17/11/2017
FSG International
Gothenburg, 17/11/2017.- This Friday, the Swedish city of Gothenburg hosts the EU Social Summit for Fair Jobs and Growth. The summit brings together the Heads of State and Government of the EU Member States, and representatives from the European institutions. The European Commission, the Council of the EU and the European Parliament are supposed to proclaim solemnly the European Pilar of Social Rights, an initiative that will implement common indicators to define the social goals to achieve within the EU.
The adoption of this new instrument arrives after a severe economic and social crisis that has had a deep impact in all the European countries, although in an uneven manner. The first steps taken by the EU when the crisis erupted prioritised the budgetary discipline, the competitiveness, or the economic growth. The rise of the unemployment, especially in some EU Member States and the austerity measures imposed on the countries were translated into budgetary cuts in social policies. These cuts led to an increase of poverty and social exclusion, as well as an evident rise of social inequalities. A feeling of vulnerability emerged among the European citizenship. Citizens felt that the EU institutions were not been able to protect them from the economic woes, as they had prioritised macroeconomic indicators above social goals. It is not surprising, therefore, that these decisions have caused a rise of the disaffection towards the European project. They have also contributed to the social disruption and inner tensions within the EU.
The proposal to establish the European Pillar of Social Rights is welcomed but it supposes a delayed response to implement common social goals within the EU –a prior it is restricted to the Eurozone-.
Social policies are generally within the respective framework of competencies of the EU Member States, what it is translated in deeper differences in the field of social protection and employment policies between the EU countries. This lack of harmonisation of social policies seems that will continue in the same situation in the future, as the European Pillar of Social Rights born with the weakness of being a non-compulsory instrument for the EU Member States.
The Pillar is a political commitment to convergence towards a common floor of social rights in the EU. This is an important step, although is clearly insufficient. The first risk that EU must avoid is to cause a downward convergence of social rights, what would mean an implementation of this common scenario following the standards of the Member States that might have lowest indicators of social protection.
This new instrument places value on the role that social rights must play to contribute to economic growth, and wealth creation in the EU. The Pillar is structured in twenty principles which are grouped in three categories: equality of opportunities and access to the job market; fair working conditions; and adequate and sustainable social protection.
Fundación Secretariado Gitano (FSG) appreciates the adoption of this new European Pillar of Social Rights, from the overall approach it offers, as it address in a comprehensive way the different elements that must guarantee the right to a decent life, and an integral participation in society. However, we see some risks in the prioritisation of some principles over others. We also show our concern on the way these principles are being guaranteed for citizens, given the existing social inequalities.
The excessive influence of employment and employability in the Pillar might put social protection measures second, as well as fighting poverty and social exclusion. Despite employment continues being an important driver of social inclusion, it does not offer a viable solution to all the social problems, and it shows itself as insufficient to protect people in crisis situations. Nowadays, there are people that face many difficulties to access to the job market, and that might not be access in the future, or will not have access in different moments of their professional lives. Moreover, the access to the job market does not guarantee itself enough incomes to ensure a decent life. For this reason, is crucial to reinforce the prioritization of social protection initiatives within the European Pillar of Social Rights.
In the field of employment, the immediate priority must be focused in the creation of quality and sustainable jobs, offering secure contracts. We consider that the generalisation of flexibility in employment promoted by the EC might leads to low quality jobs. Labour flexibility could foster the work-life balance, but we must remind that a large portion of part-time jobs is not product of voluntary choice by workers. Common standards of respect to fair salary and working conditions are essential.
Another potential risk we appreciate is the conception of education as a way to access to the job market, as it also deserves to be conceived as a self-development instrument that contributes to equality of opportunities and social cohesion. Thus, education must be more inclusive and be adapted to each person´s capacity fully –paying a special attention to the most vulnerable groups-. The adoption of the European Pillar of Social Rights may guarantee an adequate investment in education overall the EU Member States, as education has a very positive impact in the economic growth.
We would like also to express our concern about the inclusion of the gender equality within the chapter devoted to the access to the job market. We urge to tackle the gender equality from a broader perspective, as we think that gender equality cannot be only guaranteed by the increase of women participation into the labour market.
The overriding challenge of this initiative is to guarantee the contribution of the European Pillar of Social Rights to the social cohesion and the reduction of social inequalities. For this purpose, we believe that the principle of equality of opportunities is the focal point for the implementation of the Pillar. The obstacles to the equality of opportunities have a special impact in certain groups, as the Roma community. These obstacles can be found in the access into the job market but also meanwhile the employment relationship is being –as Roma workers usually develop low-qualified jobs, in conditions of precariousness-. They find also difficulties in their access to education, housing and other social rights.
We understand that the measures adopted to tackle inequalities and to guarantee the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights to citizens must be done under the basis of the non-discrimination principle. The EU Member States which do not respect this principle should be penalised, taking into consideration the fact that the EU has competence in this scope.
The adoption of the European Pillar of Social Rights could mean the beginning of a new phase, in which the EU intends to balance the influence that the economic and social goals have in the convergence criteria. The first step to address is to adopt binding legislative instruments as the current one depends on the goodwill of the Member States. But it will also be necessary to realign the economic and budgetary policies, considering the social expenditure as a long-term investment, and as an essential tool to achieve social cohesion and economic growth. Everything will depend on the political will of the Member States and on the role the European institutions decide to play.