Opinion Social Platform: 'Europe needs action not words'

We deeply regret that at the start of a new European Semester, European governance continues to focus on austerity and emphasizes competiveness and growth over social needs. European Governance is failing to give any priority to the inclusive growth aspect of Europe 2020. Only balanced, well-designed and coherent economic and social policies can ensure sustainable and inclusive growth.

We are disappointed that at the European Council of December 19-20, member states decided to continue with the current policy approach and priorities reflected in the Annual Growth Survey for 2014 (AGS). We are also concerned that the use of the scoreboard of employment and social indicators, “will have the sole purpose of allowing a broader understanding of social developments” rather than triggering corrective action.

Social Platform President Heather Roy said: “European integration and the completion of the Economic and Monetary Union will not be achieved, if the EU is committing itself to a social dimension in words only, while not taking concrete actions to deliver on this. Reiterating last year’s priorities of the AGS or agreeing to have a scoreboard of social and employment indicators only as a mere analytical tool of the European Semester, will not solve the ongoing social crisis in Europe.”

Social Platform, the largest coalition of social NGOs in the European Union, is calling on the European Council to revise the EU’s macro-economic approach to ensure European governance is consistent with the EU obligations enshrined in Article 9 TFEU by restoring the balance between social and economic governance. Such rebalancing needs a coherent social strategy. Concrete actions are needed to build an EU with a genuine social dimension to ensure the EU and its member states deliver on their social priorities and to ensure the coherence of European governance.

“With rising poverty, exclusion, inequalities and unemployment we face a time of distrust and disenchantment. The notion of solidarity between member states in the EU and our common goal of well-being for all is being called into question. The Council pointed out that it is essential for the implementation of the economic policies and reforms to be underpinned by strong democratic legitimacy and accountability. We need to see policies from them that restore the confidence of people in the European project by putting their social and economic wellbeing first,” added Roy.

Read Social Platform's letter to the European Council of December 19-20

Share this article: