Brussels, 27/06/2011 (Agence Europe) - As announced in the Single Market Act, the Commission will present two legislative proposals by the end of 2011 on approving the application of the legislation on worker secondment and the clarification of measures for unions to be able to use their right to strike in the event of cross-border operations. To prepare these proposals, the Commission is holding a conference on the fundamental social rights and worker secondment in the framework of the single market this Monday 27 and Tuesday 28 June in Brussels, to be attended by more than 250 representatives of the governments of the EU, the EFTA, the social partners, universities and researchers.
At a VIP corner late on Monday morning, Commissioner Lázsló Andor (Social) reiterated that the case law of the European Court of Justice in the Laval/Viking/Ruffert cases and the Commission against Luxembourg had fed into an intense political debate between the interested parties. These rulings have created a perception that the right to strike or take social action to defend workers' rights is discouraged when the cross-border provision of services is involved. The aim of the worker secondment directive is to find the right balance between economic freedom and worker protection. Additionally, Mario Monti presented his new report entitled “A new strategy for the single market - At the service of Europe's economy and society”. (G.B./transl.fl)