Members of the European Parliament's ‘Employment and Social Affairs’ Committee (EMPL) were annoyed by the lack of clarity in the Finnish Presidency's programme in the social field, presented on Wednesday 24 July by Finnish Employment Minister Timo Harakka and Social Affairs and Health Minister Aino-Kaisa Pekonen.
During their opening speech, the two ministers stressed the need to promote the “economy of wellbeing” within the EU and the ecological transition to a climate-neutral economy, while ensuring social and economic “sustainability” (see EUROPE 12290/15). To this end, they both insisted on the implementation of the European pillar of social rights and consideration of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
During the Members' speeches, many welcomed the Presidency's objectives. But just as many MEPs called for more details on the Presidency's progress, such as Dennis Radtke (EPP, Germany), who wondered about the future of the Globalisation Adjustment Fund (see EUROPE 12215/1), and Gabriele Bischoff (S&D, Germany), who had questions about the resumption of negotiations on the regulation for coordinating social security systems (see EUROPE 12252/1). Dragoş Pîslaru (RE, Romania) asked for more information on the concrete modalities of the implementation of the European pillar of social rights.
From the outset, the two ministers acknowledged the poverty of the legislative agenda, due to presidency’s current transitional period, explaining that only the two legislative dossiers mentioned above remain. In both cases, they explained that they are dependent on the co-legislators.
On the legislative side, Mr Harakka recalled that the Finnish Presidency is also dependent on the new European Commission being set up by the future President, Ursula von der Leyen. For Mrs Pekonen, what matters is not so much having new initiatives as ensuring the proper implementation of existing European legislative acts.
Mr Harakka mentioned the project to convene an ‘EPSCOFIN’ Council (see EUROPE 12291/12) and the creation of a European minimum wage, as well as the fight against racism and discrimination, topics that will be discussed at the next ‘Employment and Social Policy’ Council (EPSCO), in addition to conclusions on well-being. A tripartite summit will be held in October, to which members of the EMPL Committee will be invited.
The two ministers also stressed the importance of the negotiations on the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and of ensuring that social measures are preserved in the next European budget.
The social question is at the top of Finland's agenda, with a total of three EPSCO Councils under its mandate (one in July, the next on 24 October and the last on 9 and 10 September). A high-level conference on the economy of wellbeing is scheduled for 18 September. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)