WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1728/97 by Esko SEPPÄNEN to the Commission. Asymmetrical impact on the Nordic welfare model of EMU criteria uniformly applicable to Member States
25. 2. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 60/39 On a proposal from the Commission, discussions have started with the Member States about the withdrawal of the export refund from exporters who have not fully respected the rules on the welfare of animals during transport. A new legal basis has been proposed (to the basic regulation for beef, Council Regulation (EEC) No 805/68 on the common organisation of the market in beef and veal), stipulating that in the case of exports of live animals, the payment of the export refund shall be subject to the respect of the animal welfare standards, as set out in Community legislation. (1) From 1995 due to the enlargement of the European Union Austria, Sweden and Finland are included in the statistics. (2) New green ECU from 1. 2. 1995: old amount x 1,207509. (3) OJ L 148, 30. 6. 1995. (98/C 60/64) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1728/97 by Esko Seppa¤nen (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (23 May 1997) Subject: Asymmetrical impact on the Nordic welfare model of EMU criteria uniformly applicable to Member States The Member States of the Union are not homogeneous: their economic and social structures differ significantly from one another. Under the Nordic welfare model, social security is guaranteed to all on an individual basis. As a result, women have been freed from the obligatory caring role and dependence on men as breadwinners which prevail in societies where womenís place is deemed to be in the home. Public services provide jobs for women and enable them to find employment. Because of womenís dependence on the State, cuts in public expenditure have a direct impact on womenís opportunities to make a living. Thus the EMU criteria, and particularly the constraints on public budgets, affect men and women differently in different countries depending on how social security is organized there. In view of the above, I would ask: What will the Commission do to overcome the problem that the EMU criteria applicable to all affect men and women differently in different countries? Answer given by Mr de Silguy on behalf of the Commission (31 July 1997) Cuts in public expenditure are not an objective of the economic and monetary union (EMU) criteria. If the EC Treaty insists on limits to public deficits and debt › among other conditions of equal importance › it is to ensure a policy-mix favourable to growth and employment. Long-run sustainability in public finances is a necessary condition for financial market stability, low interest rates and private sector confidence, which themselves are essential prerequisites for investment, growth and job creation. The EMU criteria are the same for all Member States. They constitute no infringement on the Nordic welfare model, nor on any other social arrangement remaining under national responsibility. The financial viability of any social policy programme depends crucially on the underlying strength and income-generating capacity of the economy. The EMU criteria do not have an impact on the legal equality of right of men and women. They do not affect the equal treatment of men and women on the labour market granted by national law