Saturday's informal "Employment and Social Policy" Council in Paris to be asked to respond many questions prepared by French Presidency on European Social Agenda and combating social exclusion

Brussels, 06/07/2000 (Agence Europe) - The French Presidency of the Council has provided for the first ministerial session of its term in office to that of an informal Council of Ministers responsible for Employment and Social Policy, in Paris on 8 July. Martine Aubry will chair the meeting that will be devoted to an initial discussion on the European Social Agenda and on the Community action programme to combat social exclusion. Anna Diamantopoulou will represent the European Commission.

Several personalities will be taking part in this informal session alongside the ministers: representatives of the European social partners (Unice/Ueapme for the employers, ETUC for the trade unions, CEEP for public companies), the Chair of the European Parliament's Committee on Employment and Social Affairs, the Chair of the Employment Committee, the President of the social affairs section of the European Economic and Social Committee, as well as representatives of the platform of European social NGOs. Martine Aubry said that, as at the previous informal Council of Employment Ministers (in Lisbon last February) there will be neither family photo nor festive programme the day after the meeting.

• European Social Agenda: preparing the adoption by the Nice Summit. In its discussion paper on the European Social Agenda, the Presidency recalls that this agenda has to ensure the modrnisation of the European social model and the concrete implementation of the political undertakings defined in Lisbon; it has to allow for the establishment of common objectives for a period running up to 2005, using all the relevant instruments, beginning with the Treaty itself. It notes that the Commission's Communication relating to this agenda (see EUROPE of 28 and 29 June) provides for the involvement of all the actors concerned, in the respect of their respective competencies and responsibilities: European institutions, Member States, social partners and representatives of civil society, etc.,, which the Commission qualifies as an "improved form of governance". The Presidency hopes to be able to count on an opinion by the European Parliament and the Economic and Social Committee and to gather contributions from the European social partners, as well as from NGOs. These opinions, as well as possible contributions from the other Council formations concerned (EcoFin, Education, Internal Market, Health) could then be pooled into an interim report to be submitted to the Employment and Social Affairs Council of 17 October, then that of 27-28 November. The results of this work would then be referred to the European Council of Nice in view of adopting the European Social Agenda.

On this occasion, the Presidency will invite the different actors and parties to express their objectives in terms on content and timetable. The questions asked of ministers revolve around three major topics: - field of action: do you agree with the fields of action proposed in the Commission's Communication? Do you see others? What are your priorities?; b) Means of action: do you agree with the approach proposed by the Commission aimed at combining the different means that can be mobilised at the service of the Community social policy? Does this combination seem to you to be adjusted in relation to the fields and deadlines?: c) Following-up the work: which method seems most effective to you to make of the social agenda a coherent framework involving all the actors? How do you conceive the follow-up and assessment of the implementation? In this perspective, do you agree on the setting up of a scoreboard?

• In favour of a Europe that sticks together more: against poverty and social exclusion. In its discussion paper in view of elaborating appropriate objectives in the fight against poverty and social exclusion, the Presidency would like to submit for debate issues to have emerged from the examination of recent developments in national policies in this field, and from discussions held in the framework of the High-Level Group for social protection. Regarding policies conducted in Member States to combat social exclusion, the paper states that what they have in common is to aim to: a) promote the necessary access to resources, goods, services and rights for full participation of all in economic and social life; b) prevent the risks of exclusion, especially those resulting from ongoing technological, economic and social changes and those linked to any break in the conditions of existence; c) ensure the mobilisation of all the actors concerned in implementing policies aimed at social exclusion, resting on an integrated, participatory and joint approach. The Presidency thus proposes reflecting on these three themes and raises precise questions:

1. How the social protection systems ensure the necessary resources to live in accordance with human dignity? How the employment, training and social protection systems contribute to favouring access to employment for people belonging to the most vulnerable groups in the population? In terms of housing, how to ensure that each person has access a decent and hygienic lodgings? In terms of health, how to ensure that each have access to necessary care? How to answer the special needs of underprivileged people in terms of access to essential public and private services as well as access to culture, sport and leisure?

2. How to develop a preventative approach to all the policies aimed at employment, housing, health, education, training (for example fighting against debt burden and avoid expulsions)? How to avoid exclusion in companies, notably thanks to the organisation of work and life-long training? How to promote access for all to the knowledge society and to new information and communications technologies? What is the place and role of priority actions for these defined target groups (minorities, children, single parent families, handicapped persons) or for territories with special difficulties (depressed rural regions, old industrial areas, urban areas affected by unemployment)?

3. How to set up mechanisms allowing people in situations of exclusion to express themselves on their situation and the policies developed to help them? How to promote a partnership that allows involvement of all public and private players? How to integrate the fight against exclusion in all policies? How to identify the appropriate quantitative and qualitative indicators?

The EAPN (European Anti-Poverty Network) preparatory document (see yesterday's EUROPE, page 15) is already making information available for replies to these different questions.