News

On February 19, we exchanged views with members of the European Parliament on the social dimension of European economic governance. These discussions took place in the context of our first bi-annual meeting this year with the Parliament's Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL Com), chaired by Ms Pervenche Bérès. During the meeting, it became clear that many of the points we brought up were shared by the Committee.

Talking about the Annual Growth Survey (AGS) of 2013, we pointed out how it fails to address the worsening social situation in Europe – increasing unemployment and poverty rates and rising inequalities. This is why there is an urgent need for social investment instead of continuing the austerity measures that are aggravating the situation. In this context, we are calling for an integrated European Anti-poverty Strategy and to give social policies the same priority as economic policies. In the same line, the chair of the Committee pointed out how the EU, through the AGS and European Semester, should follow up more closely on the social pillar of the Europe 2020 Strategy. This is also reflected in the report the Parliament adopted on February 7 on "the European Semester for economic policy coordination: employment and social aspects in the Annual Growth Survey 2013".

Following our call for enhancing equality as a tool to achieve the EU goals for sustainable, economic and inclusive growth, MEP Elisabeth Schroedter mentioned that the EP agreed to ask the EMPL Com to prepare a report on the implementation of the Employment Equal Treatment Directive.

Looking at promoting the investment in services of general interest and social entrepreneurship, and the strengthening of social protection, we touched upon the issues of social housing. We also had an interesting exchange on the Social Business Initiative and the concept of social entrepreneurship, going beyond micro-financing. We pointed out how to address the dangers of linking the support under this programme to innovation and the rapporteur, MEP Becker, promised to take up our points to avoid any misunderstanding.

A common interest was identified in the meeting of the Council in June, as member states will then take further decisions on the future of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). Both the Committee and Social Platform are of the opinion that the EMU cannot exist without a strong social pillar.

Read our position paper on the different topics discussed during the meeting.

Our next bi-annual meeting with the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs will take place in six months time.