03/03/2017 (Agence Europe) – During a ministerial meeting in Paris on Thursday 2 March, France, Luxembourg, Malta, Sweden, Austria, Germany, Portugal, Italy, Czech Republic, Netherlands and Slovakia gave their support to the “gradual” phasing in of the principle of a minimum wage in the pillar on European social rights. The joint statement was not signed by Greece or Romania, although the two countries were in Paris. The statement does not call for an established threshold, even though France called for this to be set at 60% of the national median wage, according to a report by AFP. The statement also calls for a law “on the disconnection of European salaries”, the creation of a European student card providing access to accommodation and catering, as well as “activity accounts” that allow workers universal right to training throughout their lives and, at a broader level, to a welfare security net. (JK)