Brussels, 06/06/2008 (Agence Europe) - The Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs (EPSCO) Council of the EU will meet in Luxembourg on Monday 9 and Tuesday 10 June. On Monday, Slovenian Minister for Labour, the Family and Social Affairs Marjeta Cotman will chair the meeting of EU employment and social affairs ministers, at which Commissioner Vladimir Špidla will be present. On Tuesday, Slovenian Minister of Health Zofija Mazej Kukoviè will likewise chair the meeting of EU health and consumer affairs ministers. Androulla Vassiliou will represent the Commission.
On Monday, “social” ministers will consider a matter of great importance to European workers: the “organisation of working time” and “temporary work” package. The Slovenian Presidency has proposed a compromise which, it hopes, will bring political agreement. This compromise reinforces the approach of the Portuguese Presidency, a Slovenian diplomat commented (see EUROPE 9559). On 20 May, the United Kingdom, champion of opting out and a central player in negotiations, concluded an agreement with British social partners, giving temporary workers the same rights as permanent workers after 12 weeks work in a company (see EUROPE 9666). This agreement gives the Slovenian Presidency hope that a political agreement can be reached on its compromise, which would grant temporary workers equality of treatment from the first day throughout the EU, unless other arrangements, with which national social partners agree, apply in the country (as is the case in the United Kingdom). The Slovenian Presidency said it was delighted with the positive developments in the United Kingdom. It was important, it said, that it be recognised that Europe needed this package, and indicated that it expected every country to sign the political agreement on the two directives, which is a comprehensive agreement. This, it went on, was important for all citizens and for future negotiations with the European Parliament. It fully expects the United Kingdom to sign.
Ministers are also likely to reach a political agreement on guidelines for employment which takes account of what the European Parliament wants (see EUROPE 9666).
The other issues to be debated in the social/employment part of the Council are of the usual type. Ministers will adopt conclusions on (1) enhanced administrative cooperation on the posting of workers as part of the provision of services, (2) anticipating and matching labour needs, with particular emphasis on youth, (3) the international agenda on equal opportunities for men and women (Beijing Platform for Action) with regard to women in political decision making - “An interesting issue at international and European levels,” a diplomat said, and (4) the elimination of gender stereotypes in society.
The Council will also agree on a general approach amending the annexes to regulation (EC) N°883/04 on the coordination on social security schemes, and on a partial general approach relating to a regulation on the implementation of the same regulation (financial arrangements - recovery of benefits provided but not due, recovery of provisional payments and contributions, offsetting and assistance with recovery). It will endorse an employment committee opinion on youth employment.
In the health and consumer affairs section, ministers will adopt conclusions on (1) reducing the burden of cancer, (2) antimicrobial resistance, (3) a cooperation mechanism between the Council and the Commission for the implementation of the EU health strategy, and (4) information to patients on medicinal products.
Ministers will also take note of a progress report on a regulation on novel foods. (G.B./transl. rt)