EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT COMMITTEE ON EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS Notice to members 1/2004 19 December 2003 Report of the Employment Committee Delegation to Dublin Meeting with the Irish Presidency 24-25 November 2003 The delegation had a one and half-day programme. On the first day, Monday 24 November, the delegation met with Dick Roche, Minister for EU Affairs and visited an IT training project (Fastrack into Information Technology). On Tuesday 25 November, the delegation met with Ministers Frank Fahey (Labour Affairs) and Mary Coughlan (Social and Family Affairs), with representatives of the Social Partners and also held a meeting with members of the Committee on Enterprise and Small Business as well as the Committee on Social and Family Affairs. Monday 24 November 2003 p.m. The EMPL delegation started with a briefing on the political, economic and social situation in the country by the head of the European Parliament's office in Ireland, Mr James O'Brien. The meeting with Minister Roche focused on the Lisbon agenda and the need to making the EU more jobs friendly. The Minister stressed the importance attached to the KOK report and to unrestricted access to the single market. Regarding the IGC he was steadfast in his defence of the need to maintain unanimity in the area of taxation and criticised the idea of a "passerelle" as not very democratic. He highlighted the danger of moving up in the tax rate to the detriment of consumption (and employment) in the case of harmonisation of the tax rates. Members argued that by maintaining tax competition there is the possibility of a loss of revenue that could benefit social programmes. The Minister stressed the need to address the challenge of bridging the divide between the citizen and the EU. He invited the European Parliament to contribute in developing an initiative focused on creating linkages with the citizen. CM\480025EN.doc PE 324.364 Or. EN EN EN Fastrack into Information Society (FIT) The presentation of this programme offered an example of partnership between government and business. The programme aims at the integration of disadvantaged persons into the labour market and addresses the changing profile of jobs by offering specific training on IT skills. The programme runs on a voluntary basis with the involvement of more than 70 organisations, while individual participants to the programme retain their allowances (unemployment or other). This programme offers an example of CSR that has met considerable success in combating the digital divide. Tuesday 25 November 2003 The meeting with Ministers Frank Fahey and Mary Coughlan, offered an overview of the Irish Presidency's priorities in the field of labour and social affairs (see draft programme in the annex). These focus on rendering employment attractive (make work pay), preparing the workplace of the future and working towards an "achievable" agenda for Lisbon. On the legislative side, the importance of concluding work on 1408/71 was stressed. Minister Coughlan indicated that a political agreement should be reached by 1st December and that work on the annexes should also be concluded by 22 December so as to facilitate the presentation of the Common Position to the EP. The Working Time Directive, for which the consultation of social partners is under way, will be discussed at the March Council, while the (eventual) revision of the European Works Council Directive will be also discussed at the Tripartite Social Summit. For the Temporary Workers Agency (TWA) the Ministers indicated that they did not expect any developments. Although Ireland is one of the four countries blocking the adoption of the Directive, the Ministers stressed that they support the flexibility that comes with it, as in Ireland many temporary workers are in the higher end of the market. They also stressed that these workers have the right to equal treatment under the Irish law. Meeting with the social partners The contacts with the Irish Business and Employers Confederation (IBEC) and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions highlighted the benefits brought by the social partnership model, which was introduced at the time of high unemployment. The combination of policies favouring foreign direct investment and a stable social environment contributed to the prosperity of the country. However, rapid economic development neglected the strengthening of some social services like childcare. This is recognised as one major hurdle in increasing the participation of women in the labour market. At the same time about 75% of part-time workers are women (a third of the whole female working population) and this situation explains partially the wage gap between men and women. The trade unions expressed some concern at the extension of the open method of coordination (OMC) beyond the general orientations for employment, as this may replace legislation thus weakening the interests of workers. Meeting with members of Parliament At the meeting with members of the Committee on Enterprise and Small Business and of the Committee on Social and Family Affairs, the issues of adequate social welfare and social protection were discussed. The work of the Convention and the position of the EP with regard to the need to guarantee the social rights in the Treaty were stressed by EMPL members. PE 324.364 2/8 CM\480025EN.doc Or. EN EN DELEGATION TO DUBLIN 24 - 25 November 2003 LIST OF PARTICIPANTS Members: Mr. Theo BOUWMAN, Chairman Verts/ALE Mr. Bartho PRONK PPE-DE Mr. Carlo FATUZZO PPE-DE Mr. Proinsias DE ROSSA PSE Ms. Jillian EVANS Verts/ALE Mr. Brian CROWLEY UEN CM\480025EN.doc 3/8 PE 324.364 Or. EN EN DELEGATION TO DUBLIN 24 - 25 November 2003 DRAFT PROGRAMME MONDAY 24 NOVEMBER 2003 Morning Flight to Dublin 14.00 Meeting with the EP Information Office Dublin, Mr. James O'Brien 15.00 - 16.00 Meeting with Minister for EU Affairs, Government Buildings Merrion St, Dublin Dick Roche 2 16.30 - 17.30 FIT (Fastrack into Information AIB Bank Centre, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, Technology) IT training project visit Contact:Peter Davitt 00353-1-868234006 19.00 Dinner hosted by Irish Business and Confederation House Employers Confederation (IBEC) 84-6 Lr Baggot St, Dublin 2 Contacts: Ray Farrelly, Maria Cronin, 00353-1-86 3812881, -87 2236816 TUESDAY 25 NOVEMBER 2003 09.30 - 10.30 Meeting with David Begg, General 31/32 Parnell Square, Dublin 2, Contact: Secretary of the Irish Congress of Eileen Sweeney, 00353-1-8897725 Trade Unions 12.00 Meeting with Minister for Labour Parliament offices Affairs, Frank Fahey and Minister for Leinster House, Dublin 2 Social and Family Affairs, Mary Coughlan 13.15 Lunch hosted Oireachtas Committee on Members Restaurant, Leinster House Enterprise and Small Business and Social and Family Affairs 15.00 - 16.00 Meeting with Oireachtas Committee on Parliament offices, Leinster House, Dublin Enterprise and Small Business 2, Contact: Rita Sexton 6183744 16.00 - 17.00 Meeting with Oireachtas Committee on Parliament offices Social and Family Affairs Leinster House WEDNESDAY 26 NOVEMBER 2003 Morning Departure for the airport PE 324.364 4/8 CM\480025EN.doc Or. EN EN Irish Presidency of the EU (1 January – 30 June 2004) DRAFT Programme in the areas of Employment, Social Policy and Equality KEY PRIORITIES Ireland’s Presidency comes at a time of great change for the European Union. Making a success of enlargement will be a key priority for the Irish Presidency. This will involve the successful integration of the new Member States into the workings of the Union and the extension of the Union’s policies to them. In pursuing sustainable social and economic growth, as set out in the Lisbon agenda, the central issues for the Irish Presidency will be to make employment a priority and to maintain a high level of social cohesion and social protection. The Presidency will advance the EU legislative programme in the areas of anti-discrimination and equal treatment. The draft programme set out below outlines the key priorities of the Irish Presidency in the areas of Employment, Social Policy and Equality. Although the detailed programme has not yet been finalised, the important issues to be dealt with during the Irish semester are as follows: 1. Taking Stock of Achievements under the Lisbon Objectives: The Irish Presidency, in co- operation with the Commission and the relevant committees, aims to present, for the first time, an integrated key messages paper to the Spring European Council in 2004. The key messages will reflect the Council’s work on Social Inclusion, Pensions, Demographic Developments, Making Work Pay, Gender Equality and the employment-related policy challenges addressed in the report of the Employment Task Force “Jobs, Jobs, Jobs; Creating More Employment in Europe” 2. European Employment Strategy. The Employment Guidelines and Broad Economic Policy Guidelines are now prepared as a co-ordinated and synchronised package, and the 2004 Spring European Council will provide the first opportunity to assess this new streamlined approach. The Employment Taskforce has undertaken an in-depth examination of key employment related policy challenges, and its recommendations will be addressed by the 2004 Spring European Council on the basis of the Joint Commission/Council Employment Report. 3. Co-ordination of Social Security for Migrant Workers. The Irish Presidency will actively continue the process of reform of Regulation 1408/71 with the aim of reaching agreement with the European Parliament before the end of its term in May. In co-operation with the Hungarian Government, a conference will be held in Budapest in May 2004, involving all 25 Member States, on the implications of the reform of the Regulation, and on the practical aspects of its implementation in the new Member States. 4. Social Dialogue makes a vital contribution to promoting a more job-intensive pattern of economic growth.