Laszlo ANDOR European Parliament Hearing Report

13 January 2010 - Issue : 869

Laszlo ANDOR
Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion EN CV

Our rating:

Capable is one word that would describe the Commissioner Designate Laszlo Andor and readiness to explore all means open to him via the Commission portfolio of Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion in a following era that could need him more than anyone, as unemployment figures are constantly said to rise this year and although not in the same crisis mode that the EU was in an exit strategy form it is still being formulated.

Green jobs are part of that, and he underline these, rights for women workers, poverty as part of Social Inclusion, children's rights, and mention again and again on what he plans to do on the Working time Directive. UK members and in particular European Conservative group Members did not shy away from making clear their view of Europe as promoting expensive workers to which Andor unabashedly described as a poor definition of what Europe does as the aim of Europe was labour rights and not expensive labour a strategy which works well and has worked well for Europe.

Family carers were highlighted as an active part of the workforce which should be protected by MEP Harkin. Green jobs Commissioner Designate Andor emphasized heavily were of the upmost importance and using social funds he mentioned that he was certain that some financial instrument of his portfolio can be used to enhance the growth of this sector.

MEP Zimmer commented on poverty as an issue to which Commissioner Designate Andor said that the year ahead of us is the European Year of Combating Poverty and one which should be utilized to raise awareness especially in the severe case of child poverty in the formative years which then hampers an EU citizens life model for the remainder of their life.

In a move that has not been covered beforehand Commissioner Designate Andor pledged to make an overview of the unemployment benefits of all the states and make sure to work further with Member States to improve upon these. Microfinance as a role in this portfolio was mentioned and asked on by various MEPs where Mr Andor mentioned an increasing role for the European Investment Bank increasing role only in terms of the Bank having much greater experience on bringing together various types of finance. "I mention this because often we create a separation between market economy and the true economy and I think we have to avoid that."
One minute is not enough time he underlined to solve the problem of poverty but looking at the root cause of the problem was his main priority.

The rights of the Roma and their inclusion as a peoples were raised by the only MEP who is a Roma MS L. Jaroka to which Mr Andor responded that he sees the Roma as a clearly disadvantaged group in particular in 5 member states fighting discrimination and having a lack of access to health, education housing etc and a consequence of the complexity of these problems is the way we now see the Roma population. New jobs are a large factor in the market and a hindrance to these that Mary Honeyball MEP mentioned was a European acceptance of vocational qualifications.
Part of the agenda of his commission he said will be in reducing unnecessary administration burdens and aiming for a simplification of regulation.

He d fully agree that perhaps the IMFs conditionality could be looked at and should be looked at with social awareness and fiscal policy to respond to these crises
"We need economic growth we need to come out of the crisis and we need a strategy that takes all these issues very seriously and develops practical solutions" said the Commissioner Designate in a hearing which was overall satisfactory. Dynamic no, satisfactory yes.

The Economic Crisis has severely hit EU society and is a test for the EU social model so the new college will have to come together to enforce solutions and economic challenges that remain.

Quotes

"Unemployment and hunger are rising and the long-term sustainability of the social model is in question again, immediate action is required"

"I come from a generation of transformation in Eastern Europe, a metamorphosis, and appreciate the inclusiveness of Europe especially the Lisbon Treaty"