The Portuguese Minister for Employment, Solidarity and Social Security, Ana Mendes Godinho, confirmed the holding of a major social summit on 7 and 8 May 2021 in Porto, during the presentation of the programme of the future Portuguese Presidency of the EU Council by videoconference on Thursday 3 December.
The Minister recalled that the social issue will be the Portuguese Presidency’s priority (see EUROPE 12614/2) to meet the challenges of the dual green and digital transition as well as the consequences of the health crisis.
Thus, Ana Mendes Godinho has invited all ministers to a social summit which will be divided into two parts. The first day will be devoted to a high-level conference followed by an informal European Council, she said. “We hope that this summit will recognise the importance of deepening the European social model as an essential factor for the success of the green and digital transition and European resilience”, she reiterated to the ministers.
The Presidency’s social calendar is indeed dense: two formal meetings in the ‘Employment and Social Policy’ (EPSCO) format will be held, on 15 March and 14 June. An informal meeting is scheduled as well for 22 and 23 February. Above all, the Portuguese Presidency will also be marked by numerous events devoted to social policy: - a high-level conference on the future of work on 3 March; - a high-level conference on the new disability strategy on 19 and 20 April; - a high-level conference on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Istanbul Convention in April; - a high-level conference on homelessness on 21 June.
Portugal intends to make progress on the directive on a European framework for fair minimum wages, to adopt conclusions on the future of work, with a focus on remote work. It also plans to make progress on the fourth revision of the Directive on the protection of workers from carcinogenic and mutagenic substances.
In June, the Presidency wants to launch a European platform to combat homelessness. It hopes to make progress on the recommendations for a child guarantee. It hopes as well to adopt conclusions on ageing in Europe. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)