At a civil society conference organized by the Social Platform in Athens (10-11 December 2013), the Minister of Labour, Social Security and Welfare, Yiannis Vroutsis, after referring to the challenges facing the European Union, presented and analyzed the priorities of the upcoming Greek Presidency of the Council of the EU in the field of Employment and Social Policy.

 

The priorities of the Greek Presidency in the field of employment and social cohesion are structured on three axes:

 

1. Promoting employment and combating unemployment by enhancing the effectiveness of structures, financial instruments and institutional reforms that ensure a labour market open to everyone.

2. Strengthening the social dimension of the Economic and Monetary Union placing emphasis on social investments and social innovation.

3. Promoting social dialogue at all levels as well as mobilizing wider social, productive and other bodies with a view to boosting employment and deepening the social dimension of European policies.

 

The Greek Minister of Labour stressed that the Greek Presidency will promote decisively the substantial integration of the social dimension of the EMU in the European Semester process and welcomed the introduction of the ‘scoreboard of key employment and social indicators’ reported in the draft Joint Employment Report and the opportunities the scoreboard can provide. Moreover, the Minister highlighted the issue of tackling youth unemployment as one of the top priorities of the Greek Presidency, underlying also the need for creating adequate and sustainable social protection systems and ensuring minimum safety nets in order to address social phenomena such as poverty. With regard to the specific objectives of the Greek Presidency, the Minister of Labour referred to the monitoring of the progress as regards the implementation of ‘Youth Guarantee’ programme, the adoption of a Recommendation that would set the Quality Framework for Traineeships as well as to the fight against undeclared work. 

 

Mr. Vroutsis also stressed the need for coordinated efforts and cooperation with civil society, NGOs, social partners, Member States and the EU to promote growth, employment and social cohesion and strengthening the social dimension agenda in general. The Greek Presidency will work towards the adoption of a Proposal for a Council Decision with a view to strengthening the ‘’Social Summit’.