Brussels, 10/01/2013 (Agence Europe) - With unemployment figures constantly on the rise, the choice of the Irish Presidency of the EU Council to make employment a top priority for the next six months can hardly come as a surprise. Dublin thus plans to tackle the “technical” issues currently under consideration at the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO), and to bring its full weight to bear in talks on the multiannual financial framework (MFF), with just as much likelihood of success on some matters (European Social Fund) as failure on others (European Globalisation Adjustment Fund).
When it comes to mobility, considered by the European Commission as deserving to be one of the top priorities in social affairs, since the European institutions have their word to say, the Irish Presidency plans to take work forward on review of the directive concerning posted workers. Despite the fact that the Council is currently grappling with two points of primary importance (see EUROPE 10746),Dublin hopes that ministers will adopt a general approach on this issue during their meeting in Brussels on 28 February, before going on to reach a political agreement on the text as a whole, in Luxembourg on 20 and 21 June.
The Cypriot President had already set itself the goal of rekindling the debate on the proposal for a directive on improving the portability of complementary pension rights. Ireland hopes to reach a general approach on this during the EPSCO Council in June. Nonetheless, many states remain cautious with regard to this directive, and are prepared to do whatever it takes to safeguard certain national peculiarities of their systems. In the last legislative points there is the Council directive on implementation of the principle of equal treatment irrespective of religion or beliefs, disability, age or sexual leaning. For the umpteenth time, a progress report will be adopted in June. Although some delegations have been annoyed by the time this dossier is taking, Dublin is demonstrating a sense of realism and does not predict any major breakthrough during its presidency.
The Council's agenda with regard to non-legislative activity relates to the European Semester and two Commission proposals. “There is scope for the EPSCO Council to step up its involvement in the European Semester process”, the Presidency states, thus assuming the level of ambition of most of the European labour ministers to play a more important role with respect to their colleagues responsible for finance. Several ideas are being studied, but there is still vagueness about any move forward with respect to how matters will be shared out. As was the case in 2012, the EPSCO Council will give its opinion, in the form of conclusions, on the policy guidelines set out in the last annual growth survey (in February), to then hold a debate and approve the draft recommendations of the national reform programmes (in June).
From the very first meeting of the EPSCO Council, Ireland will table one of the key proposals of Commissioner Laszlo Andor, namely the Commission's recommendations for setting up the “youth guarantee” scheme in member states. Andor should then, for the first time, present his package for social investment which aims to provide recommendations for member states on adjustment, which is deemed necessary, of social protection systems in the light of the exceptional circumstances denoted by the constant increase in the unemployment rate, especially among young people. Council conclusions are due for the meeting in June.
Finally, despite the assurance with which Ireland seeks to tackle this thorny issue and the encouragements proffered by the Commission and European Parliament, everything points to the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund ceasing to exist. A blocking minority is sticking to its position and does not seem to want to give way as the next European Summit approaches (7 and 8 February), a summit that will be dedicated to the financial framework for 2014-2020. The minority in question is composed of the following states: Germany, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Sweden, Latvia, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Estonia and Denmark. (JK/transl.jl)