14. Mid-term review of the social policy
agenda
| (24614)
10157/03
COM(03) 312
| Commission Communication: Mid-term review of the social policy agenda.
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| Legal base | — |
| Document originated | 2 June 2003
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| Deposited in Parliament | 11 June 2003
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| Department | Work and Pensions
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| Basis of consideration | EM of 24 June 2003
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| Previous Committee Report | None; but see (21420) 9964/00: HC 23-xxvi (1999-2000), paragraph 1 ( 26 July 2000)
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| To be discussed in Council | Not applicable
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| Committee's assessment | Politically important
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| Committee's decision | Cleared
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Background
14.1 The social policy agenda[35]
for the period 2000-2005 was endorsed by the Nice European Council
in December 2000. The Commission produces an annual scoreboard
on its implementation. From the outset, a mid-term review was
planned for 2003. The Commission organised a preparatory conference
in March 2003 at which the future of employment and social policy
was debated.
The document
14.2 The first four sections of the Communication summarise the
state of play at EU level in terms of social policy and highlight
the need for continuing reform despite the slowdown in the economy.
In addition to such continuing problems as structural weaknesses
in labour markets, demographic trends, gender inequality and poverty,
enlargement is identified as the EU's key challenge for the period
ahead. The impact of enlargement on the employment and the social
situation and the new Member States' application of Community
legislation in the social area will require close monitoring.
14.3 An annex to the Communication provides an overview of EU
employment and social legislation. The Commission has always
concerned itself with issues of compliance; in the Communication,
it announces its intention of making compliance with the social
acquis and monitoring of its application a top priority in the
second half of the social policy agenda.
14.4 The fifth section, Policy headlines and action, outlines
proposals for action during 2004/05 under similar headings to
those included in the social policy agenda:
- More and better jobs
- Anticipating and capitalising on change in the working environment
by creating a new balance between flexibility and exclusion
- Fighting poverty and all forms of exclusion and discrimination
- Modernising social protection
- Promoting gender equality
- Strengthening the social policy aspects of enlargement and
the European Union's external policies
14.5 Under each heading, a short introduction is followed by a
list of planned actions. The emphasis is on implementation, with
a recognition that the process must be flexible enough for the
most suitable measures to be taken at the appropriate time.
The Government's view
14.6 The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
(Baroness Hollis) tells us that the Government continues to ensure
that measures under the social policy agenda take account of the
different traditions and practices in Member States and that they
are consistent with the Lisbon goals relating to the competitiveness
of the EU economy. She says:
"The Government would want to ensure that new initiatives
on employment — including the setting up of a social partners
peer review, and the work of the proposed High Level Group [set
up to examine the needs of the EU in the second half of the decade
and how best to meet them] are
consistent with the principles agreed during this year's revision
of the European Employment Strategy.
"In terms of actions on anticipating and capitalising
on change in the working environment, the Government will seek
to ensure that any measures are sufficiently flexible to take
account of the different traditions and practices in labour markets
in member states and that they are consistent with the Lisbon
goals on employment.
"The UK agrees with the stress on the importance
of tackling poverty and social exclusion and can support the actions
set out in the Communication.
"The UK supports the underlying principle of
streamlining of social protection but is not convinced that the
Commission's specific proposals will help Member States deliver
the Lisbon Agenda. Most of the other proposed actions specified
can be welcomed although we will need to examine any proposals
as they emerge,
"The UK welcomes the Commission's approach on
equality issues between women and men and will respond positively
to the proposed initiatives. Further progress made on gender equality
issues, for example, the recasting of equality directives, will
need to ensure that they respect national traditions and do not
seek to introduce proposals which might run counter to the general
approach of the Lisbon Agenda.
"There are no new legislative proposals associated
with strengthening the social policy aspects of enlargement. There
are no adverse implications for UK policy."
14.7 The Minister tells us that the Commission will
continue to take individual proposals forward according to the
timetable set out in the social policy agenda. A fourth scoreboard
of progress will be presented to the Spring Council in 2004.
Conclusion
14.8 The Communication paints a relatively positive
picture of progress, despite the economic slowdown and the intractable
nature of some of the underlying problems, and its plans to concentrate
on implementation and compliance appear sensible. Although the
Government continues to keep a wary eye out for breaches of subsidiarity
and deviations from the Lisbon agenda, it raises few serious objections
to this mid-term review.
14.9 We clear the document.
35 See headnote. Back
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