Summary of the Discussion During the Informal Meeting of Employment and Social Policy Ministers
Date: 24-1-2003
The Informal Meeting of Employment and Social Policy Ministers, chaired by Minister Mr. Dimitris Reppas, took place in Nafplion on the 23rd and 24th of January 2003.
The semester of the Greek Presidency coincides with the need for the Union to come to a series of decisions, the outcome of which may alter in fundamental ways the contribution EU processes may make to employment and to social cohesion in the member states. After five years of operation, the review of the European Employment Strategy may lead to employment taking a wider role in the overall Lisbon Strategy.
For social cohesion, the progress attained in the separate fields of social protection must be consolidated in order to highlight the contribution of the EU to securing the European Social Model. The Informal Council gave the opportunity for Ministers of Employment and of Social Affairs, the European Commission as well as the representatives of the social partners and of NGOs to discuss, in a free and frank manner, some of the fundamental issues underlying the future evolution and shaping of European societies.
The priorities that have been set by the Presidency, regarding employment and social policy are the promotion of following issues:
On Employment
- Full and sustainable employment (more jobs)
- Quality and productivity at work (better jobs)
- Cohesive and inclusive labour markets
On Social Policy
- Modernisation of the European Social Model,
- Streamlining in the area of Social Protection and Social Cohesion processes in the EU
With regard to Employment, the Greek presidency focused the discussion in the revision of European Employment Strategy taking into consideration:
- the conclusions of Barcelona, for simpler and more efficient guidelines, according to the need for the harmonisation of various processes of co-ordination of policy of EU
- the evaluation of the European Employment Strategy (EES) and its positive impact in job creation and the reduction of unemployment, and
- the need for a new, more ambitious and effective European Employment Strategy, capable to face the new challenges-for example the rapid economic change, the demographic prospects and the enlargement of the EU.
This Informal meeting was an opportunity to discuss the revision, the simplification, and the evolution of the European Employment Strategy which will be in effect for the next three-year period in the European Union and which will be agreed during the Greek Presidency, in the Spring Council of the EU on the 21st of March this year.
The Preparatory meeting took place on the afternoon of the 23rd January and was attended by the Social Troika, the Economic and Social Committee, the Social Partners, the European Parliament, the Commission, the General Secretariat of the Council and the Chairmen of the Employment and Social Protection Committees.
The Informal meeting of the Council of Employment and Social Affairs was held on the 24th of January and underlined the need for effectiveness and inclusiveness in employment policy. The discussion focused on better governance of the EES, specifically via the broader involvement of social partners and civil society, and streamlining of the strategy with other EU political co-ordination policies such as the Broad Economic Policy Guidelines and policies on social protection.
On the overall theme, discussions showed a shared understanding that the following is necessary:
- Broad agreement on the three over-arching objectives of the new EES
- Full employment (more jobs)
- Quality and productivity (better jobs)
- Cohesive and inclusive labour markets for all citizens.
- The increase and improvement of investments in human capital with the mobilization of public and private funding, in order to face up to accelerating economic and social restructuring and to promote a knowledge based economy. The contribution of the Structural Funds and especially of the European Social Fund is crucial and must become more effective focused and flexible.
- The strengthening of entrepreneurship, especially for small and family-owned firms, in order to facilitate the creation of more, better and sustainable jobs.
- The gradual transformation of undeclared work and the underground economy into legal employment and economic activity.
- The active integration of immigrants in society and in the labour market, which is also essential for addressing the impact on employment and on the labour force of the ageing population. This should be defined in an appropriate way.
- The promotion of a new equilibrium between flexibility and security. Enterprises should be adaptable and flexible, with a better-trained workforce keen to assume initiatives, to participate, and which is responsive to change. Workers should feel safer, through a richer range of choices, so that they can develop their skills and qualifications and be satisfied in their work on an ongoing basis.
- The better governance of the Employment Strategy (EES), especially through the wider involvement of social partners and civil society and the harmonization of the strategy with the other EU coordination policies, such as the Broad Economic Policy Guidelines and the policies on social protection.
- Moreover, there was a wide consensus on the need to set priorities as proposed and specified in the Communication on the Future of Employment Strategy. These specific priorities may be supported wherever possible by quantified targets, including inter alia, the Lisbon Strategy targets and other more specific ones: getting women (back) into work, helping older workers to stay in work and making work pay.
Finally, there was widespread support for the following:
- The review of the EES must also lead to the simplification of the relevant procedures for drawing up and monitoring the National Action Plans for Employment.
- Synchronization will improve coherence between the policies. Nevertheless, it is also necessary to avoid overlapping and this can better be achieved by providing that the Broad Economic Policy Guidelines relevant to employment are formulated in a sufficiently general manner, given that the European Employment Strategy and the Employment Guidelines will specify the policies in detail.
- With streamlining, the monitoring of implementation of the EES becomes part of the broader monitoring of the Lisbon Agenda, which takes place in the Spring Summit of the European Council. The Joint Employment Report and the Communication on the Future of Employment Strategy thus assumes a greater significance as a contribution to the preparation of the Spring Summit.
- Although the increased focus on implementation certainly necessitates the identification of targets and indicators, the question of indicators, targets, and benchmarking remains to be examined further on the basis of the suggestions made by the Commission, the debate with the European Parliament and other European institutions, the Social Partners and in particular the conclusions of the European Spring Summit.