Ref. Ares(2020)3555404 - 06/07/2020
Ref. Ares(2021)2649375 - 20/04/2021
showed, in principle, openness for the request to delay the start of the second
stage consultation, whilst stating the extension was not needed by the
Commission.
Regarding the
update of the skills agenda, J. Korte, referring to the social
partner hearing held on 17 January, stressed the importance of the buy-in of
social partners.
ETUC called for a framework for up- and reskilling and asked
how this would be linked to initiatives, such as platform work and the Green
Deal.
ETUC also supported the idea of individual learning accounts (provided
there is a close link with the labour market) and called for a right to training.
BusinessEurope pointed to the link with the industrial policy strategy and
referred to the positive experience of sectoral employers with the blueprints.
There was a need to work with employers given their role in training; it was
important to also train those that are not in the labour market, while noting that
there is no single approach that could be implemented. How training is provided
to employees will necessarily be different to how it is provided to the
unemployed. In this regard, the role of social partners will also be different.
SMEunited, whilst not supporting an individual right to training at EU level,
highlighted the importance of addressing skills and labour shortages and called
for more support for SMEs in this context.
On
Platform work, J. Korte announced a dedicated summit conference on 22
September to consult stakeholders on the need and ways for improving the
labour conditions of platform workers. In this context, he stressed the
importance of the autonomous social partner agreement on digitalisation.
BusinessEurope asked the Commission to focus its efforts on the
implementation of the recent initiatives (Transparent and predictable working
conditions Directive and Access to Social Protection Recommendation).
SMEunited highlighted the need for fair competition.
With a view to the
reinforcing of the Youth Guarantee J. Korte referred to the
objective of enhancing the employability of young people.
ETUC welcomed the
dedicated social partner hearing on 20 February and asked for a stronger rights
based approach linking with the Pillar. The Commission announced that the
Gender Equality Strategy would be presented in March, to be followed by a
legislative proposal on pay transparency in the fourth quarter. A dedicated
social partner hearing was announced for June.
BusinessEurope saw the
gender employment gap as the starting point and highlighted the key role of
childcare.
SMEunited asked to avoid putting bureaucratic burden on small and
micro-enterprises regarding pay transparency measures (problem of
confidentiality in the case of a limited number of employees).
In general terms, for
BusinessEurope a competitive economy represents the
basis for achieving successful transitions.
SMEunited called also for fairness
with regards to a competitive economy.
ETUC emphasized to integrate the
aspect of just transition.
BusinessEurope recalled the quadripartite commitment to social dialogue from
2016 following the launch of the “New Start for social dialogue” and stated the
employers’ commitment to play their role.
2
3.2 The European Green Deal
Antoine Colombani, Member of the Cabinet of Executive Vice-President
Timmermans, explained the context and broad approach of the European
Green Deal and presented next steps following the communication in
December. He emphasized that this initiative had been presented as the EU’s
new growth strategy.
A. Colombani recalled the necessity, in order to reach the
Paris agreement objective, to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and to reduce
significantly the Greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. Designing a set of
transformative policies, leaving no one behind (just transition), financing the
transition and mainstreaming sustainability in other policies constitute key
pillars of the Green Deal.
BusinessEurope stressed the need to work globally and reiterated the need to
ensure the focus on a competitive economy also when implementing the Green
Deal. The sectoral focus would be important also in that regard.
CEEP asked
the Commission to continue regarding the Green Deal the practice of bi-annual
high level meetings between relevant Vice-Presidents of the European
Commission and leaders of social partners which was introduced under the
previous Commission.
SMEunited, welcoming the Green Deal, called for better
support for SMEs, in particular with regard to circular economy and for access
of SMEs to the Just Transition Fund given the key role of social partners at local
and regional level.
While
ETUC praised the global approach of the Green Deal, it recalled the need
to ensure just and inclusive transition. In this context, social partners should be
involved at all levels including the governance of the Green Deal.
ETUC asked
the Commission to go beyond Just Transition Mechanism by creating a
solidarity mechanism to support the most vulnerable sectors (e.g. adequate
social protection and training). In its reply, the Commission highlighted its
openness to involve social partners and pointed to the consultation on the
climate pact. Regarding the integration of the sustainable development goals
in the Semester,
B. Kauffmann informed about the current consultation of
Member States on draft country reports, ahead of their publication end
February.
3.3 Update on the implementation of the directive on transparent and
predictable working conditions
presented the
state of play regarding the expert group for the implementation of the
Transparent and Predictable Working Conditions Directive. Social partners
would be invited as observers to the second meeting planned for beginning of
April 20201 and to some future meetings where topics relevant to them are for
discussion (8 seats for each side).
ETUC requested that social partners should
1 Given the current development regarding the outbreak of Covid-19 the meeting was
postponed by the time of drafting. A new date will be communicated.
3
Electronically signed on 06/07/2020 19:13 (UTC+02) in accordance with article 4.2 (Validity of electronic documents) of Commission Decision 2004/563