Member states continue same policy approach while the social situation worsens
At the EPSCO Council meeting of December 9, European ministers for employment and social affairs reached a long awaited agreement on the posting of workers. They furthermore had a first exchange of views on the Annual Growth Survey 2014 (AGS) and the scoreboard of employment and social indicators, included in the draft Joint Employment Report.
On the European Semester, it was said that member states welcomed the analysis provided by the Commission in the AGS and that they generally agreed with the continuation of the policy priorities. Some member states however voiced the opinion that it is about time that new priorities are set. Whereas Social Platform agrees with the observation that the social situation is still problematic and even getting worse with "unemployment expected to remain unacceptably high in many parts of Europe for some time to come, and the broader social situation remains depressed", we cannot accept the AGS remains focussed on austerity, emphasising competiveness, growth and jobs without taking proper account of the social implications of current macroeconomic policies and offering few solutions.
With over 26 million unemployed and around 125 million (1 out of 4) at risk of poverty or social exclusion, it is clear that the current governance approach has not delivered on the Europe 2020 poverty and employment targets. We need a new approach fostering social investment in the context of a coherent social strategy that ensures adequate social protection and promotes quality employment. The draft Joint Employment Report clearly stated that it is " in the interest of all Member States to ensure that employment and social challenges are addressed in a timely and effective manner". It is therefore regrettable that the EPSCO did not discuss concrete actions to be taken to restore the balance between social and economic governance. The achievement of the Europe 2020 poverty and employment targets should be prioritised, and policy reforms have to be assessed in advance to ensure macro-economic objectives do not prevent the realisation of social priorities but enable them.
Read the Conclusions of the EPSCO Council of December 9-10
Read Social Platform's letter to the European Council of December 19-20
2013-12-12
