The PES welcomes the fact that social concerns are back on the agenda — and especially the proposal on the European Labour Authority, although this requires further scrutiny.
But it is highly regrettable that concrete legislative proposals on access to social protection and a social security number are not part of the package.
PES president Sergei Stanishev said:
“This is not the ‘social triple-A’ promised by President Juncker, nor what was guaranteed by the European pillar of social rights that all EU governments proclaimed last year.
“It is crucial that principles proclaimed in the pillar of social rights are turned into reality, as we set out in our Social Action Plan.”
Nicolas Schmit, Luxembourg minister for labour, employment and social affairs and chair of the PES employment and social policy network, added:
“Creating a truly social Europe requires adequate legislation to be passed, and the financial means to become a reality. We expected at least the former from today’s package.
“Words are not enough. High social standards must be a given in a Europe of the 21st century. Europeans can wait no longer.”
Read details of the letter PES sent to President Juncker last week about the fairness package