Translation of "Partage des droits " (French → English) :

It would appear to be the case that a number of finance ministers have persuaded their governmental colleagues – but not, it is to be hoped, the Heads of Government – to limit unanimity on the Financial Perspective and to change over to mere consultation rather than approval, thereby both restricting a right of the European Parliament and also qualifying Parliament’s right to give final approval in the Budget procedure – which is actually the most powerful right that this House possesses in the Budget procedure – by making it a right shared between the Council and Parliament. It would appear that some are determined, as part of the constitution ...[+++]-framing process, to have this core right of the European Parliament in their sights.

3. Draws attention to its report on the entitlement of divorced or separated women to share their husband’s pension rights in the Community Member States (A3-0418/93, debate held on 21 January 1994) and regrets the fact that the Commission has never followed up the conclusions to that report, in particular by means of a measure requiring all the Member States to make provision for the sharing of pension rights acquired during marriage with a view to ensuring that the spouse who interrupted his or her professional life in order to take on family duties enjoys in ...[+++]dependent social security cover;

That is why the Commission participates fully in the decision-making process in the Council, that is why we have a shared right of initiative – not a sole but a shared right of initiative – in these issues.

As long as families are stable, pension systems may provide adequate protection through derived benefits.With increased family instability, the issue of sharing pension entitlement between spouses becomes more and more important.

1. Welcomes the drafting of a European Union Charter of Fundamental Rights, which will contribute to defining a collective patrimony of values and principles and a shared system of fundamental rights which bind citizens together and underpin the Union's internal policies and its policies involving third countries; welcomes therefore the progress made in this connection since the European Council meeting in Tampere, in particular the establishment of the joint Convention composed of representatives of the Heads of State and Government, the European Parliament, the parliaments of the Member States and the Commission;

It is important to recall that, in almost all areas of Justice and Home Affairs, the Commission and Member States, for a transitional period of five years following the entry into force of the Treaty of Amsterdam, share the right of initiative for legislation.