EU MINISTERS KEEN TO RAISE THE VISIBILITY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BRUSSELS 000826

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DOL FOR BLS AND ILAB
TREASURY FOR IMI
STATE FOR DRL/IL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB PGOV ESOC EUN
SUBJECT: EU MINISTERS KEEN TO RAISE THE VISIBILITY
OF SOCIAL EUROPE


1. SUMMARY. EU ministers for Labor and Social
Affairs in their February 22 Council meeting agreed
on "key messages" for the March 8-9 European Council
review of the "Lisbon Strategy" for Growth and Jobs.
Though the dual approach of partnership and policy
reform underpinning "Lisbon" was showing its
positive impact, ministers recognized the
"considerable delivery gaps" to address the fact
that 17 million Europeans remain unemployed and 20
million new jobs must be created. To meet the
Lisbon targets, EU countries should enhance
"flexicurity" as a method of facilitating adjustment
and easing transitions. The ministers also
addressed demographic change in Europe: they
recognized the contribution of older people to
economic growth, employment and social development
and backed the German Presidency's initiative
underlining the importance of family-friendly
policies to encourage a higher birth rate. Full
text of Council conclusions is available from the
Council website: http://www.consilium.europa.eu.
END SUMMARY.

PREPARATIONS FOR EUROPEAN COUNCIL: GROWTH AND JOBS


2. EU ministers for Employment and Social Affairs
on February 22 adopted their contribution (in the
form of a "key messages" paper) for the March 8-9
European Council review of the "Lisbon Strategy" for
Growth and Jobs. Though the dual approach of
partnership and policy reform underpinning the
strategy was "showing its positive impact," the
Council recognized that "considerable delivery gaps
need to be bridged" to address the fact that 17
million Europeans remain unemployed and to create 20
million new jobs. The paper said member states
should enhance "flexicurity" as a method of
facilitating adjustment and easing transitions
(Note: "flexicurity" is a model designed to adapt
EU labor markets to global change by combining the
easy hiring and firing --flexibility -- for
employers and guaranteed social protection and
training --security -- for employees between jobs)
The Council also advocated a life-cycle approach to
work; opportunities for people at the fringes of the
labor market and investment in human capital.


4. German minister M|ntefering told a press
conference a general consensus emerged among
ministers on the need for "more visibility" of the
social dimension within the framework of Community
actions with a view to the second cycle of the EU
Growth and Jobs Strategy to be launched in 2008.
Particular emphasis should be given to the
importance of social cohesion and to "fighting the
trans-generational transmission of poverty." The
role of the social partners and of non-governmental
organizations in promoting social cohesion was also
highlighted. As customary a "Tripartite" Social
Summit gathering the Council, the Commission and the
EU Labor and Employers' organizations (the social
partners) will take place before the "Spring"
European Council meeting on March 8, 2007.


5. Among other documents to be forwarded to their
leaders, ministers adopted joint (read: Council and
Commission) reports on employment as well as on
social protection and social inclusion:

-- The annual employment report, which assesses
the implementation by the EU member states of
their national reform programs in the area of
employment, highlights that significant action
has been carried out under the Lisbon priority
to attract and retain more people in work.
Progress has been made under the priority to
raise investment in human capital with a slight
increase in spending. However policy
implementation to improve the adaptability of
workers and companies is lagging behind. A set
of country-specific recommendations was adopted
with a view to contributing to effective
delivery. More details available from:
http://register.consilium.europa.eu/pdf/en/07 /s
t06/st06076.en07.pdf;

BRUSSELS 00000826 002 OF 002



-- The second document calls on member states to
give priority to implementing comprehensive
policies to fight child poverty, promote active
inclusion and modernize pension provision and
health and long-term care systems.

DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGE IN EUROPE


6. The Council also discussed the opportunities and
challenges of demographic change in Europe, trying
to identify political priorities to be addressed at
European level. The aim was to explore how existing
structures could support member state efforts and to
discuss the possibility of developing a multi-annual
approach, involving the upcoming Presidencies of the
Council, to deal with the issue. In a public
debate, the large majority of delegations agreed
that the Lisbon Strategy and the "Open Method of
Coordination" provided the framework within which
member states should operate and that no new
structures or instruments should be created; rather
there should be increased coordination between
existing structures including also the reporting
mechanisms. Delegations backed the following
priorities as outlined in a Presidency paper:

-Aging: recognizing the contribution of older
people to economic growth, employment and
social development;

-Harnessing public policies, social dialogue and
corporate social responsibility for family
friendliness: a factor for business location
and the mobility of families;

-Human capital: promotion of the potential
offered by well-educated and highly trained
women in the workplace, as well as of a higher
employment rate for older people;

-Access to high quality care services both for
children and the elderly;

-Reconciliation of family life and work,
including flexible working-time arrangements
and care responsibilities for children and the
elderly;

-Migration: better opportunities for persons
with migrant backgrounds, in particular
children and young people;

-Strengthening both inter-generational
solidarity and the social and cultural
commitment of all age groups;

-The impact of demographic change on both local
and regional infrastructure and social
cohesion.


7. A number of member states also supported the
Presidency's initiative, tabled by Federal minister
for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and
Youth, for a European Alliance for Families
underlining the importance of family-friendly
policies that would encourage a higher birth rate.
Here again, many ministers underlined to need to use
existing structures to promote cooperation and
mutual learning.

GRAY