During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels (17-20 May 2021), MEPs debate on the Impacts of EU rules on the free movements of workers and services (in particular, the intra-EU labour mobility as a tool to match labour market needs and skills). Opening statements by Radan KANEV (EPP, BG), Rapporteur, Morten LØKKEGAARD (Renew, DK), and by Nicolas SCHMIT, European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights. This transcription speech is the result of an automatic process. Check against delivery.

Brussels

SCHMIT, Nicolas (LU, EC)

statement

debate

plenary session

LØKKEGAARD, Morten (Renew, DK)

legal migration (T)

free movement in the EU (T)

working conditions in the EU (T)

KANEV, Radan (EPP, BG)

Impacts of EU rules on the free movements of workers and services: opening statements by Radan KANEV (EPP, BG), Rapporteur, Morten LØKKEGAARD (Renew, DK), and by Nicolas SCHMIT, European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights

SOUNDBITE (Bulgarian), Radan KANEV (EPP, BG), Thank you, president, commissioner, colleagues, allow me to wholeheartedly thank all the colleagues with whom we worked together on this report. I think we found an excellent compromise, not as an end in itself, but as the path to come up with the best recommendation from the parliament to the commission and other European institutions.

SOUNDBITE (Bulgarian), Radan KANEV (EPP, BG), Clearly, we've struck a very important goal regarding the freedom to work and mobility and to provide services not as a problem for the EU, but we're seeing it as an opportunity, in particular, an individual right, a right for a European citizen. More than 15 years after the first enlargement to the East in 2004, mobility of labour is often considered as a problem, as a reason for conflict between East and West, rich and poor, employer and trade union, and between major economic interests linked to power in certain member states.

SOUNDBITE (Bulgarian), Radan KANEV (EPP, BG), Therefore, the question as to why this right of citizens has become a problem. Why are our strengths and freedom a source of conflict? Maybe my reply will be a bit unusual. I think that's because we've forgotten a Roman saying which underpins our constitutional democracy, namely that law is the weapon of the weak. So our legislative and political activity should not go along with populist demands, nor the interests of big business close to power in some member states, nor the interests of major trade unions at national level.

SOUNDBITE (Bulgarian), Radan KANEV (EPP, BG), And on the contrary, labour mobility policy must be based on the interests of the weakest. Those who are struggling to find opportunities on the labour market, those who are desperately trying to find a dignified way to earn a living and to provide for their families where a market of half a billion consumers, the richest consumers in the world, were a market of thousands of businesses that should be the freest and the most dynamic in societies that are not subject to political pressure.

SOUNDBITE (Bulgarian), Radan KANEV (EPP, BG), Existing in a community of law where the law is equal for all. This market must guarantee work for everyone on this market. That can be no room for poor workers or those working in undignified conditions. So the aim of this report is to turn the attention of the legislature, not to the interests and conflicts of the big players, but the interests of the small players to guarantee protection for workers from fraudulent employers or heartless bureaucrats so that the small company and the self-employed person are protected from unfair competition and useless red tape.

SOUNDBITE (Bulgarian), Radan KANEV (EPP, BG), When working on this report, we saw that it isn't too difficult. We don't have to reinvent the wheel. On the contrary, we need to apply the rules that exist rather than creating new ones and apply them in a uniform fashion throughout all member states. We don't need to create any new institutions, but the existing institutions need to formally commit to apply the powers that already fall to them.

SOUNDBITE (Bulgarian), Radan KANEV (EPP, BG), Because in the Treaty on the functioning of the EU, there is a shared responsibility in social policy, shared responsibility. However, the European institutions do not like to use. We need to draw lessons from the pandemic and I'm sure my colleagues will raise this. But let me just name one. The lesson of solidarity that the problem of the week often becomes the problem of the strong.

SOUNDBITE (Bulgarian), Radan KANEV (EPP, BG), The unqualified who are helpless with respect to the legal situation in various different member states, this will have an impact on food production, for example, these seasonal workers, the rules for these now has become catastrophic. It's become catastrophic for whole regions. The law and the labour market should be the right to information. That should be right to accessible information on rights and portability in all member states.

SOUNDBITE (Bulgarian), Radan KANEV (EPP, BG), This needs to be the main prerogative of the European Labour Authority. It has to use modern technology to help the weak on the labour market. Colleagues, the labour market is going to become ever more flexible and dynamic. Whether we like it or not, labour and services will become ever more mobile, particularly in the single market. I think that's a good thing.

SOUNDBITE (Bulgarian), Radan KANEV (EPP, BG), It should be an opportunity for more and more Europeans to develop themselves, to train and to overcome linguistic and other barriers. Our aim is to protect the rights against unfair competition and arbitrary administrative decisions. With this report, we set out the basis for the aim of this summit to be held next week. A continent without long term unemployment, without poverty based on a social economy, a new reading of wellbeing for all. This is what underpins the European model. Thank you.

SOUNDBITE (English), Morten L&Oslash;KKEGAARD (Renew, DK), Thank you, as rapporteur of the opinion, we in the committee think that there are many good points in the final report, for example, of the inclusion of passages on the freedom to provide services across the union, the freedom of workers to move around, and the consolidation of data exchanges between member states.

SOUNDBITE (Bulgarian), Radan KANEV (EPP, BG), I would also like to thank the employment committee for its cooperation in trying to incorporate as much as possible from our IMCO opinion. I know it's been some difficult technical difficulties. However, personally, I want also to take this moment to underline the importance of a free and functioning internal market.

SOUNDBITE (Bulgarian), Radan KANEV (EPP, BG), There are elements in this report that suggests that a free and functioning internal market is incompatible with fair working conditions. And this is, in my opinion, simply not true. Personally, I can therefore not endorse the full report as it stands now. Thank you very much.

SOUNDBITE (English), Nicolas SCHMIT, European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, Madam President, honourable members, let me start by thanking the rapporteur, Mr Kanya, and the Employment and Social Affairs Committee for this important report on labour mobility in the European Union, that these discussions are the best auspices during the social summit in Porto and new commitment was agreed to reinforce the social dimension of the EU.

SOUNDBITE (English), Nicolas SCHMIT, European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, The leaders of the EU institutions, heads of state and government, and the European social partners and civil society organisations recognise the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan as our way forward and endorse the new EU level 2030 targets on employment skills and poverty reduction. Labour mobility is a crucial element in the action plan, and it is at the heart of a well functioning single market.

SOUNDBITE (English), Nicolas SCHMIT, European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, Yes, I agree. Mobility to freedom of services is a fundamental freedom of the European Union. But it has to go along with fair working conditions. It has to be fair and it has to be just for everyone. And we have seen also that the freedom of mobility is not Anakie, which cannot be put into question, and it has been put into question to the covid-19 crisis, which really brings new challenges.

SOUNDBITE (English), Nicolas SCHMIT, European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, This crisis has highlighted the importance of ensuring the free movement of workers, in particular essential workers. But it has also unveiled the harsh reality of strained working and living conditions, especially of seasonal workers. The commission has been working to ensure that the measures to mitigate the housing emergency are non-discriminatory and proportionate. In March 2020, we issued guidance to safeguard the free movement of critical workers.

SOUNDBITE (English), Nicolas SCHMIT, European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, In July, we presented guidelines on seasonal workers in order to stress the rights of seasonal workers, including information and Social Security, and to ensure decent working and living conditions by addressing occupational safety and health, accommodation and transport. Posting of workers is another important element of free movement, as you have also highlighted in your report.

SOUNDBITE (English), Nicolas SCHMIT, European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, The revised posting directive ensures a level playing field between local companies and those providing their services across borders. And that's why this posting directive is so essential. Also precisely in the context of the internal market. It guarantees a court set of equal rights for posted workers with local workers, for instance, on minimum rates of pay, conditions of accommodation and hiring through temporary work agencies.

SOUNDBITE (English), Nicolas SCHMIT, European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, And we are monitoring closely how this directive is transposed into the national legislations. The modernisation of Social Security coordination rules will also contribute to facilitating free movement and protecting the rights of mobile citizens. And in this context, I hope also that with your support that legislators find an agreement on the revised rules that have been proposed by the commission, by the previous commission.

SOUNDBITE (English), Nicolas SCHMIT, European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, Looking ahead in 2022, we will examine the working conditions of posted workers in subcontracting chains and others working across borders, including also Third-country nationals. This is a request that parliament has put forward in its resolutions and that I am and that I am keen to follow up. We need to protect and enhance mobile workers rights while ensuring fair mobility based on a level playing field and responsiveness of labour markets.

SOUNDBITE (English), Nicolas SCHMIT, European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, A key novelty novelty's the establishment of the European Labour Authority. Still in its build up phase results are already tangible, with better access to information and inspections. Ella is launching an action plan on seasonal workers with an awareness raising campaign informing seasonal workers about their rights.

SOUNDBITE (English), Nicolas SCHMIT, European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, Labour mobility is one way of matching labour market needs and skills. And the youth network and online platform connecting public employment services, employers and job seekers is at the centre of the European labour market. At the same time, we also have to make sure people can develop the skills that are needed in their regions. This is a precondition for a fair and resilient recovery and the successful green and digital transitions.

SOUNDBITE (English), Nicolas SCHMIT, European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, The European Skills Agenda sets out concrete actions to empower individuals to learn, including the upcoming initiative initiatives on individual learning accounts with a for skills. We engage public and private organisations to join forces to upskilling and reskill people in Europe. And this paves the way to reaching the target of at least 60 percent of adults participating in training every year by 2030.

SOUNDBITE (English), Nicolas SCHMIT, European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, I welcome your resolution and this debate. We are striving to achieve the same goal, ensuring that the rights of mobile workers are protected at EU rules enforced and that the fair mobility is safe. Thank you.