19/01/2016 (Agence Europe) - Newly appointed Special Adviser to the Commission on Social Rights is from Sweden. On Tuesday 19 January, the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, appointed Allan Larsson as Special Adviser for the European Pillar of Social Rights (see EUROPE 11404). Larsson is the former head of the Directorate General Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion at the Commission (1995-2000). He will assist Juncker and the college of commissioners in the elaboration and launch of a broad consultation on the pillar for the eurozone (participation of other member states will be on a voluntary basis). According to the Commission, this pillar will take the shape of a “Self-standing reference document, of a legal nature, setting out key principles and values shared at EU level. In turn, this should serve as a framework to screen employment and social performance in the light of changing work patterns and societies”. (JK)