Brussels, 10/07/2003 (Agence Europe) - Combatting social exclusion and reconciling home and work by focussing on the role of the family; promoting a European strategy to clamp down on undeclared work (with a reference to health and safety at work, new types of contract and tax incentives); establishing an enlarged EU in terms of industrial relations and employment and mobility legislation; encouraging companies to assume social responsibility; and boosting employment policy, labour market reform and economic growth. Italian social affairs minister Roberto Maroni outlined the above priorities of the Italian Presidency to the relevant European Parliament Committee, toning the Italy recently published a White Paper on social policies, identifying the family as the focal point of the new framework for social cohesion and reconciling home and work. The top Italian Presidency priority will be clamping down on working off the cards, which is a problem in a series of Member States, noted Maroni, although circumstances differed from one country to the next. The Presidency is expecting the Commission to make a clear reference to clamping down on undeclared work in its new employment guidelines. The minister said the Presidency would be organising a special meeting on the black economy at a European employment conference.
At a press conference, Maroni mentioned:
1. Employment. The European employment strategy has been fruitful, he said, noting that Italy had particularly appreciated the introduction of two guidelines concerning legalising undeclared work, and regional diversity and the cost of living.
2. Pension reform: At the Varese Council, the Presidency will be launching a parallel policy to the employment policy, setting out a European pensions strategy (although responsibility for pensions will rest with the Member States). The aim will be to achieve a fair European system for all workers in the enlarged Europe.