Corruptionon the European Pillar of Social Rights
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
EESC DEBATESEuropean WITHEconomic ORGANISED and Social Committee CIVIL SOCIETY IN THE MEMBER STATES CorruptionON The European Pillar of Social Rights European Economic and Social Committee 004 005 FOREWORDS BY THE INTRODUCTION RAPPORTEURS 004 005 Georges DASSIS Jacek P. KRAWCZYK President President of the Employers’ Group 006 Gabriele BISCHOFF President of the Workers’ Group 007 Luca JAHIER President of the Various Interests’ Group 002 | EESC DEBATES WITH ORGANISED CIVIL SOCIETY IN THE MEMBER STATES ON THE EUROPEAN PILLAR OF SOCIAL RIGHTS 008 OUTCOMES FROM THE DEBATES WITH ORGANISED CIVIL SOCIETY IN THE MEMBER STATES 008 Outcomes from the debates with organised civil society 011 AUSTRIA 066 ITALY 015 BELGIUM 070 LATVIA 017 BULGARIA 075 LITHUANIA 021 CROATIA 079 LUXEMBOURG 026 CYPRUS 082 MALTA 029 CZECH REPUBLIC 086 NETHERLANDS 034 DENMARK 089 POLAND 036 ESTONIA 093 PORTUGAL 042 FINLAND 098 ROMANIA 045 FRANCE 102 SLOVAKIA 048 GERMANY 106 SLOVENIA 053 GREECE 111 SPAIN 057 HUNGARY 114 SWEDEN 061 IRELAND 119 UNITED KINGDOM EESC DEBATES WITH ORGANISED CIVIL SOCIETY IN THE MEMBER STATES | 003 ON THE EUROPEAN PILLAR OF SOCIAL RIGHTS INTRODUCTION Georges DASSIS President It is essential to ensure that the pillar is ‘‘not just a statement of principles or good intentions, but actually strengthens social rights by means of concrete and specific tools (legislation, policy-making mechanisms and financial instruments) so that it has a positive impact on people’s lives in the short and medium term and supports European integration in the 21st century. uilding a Europe that has greater public support, that in the EESC – and to gather their opinions. The EESC thus held is closer to people’s needs and that is able to promote in-depth debates in all 28 Member States before adopting its shared and sustainable growth: this is one of the opinion on the EPSR. Each of these debates was coordinated great challenges for our time. In order to meet this by three EESC members, in many cases in cooperation with Bchallenge effectively, the European Union needs to find a rapid the European Commission or the national Economic and and tangible response to the growing sense of frustration and Social Council. They were attended by representatives from anxiety felt by many people, caused by uncertain prospects a broad range of employers’ organisations, trade unions and for the future, unemployment, rising inequality and a lack of other civil society organisations, and also, to a lesser extent, opportunities. The establishment by the European Union of a from the world of academia. European Pillar of Social Rights can help with this, by allowing us to consolidate the EU’s social acquis and bring it fully into The EESC opinion sets out some ideas and initial proposals the 21st century. aimed at addressing some of the main challenges facing Europe. The EPSR must deliver a positive project for all, with It is therefore now more important than ever to listen to policies that promote the consolidation of employment, the public and to meet their expectations. The EESC has social progress and productivity, as drivers of sustainable emphasised in many of its opinions the need to correct the growth, and of national social protection systems and flexible imbalance between the social and economic dimensions of labour markets that are ready to face the future. Furthermore, the European project. I was therefore particularly happy on the future of work needs to be a key priority for the pillar, in 4 February 2016 when Mr Juncker promised me, in response order to ensure that it is fair and inclusive, and brings social to my concerns, that the Commission would officially ask our progress. Contrary to the proposal initially put forward by the Committee for an opinion on the pillar of social rights, and in Commission, the EESC feels that the pillar should apply to all March 2016 when he kept that promise. Member States, though it acknowledges that it may prove necessary to establish specific instruments or mechanisms There are two areas where our Committee has invested heavily for the euro area. Application of the existing social acquis in proportion to the modest resources available to us: the should be encouraged, and the pillar should allow progress refugee situation and the pillar of social rights. In both cases to be made on introducing a European minimum income; this our working methods have been innovative: we went out would help to combat social exclusion, to ensure economic into the field, in each country, to talk to national civil society and territorial cohesion, to protect individuals’ fundamental organisations – including the many that are not represented rights (including those of migrants), to strike a balance 004 | EESC DEBATES WITH ORGANISED CIVIL SOCIETY IN THE MEMBER STATES ON THE EUROPEAN PILLAR OF SOCIAL RIGHTS between economic and social objectives, and to distribute The consultation on the pillar is only a starting point. The resources and income fairly. In addition, the EESC calls for a EPSR needs to become an integral part of the discussions on European social investment pact, for stronger social dialogue the future of Europe that will be held at the Rome summit and collective bargaining, and for a transformation in social in March 2017, and we need to innovate for the future. It is protection systems to make them more sustainable, by essential to ensure that the pillar is not just a statement of prioritising resources to convert them into effective public principles or good intentions, but actually strengthens social investment, while fully respecting and promoting social rights by means of concrete and specific tools (legislation, rights. It also highlights the specific and major role played by policy-making mechanisms and financial instruments) so the social economy and social innovation. that it has a positive impact on people’s lives in the short and medium term and supports European integration in the 21st I would like to thank everyone who contributed to this century. publication, which serves to highlight the richness of these debates and allows for further reflection. FOREWORDS BY THE RAPPORTEURS Jacek P. KRAWCZYK President of the Employers’ Group I believe that the Pillar should become a tool for ‘‘promoting and driving reforms in the Member States. I was pleased to see that the importance of growth, competitiveness and job creation was underlined in many debates. The national debates showed the richness and diversity both The national debates clearly demonstrated a strong owner- in the national systems, priorities and circumstances as well ship of the national social and labour market systems. Our as the topics discussed. They constitute a major part of the starting point must be full compliance with the division of added value of our joint work on the European Pillar of Social competences between the EU and the Member States and Rights. with the subsidiarity principle and respecting the role of the social partners. For instance, as stressed in the EESC opinion I believe that the Pillar should become a tool for promoting on the Pillar, the key competence and autonomy of the na- and driving reforms in the Member States. I was pleased to tional social partners in regard to wage-setting processes see that the importance of growth, competitiveness and job must be fully respected, in accordance with national practic- creation was underlined in many debates. For the employers, es. As shown by the national debates, employers’ represent- the future of work – with all its opportunities and challenges atives generally oppose the idea of further legislation in the – is a key priority in the discussions concerning the Pillar. field of social policies. Growth-enhancing labour market reforms are necessary in light of changing skills needs, demographic developments, technology and new forms of work organisation. A renewal of the flexicurity strategy should play a major role in future- proofing our labour markets and social systems. EESC DEBATES WITH ORGANISED CIVIL SOCIETY IN THE MEMBER STATES | 005 ON THE EUROPEAN PILLAR OF SOCIAL RIGHTS Gabriele BISCHOFF President of the Workers’ Group The debates confirmed broad support ‘‘for a Pillar of Social Rights. They illustrated that the future of the EU is strongly linked to delivering on its social objectives. In 2017, the European Union celebrates 60 years since the For the Workers’ Group, the EPSR provides a key opportunity signing of the Treaties of Rome. Sixty years in which Europeans to address many of these issues coherently, putting fairness have worked together to build a common project based on and opportunities for all at the centre. The Pillar must provide peace, solidarity, peace, freedom, democracy, solidarity and a positive project for Europe’s citizens, to realise the promise prosperity for all. Much progress has been made but the in the Treaties for a social market economy that brings social European Union now faces significant political, social and progress and improves their living and working conditions. economic challenges. In organising national debates on The debates illustrate the importance of civil dialogue and the the European Pillar of Social Rights in the (still) 28 Member added value of involving organised civil society in formulating States, the EESC heard, from the grassroots level, civil society solutions to our common challenges and in shaping our organisations’ priorities and recommendations regarding common future. I would like to thank all the members and Europe’s social dimension. the Committee’s staff who contributed to this work and who continue to work to ensure that the voice of civil society is The debates confirmed broad support for a Pillar of Social heard at the European level. Rights. They illustrated that the future of the EU is strongly linked to delivering on its social objectives.