Brussels, 19/02/2010 (Agence Europe) - The Spanish EU Presidency has prepared a background paper setting out its reflections on the future of the EU2020 strategy. Focusing on the role that employment policies, social protection and equal opportunities will play in this future strategy, the Presidency sets out the questions on which EU employment and social security ministers seemed to broadly agree during their informal meeting on 28 and 29 January in Barcelona, including the need for the EU 2020 strategy to present more concrete objectives in order to define the direction that Europe must take over this coming decade (see EUROPE 10067). The Spanish Presidency will present its background paper to employment and social affairs ministers meeting in Brussels on 8 March. No discussion or exchange of views is expected on the paper that day but the Presidency hopes the ideas set out will be taken on board - but in what form, and in what way? The question is raised in the final proposal that the Commission will present to the European summit in June 2010 for approval.
The Spanish Presidency's reflections point out that the financial crisis will not be over until the labour markets have recovered and net employment is created once more. That is why, it goes on to say, economic incentives, active employment policies and stabilising social protection systems are all needed. The Presidency highlights the fact that the EPSCO Council has a key role to play in ensuring that issues concerning the social dimension of Europe can be duly conveyed to the European Council. The current line of action based on the role of the EPSCO Council as an effective channel for proposals and initiatives should therefore be enhanced.
The EU 2020 strategy should: (1) include specific objectives and actions that are clearly identifiable and quantifiable, with regular assessment and adjustment depending on the situation in each country; (2) pursue a short term objective consisting of finding a way to overcome the crisis, and a medium term objective to define the EU's economic and social model, which is needed in order to face the challenges of globalisation; (3) place strong focus on employment and social cohesion, as was the case in the Lisbon Strategy. For this, effective dialogue between the ministers of economy and ministers of employment and social affairs is required with a view to drawing up coherent and realistic objectives and setting up actions for the benefit of European citizens; (4) have social dialogue as a key element of the governance of the EU 2020 strategy; (5) promote investment in new skills and their adjustment to the labour market needs, in order to boost the employability of European citizens, thus guaranteeing growth, stability and quality jobs; (6) grant a prominent position to gender-related issues; (7) implement a policy in support of youth employment and jobs for other groups that experience difficulty in entering the labour market, thus running a higher risk of social exclusion; (8) promote social integration and inclusive markets where everyone has his/her rightful place, by combating discrimination and strengthening social services of general interest; (9) commit to an adequate and balanced use of flexicurity, and strengthen the open method of social coordination; and (10) have an external dimension for employment, social protection and social inclusion, within international bodies such as the United Nations and the ILO in particular, and be a reference for defining the European position during the meeting of the G20 employment ministers. (G.B./transl.jl)