C Explanatory memorandum by Mr Kolman,
rapporteur for opinion
1. In its
Resolution
1885 (2012) “The young generation sacrificed: social, economic and
political implications of the financial crisis”, the Parliamentary
Assembly expressed deep concern about the fact that the young generation
in Europe was disproportionately hit by unemployment, underemployment,
poverty and exclusion, and that without tangible improvement, Europe
risked not only producing a “lost generation” of disillusioned people,
but also undermining its political stability and social cohesion,
justice and peace, as well as its long-term competitiveness and
development prospects in the global context. The elements contained
in the report (paragraphs 45 to 49) confirm these concerns.
2. Following this line of thinking, I propose to add a particular
reference to “young people” in the draft resolution where it recommends
promoting and encouraging the participation of vulnerable categories
of people in recovery planning. I understand that the draft resolution’s
focus is on equality and I do not mean to minimise the importance
of involving other vulnerable categories of people in the process,
including women and migrants. I find, however, that it is important
to put an emphasis on young people’s participation in the recovery
planning, not only for equality purposes, but also because their
involvement is crucial for the future of our continent. As the Assembly
rightly suggested in its
Resolution
1885 (2012), adequately supporting young people today, even in times
of austerity, is the best investment Europe can make for its future
vitality and quality growth (Amendment A).
3. In its paragraph 7.8, the draft resolution recommends that
member States combat youth unemployment and social exclusion of
young people. Considering that
Resolution 1885 (2012) contains concrete measures regarding youth employability,
social protection and the promotion of active citizenship and social
dialogue, I propose to add a specific reference to this text (Amendment
C).
4. The report draws attention to the fact that the economic crisis
has had an overall negative impact on women victims of violence
in so far as they are more hesitant to leave their homes or ask
their partner to leave and are reluctant to file a complaint. This
of course is largely due to economic precariousness and has also disastrous
effects on children witnessing such violence. While I entirely support
the recommendation on adequately funding assistance and protection
services for victims of violence, I believe that ensuring such services
is only one of the many aspects of the protection of women against
violence. Therefore, in terms of adequate funding, I propose to
add a reference to programmes for preventing and combating such
violence in general (Amendment B).
5. Article 23 of the European Social Charter (revised) (ETS No.
163) stipulates that member States should provide elderly persons
with “adequate resources enabling them to lead a decent life and
play an active part in public, social and cultural life”. When assessing
adequate resources, the European Committee of Social Rights takes
into account all social protection measures guaranteed to elderly
people and aimed at maintaining an income level allowing them to
lead a decent life. In particular, the Committee examines pensions
and other complementary cash benefits available to elderly people.
These resources are then compared with median equivalenced income,
considering that the Committee considers pensions and social assistance
levels to be appropriate where the monthly amount of benefits –
basic and/or additional – paid to a person living alone is not manifestly
below the poverty threshold (set at between 40% and 50% of the median
equivalised income).
6. In the spirit of the Charter, the draft resolution recommends
that member States guarantee a minimum income for older people.
In view of the explanations above, I propose to make clear that
the said minimum income should be “adequate”, knowing that adequacy
should be interpreted in conformity with the decisions of the European
Committee of Social Rights (Amendment D).
7. Finally, I propose to reformulate the recommendation concerning
the ratification of the European Social Charter with a view to harmonising
it with the Declaration adopted by the Sub-Committee on the European Social
Charter on the occasion of the High-level Conference held last October
in Turin. In this Declaration, the sub-committee – which participated
in the Conference on behalf of the Assembly – called on European governments
and parliaments to strengthen the protection of social rights and
related mechanisms through a series of concrete measures, including
the ratification of the European Social Charter (revised), the Additional Protocol
providing for a system of Collective Complaints (ETS No. 158) as
well as the Protocol amending the European Social Charter (ETS No.
142, “Turin Protocol”) providing for the election of the members
of the European Committee of Social Rights by the Assembly (Amendment
E).
