Amsterdam, 20/04/2016 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 19 April, during the informal meeting in Amsterdam, European Union Employment Ministers expressed different opinions about the targeted revision of the 1996 directive on posted workers but they did manage to avoid a split into two antagonist East-West blocks.
It was with barely concealed relief that the Dutch Minister for Social Affairs and Employment, Lodewijk Asscher and European Commissioner, Marianne Thyssen, asserted at the end of this meeting organised by the Dutch Presidency of the Council of the EU that the "debate had been heated" but that they had managed to avoid a confrontation between the two blocks that were completely antagonistic on this subject. The much feared split involves member states from the West, of which a majority support a revision of the text and those from the East, which remain mistrustful, indeed hostile to any change to the current legislation. Moreover, the text is so succinct that it ultimately leaves little room for negotiations to modify elements in it, even though one European source mentioned the idea of reducing the maximum period for posting workers. The European Commission had proposed 24 months for this period.
The targeted revision was proposed by the European Commission on 8 March (see EUROPE 11507) and this meeting in Amsterdam provided the first opportunity for member states to have a political debate on this question. Some of them, with Poland at their head, did not attempt to hide their hostility to the principle of "equal pay for equal work in the same place", which underpinned this revision. Ms Thyssen asserted that "The starting point of member states is different" in certain countries in Central and Eastern Europe, which want to maintain the current situation. The Commissioner was speaking at the end of the meeting at a press briefing with a number of journalists, including those from EUROPE. These countries think that this draft revision is directed against them and that we are interfering in the system used for setting out wages, which is false, asserted the Commissioner.
A hard-core of opponents has therefore been set up. This particularly involves Poland, Romania and the Czech Republic, which have all begun the "yellow card" procedure (see EUROPE 11534). They are also supported by the Baltic countries. Bulgaria, Hungary and Slovakia may join in too. Nonetheless, there is no total division of the member states, pointed out Mr Asscher. There are differences of views among the opponents and those that are still undecided, he continued, at the end of the meeting. Some of them have also demonstrated their determination to be "bridge builders" and Mr Asscher said that they were not therefore at this stage at the point where the two blocks were openly confronting each other.
According to Ms Thyssen, this situation still left the hope that it would still be possible to convince some of the countries of the appropriateness of of the EU proposal. She said that they were currently at the explanation stage and would attempt to convince opponents but she did say that it was too early to discuss any possible compromises. She also said that she was optimistic about the possible result that can be obtained from this discussion at the Council, a discussion that had barely begun.
Ministers also had an exchange of views on Wednesday on the future activities of the European platform for tackling undeclared work, which may also target fraudulent practices applied in the use of posted workers (see EUROPE 11435). This platform's action priorities will be presented in May when its work programme for the next two years is inaugurated.
Ministers also put forward their points of view on Wednesday on the subject of the European social rights pillar. The public consultation currently in progress on the subject will be concluded with a conference in Brussels on 28 November 2016. The Commission is committed to presenting a proposal in spring next year, explained Ms Thyssen. She pointed out that "Once adopted, the Pillar should serve as a framework to screen employment and social performances in light of changing work patterns and societies". (Original version in French by Jan Kordys)