European Pillar of Social Rights

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The European Pillar of Social Rights (ESSR, English European Pillar of Social Rights , French socle européen des droits sociaux ) is an initiative of the European Commission . The EPSR is intended to initiate comprehensive reforms of the European labor markets and social systems. At a summit in Gothenburg on November 17, 2017, the 28 states committed themselves in a declaration to common minimum standards, including fair wages, help with unemployment and adequate pensions.

history

The Commission published the first preliminary draft EPSR in March 2016. A consultation process with the member states , authorities, social partners and citizens of the EU began. The consultation process officially ended on 23 January 2017 with a high-level conference of the Commission in Brussels.

content

The EPSR comprises a preamble and three chapters with target values ​​for 20 areas:

  • Chapter I: Equal Opportunities and Labor Market Access
    (Education, Training and Lifelong Learning, Gender Equality, Equal Opportunities, Active Support for Employment)
  • Chapter II: Fair working conditions
    (secure and adaptable employment, wages and salaries, information on employment conditions and protection against dismissal, social dialogue and involvement of employees, work-life balance, healthy, safe and suitable work environment and data protection)
  • Chapter III: Social protection and social inclusion
    (care and support for children, social protection, unemployment benefits, minimum income, retirement income and pensions, health care, inclusion of people with disabilities, long-term care, housing and assistance for the homeless, access to essential services)

The EPSR is intended to act as a kind of reference document, by means of which the labor market and social standards in the member states should in the long term approach the level defined in the pillar.

Further development

As a concrete measure to implement the EPSR, the Commission proposed in March 2018 that a European labor market authority should be established and that the self-employed should also have access to social security.

criticism

Whether and in what form the EPSR will actually be implemented is open. While the initiative was generally welcomed, there was also considerable criticism. The member states fear a shift in competence in favor of the EU or the EU Commission and therefore insist on compliance with the principle of subsidiarity .

The Member States are not obliged to implement the EPSR.

Some governments fear that national budgets will be burdened additionally (e.g. through higher social benefits). The initiative does not go far enough for the trade unions, while the employers' associations criticize that the EPSR would reduce the EU's competitiveness.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ European Pillar of Social Rights (PDF, 24 pages) , accessed on February 5, 2018.
  2. ↑ Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: Launch of a consultation on a European Pillar of Social Rights (COM / 2016/0127 final) of March 8, 2016 , accessed on March 5 , 2016 February 2018
  3. ↑ European Pillar of Social Rights: Commission prepares next steps , accessed on February 5, 2018.
  4. ↑ a b ESSR: Will the EU Commission succeed in the great socio-political success? In: Makronom . January 17, 2017 ( online [accessed February 19, 2017]).
  5. ↑ Dispute over EU standards Economically united, socially divided. In: Spiegel online. March 13, 2018, accessed March 18, 2018 .
  6. ↑ Proclamation of the European Pillar of Social Rights. In: eur-info No. 03. Confederation of German Employers' Associations, December 15, 2017, accessed on March 18, 2018 .
  7. ↑ European pillar of social rights ( Memento of the original dated February 6, 2018 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , European Trade Union Confederation page on the EPSR, accessed February 5, 2018 @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.etuc.org
  8. ^ The Social Summit in Gothenburg - A new EU with a more social face , website of the German Trade Union Confederation , accessed February 5, 2018
  9. ↑ A better Europe for workers: a stronger pillar of social rights , accessed February 5, 2018.