EU Employment and Social Affairs Ministers discussed at an EPSCO Council meeting today (10.3.2014) under the Greek Presidency, the European Semester, Europe 2020 Strategy, youth employment and Youth Guarantee related issues and adopted a Recommendation on a Quality Framework for Traineeship.

The first session of the EPSCO Council under the Greek Presidency took place today, (10.3.2014) in Brussels, chaired by the Greek Minister of Labour, Social Security and Welfare, Ioannis Vroutsis.

The Ministers adopted the Council Recommendation on a Quality Framework for Traineeships. The Greek Minister of Labour Vroutsis, said “The financial and economic crisis has had a serious effect on the job prospects of young Europeans. A quality traineeship can have a decisive and positive impact on a young person’s employability and transition into regular employment”. The Recommendation sets out guidelines that can ensure high-quality learning content and adequate working conditions.

Another crucial issue was the adoption of a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived. The establishment of the Fund is a testimony that Europe does not accept the existence of poverty and that solidarity is one of its main principles. The aim is to alleviate the worst forms of poverty by providing non-financial assistance to the individuals, families or household and promote social inclusion activities aiming at the social integration of the most deprived persons.

The European Semester 2014 was discussed in the morning session. The policy debate - guided by a Presidency steering note – focused on employment and social aspects of the Annual Growth Survey (AGS) and the Joint Employment Report (JER) in the context of the European Semester, covering the EPSCO contribution to the March European Council.

The Council adopted Conclusions on the AGS and JER and agreed to submit them to the European Council. Moreover, it adopted Conclusions on the social situation in the EU based on the SPC Report on the social situation in the EU and reached a general approach on the draft Decision on the Employment Guidelines.

Over lunch, the EPSCO ministers discussed implementation issues related to Youth Employment Initiative and the Youth Guarantee. While introducing the issue, Minister of Labour Vroutsis, said “The youth is our future. We cannot ignore the frustrations of young people over the lack of employment opportunities and their deep anxieties over their future life prospects”. Youth employment is a policy priority for the Greek Presidency.

In the afternoon, Ministers exchanged views on the ‘Europe 2020’ Strategy based on a presentation by Commissioner László Andor of the Communication on stocktaking of the Europe 2020 Strategy –initiating the mid term review of the Strategy - and a Presidency steering note. The chair stressed the fact that “the EU strategy’s targets remain valuable as axis of political and administrative mobilization both at the European and the member states level”, adding that “Europe 2020 is an essential tool for achieving economic and social convergence, there is a need to strengthen the social dimension of EU’s strategy”.

Still, the Greek Minister presented the state of preparation of the Tripartite Social Summit which will take place on 20 March 2014. The debate with the social partners will focus on «Rebuilding confidence in Europe: focus on job creation, lessons learned and future orientations». The objective will be to contribute to the launching of the EU 2020 mid-term process by looking, in particular, on what lessons from the past can be drawn for the future.

The Summit will be co-chaired by the President of the European Council, the President of the European Commission and the Prime Minister of Greece, Antonis Samaras. The Council reached an agreement in principle concerning the Proposal for a Council Decision on a Tripartite Social Summit for Growth and Employment. 

In addition, Vroutsis informed on current legislative files, namely the Posting of workers, Free Movement of workers, Supplementary Pension rights and Public Employment Services.

Regarding the Directive on the Posting of Workers, the minister referred to its importance for Social Europe. He welcomed the Council’s solid support to the compromise text reached by the Greek Presidency and the European Parliament. The compromise reached, manages to strike a very delicate balance, providing a transparent and efficient legal framework for the prevention of “social dumbing”, the protection of the posted workers’ rights and the effective functioning of the internal market. Mr Vroutsis urged the European Parliament to show, on their part, the same strong political will in order to attain adoption of this crucial legislative file.

Another crucial issue that will enhance Europe’s ability to fight unemployment and promote the organization of the European labour markets is the provisional agreement reached on 29 of January regarding the establishment of a Network of Public Employment Services. This Network will be critical for the exchange of good practices and experience in enhancing policies in the fight against unemployment.

Finally, the Chairs of the Employment Committee (EMCO) and Social Protection Committee (SPC) presented their respective work programmes for 2014.

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