The symbolism is strong, especially in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic: European leaders adopted the declaration of the Porto Social Summit on the morning of Saturday 8 May, which renews their commitment to put into practice the principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights and approves the Action Plan presented in March by the European Commission.
“The (European) Council stated quite clear we are determined to continue to implement the European Pillar of Social Rights. The Action Plan tabled by the Commission lays down very useful guidance for implementing these rights”, said Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa, who initiated the summit, at a press conference.
EU leaders welcomed the “main targets“ of the Action Plan, but did not give details regarding the figures (for more information, see EUROPE 12671/2) and recognised the role of the ‘European Semester’ budget process in achieving them.
The impact of digital transformation and artificial intelligence on work were also mentioned and will be given “special attention” by Member States. Their leaders are committed to reducing inequality, youth unemployment, defending fair wages and fighting discrimination.
The Porto Declaration provides for monitoring “at the highest level” of progress towards the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights and the key EU headline targets for 2030. Finally, the heads of state or government welcomed the social partners’ proposal on an alternative set of indicators (see EUROPE 12715/2).
These provisions were the subject of bitter negotiations (see EUROPE 12714/1), particularly on two major points: the sharing of competences in the social field (the Scandinavian states are against any European interference) and the question of ‘gender’ equality (which Poland and Hungary oppose).
On this last point, the Hungarian Prime Minister, Viktor Orbán, justified himself on Friday morning: “The only difficulty is using the term ‘gender’ because we, Christians, consider gender as an ideologically-motivated expression, whose meaning is not clarified at all”. We always propose to use equality between men and women instead of gender equality. But it is always rejected. They don’t like the Christian approach”, he said.
Responding to EUROPE, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen ensured that the social dimension under the Recovery and Resilience Facility, the instrument at the heart of the Next Generation EU” Recovery Plan, would be closely monitored. “There is a very precise detailed system of objectives, milestones, cost estimates that have to be provided and it is written in a legal text, so it is binding”, she stressed.
Questioned on Saturday morning on his arrival, French President Emmanuel Macron said that the European social agenda will be a priority of the French Presidency of the EU Council in the first half of 2022, particularly on the issue of tax dumping.
See the Porto Social Summit declaration: https://bit.ly/2RBGYV8 (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)