<p>Debate on the Framework Agreement on parental leave, during the EP plenary session (09-12 May 2016) in Strasbourg. Statements by Maria ARENA (S&amp;D, BE), Rapporteur, Vera JOUROVA, Member of the EC in charge of Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality, and Iratxe GARCIA PEREZ (S&amp;D, ES), Krzysztof HETMAN (EPP, PL), Arne GERICKE (ECR, DE) and Marian HARKIN (ALDE, IE)</p>

Strasbourg

plenary session

vote

JOUROVÁ, Věra (EC)

HARKIN, Marian (ALDE, IE)

GARCÍA PÉREZ, Iratxe (S&D, ES)

ARENA, Maria (S&D, BE)

parental leave (T)

HETMAN, Krzysztof (EPP, PL)

GERICKE, Arne (ECR, DE)

Framework Agreement on parental leave: extracts from the debate

SOUNDBITE (French), Maria ARENA (S&amp;D, BE), Rapporteur, "Only 2.7 % of men take advantage of the parental leave so you see this disparity that  exist between the reality that women live and the reality that men live."

SOUNDBITE (French), Maria ARENA (S&amp;D, BE), Rapporteur, "When parental leave is transferable we do strengthen traditional models, that is to say women represent the social model and men represent the economic model so when the transferability is left free this strengthens this stereotype and it is women who take the parental leave and men only up to 2.7%. So we advocate that this parental leave should not be transferable, or it should be at least be transferable in certain limit, in a way that doesn't reinforce the traditional roles."

SOUNDBITE (French), Maria ARENA (S&amp;D, BE), Rapporteur, "So we advocate that when there is parental leave, this parental leave has to be paid fairly, also because we have draft a report on poverty and we see there too that women suffer from poverty a lot more than men, because they have to take leave which is incorrectly paid and therefore there is a question of remuneration that needs to be revised."

SOUNDBITE (French), Maria ARENA (S&amp;D, BE), Rapporteur, "What we are saying is that we have to protect the worker, the female or male worker who decides to take a parental leave so when she or he comes back, they can come back to the recommended employment and be protected in this choice."

SOUNDBITE (English), V&#277;ra JOUROV&#193;, Member of the EC in charge of Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality, "We intend to set out a new start as a broad package of measures that may include legislative and other while fully respecting the subsidiarity and the proportionality principles.  The package would contain measures on different pre-arrangements, flexible working, child care and long term care. A reflection on tax benefit systems free from disincentives to work for both parents is also worth considering."

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Iratxe GARC&#205;A P&#201;REZ (S&amp;D, ES), "Non-transferable and independent leave rights. When the leave is not independent and it is transferable, then women become the only responsible for the care of their children. However when those possibilities are independent and non-transferable men also take their share of the burden. This means that Member States of the European Union have to make further progress to adapt the legislation; otherwise we cannot hope to achieve a better reconciliation between family and working life."

SOUNDBITE (Polish), Krzysztof HETMAN (EPP, PL), "I don't think we can increase the participation of fathers in the family life by increasing the mother's transfer of parental leave to fathers; we have to exploit the possibilities available which are represented by what already exist in the current legislation. We can't intervene that much in family life."

SOUNDBITE (German), Arne GERICKE (ECR, DE), "The whole question of definition is problematic, what is parental time? Take a look at the different member states, you will find 28 different definitions of this. 'One size suits all' that is simply not possible against such a backdrop. This is why we think we should show moderation. We should to ensure that we only create minimum standards without excessive red tape."

SOUNDBITE (English), Marian HARKIN (ALDE, IE), "We call for paternity leave directive; we say it is essential and urgent. We ask member states to extend the period of parental leave currently at four months, that is in particular for parents of children with disabilities, this is very important and recognises the special circumstances which those parents face. We also call on the Commission and the Social partners to increase the age of the child for which parental leave can be taken, again this builds flexibility and it allows to a life cycle approach."