Social Affairs Ministers should be invited to adopt a general approach on the Regulation establishing a European Labour Authority at the next Employment and Social Affairs Council (EPSCO) in December, following the green light given by the ambassadors in the Permanent Representatives Committee (Coreper) on Friday 16 November.
Until the last minute, there were two options on the agenda: either the Austrian Presidency of the Council of the EU reported on progress in the negotiations or it proposed a draft general approach. So that will be the second option, we have been told. The draft general orientation on the European Labour Authority should be submitted to delegations at the Coreper meeting next Friday.
The news was expected, following recent progress on the issue. As a reminder, concern had been palpable, particularly among some Members, due to a lack of ambition shown by the Austrian Presidency at the beginning on this issue (see EUROPE 12061). Then things accelerated after statements by the Austrian Chancellor, Sebastian Kurz, at the Tripartite Social Summit, assuring that Austria would do everything possible to obtain a general approach (see EUROPE 12118).
The meeting of the EPSCO Council on 6 December is expected to be intense, especially as the Austrian Presidency cancelled a Council meeting during its term of office, to the great displeasure of the social partners (see EUROPE 12115). (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)