Brussels, 26/02/2013 (Agence Europe) - The social investment package recently presented by the European Commission (see EUROPE 10790) was welcomed by most social partners due to its head-on approach to tackling all social protection aspects. Nonetheless the social partners were also critical about several points, commenting that the package does not really contain any new initiatives and that its application will depend on the good will of member states and on rigorous follow-up on the part of the Commission's services.
As the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) pointed out, although the package is an “important contribution to the debate on the social dimension of Europe”, it may prove insufficient. “A strategy which only proposes better use of increasingly restricted budgets is too limited”, ETUC states. A similar criticism was voiced by the European Centre for Public Enterprises (CEEP) and the European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN). According to the latter, “social investment seems mainly to be aimed at 'activating people' for the economy and labour market, rather than investment in people and their right to a dignified life and ensuring a more equal, prosperous and healthy EU”. (JK/transl.jl)