Luxembourg, 17/10/2000 (Agence Europe) - The EU's Ministers for Social Affairs, meeting in Council, sent out a strong political signal on Tuesday, International Anti-Poverty Day, by unanimously adopting a European strategy to combat social exclusion. This strategy is being put in place in parallel with the "Luxembourg Process", Council President Martine Aubry commented at a press conference she gave alongside Commissioner Anna Diamantopoulou. "At the time when the euro has been put in place, EMU is up and running and when employment policy is bearing its fruit, it was essential to pass on a clear message to citizens that there were also a structural policies aimed at combating exclusion which will become active policies at European level". Recalling the goals of the paper drawn up by the High-Level Group on Social Protection (see EUROPE of 5 October, pp.12-13), Martine Aubry stressed that the open coordination process was working: setting out from its own situation, each country defines a policy, commits itself as to means and may act to combat exclusion: "For us, it is a question of concrete progress for Social Europe", the President concluded.
Also very satisfied, Anna Diamantopoulou placed emphasis on the fact that "this is the first time that, on the basis of a Commission proposal, European governments have agreed on a policy to combat poverty". She again recalled that 61 million people in the EU lived below the poverty line, of whom 20% were children. For the Commissioner it is vital to engage in cooperation at European level in this field: the key in the fight against social exclusion, is foremost access for all to healthcare, housing and employment.
During the morning, ministers also largely debated the "employment package" that the Commission presented in September and agreed to say that it was a question of a very valid process. "Four million new jobs have been created Europe-wide, especially technical jobs, and 70% of these new jobs have been allocated to women", Anna Diamantopoulou pointed out. The morning's work then continued with the participation of the Standing Committee on Employment, as well as representatives of the European social partners, who thus saw their role bolstered by providing their opinion on the employment package. They reaffirmed the need to move towards full employment and improve the procedure - by fleshing out the "guidelines" - and the content. The Council also adopted "conclusions" on the structural indicators regarding employment and social cohesion, which urge the High-Level Group on social Protection and the Committee on Employment to continue their work in this field in a concrete manner.
In the afternoon, ministers were unable to agree on the proposal for a directive relating to equal treatment regarding employment and work (Art. 13 of the Treaty), two problems remaining in suspense: Ireland's stance (and not that of the United Kingdom as yesterday's EUROPE said by mistake) for ethical reasons of its institutions, and the question of the transition period. Following this deadlock, ministers met in a small session to try to reach a solution Tuesday evening. You may recall that, for the transition period for transposition into national legislation, the Presidency is proposing 3 years, whereas London would like an 8-year period. Commissioner Anna Diamantopulou pointed out that she could agree to a three-year period or a little more, but not 8.
For the remainder, ministers marked their approval on the issue of working time for flight crew in civilian aviation and the action programme in the fight against discrimination (2001-2006) on the "working at heights" Directive (scaffolding, etc.). Late in the evening, they were still to have a policy debate on the Commission's proposal for worker information-consultation at national level.