The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) welcomes the strategic programme adopted by the European Council on Thursday 20 June on the next institutional cycle (2019-2024), while indicating that it would have expected even greater ambition.
The said strategic framework is structured around four priorities, one of which is to "build a climate-neutral, green, fair and social Europe". This paragraph refers in particular to the European Pillar of Social Rights, adopted at the end of 2017 (see EUROPE 11906/2, 11907/1). The document states that this foundation "should be implemented at Union and Member State level, with due regard to their respective competences". This reference is welcomed by Luca Visentini, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), while stressing that "there are many things which are not mentioned in the strategic agenda and which should be, including investment in quality jobs and public services, tackling tax avoidance by multi-national companies, upward convergence of wages, and reinforcing social dialogue and collective bargaining in every member state".
It should be noted that the European Parliament, too, must adopt its strategic agenda, knowing that its version (when it is adopted) and that of the EU Council will serve as a basis for drawing up the Commission's work programme, the latter having a monopoly on legislative initiative. (Original version in French by Sophie Petitjean)