Communiqué de presse Pervenche Berès en délégation avec le commission de l’Emploi et des affaires sociales, pour la préparation de la présidence hongroise de l’Union européenne.

A delegation of the EP Employment and Social Affairs committee in Budapest on 18 and 19 November to discuss the priorities of the Hungarian Presidency

A delegation of 10 MEPs from the Employment and Social Affairs committee were in Budapest on 18 and 19 November in the context of the Hungarian Presidency which will take place during the first semester of 2011. The impact of fiscal consolidation on social inclusion policy and the Roma issue were among the priorities discussed.

MEPs met the Employment and Labour Committee of the Hungarian Parliament, Sándor Czomba, Minister of State for Employment Policy with Zoltán Balog, Minister of State for the Roma and Social Inclusion, Enikő Gyoti, Minister of State for the European Union, Miklos Rétheyli, Minister of National Resources as well as representatives of trade unions and employers’ organisation.

The impact of fiscal consolidation on social inclusion policy and the Roma issue were among the priorities discussed. MEPs advocated a priority for employment, workers mobility within the EU. They also discussed the single permit for third country nationals where negotiations are likely to continue during the Hungarian Presidency a well as legislation on the conditions of entry and residence of third country nationals for the purpose of seasonal employment and intra-corporate transfer. They also expressed their wish to have a first-reading agreement on the proposal for a directive on electromagnetic fields which will be presented in the next few days.

The future of the European Globalisation Fund and the European Social Fund was also on the agenda. In this respect, MEPs visited a project funded by the European Social Fund – a development program aiming at the promotion of leading an independent life, improvement of chances in education and employment for youth with hearing impairments.

MEPs raised questions on the impact of the upcoming flat rate tax regarding its efficiency in combating poverty and inequality and insisted on EU values in combating populism and extremism which may be rising in a situation of economic and social crisis, such as the one facing the EU.

The delegation led by the Chair of the Employment and Social Affairs Committee Pervenche Bérès (S-D, FR) is composed by the political groups coordinators Csaba Öry (EPP, HU), Alejandro Cercas (S-D, ES) and Jean Lambert (Greens/EFA) as well as Elisabeth Morin-Chartier (EPP, FR), Georges Bach (EPP, LU), David Casa (EPP, MT), Véronica Lope Fontagné (PPE, ES), Kinga Göncz (S&D, HU) and Stephen Hughes (S&D, UK)