In its work programme, the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU promises to focus on three priorities over the next six months: - the future of work in digital Europe; - a Europe of equality, cohesion and inclusion; - Europe’s response to the challenges of demographic change and an ageing population.
At a time when the Commission is due to present a new Directive on dangerous substances at work (the sixth revision of the list of carcinogenic, mutagenic and reprotoxic substances, for which Warsaw is planning a progress report on 12 June, according to a work programme published on 20 December) and when it will be considering a new initiative on artificial intelligence at work after the landmark Directive on platform work, the Polish Presidency will “hold a discussion on possible solutions for the protection of people and their work in an age of increasing innovation and automation”.
Legislative initiatives on the use of AI in the workplace, teleworking and the right to disconnect will be among the issues addressed, the Polish Presidency writes in its work programme.
“We will also lean into the implementation of the EU Strategic Framework on Health and Safety at Work 2021-2027 and social economy initiatives in the context of digital transformation”.
Social dialogue. The Presidency will also take “steps to develop social dialogue and emphasise its role, including by continuing work on the revision of the European Works Councils Directive and starting work on a New Pact for European Social Dialogue”.
The work it intends to continue includes support for vulnerable groups, in particular people with disabilities, economically inactive people, the NEET group, migrants and people benefiting from mobility within the EU, with a view to integrating them into the labour market.
It will also engage in the 2025 review of the implementation of the action plan of the European pillar of social rights, with its three main objectives of increasing employment, enhancing skills and qualifications and reducing poverty among Europeans by 2030.
Warsaw also wants to strengthen the equality and anti-discrimination perspective at EU level, particularly in the context of the law on digital services. It also hopes to reach agreement on 12 June on the draft Directive on the implementation of the principle of equal treatment, which has been pending since 2008.
With regard to demographic transformations and the ‘silver economy’ (economy of older persons), particular attention will be paid “to the rights of elder individuals to self-determination, enabling them to decide on the form and extent of their participation in society and their preferred support arrangements. In addition to actions for decent social security and access to services (review of the Recommendation on access to affordable high-quality long-term care), the Polish Presidency will promote initiatives to support the active participation of senior citizens in the labour market”.
Conclusions on the ‘silver transformation’ will be submitted for adoption to the Member States’ Social Affairs and Employment Ministers on 10 March.
Possible legislative agreements only in June. In terms of legislative agreements, although Warsaw is still awaiting a series of proposals to be presented by the Commission, the programme is still fairly meagre.
The Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU has only set itself the target of the Employment and Social Affairs Council of 12 June - and not the Council of 10 March - to obtain a general approach on the proposal for a Directive on quality traineeships, confirming the difficulty of the negotiations.
It is also only on 12 June that the Polish Presidency plans a new progress report on the EU Council recommendation on the same subject.
It is still only at the EPSCO Council on 12 June that the Presidency is planning an information point on the revision of the Regulation on the coordination of social security schemes (883/2004) or on the revision of the European Works Councils (EWCs), even though the trilogues on the latter will soon begin.
Link to the priorities and the provisional agenda for ministerial meetings: https://aeur.eu/f/ewk ; https://aeur.eu/f/exk (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)