The EU must be a force for social investment, European socialist ministers for employment and social affairs, and ministers for finance and economy, said today.
Meeting jointly ahead of the first joint ECOFIN-EPSCO Council, initiated by the two Belgian Socialist Deputy Prime Ministers, Pierre-Yves Dermagne and Frank Vandenbroucke, PES ministers agreed on the importance of promoting social investment as a basis for sustainable growth and competitiveness.
Ministers endorsed a clear message in favour of a Europe that invests in people and skills, that leaves no one behind, that defends quality public services, that promotes sustainable competitiveness and upwards social convergence, and that ensures decent working conditions.
Chair of the meeting and of the PES EPSCO ministers network, Portuguese Minister of Labour, Solidarity and Social Security Ana Mendes Godinho, said:
“Social investment is a crucial tool to meet the challenges of the green and digital transition, tackle inequality and promote sustainable growth. The Spanish and Belgian Presidencies have rightly pushed the topic on the Council’s agenda over the past year.
“This is the Europe we want: one where social investment remains a top priority for the future.
“As Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, Nicolas Schmit has been a tireless champion of investing in people and their skills, wellbeing and security. With him as our political family’s common candidate for the European elections, Social Europe is in safe hands.”
This is the second time that PES ministers responsible for the ECOFIN and EPSCO Councils have met jointly. Ministers welcomed the coordination initiative from the Belgian Presidency and renewed their commitment to a more structured dialogue between the two Council filières.
The meeting was attended by:
- Nicolas Schmit, European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, European Commission
- Thomas Dermine, State Secretary for Economic Recovery and Strategic Investments, Belgium
- Ane Halsboe-Jørgensen, Minister for Employment, Denmark
- Hubertus Heil, Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, Germany
- Michael Falzon, Minister for Social Justice and Solidarity, the Family and Children’s Rights, Malta
- Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk, Minister for Family, Labour and Social Affairs, Poland
- Sebastian Gajewski, Deputy Minister of Family, Labour and Social Affairs, Poland
- Fernando Medina, Minister of Finance, Portugal
- João Nuno Mendes, Secretary of State for Finance, Portugal
- Simona Bucura-Oprescu, Minister for Labour and Social Solidarity Protection, Romania
- Cristian Vasilcoiu, State Secretary for Labour and Social Solidarity Protection, Romania
- Elma Saiz, Minister for Inclusion, Social Security and Migration, Spain
- Esther Lynch, General Secretary, ETUC
- Yonnec Polet, Deputy Secretary General, PES
