Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States - Adoption - Hoofdinhoud

Document­datum	04-10-2021
Publicatie­datum	05-10-2021
Kenmerk	12312/21
Externe link	origineel bericht
Originele document in PDF

Council of the European Union Brussels, 4 October 2021 (OR. en)

12312/21

Interinstitutional File: 2021/0137(NLE) i

SOC 550 EMPL 399 ECOFIN 909 EDUC 314

NOTE

From: General Secretariat of the Council

To: Permanent Representatives Committee/Council

No. prev. doc.: 12367/21

No. Cion doc.: 9485/21

Subject: Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States

 - Adoption

• I. 

  INTRODUCTION

  On 2 June 2021, the Commission submitted a proposal for a Council Decision on guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States, based on article 148(2) TFEU. 1

  For 2021, the Commission has proposed to maintain unchanged the guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States of 2020. In 2020, they had been aligned to the four dimensions of the Annual Sustainable Growth Strategy (ASGS) and in particular, the environmental sustainability dimension, reflecting the Stronger Social Europe for Just Transitions narrative and integrating the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The original 2020 proposal submitted by the Commission was further amended, in order to address also the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.

1 The employment guidelines were first adopted together as an integrated package in 2010 with the broad economic guidelines, underpinning the Europe 2020 Strategy.

II. STATE OF PLAY

The Employment Committee (EMCO) transmitted its Opinion 2 on the employment guidelines

to the Council, including the Social Protection Committee's (SPC) contribution on the social

aspects of the guidelines.

The European Council, at its meeting on 24-25 June 2021, considered the employment situation of the Union and adopted conclusions thereon.

The European Parliament adopted its Opinion in its plenary session of 16 September 2021.

The Committee of the Regions decided not to issue an opinion on the proposal 3 . The opinion of the Economic and Social Committee was adopted at its plenary session on 23 September 2021.

The Council has now all the necessary opinions for its examination of the employment guidelines for 2021.

The Social Questions Working Party on 21 September 2021 examined the proposal. In doing so, the Social Questions Working Party also took account of the European Parliament's Opinion. Following an informal written consultation, the Working Party reached an agreement in principle on the text of the draft Decision, set out in document ST 12367/21 + COR 1. This document is a basis for the ongoing legal-linguistic revision required for the final adoption.

The text of the draft Decision on the employment guidelines, as resulting from the agreement in principle reached at the level of the Working Party, is set out in the Annex to this Note.

2 Letter from EMCO Chair on 24 June 2021.

3 Letter from the Committee of the Regions on 07 July 2021.

III. CONCLUSION

In view of the above, the Permanent Representatives Committee is invited to examine the complete package of opinions and to recommend to the Council (EPSCO) to adopt, at its session on 15 October 2021, the Council Decision on the employment guidelines contained in Annex, subject to the legal-linguistic revision.

The final version of the text for the Council Decision on the employment guidelines will be will be ready on 13 October (doc. 12403/21 to follow), following the completion of the legallinguist revision.

_______________________ ANNEX

2021/0137 (NLE) i

Proposal for a

COUNCIL DECISION

on guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article

148(2) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament 4 ,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee 5 ,

After consulting the Committee of the Regions,

Having regard to the opinion of the Employment Committee 6

Whereas:

4 OJ C , , p. .

5 OJ C , , p. .

6 OJ C , , p. .

• (1) 

  Member States and the Union are to work towards developing a coordinated strategy for employment and particularly for promoting a skilled, trained and adaptable workforce, as well as labour markets that are future- oriented and responsive to economic change, with a view to achieving the objectives of full employment and social progress, balanced growth, a high level of protection and improvement of the quality of the environment laid down in Article 3 of the Treaty on European Union. Member States are to regard promoting

  employment as a matter of common concern and are to coordinate their action in this respect

  within the Council, taking into account national practices related to the responsibilities of

  management and labour.

• (2) 

  The Union is to combat social exclusion and discrimination and promote social justice and protection, as well as equality between women and men, solidarity between generations and the protection of the rights of the child, as laid down in Article 3 of the Treaty on European Union. In defining and implementing its policies and activities, the Union is to take into

  account requirements linked to the promotion of a high level of employment, the guarantee of adequate social protection, the fight against poverty and social exclusion, a high level of education and training and protection of human health as laid down in Article 9 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).

• (3) 

  In accordance with the TFEU, the Union has developed and implemented policy coordination instruments for economic and employment policies. As part of these instruments, the Guidelines for the Employment Policies of the Member States (the

‘Guidelines’) set out in the Annex to Council Decision (EU) 2020/1512 ( 7 ), together with the

Broad Guidelines for the Economic Policies of the Member States and of the Union set out

in Council Recommendation (EU) 2015/1184 ( 8 ), form the Integrated Guidelines. They are

to guide policy implementation in the Member States and in the Union, reflecting the interdependence between the Member States. The resulting set of coordinated European and national policies and reforms are to constitute an appropriate overall sustainable economic and employment policy mix, which should achieve positive spill-over effects.

7 Council Decision (EU) 2020/1512 of 13 October 2020 on guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States OJ L 344, 19.10.2020, p. 22–28.

8 Council Recommendation (EU) 2015/1184 of 14 July 2015 on broad guidelines for the economic policies of the Member States and of the European Union (OJ L 192, 18.7.2015, p. 27).

• (4) 

  The Guidelines are consistent with the Stability and Growth Pact, existing Union legislation and various Union initiatives, including Council Recommendation of 30 October 2020 ( 9 ),

  Council Recommendation of 15 February 2016 ( 10 ), Council Recommendation of 19 December 2016 ( 11 ), Council Recommendation of 15 March 2018 ( 12 ), Council Recommendation of 22 May 2018 on Key Competences and Lifelong Learning ( 13 ), Council Recommendation of 22 May 2019 ( 14 ), Council Recommendation of 8 November 2019 ( 15 ), Council Recommendation of 10 March 2014 ( 16 ), Council Recommendation of 24 November 2020 ( 17 ), the Commission Recommendation on an effective active support to employment following the COVID-19 crisis (EASE) of 4 March 2021 ( 18 ) and the Council Recommendation on establishing a European Child Guarantee ( 19 ).

9 Council Recommendation of 30 October 2020 on A Bridge to Jobs – Reinforcing the Youth Guarantee and replacing the Council Recommendation of 22 April 2013 on establishing a

Youth Guarantee 2020/C 372/01 (OJ C 372, 4.11.2020, p. 1–9). 10 Council Recommendation of 15 February 2016 on the integration of the long-term

unemployed into the labour market (OJ C 67, 20.2.2016, p. 1). 11 Council Recommendation of 19 December 2016 on Upskilling Pathways (OJ C 484,

24.12.2016, p. 1). 12 Council Recommendation of 15 March 2018 on a European Framework for Quality and

Effective Apprenticeships (OJ C 153, 2.5.2018, p. 1). 13 Council Recommendation of 22 May 2018 on Key Competences and Lifelong Learning (OJ

C 189, 4.6.2018, p. 1). 14 Council Recommendation of 22 May 2019 on High Quality Early Childhood Education and

Care System (OJ C 189, 5.6.2019, p. 4). 15 Council Recommendation of 8 November 2019 on Access to Social Protection (OJ C 387,

15.11.2019, p. 1). 16 Council Recommendation of 10 March 2014 on a Quality Framework for Traineeships (OJ

C 88, 27.3.2014, p. 1). 17 Council Recommendation of 24 November 2020 on vocational education and training

(VET) for sustainable competitiveness, social fairness and resilience 2020/C 417/01 (OJ C 417, 2.12.2020, p. 1–16).

18 Commission Recommendation (EU) 2021/402 of 4 March 2021 on an effective active support to employment following the COVID-19 crisis (EASE) C/2021/1372 (OJ L 80, 8.3.2021, p. 1–8).

19 Council Recommendation (EU) 2021/1004 of 14 June 2021 establishing a European Child Guarantee (OJ L 223, 22.6.2021, p. 14–23)

• (5) 

  The European Semester combines the different instruments in an overarching framework for integrated multilateral coordination and surveillance of economic and employment policies. While pursuing environmental sustainability, productivity, fairness and stability, the

  European Semester integrates the principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights, and its monitoring tool, the Social Scoreboard, and it foresees strong engagement with social partners, civil society and other stakeholders. It supports the delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals. The Union’s and Member States’ employment and economic policies should go hand in hand with Europe’s transition to a climate neutral, environmentally sustainable and digital economy, improving competitiveness, ensuring adequate working conditions, fostering innovation, promoting social justice and equal opportunities, as well as tackling inequalities and regional disparities.

• (6) 

  Climate change and environmental related challenges, globalisation, digitalisation, artificial intelligence, teleworking, the platform economy and demographic change are transforming European economies and societies. The Union and its Member States should work together to effectively address these structural factors and adapt existing systems as needed,

  recognising the close interdependence of the Member States’ economies and labour markets, and related policies. This requires a coordinated, ambitious and effective policy action at both Union and national levels, in accordance with the TFEU, the Union’s provisions on economic governance and taking into account the European Pillar of Social Rights. Such policy action should encompass a boost in sustainable investment, a renewed commitment to appropriately sequenced reforms that enhance economic growth, quality job creation, productivity, adequate working conditions, social and territorial cohesion, upward convergence, resilience and the exercise of fiscal responsibility. It should combine supplyand demand-side measures, while taking into account their environmental, employment and social impact.

• (7) 

  The European Parliament, the Council and the Commission proclaimed the European Pillar of Social Rights ( 20 ) (the ‘Pillar’). The Pillar sets out twenty principles and rights to support well-functioning and fair labour markets and welfare systems, structured around three

  categories: equal opportunities and access to the labour market, fair working conditions, and social protection and inclusion. The principles and rights give direction to the Union’s strategy, making sure that the transitions to climate-neutrality and environmental sustainability, digitalisation and demographic change are socially fair and just. The Pillar, with its accompanying Social Scoreboard, constitutes a reference framework to monitor the employment and social performance of Member States, to drive reforms at national, regional and local level and to reconcile the ‘social’ and the ‘market’ in today’s modern economy, including by promoting the social economy. On 4 March 2021, the Commission put forward

an Action Plan for the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights ( 21 ), including

ambitious but realistic headline targets and complementary sub-targets, in the employment, skills, education and social areas for 2030.

20 Interinstitutional Proclamation on the European Pillar of Social Rights (OJ C 428,

13.12.2017, p. 10). 21 Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, The

European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, The European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan (COM/2021/102 final).

• (8) 

  On 8 May 2021, EU Leaders at the Porto Social Summit ( 22 ) recognised the European Pillar of Social Rights as a fundamental element of the recovery noting that its implementation

  will strengthen the Union’s drive towards a digital, green and fair transition and contribute to achieving upward social and economic convergence and addressing the demographic challenges. They stressed that the social dimension, social dialogue and the active involvement of social partners are at the core of a highly competitive social market economy. Member States found that the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan presented by the Commission provided useful guidance for the implementation of the Pillar, including in the areas of employment, skills, health and social protection. They welcomed the new EU headline targets for 2030 on employment (78% of the population aged 20-64 should be in employment), skills (60% of all adults should participate in training every year) and poverty reduction (of at least 15 million, including five million children) and the revised Social Scoreboard with a view to monitoring progress towards the implementation of the Social Pillar principles as part of the policy coordination framework in the context of the European Semester. Moreover, they noted that, as Europe gradually recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, the priority will be to move from protecting to creating jobs and to improve job quality, and stressed that implementation of the principles in the European Pillar of Social Rights will be essential to ensure the creation of more and better jobs for all within the framework of an inclusive recovery. They emphasised their commitment to unity and solidarity, which also means ensuring equal opportunities for all and that no one is left behind. They affirmed their determination, as established by the EU Strategic Agenda 2019- 2024, to continue deepening the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights at EU and national level, with due regard for respective competences and the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality. Finally, Member States stressed the importance of closely following, including at the highest level, the progress achieved towards the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights and the EU headline targets for 2030.

22 Informal European Council, Porto declaration , 8 May 2021.

• (9) 

  Reforms to the labour market, including the national wage-setting mechanisms, should follow national practices of social dialogue, with a view to providing fair wages that enable a decent standard of living and sustainable growth. They should also allow the necessary opportunity for a broad consideration of socioeconomic issues, including improvements in sustainability, competitiveness, innovation, quality job creation, working conditions, inwork poverty, education and skills, public health and inclusion and real incomes. Member States and the Union should ensure that the social, employment and economic impact of the COVID-19 crisis is mitigated and that transitions are socially fair and just. Strengthening the recovery and the drive towards an inclusive and resilient society in which people are

  protected and empowered to anticipate and manage change, and in which they can actively participate in society and the economy, should be pursued. A coherent set of active labour market policies consisting of temporary hiring and transition incentives, skills policies and improved employment services is needed to support labour market transitions as highlighted in the Commission Recommendation (EU) on an effective active support to employment following the COVID-19 crisis (EASE).

• (10) 

  Discrimination in all its forms should be tackled, gender equality ensured and youth employment supported. Access and opportunities for all should be ensured and poverty and social exclusion, including that of children, should be reduced, in particular by ensuring an effective functioning of labour markets and adequate and inclusive social protection systems, and by removing barriers to education, training and labour-market participation, including through investments in early childhood education and care and in digital skills. Timely and equal access to affordable long-term care and healthcare services, including prevention and healthcare promotion, are particularly relevant, in light of the COVID-19 crisis and in a context of ageing societies. The potential of persons with disabilities to contribute to economic growth and social development should be further realised. As new economic and business models take hold in Union workplaces, employment relationships are also changing. Member States should ensure that employment relationships stemming from new forms of work maintain and strengthen Europe’s social model.

• (11) 

  The Integrated Guidelines should serve as a basis for country-specific recommendations that the Council may address to the Member States. Given the launch of the Recovery and

  Resilience Facility the Commission adjusted the 2021 European Semester cycle and only proposed recommendations on the budgetary situation of the Member States in 2021 as envisaged under the Stability and Growth Pact.

• (12) 

  Member States should make full use of REACT-EU ( 23 ) reinforcing cohesion policy funds until 2023, the European Social Fund Plus, the new Recovery and Resilience Facility ( 24 )

  and other Union funds, including the Just Transition Fund and InvestEU, to foster employment, social investments, social inclusion, accessibility, promote upskilling and reskilling opportunities of the workforce, lifelong learning and high quality education and training for all, including digital literacy and skills. Member States should also make full use

  of the revised European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers 25 to support

  workers made redundant as a result of major restructuring events, such as the COVID-19 crisis, and socioeconomic transformations that are the result of globalisation, technological and environmental changes. While the Integrated Guidelines are addressed to Member States and the Union, they should be implemented in partnership with all national, regional and local authorities, closely involving parliaments, as well as the social partners and representatives of civil society.

23 Regulation (EU) 2020/2221 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 December 2020 amending Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013 i as regards additional resources and

implementing arrangements to provide assistance for fostering crisis repair in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and its social consequences and for preparing a green, digital and resilient recovery of the economy (REACT-EU) (OJ L 437, 28.12.2020, p. 30–42).

24 Regulation (EU) 2021/241 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 February

2021 establishing the Recovery and Resilience Facility (OJ L 57, 18.2.2021, p. 17–75). 25 Regulation (EU) 2021/691 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 April 2021

on the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers (EGF) and repealing Regulation (EU) No 1309/2013 i (OJ L 153, 3.5.2021, p. 48–70)

• (13) 

  The Employment Committee and the Social Protection Committee should monitor how the relevant policies are implemented in light of the guidelines for employment policies, in line with their respective Treaty-based mandates. Those committees and other Council

  preparatory bodies involved in the coordination of economic and social policies should work

  closely together. Policy dialogue between the European Parliament, the Council and the

  Commission should be maintained, in particular as regards the guidelines for the

  employment policies of the Member States.

• (14) 

  The Social Protection Committee was consulted.

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States, as set out in the Annex to

Council Decision (EU) 2020/1512, are maintained for 2021 and shall be taken into account by the Member States in their employment policies and reform programmes.

Article 2

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels,

For the Council

The President

______________________