An old SPD demand suddenly causes an uproar before the general election.
It's about unemployment, the EU - and a concern of Chancellor candidate Olaf Scholz.
Berlin - A good ten days before the federal election * a debate about a demand from the SPD election program * suddenly boils up: It is about a wish of the party of Chancellor candidate Olaf Scholz * for the EU: A "permanent European unemployment reinsurance".
It should ensure "that all member states can fulfill important social security functions even in times of severe economic crises," says the Social Democrats' program.
The
picture
put the topic on Wednesday under the heading “Are we going to pay unemployment benefits for Greeks and Spaniards soon?” On the agenda.
The association of medium-sized companies in Germany was appalled as a result: the plans "perverted the idea of solidarity", explained association managing director Markus Jerger.
Olaf Scholz: Dispute about the SPD election demand - that's what "unemployment reinsurance" is about
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Olaf Scholz at an election campaign event in summer 2021.
© View / dpa
Nonetheless, Jerger spoke of “European unemployment insurance” instead of “unemployment reinsurance” - quite a difference.
The second can also be found in the agenda of EU Commission President * Ursula von der Leyen (CDU).
In 2018, Scholz had presented specific internal plans on the topic, including the
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
quoted from a corresponding paper at the time.
Accordingly, loans were provided for countries in which many people lose their jobs in the short term.
The prerequisites for access to reinsurance would be minimum standards for the load-bearing capacity of the unemployment systems.
According to the SPD * plans, the contributions of the participating countries could come from either tax revenues or contributions from employees and employers.
So it is not about permanent cross-financing of unemployment benefits.
But very much about specific costs.
SPD before the federal election: Entrepreneurs and FDP sharply criticize Scholz's plan
"The pain threshold of 40 percent that every employee pays to the German welfare system month after month has already been reached," said medium-sized company representative Jerger, according to a statement.
"Before the general election, Olaf Scholz has to make it clear that he is not aiming for a European transfer and debt union."
The FDP also expressed sharp criticism.
“Why should German employees and employers be liable for the imbalance of unemployment funds in other countries?
Europe needs more jobs and no more redistribution, ”said financial expert Florian Toncar of the
picture
.
SPD and Union: GroKo parties disagree on election programs - Greens would be part of European reinsurance
Scholz had already praised unemployment reinsurance as an "important contribution to preventing future crises in the EU" in a public discussion in 2018. The Greens also spoke out in favor of the instrument in order to be able to cushion “asymmetrical shocks” in individual countries - it can also be found in their election manifesto * as a way to “stabilize in the event of a crisis”. In 2019, the EU Parliament also called for corresponding plans - in some cases with votes from the EPP parliamentary group, which includes the CDU and CSU.
The Union parties speak out in their election manifesto * against “a European unemployment, pension or health insurance”.
However, they do not make any specific statements about unemployment reinsurance.
However, the position of the CDU and CSU on the subject is known.
Economy Minister Peter Altmaier (CDU) cashed in on Scholz's plans in 2018.
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