Government Welcomes New EU Social Agenda

The Minister for Labour Affairs, Billy Kelleher TD, last week welcomed the launch of the European Commission renewed Social Agenda document, 'Opportunities, access and solidarity in 21st century Europe'.

The Minister said: "The challenges facing Europe are serious, in terms of demographic, migration, technological and climate change.

The renewed Social Agenda recognises that Europe needs to be flexible in its response to these challenges."

"I welcome the fact that the Agenda seeks to co-ordinate the range of social policy areas in a complementary and integrated way. It is important that the Agenda also reinforces the EU's Lisbon Strategy with its strong focus on Growth and Jobs. This underlines the European model where social and economic actions are seen as two sides of the same coin, the Minister added"

Pointing out that through co-ordinated action the European Union has realised very significant advances in the social policy area, the Minister said "there is a long list of gains in the areas of gender equality, combating discrimination, developing social dialogue, improving working conditions for all workers in the EU and providing supports for regions and sectors experiencing disadvantage. This has been achieved through the Union complementing the work Member States--through working together in partnership and dialogue'' the Minister said. The Minister noted with approval the document's commitment to support Social Dialogue between the European Social Partners. "Dialogue is vital if we are to be successful in responding to changing environments," the Minister said.

Minister Kelleher noted several important features of the renewed Social Agenda, including proposals on active inclusion, meeting the needs of our ageing population, the development of a comprehensive approach to child poverty, the clarification of patients' rights when receiving treatment abroad and the securing of social rights in a context of increasing mobility. He commented that ongoing body of work being undertaken by the European Commission to advance gender equality links well with the aims and objectives of the Government's National Women's Strategy, published last year.

"I welcome the comprehensive nature of the proposals contained in the Commission's document," the Minister said. ''I look forward, along with my colleagues in other Departments, to engaging with the Commission, other Member States the European Parliament and other stakeholders in determining how these proposals can best be advanced.''

The Social Agenda forms part of the EU's Lisbon Strategy on Growth and Jobs, which aims "to make the EU the world's most dynamic knowledge-based economy by 2010."

The new Social Agenda contains proposals for action, including some legislation, across a wide range of social policy areas. These include: Children and Youth, Labour Market, Mobility, Health, Poverty and Social Exclusion, Discrimination and Equality.

The Agenda is said to present a comprehensive response to rapidly changing social and economic realities, reinforcing the fact that social values are intrinsic to the European model.

The proposed actions will be subject to discussion and negotiation by the Member States.