Christophe Degryse Chronology 2004 Key events in European social policy JANUARY 13 January: Social dialogue: launch of the 29th “Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee on Local and Regional Government”. The social partners adopt a joint statement on telework. “CEMR-EP/EPSU Joint Statement on Telework” (http://www.telework-mirti.org/ telework_ statement_en.pdf). 14 January: Services of general interest: with 383 votes in favour, 123 against and 13 abstentions, the European Parliament approves the report by Philippe Herzog on services of general interest in the European Union “Report on the Green Paper on Services of General Interest”, Final A5-0484/2003, 17 December 2003. Services – Internal market: the Commission presents a proposal for a directive on the establishment of an internal market in services. “Proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on services in the internal market”, COM (2004) 2 final of 13 January 2004. 15 January: Employment: the ETUC publishes its reactions to the Commission communication entitled “Making Work Pay”. “ETUC rejects any approach which reeks of workfare”, ETUC Press Release, Brussels, 15 January 2004. Social developments in the European Union 2004 259 Christophe Degryse Employment: UNICE sets out its position on “Making Work Pay”. Speaking notes of Mr W. Beirnaert, Chairman of the UNICE Social Affairs Committee, Galway, 15 January 2004 (UNICE@news, January 2004, page 7). 16 January: Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Informal Council: the Employment and Social Affairs Ministers hold an exchange of views on the Commission communication “Making Work Pay”. “Modernising social protection for more and better jobs: a comprehensive approach contributing to making work pay”, COM (2003) 842 final of 30 December 2003. 21 January: Lisbon Strategy: the Commission publishes its spring report, the report on the implementation of the broad economic policy guidelines and the joint employment report. The mid-term objectives of the Lisbon Strategy have not been achieved. “Report on the implementation of the Internal Market Strategy (2003-2006)”, COM (2004) 22 final of 21 January 2004, “Communication from the Commission on the implementation of the 2003-05 broad economic policy guidelines”, COM (2004) 20 final of 21 January 2004, “Draft Joint Employment Report 2003/2004”, COM (2004) 24 final of 21 January 2004. 26 January: Social Security: the Council adopts its common position on the proposal for a regulation aimed at replacing the system for the coordination of social security systems (Regulation (EEC) No.1408/71). 2558th Council meeting – General Affairs, Brussels, 26 January 2004 (5518/04, presse 25), Bulletin of the European Union, No.8633 of 29 January 2004, page 17. 27 January: Social dialogue: the Community of European Railways (CER) and the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) sign two agreements negotiated as part of the European social dialogue on the European driving licence and the working conditions of railway workers assigned to cross-border services. “Agreement on the European licence for drivers carrying out a cross-border interoperability service” and “Agreement on certain aspects of the working conditions of mobile workers assigned to interoperable cross-border services”, Brussels, 27 January 2004. 260 Social developments in the European Union 2004 Chronology 2004 FEBRUARY 10 February: Financial perspective: the Commission proposes a budget representing on average 1.14% of the enlarged EU’s wealth between 2007 and 2013. Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament “Building our common future: Policy challenges and budgetary means of the Enlarged Union 2007- 2013”, COM (2004) 101 final of 10 February 2004. 11 February: Working time: with 370 votes in favour and 116 against, the European Parliament adopts the report by the Spanish Socialist Alejandro Cercas Alonso on the Working Time Directive. It calls for compliance with the maximum working week of 48 hours and an end to abuse of the opt-out clause. Bulletin of the European Union, No.8643 of 12 February 2004, page 16. “Report on the organisation of working time (Amendment of Directive 93/104/EC)”, Final A5-0026/2004 of 29 January 2004. 12 February: Working time: “The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) welcomes the broad support of the European Parliament on the revision of the Working Time Directive”, ETUC Press Release, Brussels, 12 February 2004. 18 February: Services of general interest: the Commission proposes new rules to increase legal certainty for services of general economic interest following the Altmark judgment of the Court of Justice, Press Release, IP/04/235, Brussels, 18 February 2004. 19 February: Social cohesion: the third report on the cohesion policy for 2007-2013 is published by the European Commission. A new partnership for cohesion. Convergence competitiveness cooperation. Third report on economic and social cohesion, – COM (2004) 107 of 18 February 2004, Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, Luxembourg. Non-discrimination: publication of the joint report on equality between women and men in 2004. Report from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions “Report on equality between women and men, 2004”, COM (2004) 115 final of 19 February 2004. Social developments in the European Union 2004 261 Christophe Degryse MARCH 1st March: Social policy: publication of the scoreboard on implementing the social policy agenda. Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions “Scoreboard on implementing the social policy agenda”, COM (2004) 137 final of 1 March 2004. 3 March: Employment/Social security: the Commission publishes a communication on older workers and early retirement arrangements. Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions “Increasing the employment of older workers and delaying the exit from the labour market”, COM (2004) 146 final of 3 March 2004. Internal market: the Commission publishes its third railway package which provides for the liberalisation of the international passenger transport market in 2010. Communication from the Commission “Further integration of the European rail system: third railway package”, COM (2004) 140 final of 3 March 2004. 4 March: Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council: the Employment and Social Affairs Ministers approve the key messages for the European Council at the end of March in the field of employment, social protection and social inclusion, and equality between women and men. 2567th Council meeting – Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs, Brussels, 4 March 2004 (6436/04, presse 53). 5 March: Employment: 2004 report of the social partners on the implementation of the employment guidelines in the Member States. ETUC, UNICE/UEAPME and CEEP, “2004 Report on social partner actions in Member States to implement employment guidelines”, 5 March 2004. Competencies and qualifications: publication of the second follow- up report of the social partners on the framework of actions for the development of competencies and qualifications. ETUC, UNICE/ UEAPME and CEEP, “Framework of actions for the lifelong 262 Social developments in the European Union 2004 Chronology 2004 development of competencies and qualifications”, Second follow-up report, 5 March 2004. 11 March: Social security: Parliament adopts at first reading the report by the French Socialist Marie-Hélène Gillig on the annual updating of Regulation (EEC) No.1408/71 on the application of social security schemes to employed persons, self-employed persons and members of their families moving within the Community, Bulletin of the European Union, No.8665 of 13 March 2004, page 12. “Report on the proposal for a European Parliament and Council regulation amending Regulation (EEC) 1408/71 on the application of social security schemes to employed persons, to self-employed persons and to members of their families moving within the Community and Regulation (EEC) 574/72 laying down the procedure for implementing Regulation (EEC) 1408/71”, Final A5-0058/2004, 18 February 2004. 23 March: Social Europe: 300 leading figures launch an appeal for a treaty for a social Europe. Press Release, “Changer l’Europe pour sauver l’Europe”, by Pierre Larrouturou, Bernard Hayette and Catherine Minard, Union pour l’Europe Sociale (http://www.europesociale.net/index.php). 24 March: Social dialogue: the European social partners in the construction sector publish a brochure in favour of the employment of young people and elderly workers. “A Challenge: integrating young people in the company - A Solution: Tutorship”, Brussels, EFBWW and FIEC, Press Release, 24 March 2004. 25 March: Tripartite social summit: the European social partners highlight the need to strengthen the links between national and European initiatives in order to revitalise the Lisbon Strategy. Bulletin of the European Union, No.8674 of 26 March 2004, pages 9 and 10. 25-26 March: Spring European Council. Council of the European Union, Brussels European Council, Presidency Conclusions, 25 and 26 March 2004. 26 March: Health and safety: “Commission consults workers and employers on reducing exposure to substances that cause cancer and reduce fertility”,