At a meeting of the Committee of Permanent Representatives to the EU (Coreper I) on Tuesday 11 July, EU member states set the objective of adopting a general approach on an inter-institutional proclamation for the European pillar of social rights decided on during the employment and Social Policy Council (EPSCO) on 23 October.
Annikky Lamp, the spokesperson for the Estonian Presidency of the Council explained to EUROPE that the member states, “supported Presidency’s approach not to open the text of the principles and to address any concerns raised by the Member States in the preamble of the proclamation”. The Presidency also indicated that work on this would continues over the summer and early autumn, with a view to approving the Council position at the formal EPSCO Council.
It should be pointed out that the European Commission presented its initiative as part of a social package at the end of April (see EUROPE 11775). The social pillar contains no fewer than 20 structured principles based around three major areas: equal opportunities and access to the labour market; fair conditions at work and social protection and inclusion.
Not much information has leaked out regarding the substance of the exchanges between the delegations that according to several diplomatic sources, the question of the legal status of the proclamation for the pillar was discussed, particularly with regard to whether it would be binding or not. Nonetheless, the text did not provoke any objections at all or any strong reservations. The work is expected to continue during the summer and be submitted to on Examination by COREPER in September. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)