A few days before the Elections to the European Parliament Ipse asked three questions to the main groups of the European Parliament (EPP, S & D, ALDE, Greens / EFA and GUE / NGL). On the menu: the Social Dimension of the Economic and Monetary Union, Free movement and social convergence and the Social Economy and Social Entrepreneurship. The GUE/NGL Group sent us the answers on behalf of the President Gabriele Zimmer.
1) Adding a social aspect to the Economic and Monetary Union
Ipse : In your opinion, what should be the role and impact of the EMU’s social pillar? What concrete measures (strengthening of social dialogue, social indicators, European unemployment insurance, European financial assistance, etc.) are required to create this pillar and what role can social protection play in this process?
Gabriele Zimmer : “Economic governance coordination must guarantee people’s fundamental rights in crisis management policies, ensure Parliament’s voice is heard and aim for a real reduction of macroeconomic imbalances.
Highly indebted countries have been put under macroeconomic surveillance, and I ask why Germany is not put under any fiscal control requirements to increase wages and sustainable investments, while holding the greatest ever export surpluses? The profits of some are the debts of others; if we don’t change anything about that the Damocles sword of the next crisis will be hanging over the EU.
When Social Dialogue is only used to promote austerity we do not see this as a measure to better the situation for workers and citizens. To recognize social indictors is good as a control instrument for other measures taken but they have to lead to tangible measures to cut unemployment and poverty. We are open to discuss the idea of European unemployment insurance but it must not lead to forced mobility.
A European Union without a Social Union cannot work. So it has to go from having a social dimension to a Social Union.
We need an economic programme that invests in the future, creates jobs and consolidates the education and health care systems and public infrastructure, and implements the energy transition in a socially responsible manner. We want to introduce mandatory minimum wages throughout the EU amounting to at least 60 per cent of the average wage in the country concerned, a penalty-free minimum social benefit and a statutory minimum pension amounting to 60 per cent of the local median income.”
2) Greater social convergence?
Ipse: Must social and fiscal convergence in the EU be intensified to assuage the tensions that exist between North and South, East and West, as well as between the center and periphery of Europe, while promoting worker mobility? What are the specific priorities?
G.Z.: “When people decide to work in another country this has nothing to do with “the internal market remaining imperfect”. People have a cultural background, family and neighbours. People need language skills and information – which a lot of people who have to leave their countries do not have. For the majority of people it is not their free will to live and work in other countries but it is an economic necessity. For a small group of highly qualified people it is a free decision – but this concerns those who are well paid and qualified.
And: Posted workers are not treated as regular workers in EU law and they do not fall under worker mobility rules (otherwise they could claim equal pay for equal work at the same workplace). They are considered service providers. If it was not forced mobility we could support it. And for some countries this could also be a problem of so-called “brain drain”.
Finally, for us mobility should be supported if not forced. Posted workers should get equal pay. To promote mobility they should get more support on language skills and information about other MS.”
3) Development of social entrepreneurship and the social economy
Ipse: How can the next European Parliament take full ownership of the issues of social entrepreneurship and development of the social economy so as to follow through with the proposals put forward in Strasbourg?
G.Z.: “Social business is a very delicate issue. Social business normally covers the sector of Services of General Interest. Here the question must be how to provide this to cover all parts of a Member States and all people. With the increasing number of older people, this challenge is crucial. For us this sector should not be privatized and not run for profit. For example, now big hedge funds are starting to take over care homes in some MS.”
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