The Czech Minister of Social Affairs, Marian Jurečka, presented, on Monday 11 July, the priorities of the Czech Presidency of the EU Council to MEPs who were very concerned about the climate of high inflation and the prospects of a recession in the EU with its repercussions on employment.
He confirmed that helping the most vulnerable people affected by the energy crisis will be a priority in “the worst crisis”, the EU has ever experienced. Inflation, and its effects on the elderly, single mothers or other vulnerable groups, will be discussed in October with the social partners just before the European Summit in Prague.
He also said that “it is urgent to launch the Social Climate Fund”, in response to a question from Sara Matthieu (Greens/EFA, Belgium). “The fund needs to be launched more quickly”, he added, with a “substantial budget” at a time when the EU Council has reduced the Commission’s initial ambitions.
The Czech minister also said that the EU should “be able to help workers” that companies could lay off in case of energy supply problems and be prepared to respond to rising unemployment. Here he was responding to a concern of Dennis Radtke (EPP, Germany) who took up the idea of an Employment Pact, “perhaps an extension of the SURE instrument (on short-time working)”. “We will also have to weigh up the new constraints that the EU may or may not place on companies”, the German MEP also warned.
The consequences of inflation and fuel poverty will logically be addressed at the Social Summit that Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala has promised to organise later this year. Prague will “do its utmost” on these issues, the minister added, while the German MEP Gabriele Bischoff (S&D) called for the Social Summit to be “on the level as Porto or Göteborg”.
Another priority that will be discussed in October at the informal meeting of Employment and Social Affairs Ministers is the integration of Ukrainian refugees into the European labour markets.
In addition, the Czech Minister assured MEPs of the Presidency’s ambition to bring the gender equality directive to a successful conclusion this year, as interinstitutional negotiations have just begun. Occupational health, including the revision of the directive on occupational exposure to asbestos, is “ another priority”, he promised the Danish MEP, Nicolaj Villumsen (The Left).
A general approach on the Digital Platform Workers Directive is also a goal for December.
Coordination of social security schemes
Finally, Marian Jurečka said he wants to relaunch the revision of the regulation on the coordination of social security schemes which “could greatly improve the situation of workers” (see EUROPE 12859/10). “We must do our utmost to find a compromise acceptable to all”. “We can find a solution”, he said. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)