A few days after the presentation of the Action Plan on the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights, the competent Ministers of the Member States will hold a debate on the Communication, as well as another on employment and social policies in the framework of the ‘European Semester’ budgetary process, on Monday 15 March, in the presence of the European Commissioner for Employment and Social Rights, Nicolas Schmit, and the Vice-President, Valdis Dombrovskis.
This debate is part of the roadmap on the ‘European Semester 2021’, which was presented under the German Presidency of the EU Council and taken up by the Portuguese Presidency. The aim would be to guide the national recovery and resilience plans currently being finalised. This debate will also serve to establish the format of the Employment and Social Policy Council (EPSCO) in the process of preparing these plans.
In essence, the Portuguese Presidency of the EU Council will seek to identify how employment and skills policies can support recovery and job creation and ensure a “fair and sustainable” recovery.
The second debate will be on the Action Plan on the European Pillar of Social Rights and the EASE Recommendation to support employment in the aftermath of the health crisis (see EUROPE 12671/2, 12671/3). The Presidency will survey the Ministers in order to define the social objectives for 2030 and the measures that would help to achieve them. Here too, they will discuss proactive policies to support employment.
Under ‘other’ items, the European platform for combating homelessness, which is due to be presented in the summer, will be discussed. This will be followed by an update on the Green Paper on Ageing.
Equality, non-discrimination and diversity
In the afternoon, Ministers will be invited to discuss equality, non-discrimination and diversity in the EU. Here, the Presidency will seek to establish the best way to ensure that these principles are respected and, to this end, will discuss with Ministers possible policy measures and actions. In particular, it will address the issue of the Equal Treatment Directive.
This will be followed by some ‘other’ items: - conclusions on Roma inclusion. The Presidency hopes to adopt a recommendation; - the EU Anti-Racism Action Plan 2020-2025, in the presence of the Commissioner for Equality, Helena Dalli. Notably, the Directive on transparency measures for payments will be presented. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)