Brussels, 23/04/2010 (Agence Europe) - The EP's Conference of Presidents appealed to the European Council today to postpone the adoption of the EU 2020 economic competitiveness strategy until autumn, to allow the Parliament time to examine these proposals. The Parliament is entitled to be consulted on employment policy guidelines, which has yet to happen, meaning that it will be unable to issue an opinion on their substance in time for the June European summit.
The heads of state and government are intending, at this meeting, to adopt the EU 2020 strategy for economic competitiveness and the integrated economic policy and employment guidelines for the next three years as a comprehensive package. This leaves the EP only three weeks to deliver its opinion on the draft guidelines, an EP press release points out. Under the Treaty, the Parliament is legally entitled to be consulted on the employment guidelines. If they are treated as a “package”, the entire set of policies will have to be adopted in the autumn if the Parliament decides to carry out a more thorough assessment of the proposals.
According to the EP press release, employment policy guidelines are proposed by the Commission and approved by the Council. They determine the joint priorities for the member states' national policies. Since 2005, the employment guidelines have been incorporated in the EU's macro- and microeconomic policies and are laid down for a three-year period.
The Parliament's committee on employment and social affairs will discuss the matter in Brussels on 28 April before adopting a motion for a resolution on the subject. (G.B./transl.fl)