After the State of the Union speech on Wednesday 15 September, several MEPs and the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) said on Thursday 16 September that they regret the lack of announcements in the social area.
“This is clearly a blind spot in the discourse. This silence, at a time when the strengthening and upward convergence of our social protection systems are indispensable and urgent, confirms the lack of ambition already evident in the action plan for the implementation of the European social rights pillar. We are treading water”! commented Philippe Lamberts, co-chair of the Greens/EFA group, contacted by EUROPE.
The same is true for the co-president of The Left, Manon Aubry (France). “In the end, there is one major absence from Mrs von der Leyen’s speech on the future of the Union: social issues and workers”, she noted.
During a debate on the social consequences of the pandemic on Wednesday evening, Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights Nicolas Schmit was asked about the issue, notably by Gabriele Bischoff (S&D, Germany). “I asked myself today: where was the social Europe in the State of the Union speech?” she said.
Unions disappointed. “(Mrs) von der Leyen’s speech was the political equivalent of applause for key workers during the confinement: it was nice to hear, but it will quickly fade from memory”, said ETUC General Secretary Luca Visentini. Trade unions were hoping for a proposal on the right to disconnect, on digital platform workers, and on the fight against unpaid internships. Furthermore, Mr Visentini highlighted the relative lack of social objectives in the European Recovery Plan.
A permanent SURE. On Wednesday evening, when pressed by MEPs on the social ambitions of the European Commission, Commissioner Schmit repeated the announcement made earlier by the Commission President, namely the creation of a Year of Youth in 2022. He also indicated that the European Commission is preparing a recommendation on minimum income (see EUROPE 12568/19). Finally, he confirmed that “the idea of a permanent SURE is still under consideration and has not been abandoned”.
Social Climate Fund. Speaking to Luxembourg radio station 100.7, Nicolas Schmit once again confirmed that he wanted to provide more funding for the Social Climate Fund (see EUROPE 12764/14).
“I am working on a recommendation to be discussed in the Council to ensure and draw clear lines on how to design a social climate policy. The message has been sent today, and we will come forward with concrete proposals by the end of the year”, he confirmed. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)