On Wednesday 27 March, Member State representatives expressed a number of reservations about the language of the draft La Hulpe Declaration, which will be adopted on 15 and 16 April in La Hulpe at a high-level conference on the European pillar of social rights (see EUROPE 13379/12).
According to a diplomatic source, several delegations felt that the text was too prescriptive and detailed, and expressed difficulties in terms of respect for national competences and their social model. According to another source, a dozen or so countries have expressed reticence, and are also wary of mentioning initiatives that are still under negotiation.
A target included in the draft declaration, for example, of 80% coverage of workers by collective bargaining, has been contested by several countries, pointing out the difficulty of applying this in their countries and the fact that this rate may be too high.
The draft dated 22 March underlines “the unwavering commitment to fully respect and promote the role of the social partners, to foster collective bargaining at all levels and in all relevant policy areas, and to work towards collective bargaining coverage of at least 80% by 2030”.
Other countries have expressed difficulties with certain concepts set out in the text, such as social investment. Northern EU countries have also put forward their model of social dialogue and the considerable autonomy left to the social partners, and have criticised the draft declaration.
According to another source, the draft has generally been seen to be too long for a declaration that is primarily intended to be political, and will have to be reworked. But some delegations also wanted to strengthen certain aspects, for example the fight against discrimination against LGBTQI people.
The Belgian Presidency of the EU Council will submit a new text to the Member States on 10 April. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)