Today ministers from the Party of European Socialists gathered in Luxembourg for an informal meeting ahead of the Employment and Social Affairs Council. All ministers congratulated Austrian Minister of Labour, Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection Korinna Schumann for her new position as chair of the PES network.
A key focus for the meeting was the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan and the first EU anti-poverty strategy, both recently announced by the European Commission.
After Socialists successfully delivered on minimum wages, platform work and the child guarantee in the previous legislative mandate, the new Action Plan at the end of the year represents a fundamental opportunity to bring further progress to Europeans, for both the youngest and oldest members of our society. The first ever EU anti-poverty Strategy will be of particular importance to address minimum income, child poverty, and long-term unemployment and to take clear steps towards the eradication of poverty in the EU.
Austrian Minister of Labour, Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection Korinna Schumann, and chair of the meeting said:
‘‘Since its launch in 2021, The European Pillar of Social Rights Action plan has played a critical role in our past successes, representing a hallmark achievement in the field of employment and a gateway to addressing citizens concerns.
May it be on artificial intelligence at work, the role of trade unions in the just transition, fair mobility, access to public services or housing, expectations are high.
Today, we are fortunate to have Executive Vice President Roxana Mînzatu, who is spearheading the new action plan. I am confident she will keep the Commission’s ambition for further social progress high.
As we work towards an anti-poverty strategy, it is important that we remain ambitions on social protection and inclusion too. We can simply not accept that 1 out of 5 European lives at risk of poverty and social exclusion.’’
During the meeting ministers also discussed the Revision of the Regulations on the coordination of social security systems, and the Directive on Traineeships, as well as the Danish Presidency announced priority on fair mobility.
Those present at the meeting included:
- Korinna Schumann – Minister of Labour, Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection, Austria, Chair
Roxana Mînzatu – Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness, European Commission - Ivan Krastev – Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Policy, Bulgaria
- Ane Halsboe-Jørgensen – Minister for Employment, Denmark
- Michael Schäfer – State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, Germany
- Michael Falzon – Minister for Social Justice and Solidarity, the Family and Children’s Rights, Malta
- Sebastian Gajewski – Deputy Minister of Family, Labour and Social Affairs, Poland
- Luka Mesec – Minister for Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, Slovenia
- Gabriele Bischoff – Vice-President, S&D Group in the European Parliament
