Featuring: Kostadinka Kuneva, MEP & Malin Björk, MEP
Script & Production: Nikki Sullings & Matteo Aletta
Camera: Vasileios Katsardis

24.11.2016

The Greek Minister of Labour met with:

Gianni Pittella,

Gabi Zimmer,

Ska Keller,

Ernest Urtasun,

Georgi Pirinski,

Marita Ulvskog

Jean Lambert,

& Agnes Jongerius

Statements in English below:

Efi Achtsioglou – Greek Labour Minister - English:

We have concluded today a number of contacts at the European Parliament with important representatives of the parliament regarding the collective labour rights in Greece. From our side we have informed them about Greek Government’s views on the need of the reinstatement of collective bargaining in the country. Overall the MEPs that I have met, they strongly support Greek government’s views for the reinstatement of the country, in what is European acquis in labour rights. Furthermore they supported that Greece, should not be an exception from the European Social Model, but also that Europe will not accept Greece not to be part of the EU Social Model. MEPs which are covering a wide range of political parties, supported that they will do whatever is possible within their responsibilities to exert the necessary pressure in the political level so collective bargaining will be implemented again in the country. We estimate that during the Eurogroup on Monday there could be an initial agreement for all issues of the second evaluation and in this context certainly a key role will be the discussion about the labour issues. Exactly because, it’s a deeply political issue and not an issue that could be solved in technical negotiation level.

Gabi Zimmer – President of GUE/NGL English:

I was very happy that we had this meeting and that I got the opportunity to get information, because next week on Monday, there will be the next decisions, the next negotiation concerning for 3rd package for Greece and that’s why for me it was interesting to hear what kind of preparation, what is the status of the preparation now for this decision we are waiting for. For me it’s also clear, I would like to support the intentions and the advice by the expert groups, International Expert Groups telling Greece what are the best experiences in the Member states and what could be advised to stabilise the social and economic situation in Greece. That’s why I was a little beat astonished, now looking towards the next meeting, the next decision regarding the third package, that one of the most important issue is now the demand by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) not to accept the collective bargaining. Collective bargaining is one of the main rights for workers in the European Union. I also said that I would like to give a statement on this, and I would like to get in contact with the trade Unions, also to use their influence on Schauble, saying: Please don’t keep IMF on board, when IMF is saying that they will not accept collective bargaining. A lot of members in the Parliament, in the different Committees, in the Employment Committee but also in other Committees understand that now is the moment where we can show that we accept all the changes made in the last years in Greece and that we will now stop saying that the Greek people have to pay for the debt which was not made by the Greek people.

Ernest Urtasun - Green MEP - Spain

We just met the Greek Minister of Labour and we were discussing on the reforms that institutions are asking to the Greek government and of course we are concerned because some of the measures are not at all link to the EU best practises in the EU legislation. And that is why as Greens in the European Parliament, we will ask the EU institutions that the European Legislation when it comes to labour law its fully implemented in Greece and because we don’t want Greece to be an exception - where EU principles and legislation do not apply, so that is what we want to ask this week to the EU institutions.

Ska Keller – Green MEP – Germany

I think that it’s very clear that European Union Institutions need to uphold the European Union law also when it comes to Greece and especially when it comes to Greece, we cannot allow that one member state, is basically thrown out all the labour protection that we have inside the European Union because it’s under a program. We need to protect labour rights no matter where in the European Union.

Photos here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/131481887@N02/albums/72157673298386174

Video - Photos: Vasileios Katsardis

press CC on the youtube channel for English subtitles

Brussels, 28.11.2016

CONSIDERATION OF A DRAFT OPINION:
On the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2004/37/EC on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to carcinogens or mutagens at work

Cancer at work is the biggest individual threat when looking at the number of deaths in the developed world and this serious and preventable disease is rapidly becoming the most dangerous killer at places of work in most countries in the world. Especially in the EU, it is estimated that more than 100.000 deaths result each year from occupational-related cancer. Recent global data indicate that more than 600.000 fatal work-related cancers occur every year. It is a fact that cancer is the leading cause of work-related deaths in the EU accounting for 53% of annual occupational deaths. Around 20 million EU workers are exposed to carcinogens at work.
Notably for workers and their families, occupational cancer results not only in substantial loss as far as quality of life is concerned, but also in direct health care costs and indirect loss of present and future earnings. Occupational cancer impacts the economy at large too, reducing labour supply and productivity and increasing the burden on public finances through avoidable public expenditure on health care and other benefits. Finally, occupational cancer implies businesses staff replacement costs, productivity losses and the need to pay higher wages to compensate for the higher occupational risk.
The present proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2004/37/EC on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to carcinogens or mutagens at work, which is supported by an impact assessment, seeks to guarantee a high level of protection of workers’ health and safety in the EU, through the introduction at EU level of better occupation standards, regarding workers’ exposure to carcinogens or mutagens at work.
Specifically, the main objectives of the proposal are a) to improve workers’ health protection by reducing occupational exposure to chemical agents that may cause cancer or mutations; b) to ensure more clarity and to create a better level playing field for economic operators; and c) to increase the effectiveness of the EU framework for workers’ protection by updating it on the basis of available scientific evidence. These objectives are consistent with the fundamental right to life and to fair and just working conditions which respect his/her health, safety and dignity as set out in Articles 2 and 31 respectively of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.
This proposal seeks to bring within the scope of the aforementioned Directive a number of chemical agents that are recognised as human carcinogens in countries outside the EU or by international organisations such as the International Agency for Research on Cancer, but they are not yet classified under the current EU system. Specifically, it proposes to revise or to introduce EU-wide occupational exposure limit values for 13 chemical agents - including among others hardwood dust, vinyl chloride monomer respirable crystalline silica dust, hydrazine, refractory ceramic fibres etc. - on the basis of the latest scientific evidence, thus harmonising widely varying national limit values, where existent. This is estimated to save around 100.000 lives by 2069 for a total monetised health benefit quantified between at least 34 and 89 billion Euros.
As a result, I strongly support the aforementioned proposal, albeit with a number of amendments, which aim mainly at stressing the need for a precautionary approach regarding the implementation of this proposal. The limit values of such chemical agents should be therefore revised regularly in the light of the latest scientific and technical information and data as well as in the light of the latest improvements in measurement techniques, risk management measures and other relevant factors.
The precautionary principle can be defined as a general principle of EU law intended to be applied in order to ensure a high level of protection of health, consumer safety and the environment in all the Union’s spheres of activity . Whether or not to invoke the precautionary principle is a decision exercised where scientific information is insufficient, inconclusive, or uncertain and where there are indications that the possible effects on the environment, or human, animal or plant health may be potentially dangerous and inconsistent with the chosen level of protection . This principle is thus particularly important where there are uncertainties as to the impact of dealing with mixtures especially of toxic agents on workers’ health.
The above circumstances call essentially for the establishment of an effective cancer- or other related health problems-prevention paradigm that takes into account multiple interacting factors and the latest improvements in measurement techniques, risk management measures and other relevant factors. It shall be highlighted that more efforts are required in order to efficiently protect workers from the risks related to carcinogens and mutagens at work, as there are still various substances that are not included in the list of the proposal, that can potentially have an adverse impact on the health of workers . All substances that can increase the risk of occupational cancers must be covered by the EU legislation, in order to safeguard the fundamental rights to life, health and work for all involved human beings.
The European Union, the Member States but also the international community must strive hard towards this goal. International cooperation could help significantly to promote an ambitious program for “zero work-related cancer”. The cooperation between WHO, ILO and other institutions is therefore crucial. An efficient european programme supported by a well organised awareness campaign could be launched on the “Elimination of Occupational Cancer”. Finally emphasis should be laid on launching substitution of carcinogenic, mutagenic and reprotoxic substances in the authorization and restriction processes, where that is feasible.

(Deadline for tabling Amendments 08.12.2016)

Thank you....

Brussels, 28.11.2016

CONSIDERATION of a DRAFT OPINION:
On the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive (EU) 2015/849 on the prevention of the use of the financial system for the purposes of money laundering or terrorist financing and amending Directive 2009/101/EC (COM(2016)0450 – C8 0000/2016 – 2016/0208(COD))
Nowadays there is a growing european and global consensus that threats associated with money laundering and terrorist financing are constantly evolving. It is not a rare phenomenon that the modern financial system is being used for the purpose of money laundering and terrorist financing (e.g. the recent terror attacks in Paris). Its loopholes can facilitate tax avoidance and evasion, contributing to crime, non-transparency and wealth inequality and damaging the stability and reputation of the financial sector.
The present proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive (EU) 2015/849 on the prevention of the use of the financial system for the purposes of money laundering or terrorist financing and amending Directive 2009/101/EC aims to improve recent EU legislation on financial checks and transparency in order to further the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing.
Regarding this issue following five main problems have already been identified:
- 1. Suspicious transactions involving high-risk third countries are not efficiently monitored due to unclear and uncoordinated customer due diligence requirements;
- 2. Suspicious transactions made through virtual currencies are not sufficiently monitored by the authorities, which are unable to link identities and transactions; - 3. Current measures to mitigate money laundering/terrorist financing risks associated with anonymous prepaid instruments are not sufficient;
- 4. Financial Intelligence Units have limitations in the timely access to – and exchange of – information held by obliged entities;
- 5. Financial Intelligence Units lack access or have delayed access to information on the identity of holders of bank and payment accounts.
Under these circumstances, it is important to strike the right balance between putting in place sufficient checks and controls in order to tackle the aforementioned problems and protecting adequately the privacy and the related fundamental rights of the involved persons. Clear rules are required, that can effectively reinforce the vigilance by banks, lawyers, accountants and all other professional concerned.
In this context and in line with the proposal of the Commission Financial Intelligence Units shall be able to associate virtual currency addresses to the identity of the owner of virtual currencies. The threshold for payments using anonymous prepaid cards without carrying out systematic due diligence checks shall be reduced to 150 EUR and the due diligence check exemption for online payments shall be confined. Though it should be considered that these restrictions must not be so tight that such cards become unusable in practice.
Moreover central registries of the holders of bank accounts shall be set up in the Member States. Finally, increased obligations to declare, and provide access to information on the beneficial ownership of corporate structures, trusts, and similar arrangements, as well as common standards for dealing with financial transactions to and from high-risk third countries shall be introduced.
As a result the main lines of the Commission’s proposal shall be supported, with, however, some amendments that aim to strengthen the combat against money laundering and terrorist financing and to ensure the enforcement of fundamental rights also in this issue. To protect the legal economy in times of crisis, there must be no legal loopholes for organised crime to slip through. The current financial system should never function as laundromats for mafia money, or enable the funding of terrorism. In any case the EU institutions in proper cooperation with the Member States must continue to step up their efforts to effectively tackle this highly important matter.
(Deadline for tabling amendments 07.12.2016)

Thank you...