Brussels, 23/05/2014 (Agence Europe) - Fanning the green shoots of recovery takes pride of place in the manifestos of parties for the European elections, with reducing unemployment, particularly youth unemployment, being the prime target. To this end, the parties suggest a range of different solutions but share the idea of trying to protect the European social model that has been undermined by the economic and financial crisis. In its survey of what is at stake in these European elections (continuing on from another article above and a survey in yesterday's newsletter), EUROPE looks here at the parties' positions when it comes to social policy, although their manifestos rarely set out a coherent range of policies, which tend instead to get tacked on to economic and industrial policies.
European People's Party (EPP). The EPP is not planning to change its approach over the next five years, focussing instead on a number of initiatives launched by Employment and Social Affairs Commissioner Laszlo Andor and the EUROPE 2020 strategy objectives. Social convergence should be boosted in the EU by promoting active and inclusive employment policies, professional mobility and continuing pursuit of efforts at EU level to boost youth employment, such as the Youth Guarantee and encouragement for young entrepreneurs. The minimum wage is felt to be beneficial, but must remain a question of national sovereignty, the prime objective being budget consolidation and becoming more competitive.
European Socialist Party. One of the flagship policies for the Socialists is the phasing in by 2025 of a minimum wage across the entire EU28 either through legislation or through collective bargaining, which must be at least 60% of the median national wage. The consequences of this will vary enormously from one member state to the next (see EUROPE 11070). Social, employment and family policies should be more binding under the European Semester process, with commonly drawn-up objectives. The Socialists recommend a similar approach for young people to that mooted by the EPP. Attention focuses on the Youth Guarantee, whose budget the Socialists want to see increase from €6 billion in 2016 to €21 billion, along with measures to make the member states take greater ownership - such as publication of bad performers.
ALDE. The Liberals and Democrats' election manifesto devotes little attention to social policy, preferring to focus on economic policy (see EUROPE 11085), such as completion of the single market, as the best way of responding to the current social and economic crisis.
The Greens/EFA. The Greens have a similar programme to the Socialists. They call for a stronger Youth Guarantee, the end of social dumping, low-paid “MacJobs” and abusive so-called training courses. The European Greens recommend the phasing in of minimum social standards in Europe that are adapted to the situation in each country and each labour market. The European treaty should continue to talks about the pursuit of social progress.
European Left. The far Left have similar social demands and a similar approach to social matters as the Socialists, but more ambitious targets. They want to harmonise pay and welfare from above, but say the member states should decide on the level of pay and welfare to be granted. They say that people work too hard in Europe and want the working week to be reduced without any reduction in pay or increase in the retirement age. The European United Left wants a minimum retirement pension to be introduced. (JK)