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#SocialEurope - What Parliament is doing on social policies

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Future of Europe - Social Policy ©AP Images/European Union-EP   
The EU is working to make Europe a better place to live and work ©AP Images/European Union-EP

A wide range of challenges

Compared to the rest of the world, Europe has the best levels of social protection and also ranks highly in terms of quality of life and wellbeing. However, it faces a wide range of challenges. The effects of the economic crisis are still deeply felt in many member states and, even though things have already improved in many countries, great disparities remain within the EU. Unemployment rates are decreasing overall, but vary strongly among EU countries.

Low birth rates and an aging population also challenge the sustainability of welfare systems.

Working life is also substantially transforming due to technological innovation, globalisation and the rise of the services sector. New business models in the sharing economy with more flexible forms of working are becoming more important.

Competence in social policies: EU vs national governments

The EU has only limited competence when it comes to social issues as most of it is up to national governments.

The responsibility for employment and social policies lies mostly with the member states and their governments. This means that national governments - and not the EU - decide on issues such as wage regulations, including minimum wage, the role of collective bargaining, pensions systems and retirement age, and unemployment benefits.

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However, over the years, the EU has been working on social issues throughout the European integration process and come up with a series of instruments in the social sector. These include EU laws, funds and tools to better coordinate and monitor national policies. The EU also encourages countries to share best practices on issues such as social inclusion, poverty and pensions.

The Treaty of Rome in 1957 already included fundamental principles such as equal pay for women and men as well as the right of workers to move freely within the EU. To make this mobility possible, further provisions were adopted, such as rules for the mutual recognition of diplomas, guarantees regarding medical treatment when abroad and safeguards regarding already acquired pension rights.

In addition there are EU rules on working conditions, such as working time or part-time work, as well as legislation to tackle workplace discrimination and to ensure workers’ health and safety.

In November 2017, the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission proclaimed the European Pillar of Social Rights to deliver new and more effective rights for people and support fair and well-functioning labour markets and welfare systems. The pillar is based on 20 principles and comprises a number of initiatives linked to equal opportunities and access to the labour market; fair working conditions; and adequate and sustainable social protection.

Since the early stages of European integration, the European Parliament has often called for the EU to be more active on social issues and has supported the Commission proposals in this area.

Assistance for the unemployed and the young

Launched in 1957, the European Social Fund is the EU’s main tool for promoting employment and social inclusion. It has helped millions of people to learn new skills and find jobs.

MEPs are working on a new streamlined version of the fund with a specific focus on EU youth and children. The European Social Fund Plus will merge a number of existing funds and programmes, providing more targeted and integrated support.

The European Globalisation Adjustment Fund provides support for workers made redundant as a result of changing global trade patterns when for example large companies shut down or production is moved outside the EU. MEPs are currently working on new rules for a more accessible and future oriented fund for the post-2020 period to better deal with digitalisation and environmental changes.

The European Network of Employment Services (Eures) is a job mobility network that provides information, guidance and recruitment and placement services to job seekers and employers. In 2016, Parliament approved a new law to revamp it to better match labour market supply and demand.

To tackle youth unemployment, EU countries agreed in 2013 to launch the Youth Guarantee, an EU initiative to give everyone under 25 years a good quality offer of employment, continued education, an apprenticeship or a traineeship within a period of four months of becoming unemployed or leaving formal education.

The European Solidarity Corps aims to create opportunities for young people to volunteer or work in projects that benefit communities and people around Europe.

Read more on EU measures to tackle youth unemployment

Working conditions

The European Parliament is working on new rules introducing new minimum rights on working conditions, including the length of the probationary period, working hours and restrictive contracts.

MEPs regularly update EU rules to protect people at the workplace, for example by setting stricter exposure limit values for harmful chemical substances.

The Parliament has repeatedly asked the Commission to propose measures to narrow the gender pay and pension gap. In September 2018, it also made proposals to combat sexual harassment in the workplace.

MEPs also want to ensure a proper work-life balance. They are currently working on new rules to better reconcile work and private life and strengthen rights for parents and carers.

An inclusive labour market

Parliament proposed a set of measures and recommendations to be taken by the Commission and EU countries to ensure people who have been ill can easily get back to work, while chronically ill or disabled workers can be better integrated in the labour market.

MEPs are also working on the European Accessibility Act to help people with disabilities fully participate in society.

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