Brussels, 27/09/2013 (Agence Europe) - Is the social dimension of economic and monetary union completely void of all commitment? The European Commission is due to bring an answer to this question in a few days' time when it presents its communication on the issue - but concerns are growing in the face of the uncertainty as regards its content. The European Socialist party (PES) fears that the social dimension may be “empty” and constitute a simple “pro-forma exercise”. The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) fears that the social dimension might disappoint the expectations of Europeans at a time when they will soon be preparing to vote in the European elections.
The Commission's communication on the social dimension of EMU will finally be presented on Wednesday 2 October, a Commission spokesperson announced on Friday 27 September. This communication has still not been approved but this will probably happen on Monday 30 September at a meeting between European Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs Olli Rehn, European Commissioner for Employment and Social Affairs Laszlo Andor, and European Commission President José Manuel Barroso. Some of the most ambitious plans are currently still points of disagreement unresolved within the College of Commissioners. For these reasons, the Commission is timidly announcing a communication that will “perhaps” focus on three points: (1) closer monitoring of social and employment issues, and greater coordination of policies; (2) stronger solidarity and more initiatives for employment and labour mobility; (3) a strengthened social dialogue.
Behind the “monitoring” is a scoreboard with social and employment indicators which should be inserted into the European semester process, as Andor has repeatedly stated However, will this scoreboard be stand against the other economic indicators, with the power to influence the recommendations addressed to member states? Nothing could be less certain and this greatly concerns ETUC Secretary General Bernadette Ségol, she told EUROPE on Monday 23 September. The member states are divided on this issue, as is the Commission furthermore, which seems to be leaning more towards a model that is not very binding and more precautionary than corrective.
As far as the PES is concerned, “this social and employment scoreboard must be truly complementary to the economic and financial dimension. It must therefore be kept independent, both in technical terms and in terms of political supervision. It is something you should very much look at when making recommendations about fiscal and structural policies”, PES leader, Sergei Stanishev, stated in a letter to Barroso on Thursday 26 September.
The second flagship project relates to the implementation of a European unemployment insurance system, which could complement the systems in the countries most affected by the crisis and which corresponds to the “solidarity” point in the Commission's statement. This draft is ready (see EUROPE 10921) and will be supported by ETUC, according to Ségol, if it does not weaken the existing mechanisms and standards. In its letter, the PES does not mention it explicitly, even though it speaks of the need for a “radical revision” of the EU approach towards the crisis. “Europe needs new and more ambitious policies to strengthen labour markets, workers' rights and social policies. It needs to put social considerations at the heart of the European semester”, it argued. (JK/transl.fl)