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WORK AND PENSIONS
Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Mr. James Plaskitt): The Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council will be held on 10 March in Brussels. There are no health or consumer affairs issues. I shall be representing the UK.
The first and main item is the Preparation for the Spring European Council which will be held on the 24 March 2006. The "Key Messages" paper presented by the Employment Committee and the Social Protection Committee identifies the key messages emerging from the numerous other reports for adoption and endorsement at this March Council. The presidency has posed two questions to help focus the discussion. The first question is on the role of the social partners in strengthening the Lisbon process and the second question is on the progress made with social protection and social inclusion. The "Key Messages" paper will be adopted following a policy debate.
The second item is an exchange of views on the Preparation for the Tripartite Social Summit. This will be held on 23 March in advance of the Spring European Council to allow the European Social Partners leave to feed in their views to the Spring Council. It consists of the current presidency, the two subsequent presidencies (Finland and Germany), the Commission and the social partners. It meets at least once a year, including before each annual Spring Council.
The Committee Chairs will provide information on the work programmes of the Employment Committee and the Social Protection Committee for 2006. The Council is annually informed about the Committees' work programmes.
The Council will reach general agreement on Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council Amending Council Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71 on the application of social security schemes to employed persons, to self-employed persons and to members of their
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families moving within the Community and Council Regulation (EEC) No 574/72 laying down the procedure for implementing Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71 (Miscellaneous amendments 2005). This is a regular update of the regulation which coordinates social security within the European Union. It is tabled for general approach as the European Parliament has not yet had their first reading of the dossier.
The final agenda item will be a Commission presentation on the report on Transitional Arrangements set out in 2003 Accession Treaty. These are the measures allowing member states to restrict, for a transitional period, free movement of workers from
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eight of the new member states. The UK has opened up its labour market and has a Worker Registration Scheme. Some member states may intervene to discuss free movement of workers.
Under "Any Other Business" there is a Commission presentation on the "Roadmap" for Gender Equality and on a proposal for a Regulation establishing the European Globalisation Fund. There are three written items on presidency conferences: "Demographic Challenges—Family Needs Partnership", "Innovations in Labour Market Policies—Challenges in Times of Globalisation" and "Joint Action of Member States against Harmful Traditional Practices". I do not expect any debate on these items.