Demographic decline, a phenomenon affecting many Member States in Central, Eastern and Southern Europe, gender equality at work and the protection of the most vulnerable social groups will be the main priorities of the Croatian EU Council Presidency in the social field.
Thus, on issues related to negative demographic trends, the Croatian Presidency intends to organise a thematic conference to be held in Zagreb on 6 and 7 April. The Presidency hopes this conference will serve as a basis for drawing up conclusions setting out a whole series of measures to respond to the challenges posed by the phenomenon.
The Croatian Presidency is also keen to address the issues of imbalances between professional and private life and the under-representation of women on the labour market. It will also organise a conference on this topic on 30 January in Zagreb.
On this point, the Presidency will focus on the lack of access to quality care for family members who are dependent and ill. Here too, the Presidency intends to draw up conclusions on the basis of the conference that will specifically focus on the strong correlation between women’s participation in the labour market and long-term care obligations for dependent family members.
The protection of the most vulnerable social groups will also be an issue addressed by the Presidency. Particular attention will be paid to the eradication of poverty and social exclusion of children, people with disabilities and the Roma, according to the Presidency. Croatia will host a conference on child protection in Zagreb on 9 and 10 June.
Interinstitutional negotiations between European Parliament and EU Council. The Croatian Presidency will also endeavour to make progress and even conclude the negotiations between the European Parliament and the EU Council concerning the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (see EUROPE 12215/1) and on the Decision on strengthening cooperation between public employment services (see EUROPE 12327/18).
However, the willingness of the European Parliament to ‘freeze’ interinstitutional negotiations on the texts related to the next Multiannual Financial Framework could undermine Croatian ambitions in this area (see EUROPE 12395/3). The European Parliament is expected to formally notify its position to the Croatian Presidency this week.
Minimum wage. There is no mention in the Croatian document of the priorities of the new European Commission, in particular its willingness to propose an initiative to introduce a “fair” minimum wage among EU member states, which is due to be presented on 14 January (see EUROPE 12387/17). (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)