The current crisis has exposed the shortcomings of having a monetary union without an economic union and a strong social focus. Nevertheless, the Annual Growth Survey 2015, the European Fund for Strategic investment or the recent note presented by President Juncker on a better economic governance in the Euro area, all overlook the need for more cohesion and better protection of social standards. PES Ministers today reiterated their commitment to strengthening the social dimension of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), so that the EMU effectively addresses the European challenges of poverty, social exclusion and unemployment.
Nicolas Schmit, Chairperson of the PES Social and Employment Ministers Network, said: “Back in 2013, we put forward our proposals “Towards a Social Union”, for a Union that supports growth, employment and social cohesion. Even though we achieved some progress, much remains to be done. The European Council debate foreseen in June on the future of the EMU will be crucial in this respect. We will strongly stand for a European Semester that considers employment and social objectives at the same level as economic and financial ones, for more coherent and coordinated policies and for minimum social standards that prevent social dumping. We will make sure that economic priorities no longer outweigh social rights and social protection”.
List of participants
– Nicolas Schmit – Minister for Labour, Employment, Social and Solidarity Economy, Chairperson, Luxembourg
– Mirando Mrsić – Minister for Work and Pension System, Croatia
– Michaela Marksová-Tominová – Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, Czech Republic
– François Rebsamen – Minister for Labour, Employment, Vocational Training and Social Dialogue, France
– Jörg Asmussen – State Secretary at the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, Germany
– Giuliano Poletti – Minister of Labour and Social Policy, Italy
– Ged Nash – Minister for Business and Employment, Ireland
– Michael Farrugia – Minister for the Family and Social Solidarity, Malta
– Lodewijk Asscher – Minister of Social Affairs, The Netherlands
– Branislav Ondrus – State Secretary of the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family of the Slovak Republic
– Anja Kopač Mrak – Minister of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, Slovenia
– Ylva Johansson – Minister for Employment, Sweden
– Pernilla Baralt – State Secretary to Minister for Children, the Elderly and Gender Equality, Sweden
– Maria Joao Rodrigues – S&D Vice President
– Jutta Steinruck – S&D EMPL Coordinator
– Maria Arena – S&D FEMM Coordinator
– Anna Colombo – S&D Secretariat
– Yonnec Polet – PES Deputy Secretary General
