France, Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain presented to the EU Council on Monday 9 December a contribution aimed at using the EU budget to foster social convergence within the EU by introducing a new transversal conditionality in the Structural and Investment Funds.
In the debate on the EU's Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2021-2027, France asked for further progress on conditionality, by introducing social conditionality. “We need to link funding more closely to the implementation of the European pillar of social rights, to foster greater convergence within the EU”, said Amélie de Montchalin, French Secretary of State for European Affairs, at the General Affairs Council on Tuesday 10 December.
“Despite a continuous convergence process, strong differences remain today within the EU regarding social standards, which harms the level playing field and fair competition within the Single Market”, according to the contribution of these five countries on social convergence.
For example, France, Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain are asking to introduce a new “horizontal enabling condition” for funds managed by the Common Provisions Regulation for the Structural and Investment Funds.
“Member States should only benefit from these funds if the Commission considers they have set up a national framework that respects three core European Pillar of Social Rights principles” (out of a total of 20): fair wages (see EUROPE 12387/17), an appropriate framework giving a consultation role to social partners; and national welfare systems providing workers with a replacement income when they retire or are forced to interrupt their careers.
This proposal would involve two changes, one in the Negotiating Box of the next MFF and the other in Annex III of the Common Provisions Regulation (Structural and Investment Funds).
This is one of the key demands of the French President, Emmanuel Macron, who, at the Gothenburg Summit in November 2017, on the occasion of the proclamation of the European Pillar of Social Rights, had revealed his position on social convergence (see EUROPE 11907/1).
To consult the joint document: http://bit.ly/2rw5gDw (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur with Pascal Hansens)