Life, employment and the environment

Incentives and sanctions aimed at uncovering black wages; promoting healthy lifestyles; reducing water wastage with EU-funded initiatives. During the latest plenary assembly (October 8-9) MEPs voted on a series of reports which address issues pertaining to daily life, including a paper requesting Member States to implement “a guaranteed minimum-wage system supported by a package of measures” aimed at “ensuring social inclusion”. A dignified life. The report on minimum wages, drawn up by German MEP Gabriele Zimmer, was approved with 540 ayes, 57 noes and 32 abstentions. It supports “the Commission’s approach to active social inclusion, considering that the finality of the policies in question is the respect of fundamental rights”, for “a dignified life for all”. The document states that “inclusion policies ought to lead to the uprooting of poverty” that is experienced by the so-called “poor workers” as well as by “non-salaried workers”. The report solicits the enactment of “social security schemes that will motivate the quest for new job opportunities” along with a cut in taxes on middle-income. The same subject was addressed by Italian MEP Antonio Panzeri, whose report, approved with majority vote, calls for an EU strategy aimed at eliminating black wages, “a complex phenomenon, that is undergoing constant increase throughout a number of countries extending even beyond 20% of countries’ GDP”. Stop to black wages. Undeclared employment “harms the economy, fails to protect workers, reduces tax revenue and triggers unfair competition among enterprises and the workers themselves”, the MEP explained. The sectors that are most affected by “clandestine work” are those “with a high percentage of manual labor” such as agriculture, building, domestic services and catering, “that are marked by precariousness and low wages”. The Assembly indicated that the path to follow includes technical and financial incentives to promote the emergence of this phenomenon, along with tax cuts for small and medium enterprises, and penalties “for employers who pay black wages”. The rapporteur remarked, “This measure will give a major thrust to the establishment of social Europe”. Health, controversial aspects. Health “is a state of physical, mental and social wellbeing, that doesn’t necessarily entail a mere lack of disease or impairment”. This is the definition drawn up by Slovenian MEP Alojz Peterle, whose resolution was passed by the European Parliament. The document addresses issues like illness prevention, “sound lifestyle” promotion, sustainable health systems along with special treatment and care for the disabled. In the report, positive aspects are counterbalanced by emphasis on controversial issues. For instance, the chapter on prevention states, “the wish to prevent illnesses must not create an atmosphere preventing the birth of children with chronic diseases or disabilities”. The document points out that the prohibition to consider the human body as a source of profit, “should be considered as a guiding principle for health”, especially as relates to cell, tissue and organ donations and transplants. Thus, the reports solicits “public awareness over reproductive and sexual health”, “in order to prevent undesired pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases”. The symbols of the Union. The European Parliament sent a message to the citizens of the 27 Member States by adopting the Community symbols, while the enforcement of the Lisbon Treaty underwent further delay. MEPs gave the green light to the report submitted by Spanish MEP Carlos Carnero Gonzales asking to rectify inner regulations for the adoption of the symbols. According to the proposal, “a flag with the twelve golden stars on a blue background should be hoisted in all assembly halls and on the occasion of all the official events of the European Parliament”. Furthermore, Beethoven’s Hymn to Joy, from the Ninth Symphony, will be played “at all opening meetings that follow European elections and before other solemn meetings”. The EU motto, “Unity in Diversity”, will have to be present on all official documents of the Parliament. Lastly, on May 9, the European Chamber will officially celebrate the European Day that recalls the Schuman Declaration of 1950.