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{EMPL}Committee on Employment and Social Affairs
{4/10/2012}4.10.2012
NOTICE TO MEMBERS
(06/12)
Subject: Public hearing on the Statute for a European mutual society during the EMPL Committee meeting of 20 June 2012
Within the context of a forthcoming EP legislative initiative report on the Statue for European mutual society, for which the EMPL Committee is associated to the JURI Committee under Rule 50, a Public Hearing was held during the EMPL Committee meeting on 20 June 2012.
The rapporteur for opinion, Ms Regina Bastos, introduced the discussion by recalling the main aim of the draft opinion, which is to make progress on the internal market by allowing mutuals to operate on level footing with other forms of enterprises. Ms Bastos pointed to the positive role that mutual societies have played during the crisis and stressed the EMPL Committee's responsibility to contribute to the report because of important effects on the labour market.
Mr Grard Andreck, President of the MACIF group, expressed strong appreciation in favour of a European statute and pointed to the positive aspects of this form of enterprise - democratically governed, non-profit making, organized according to a solidarity principle, valuing sustainability, avoiding speculation and defending social interest, particularly highlighting the importance of mutuals in the insurance and health sector in Europe. He also raised the point that during the crisis, mergers between different mutuals were emphasized but that there are no tools yet to merge at a European level, which poses an obstacle to competitiveness. Whereas MACIF has embarked upon some strategies for European development, Mr Andreck stressed that the entrepreneurial model of mutuals deserves to be treated like any other and should therefore be given a tool to develop a European legal group, thus enabling them to join in groups and allow cross-border mergers.
Mr Grgor Pozniak, Secretary General of AMICE (Association of Mutual Insurers and Insurance Cooperatives in Europe) pointed to the attractiveness of mutual societies both from a microeconomic point of view (as a good replacement for the withdrawing public hand providing quality services for individuals) and for macroeconomic reasons (increasing choice is better for markets and citizens, diversification of insurance risk). After presenting the particularities of mutual societies, Mr Pozniak brought forward the following common issues encountered by the mutual societies: current limits on cross-border activities, the necessity to establish subsidiarity, a model not known in other countries, the formation of a group is much harder for mutuals than for others. The speaker also stressed the fact that there is a variety of mutuals with a multitude of needs and preferences and that thus, the calls for solution sometimes differ.
Mr Pedro Bleck da Silva, Chairman of AIM Group (Association Internationale de la Mutualit) highlighted the history and tradition of mutual societies as well as their principle of solidarity, which is at the heart of European welfare systems. Citing a 2011 European Parliament study on mutuals, Mr Bleck da Silva stressed the added value and the social responsibility of mutuals (a way of exercising active citizenship, sustaining social protection systems, cushioning negative consequences of the crisis, stabilizing and diversifying the economy) and suggested that the crisis represents a unique opportunity to encourage the mutual business model as an alternative to strengthen a sustainable economic and social development in Europe. He pointed to the need for a statute for a mutual society by highlighting that this would enable mutuals to develop across Europe and truly work at European level, to benefit from the single market and to strengthen the European social model.
During the debate, EMPL Members raised questions regarding the possible threats which might endanger the Statute; how the high number of specific characteristics and different models of mutual societies could be taken into account when harmonizing all national legislation; the main obstacles of a European statute; the common point to have in mind for a legislative proposal without prejudice to the current model; possible other obstacles to the creation of European mutuals (besides statute).
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CM\914902EN.doc PE492.706v02-00
EN United in diversity EN
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