On 5 October 2015, Labour and Employment Ministers from the European Union (EU) met in Luxembourg for the first part of the EPSCO Council (Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs) attended by the Minister of Labour, Employment and the Social Solidarity Economy, Nicolas Schmit, and the Minister of Social Security, Romain Schneider.
On this occasion, the ministers held a policy debate on social governance in the EU based on the Five Presidents' Report. They acknowledged the Commission's work on relaunching the social dialogue and adopted a decision on the guidelines for employment policy among Member States.
The Presidency reports on the first informal meeting of Eurozone Employment Ministers
During the press conference which followed the first part of the EPSCO Council, the Minister of Labour, Nicola Schmit, said that the Presidency had reported to the Council on the work carried out a little earlier in the day during the first informal meeting of Eurozone Employment Ministers. "This meeting has not only received praise, but has also been criticised", said Nicolas Schmit, who stressed that the Presidency had organised it "in such a way that we deem it to have been transparent for all Member States".
Towards better social governance
The ministers held a policy debate about social governance in the EU, based on a note from the Presidency, entitled: "Social Governance in an Inclusive Europe - The way forward". This discussion focused more widely on the work on the Five Presidents' Report concerning the deepening of Economic and Monetary Union (EMU).
On this subject, Nicolas Schmit welcomed a "very rich debate", highlighting that "everyone is convinced" that in the current context of the discussion on the Five Presidents' Report, "we must move towards better governance of the Eurozone". But "social matters must not be the poor relation" of this governance, the Minister said. According to him, it is now time to look at "what the best procedures and approaches might be in order to ensure that social questions are fully taken into account" and that this is done on "an equal footing".
The Minister insisted on the need for clarity with regard to the Council's work. "It is not about building processes that are not understood by citizens", continued Nicolas Schmit, who believes that, in this time of crisis, it must not be forgotten that "social matters are important and employment is fundamental". "What citizens expect from Europe in general, and especially from the Euro, is that social progress and employment should be at the heart of policies. There is a need to strengthen social governance, and in the Five Presidents' Report there is a certain number of concrete proposals which we can work on", indicated the Minister.
Romain Schneider, the Minister of Social Security, announced that the Presidency would present its conclusions on social governance in an inclusive Europe at the EPSCO Council on 7 December 2015. Furthermore, it will report on the outcome of discussions on the Five Presidents' Report in all the Council formations through a summary letter which Prime Minister Xavier Bettel will address to the President of the Council, Donald Tusk, for the European Council on 15 and 16 October 2015.
A package on worker mobility will be presented at the end of the year
Ministers also discussed the question of worker mobility in the EU, with the Commission currently in the process of drawing up a legislative package which should be presented by the end of the year. Within this context, the Commission has given information to the Council presenting the facts, figures and issues concerning worker mobility. Although worker mobility has brought certain economic advantages to the EU, there are also areas of concern, indicated Marianne Thyssen, the Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility.
While only 8.1 million European citizens (3% of the workforce) live and work in another Member State, the EU has 1.6 million cross-border workers and 1.3 million posted workers, recalled the Commissioner. "Freedom to work and live in another Member State is one of the fundamental rights of European citizens and is also one of the pillars of the internal market", she added, calling for the creation of clear and fair rules, which should be applied on the ground.Marianne Thyssen also announced that the Commission was in the process of carrying out a detailed analysis of existing regulations in order to identify areas for improvement. This work will complement the package on worker mobility which should be presented during the EPSCO Council on 7 December 2015.
In particular, the package on worker mobility will include a review of European regulations with regard to the coordination of social security systems, which must remain "fit for purpose" and fair. It will also include a goal for the review of the directive on the posting of workers, announced Marianne Thyssen.
On this subject, Minister Schmit welcomed the work of the Commission. It is a highly "topical subject", highlighted the Minister, especially with regard to the migratory flows in Europe. But it is also connected "to everything concerning equitable working conditions and all the problems involved in implementing the posting of workers".
Relaunching the social dialogue
The Ministers further acknowledged the work on relaunching the social dialogue, with the Commission having organised a large conference at the start of March 2015, as well as two thematic groups with social partners before the summer. "The Vice-President of the European Commission presented the main ideas of the Commission which aim to relaunch this dialogue, and one of the first steps for putting these into practice is the organisation of the Tripartite Social Summit", explained Nicolas Schmit.
Organised on the sidelines of the European Council on 15 and 16 October 2015, this summit, prepared jointly with social partners, will be held this year under the banner: 'Fostering Convergence, Creating Jobs and Growth: Strengthening the Role of Social Partners".
Member States' employment policies
The Council also adopted a decision on the guidelines for Member States' employment policies. These integrated guidelines for 2015 take account of the new economic policy approach based on investment, structural reforms and a responsible attitude towards budgeting. This includes: boosting demand for labour, enhancing labour supply, skills and competences, enhancing the functioning of labour markets, and fostering social inclusion, combating poverty and promoting equal opportunities.
These guidelines integrate "a certain number of innovations since they are inspired by and linked to the Commission's investment policies, in particular the Juncker Plan", indicated Nicolas Schmit. "It is very important to focus these guidelines on the creation of quality jobs", he continued.
The dossier on the gender balance among directors of companies remains blocked
The Council should also take a stance on the progress of the work concerning a directive aimed at improving the gender balance among directors of companies, on which the European Parliament adopted its position at first reading on 20 November 2013.
Answering a question from a journalist, the Minister Nicolas Schmit replied that the dossier would remain blocked for the time being. The Presidency proposed to remove it from the agenda until the EPSCO Council on 7 December, when a compromise proposal is expected, he indicated.