Brussels, 19/07/2012 (Agence Europe) - The priorities of the Cypriot Presidency of the EU Council of Ministers in employment and social affairs were established in these gloomy times of economic crisis, in other words against a record unemployment level in the eurozone (almost 11%), weak growth and increased risk of social exclusion for numerous Europeans. Despite this, the priorities are only marginally different from those adopted by previous Presidencies, focusing on social cohesion, employment and the participation of the social partners in accomplishing the EUROPE 2020 strategy. The slogan chosen for the next six months is “Towards a better Europe”, and it points out in brackets that this is to “ensure a better quality of life”.
The three priorities. The “strengthening of social cohesion” targets two groups of people - children and old people. The well-being of young people should be on the agenda of the next formal EPSCO Council, which will take place in October 2012. The Cypriot Presidency also plans to hold a conference, but this is only in the planning stage. For older Europeans, Nicosia wants to draw the best lessons from the “European Year of Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations” (2012), by promoting their social inclusion and tackling the association of old age with inactivity. The second priority, concerning employment, will be completely devoted to youth unemployment. For this, Cyprus hopes that, in the six months, the Council will succeed in adopting conclusions on youth learning and training, following non-legislative proposals (“the guarantees for youth”) that the European Commission is about to unveil after the summer break. The last priority is linked to the involvement of the social partners and local actors in social policy at the European and national levels. This is a subject which was discussed at length during the last informal EPSCO Council (see EUROPE 10655).
The legislative work. Numerous legislative proposals are either awaiting conclusion, or suspended without any real perspective for substantial progress in the next six months. The Cypriot Presidency retains a certain optimism on the future of the European Global adjustment Fund (EGF) and the directive on electromagnetic fields. However, for the EGF, a minority of member states remain “firm” in their desire to stop the programme from 2014, according to one European source. For the directive, although an agreement seemed likely on the overall text, certain delegations could continue to amend the core of the directive, while divergences still exist on the technical details contained in the annexes. The hopes of the Cypriot Presidency nevertheless seem justified on concluding an agreement on the subject of the directive clarifying the rules on posted workers. Discussions are progressing well, according to the same source, including on the question of joint and several liability. But the other side of this issue, the Monti II regulation proposal, remains suspended after a “yellow card” given to the Commission by 18 national parliaments. The current Presidency of the Council is thus awaiting the Commission's reaction. In addition, Nicosia hopes to take forward the discussions on the EU Programme for Social Change and Innovation (PSCI) which was proposed by the Commission for the financial framework 2014-2020. Finally, Cyprus wants to “revive” discussions on the directives on maternity leave and safeguarding the portability of pension rights for migrant workers in the EU. (JK/transl.fl)