The Belgian Presidency of the EU Council submitted, on 28 March, a new version of the ‘La Hulpe Declaration’ aimed at preparing the future of European social policies and continuing the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights. It will be adopted on 15 and 16 April at a high-level conference in the same city.
On 27 March (see EUROPE 13380/12), the Presidency toned down the language in the previous test, which a number of delegations considered too prescriptive, and reduced the number of paragraphs (from 44 to 41). These ‘cuts’ concern the language on services of general interest and the call for a future EU plan on social protection as part of the green and digital transitions.
Furthermore, in response to concerns raised by several countries, the Presidency has softened the language on the European objective of achieving 80% coverage of workers through collective bargaining.
The 28 March version thus refers only to the provisions of the directive on adequate minimum wages aimed at gradually increasing this coverage rate towards 80%, whereas the 18 March version affirmed the “unwavering commitment to fully respect and promote the role of social partners, commit to fostering collective bargaining at all levels and in all relevant policy domains and to working towards a collective bargaining coverage of at least 80 per cent by 2030”.
The statement has been further toned down with regard to EU action on housing, with the latest text referring to Member States’ competence in this area and deleting the previous call for an EU action plan against poor housing. The new wording calls, “taking account of Member States’ national competences” for action on accessible, green and affordable social housing to meet the housing needs of all, with the aim of eradicating homelessness by 2030, whereas the previous version stated: “We call for an EU action plan for affordable social housing”.
On anti-discrimination, the new text also removes the previous reference to an EU plan to eradicate Roma settlements by 2030 and reaffirms the importance of promoting equality, inclusion and participation of Roma.
With regard to the gender dimension, the text has also been amended to introduce a call for “dual” combined action to maintain gender mainstreaming and introduce the concept of intersectionality.
The language is simplified and made more general on the end of gender stereotypes, which “must not be maintained or replicated in emerging sectors”.
The final text was very specific, calling for “measures to ensure that pre-existing social gender stereotypes are not maintained or replicated in emerging industries (...) and by encouraging men to enter sectors with a predominantly female labour force, such as care”.
Another change also concerns future EU initiatives on algorithmic work management or the right to disconnect (pending a proposal from the Commission). The previous text called for European legislation to be aligned and amended in line with developments in the workplace.
The new version stresses that “actions are needed to ensure fair working conditions in key areas for the digital age, such as telework, the right to disconnect and platform work, incorporating the ‘human in control’ principle for artificial intelligence in the world of work” and regulating algorithmic management.
While these changes may be seen as a step backwards in terms of ambition, a number of delegations had wanted to lighten the content of this Declaration and base it essentially on political principles, without transforming it into a work agenda for the next 5 years.
The Member States will discuss this in a working group on 4 April.
Link to text: https://aeur.eu/f/bkn (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)