David Martin, MEP

TU Matters September 2010

CONCERN OVER EU-COLUMBIA FTA
As colleagues may be aware, in May this year the EU initialled a Free Trade Agreement with Colombia. The European Parliament must eventually give its approval to this Agreement in order that it can be ratified by the EU. The deepening of economic ties with Colombia causes me and many centre left colleagues in the European Parliament great concern due to the alarming treatment of trade unionists and human rights defenders in that country. The statistics speak for themselves: 46 trade unionists were murdered last year in Colombia and this year there have already been 25 killings.  
       I met this week in Strasbourg with several MEPs also working on trade and human rights in order to discuss our strategy for supporting the trade union campaign on Colombia. Several MEPs who had participated in the Justice for Colombia delegation in July presented their experiences. They met with a whole range of different actors from government officials to trade unions and NGOs and the families of victims of government repression. It was clear from their accounts that while the Colombian government claim it is taking strong measures to put an end to the harassment, disappearances and murders of trade unionists and human rights defenders, the truth according to the victims and their families couldn't be more different. The Colombian government point to the fact that the murder rate is lower now than 10 years ago as evidence of an improving situation. However what the government fails to admit is that over the last few years, the murder rate has actually been steadily increasing.
       Questioning the Commissioner for Trade, Karel De Gucht, I have strongly insisted that there should be an unequivocal human rights clause in the Agreement with the provision to suspend the agreement where human rights violations occur and asked the Commission to detail the procedure for such a suspension. I wanted to know what role Parliament and interested third parties such as trade unions would play in any proposal or decision to suspend the agreement. The Commissioner confirmed that a breach of such a clause could lead to the unilateral suspension of trade preferences without prior consultation and that such a suspension would be made through a decision taken under qualified majority by the Council on the basis of a proposal either by the Commission or the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (Catherine Ashton).
       We know that this Free Trade Agreement won't come to the European Parliament for approval until the end of next year. The college of Commissioners within the European Commission has first to adopt the agreement at the beginning of next year and the Council of Ministers (EU Member State governments) must refer the agreement to the Parliament for approval before next summer.  In this interim period, MEPs nonetheless have a political power which we will try to use to ensure the European Commission commences independent monitoring of the human rights situation in Colombia. Up until now the European Commission has relied on the investigations and evidence of the International Labour Organisation. It is vital however that fully independent, transparent and in depth monitoring takes place in Colombia.
NON-EU MIGRANT WORKERS
The Commission has presented proposals for a directive establishing a common EU framework for a fast-track procedure for admission of third-country (non-EU) nationals coming to an EU Member State for seasonal work, typically in agriculture, horticulture and tourism. It is based on the existence of a work contract or a binding job offer that specifies a salary - considered vital in order to avoid an unfair advantage for employers and exploitative working conditions for seasonal workers. Seasonal workers will be allowed to work for a maximum of six months a year – a limit designed to ensure genuine seasonal work. To prevent exploitation and protect health and safety, legal provisions applying to working conditions are clearly defined and include the possibility of extending a contract, or changing employer within the six months to reduce the risk of abuse if tied to a single employer. Employers must also provide evidence of appropriate accommodation.
DAY OF ACTION – 29 SEPTEMBER
A major day of action organised by the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) is planned for 29 September when trade union delegations from across Europe will march in the streets of Brussels. The protest will be against the irresponsible speculation of certain financial institutions and the austerity measures inflicted on workers as a result.
ACTING ON BANKING TRANSACTIONS
A broad coalition made up of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), political organisations and trade unions calling for a European-wide Financial Transaction Tax (FTT) staged an action outside the meeting of EU Finance Ministers in Brussels this week (7 September). The campaign for a global financial transaction tax (FTT) began in February this year as the so-called ‘Robin Hood Tax’.  It advocated a tax of 0.05% on speculative banking transactions with the revenue generated targeted for development in third world countries and alleviating poverty. The European Parliament called on the Commission to carry out an assessment to see how far such a tax could also contribute towards stabilising financial markets and easing the burdens associated with government interventions to repair the banking system. In Barosso’s ‘State of the Union’ speech on Tuesday, he announced his intention to “continue to insist that banks, not taxpayers, must pay up front to cover the costs of their own risks of failure” and he continued “as part of this approach, I am also defending taxes on financial activities and we will come up with proposals this autumn”.  Mr Barroso did not give convincing details about how the Commission plans to tax the financial sector, define the concepts of a financial transaction tax or a financial activities tax (between which there is an enormous difference in revenue-raising potential) or indicate exactly how, or to where, the revenue would  be directed. It is unjust that the poorest are made to pay the price for bankers’ greed through cuts in schools or life-saving medicines. A tax on financial transactions should make the banks foot the bill for the misery they have caused.
FINANCIAL SUPERVISION
This month MEPs successfully concluded negotiations with the Commission for agreement for a new European Systemic Risk Board (ESRB) and three European Supervision Authorities (ESAs) for banks, insurance and pensions companies and a third for securities and markets. Some of the specific points that MEPs called for were a broader range of skills and experiences represented in ESRB and the confidential briefing of senior Members of the European Parliament by the ESRB President on a regular basis - improving democratic oversight of the whole supervisory system. The ESAs may temporarily prohibit or restrict harmful financial activities or products with the European Parliament able to veto the appointment of ESA chairpersons and have a say in the development of the technical standards and implementing measures.
EUROPE’S FUTURE TRADE POLICY
Following the 'Europe 2020' paper adopted by the European Commission on 3 March 2010, the European Commission launched a broad public consultation on the future direction of EU trade policy, the intention being to help establish trade policies to achieve the objectives of the 'Europe 2020' Strategy. The purpose of the consultation was to gather views from relevant stakeholders, especially trade unions, regarding the rationale, scope and strategic objectives for a future EU trade policy. The consultation was open to all stakeholders within the EU and in third countries and closed on 4 August. The Commission services will prepare a report on the Consultation which will be published in October.
PROMOTING YOUTH ACCESS TO THE LABOUR MARKET
In July this year a hugely important report, encouraging Member States to give particular attention to youth employment was approved at the Strasbourg Plenary. Youth unemployment imposes heavy social and economic costs on our societies, resulting in the loss of opportunities for economic growth. Identifying the barriers which young people face - such as earning a living wage and having access to childcare for young parents - is crucial in helping them back into work. I supported the Parliament's call for a European Youth Guarantee to provide training, apprenticeships and jobs for Europe's young people. We cannot overestimate the huge effect youth unemployment has on a generation and on society as a whole and all young people should be able to leave school or university and find jobs and training.
WOMEN IN PRECARIOUS WORK
The European Parliament’s Women’s Rights and Gender Equality Committee’s report on Precarious Women Workers is presently awaiting its first reading. The Parliament’s Employment and Social Affairs Committee’s suggestions to the report include calling on the Commission to support a step-by-step transformation process of precarious workers into regular work, the facilitation of opportunities for trade union participation, Works Council participation and co-determination rights for all workers, irrespective of the nature of their contract. The Committee also adopted a report urging the Commission to present an action plan to report on age discrimination in the same manner as on other human rights.