The Slovakian Prime Minister, Robert Fico, has declared that he wants a “good and fair compromise solution” for workers. During is speech at the end of his meeting with the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Junker on Thursday 27 July he explained that his country would also take in posted workers to compensate for labour shortages.
The position of the Slovakian Prime Minister appears to have changed with regard to other member states from Eastern Europe, which will still be opposed to this principle. Mr Fico explained, “We would like a good and fair compromise solution because the directive will affect Slovakia in a significant way, given that there is increasing pressure due to labour shortages”. He is therefore expecting to see posted workers from other member states coming into Slovakia.
The Slovakian Prime Minister came to speak on behalf of Visegrad group on the subject of different treatment provided by member states to the agri-food industry (see other article). He is therefore taking a similar position to western European member states by portraying his country as a future state for taking in posted workers.
His declaration appears to suggest more flexibility in the position of the Visegrad group given that four member states submitted a negotiating mandate on the said directive on 19 July last to Viktor Orbán, the Hungarian Prime Minister who will be taking over the presidency of the Visegrad group (see EUROPE 11833).
The revision of the directive on posted workers remains a highly sensitive dossier that has provoked further tension following a new French proposal submitted at the end of the Maltese Presidency of Council of the EU (see EUROPE 11800), which has further entrenched the balance of forces between member states from western and eastern Europe.
The member states are expected to adopt a position on the revision of the directive during the Employment and Social Affairs Committee (EPSCO) on 23 October next.
Discussions at the European Parliament have also been delayed: the vote at the employment and social affairs committee (EMPL) has been put back until after the summer break (see EUROPE 11810). (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)