parliament means ‘loud talking’, you have demonstrated that actions speak much louder than words.

I am confident that we can turn up the volume for more action during the Presidency. Together, we can lay the foundation for more decent work and less poverty for all Europeans. Let’s not just transport hot air by talking. Let’s get to work and move worlds.

How can Europe work? How can it work for its citizens?

First, a Europe that works offers its citizens work.

This remains a big challenge. While the European economy is recovering from the financial and economic crisis, unemployment is still very high. During the crisis more than 6 million people lost their jobs. Almost 25 million Europeans are currently unemployed. In particular, youth unemployment is a big problem.

Those statistics show us that we need action. If we rest on our laurels, the future of 25 million Europeans will remain on hold.

A Europe that works does not just offer work, but also protects its employees. It prevents unfair competition, while ensuring a properly functioning single market. I consider achieving a deeper and fairer single market to be of great importance. Only then can we create a level playing field and prevent a race to the bottom on labour conditions.

A crucial component of achieving fair working conditions is modernising the Posting of Workers Directive.

The truth of the matter is that the directive on the posting of workers leads to discrimination of EU citizens. Presently, many posted workers earn less than regular domestic workers, while carrying out the same work.

The freedom to provide services, including postings, is fundamental to the internal market and contributes to economic development and competitiveness. We need to stimulate labour mobility yet also to make sure that the rights of mobile workers are better protected.

Only by modernizing rules can we protect the free movement of workers.

The terms and conditions of employment should be 'upgraded' to improve the remuneration of posted workers. We should also define the duration of a posting period more precisely.

Currently, in theory, a worker can be posted for a fairly long period of time. This should be reduced in order to prevent a situation where they in fact become part of the labour market of the host Member State.

I am looking forward to working together on the Labour Mobility Package and to bring the Posting file forward. I hope there will be a first discussion on the package in the EPSCO on 7 March. I will use the informal EPSCO-meeting of 19 and 20 April to stimulate discussion on the package.

Of course, I am well aware that opinions on the revision of the Posting of Workers Directive remain divided. Therefore, I will try to look for common ground on this issue.

It is in the interest of both mobile and domestic workers to make the rules on mobility more faire. Indeed, decent work is a mutual interest of all EU Member States and I firmly believe that it can bring us closer together.

‘Decent work’ is also about enforcement. That is why we are pushing for an ambitious Platform on Undeclared Work that, hopefully, can begin its work early this year. This Platform will boost the cooperation between the inspectorates of different Member States.

On 8 and 9 February we will host a conference that focuses on the question of how inspections can promote decent work. This conference will be very much 'hands on'. With inspection officers and policy advisers from various EU Member States, the conference is the perfect setting to share best practices.

An important subject at this conference is the Platform on undeclared work. We would like to use the conference to give the Platform a head start, and possibly generate input for its work programme.

We need to end the shady practices of so-called 'letter-box companies'. These companies are established in Member States that charge low taxes and social security contributions.

It's a really cheap trick for cheaper labour costs at the expense of posted and domestic workers. We need to improve the procedures that establish in which country a worker is insured and should pay social security contributions. Better controls and standardisation of the existing forms can help to determine whether a company performs genuine activities in the country where it is established.

Decent work is not just about decent pay. It’s about decent labour conditions and a healthy working environment. For years, the Netherlands has been pressing for expansion of the list of carcinogens with limit values in order to improve health and safety at the workplace.

I am very pleased that Commissioner Thyssen has announced her intention to set limit values for a first group of carcinogenic substances during the Dutch Presidency period. We are also pleased that the Commission is working on a next set of limit values.

This sets the precedent for future legislation on health and safety. While Europe should set the standards, national authorities and social partners can still decide on how to implement those standards. This will contribute to better regulation, since Member States will use their national systems in the interest of European goals.

On the theme of banishing work-related cancer, we will organise a conference from 23 to 25 May.

Dear members of the European Parliament,

In order to make Europe more effective we must fortify the weakest link. We must fight poverty.

Since 2010, the number of people living in poverty or social exclusion has increased by 5 million. In total, more than 120 million people in Europe are currently at risk of poverty or social exclusion.

During the Presidency, it's not just our ambition to place poverty on the political agendas. The Member States need to help each other implement effective policies to reduce poverty. We need to share our examples, practical tools and innovative approaches across Europe.

In January we will hold a Peer Review to stimulate the sharing of knowledge and best-practices. Ten Member States will participate.

The Netherlands will also host the annual conference of the European Social Network. Combating poverty at the local level will be an important topic of this conference.

In combating poverty, a comprehensive approach is important. We need to look at poverty from a broad perspective — from financial shortcoming to social exclusion — as well as at the role of and consequences for other life domains such as employment, care, housing and education.

In the Social Protection Committee, we will prepare council conclusions on the need for an integrative approach, to be adopted in the EPSCO of June.

Dear members of the European Parliament,

We cannot afford the value of work to be bartered away in the marketplace. We cannot afford poverty to be our weakest link.

A strong Europe is a Europe in which citizens and hence also workers take centre stage. A Europe in which the appreciation of employees and good working conditions are top priorities, and where both posted and local employees are protected from scams by shady employers. A Europe with ample opportunities for all.

Let's lay the foundation for more decent work and less poverty for all Europeans. Let’s forget about our differences and make it the best of times together.

Thank you.