Labour Reforms in Central Europe: Creating flexible labour markets and safeguarding workers’ rights 2012. 04. 12. 'How to create jobs, improve competitiveness of the European economy, establish a more flexible labour market while keeping safeguards for workers?' were the questions in focus yesterday at an EPP Group Hearing dedicated to the recent labour reforms of three Central European countries - Romania, the Czech Republic and Hungary.
International Roma Day: EPP Group dedicated to making further progress on the inclusion of Roma 2012. 04. 04. Commenting on the International Roma day on 8 April, the Chairman of the EPP Group in the European Parliament, Joseph Daul MEP, and Lívia Járóka MEP, the only Member of the European Parliament of Roma origin, stated: "8 April is the International Roma Day, devoted to celebrating Roma history, culture and raising awareness of the situation that Romani people are facing. Though further progress shall be made, we have much to celebrate since last year. The adoption of the European Roma Strategy, and the creation of national action plans brings promise to the whole Romani community that the inclusion of Roma can become a tangible reality. The EPP Group, as before, is fighting at the forefront to make this happen."
Chemical plants will become safer in the EU – EP prerogatives safeguarded in Seveso. 2012. 03. 29. "From June 2015, chemical plants working with hazardous substances will become safer in the EU. Yesterday, the European Parliament and the Council concluded a First Reading Agreement on the revision of the Directive on the control of major-accident hazards involving dangerous substances (Seveso III). The Directive covers about 10,000 industrial players all over the EU. Within the new legislative framework, high-level safety standards will continue to be ensured, but in some specific fields, the Regulation will become even stronger", highlighted János Áder MEP, EPP Group Rapporteur of the Seveso Report.
Serbian Enlargement Report adopted by the European Parliament. 2012. 03. 29. On the occasion of the adoption of the Enlargement Report for Serbia in the European Parliament's plenary, EPP Group Spokesman, György Schöpflin MEP, said: "I welcome all the achievements made by the country to date, however, the road to EU membership will be long, at times difficult. After achieving candidate status on 1 March 2012, Serbia needs to meet all the benchmarks and continue the reform process in order to get the date to start the EU accession negotiations. At the same time, Serbia is in the middle of a political campaign, heading towards the elections on 6 May 2012. Hence this Report can serve as a guide for the next Serbian Government in its stance towards Europe", pointed out György Schöpflin MEP.
International Roma Day in the EP 2012. 03. 28. Yesterday evening the Bulgarian EPP Group Delegation organized a celebration in the European Parliament honouring the International Roma Day. MEP Lívia Járóka, a host of the event spoke about celebrating Roma culture, paying tribute to the centuries-long common history of Roma and non-Roma, and underlined the necessity of effectively implementing the European Framework for National Roma Inclusion Strategies.
International Women’s Day: Gender pay-gap must be eliminated 2012. 03. 14. Today, EPP Group MEP Lívia Járóka took part in the working breakfast for members of the EP Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality to celebrate the 101st International Women's Day with the participation European Commission President José Manuel Barroso and Vice-President Viviane Reding.
Mr Swoboda should put his own house in order first 2012. 02. 23. Press Release by the Hungarian EPP Group Delegation – The Hungarian EPP Group Delegation calls on Hannes Swoboda to refrain from giving advice to the Hungarian Government and to other political groups. By enormously indebting Hungary between the years 2002-2010, it is the previous Socialist-Liberal Governments’ failed economic policy that has led Hungary into a difficult financial situation. Mr. Swoboda was not worrying that time. Also, Mr Swoboda's Group was not worrying about the state of Hungarian democracy when real violations of human rights happened during the governance of his Socialists colleagues. Mr Swoboda's concerns are not credible, we ask him therefore to put his own house in order first before giving advice.
MEP Lívia Járóka called on Commissioner Reding to enforce EU law and Commissioner Kroes to respect the facts 2012. 02. 16. EPP Group MEP Lívia Járóka met EC Vice-President Viviane Reding to discuss the national implementation of the EU's framework strategy on Roma inclusion and drew her attention to the hateful billboard-campaign of the Slovakian National Party. Earlier this week Járóka wrote a letter to Neelie Kroes EU Commissioner on Digital Agenda concerning her statements during the European Parliament's committee hearing on the situation in Hungary.
Hungary: judgement has been made before the end of the trial 2012. 02. 16. Kinga Gál MEP and Simon Busuttil MEP - "By adopting a condemning Resolution on Hungary, the Socialist, Liberal, Green and Communist Groups of the European Parliament are neglecting the fact that there is an ongoing dialogue between the Hungarian Government and the European Commission. These Groups have already made their judgement before the end of this process. This is the authoritarian method. This is the method which is against European values. With the adoption of this premature and groundless Resolution, the Left and Liberal parties of the EP are undermining Hungarian people's trust in the European Union and the credibility of the European Parliament", declared Kinga Gál MEP, Vice-Chairwoman of the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee (LIBE) of the European Parliament, and Simon Busuttil MEP, EPP Group Coordinator in the LIBE Committee, after the vote on the Resolution on Hungary.