Vera Jourova – Photo EC
(BRUSSELS) – The EU Commission set out its ‘Pillar of Social Rights’ Wednesday, setting out principles relating to labour markets and welfare systems and aiming at improving working and living conditions in Europe.
The ‘Pillar’ reaffirms principles and rights already present in the EU and international legal ‘acquis’ and are structured around three categories: equal opportunities and access to the labour market, fair working conditions and social protection and inclusion.
They place the focus on how to tackle new developments in the world of work and society at large so as to deliver on the promise of the Treaties of a highly competitive social market economy, aiming at full employment and social progress.
The principles are wide-ranging, and cover access to social protection, revision of the Written Statement Directive, Working Time Directive and work-life balance.
Delivering on the principles and rights defined in the European Pillar of Social Rights is a joint responsibility of Member States, EU institutions social partners and other stakeholders, says the EU executive.
The European institutions will help to set the framework and lead the way forward for the implementation of the Pillar, in full respect of Member States’ competences and social dialogue traditions.
In its statement, the Commission flanks the European Pillar of Social Rights with a number of further concrete legislative and non-legislative initiatives such as on the work-life balance of parents and carers, on the information of workers, and on access to social protection and on working time.
It says a number of principles and rights included in the Pillar will require further legislative initiatives to become effective. Where needed, existing EU law will be updated, complemented and better enforced.
A social scoreboard is also established to track trends and performances across EU countries in 12 areas and to assess progress towards a social “triple A” for the EU as a whole. This analysis will feed into the European Semester of economic policy coordination.
The Pillar is presented under two legal forms with identical content: as a Commission Recommendation, effective as of today, and as a proposal for a joint proclamation by the Parliament, the Council and the Commission. On this basis, the Commission will now enter into discussions with the European Parliament and the Council to work towards broad political support and high-level endorsement of the Pillar.
The EU is home to the most advanced welfare systems in the world and to a wealth of best practices and social innovations, but it needs to confront and adapt to unprecedented societal challenges, says the Commission.
Although economic and social conditions across Europe have improved and employment has never been as high, the aftermath of the crisis of the last decade is still far-reaching, from long-term and youth unemployment to risks of poverty in many parts of Europe. At the same time, the world of work and our societies are changing fast, with new opportunities and new challenges arising from globalisation, the digital revolution, changing work patterns and demographic developments. All levels of public authorities, social partners and civil society share a responsibility and an interest in working for a more prosperous and future-proof Europe, where economic and social developments go hand in hand.
MEMO: The European Pillar of Social Rights Questions and Answers
Factsheet: European Pillar of Social Rights
Commission Communication on the European Pillar of Social Rights
