Newsflash - 11 October 2024

SGI Europe and ETUC meet with Tetyana Berezhna, Ukrainian Deputy Minister for Economy

On Monday, 7 October 2024, Valeria Ronzitti, SGI Europe General Secretary, and Esther Lynch, ETUC General Secretary, met with the Ukrainian Deputy Minister for Economy, Tetyana Berezhna, responsible for social dialogue and the labour market in Ukraine. This was the occasion to follow up on the discussion that opened in 2023 after a trip to Kyiv.

On this occasion, Deputy Minister Berezhna introduced the draft labour code, which the Ukrainian government is currently negotiating with national social partners, to the EU social partners. This reform is necessary to align the country with the EU acquis in the context of the accession process that started on 14 December 2023.

The Ukrainian delegation, led by Minister Tetyana Berezhna, was in Brussels to attend the screening meeting on economic criteria. This followed previous talks at the first intergovernmental conference, marking the formal launch of the accession negotiations on 25 June 2024 and the first bilateral screening on 8-9 July 2024.

SGI Europe remains ready to stand by Ukraine’s side and provide its expertise to authorities and employer organisations, for example, regarding EU social dialogue and capacity-building processes. SGI Europe calls for the EU to support these capacity-building activities and measures for social partners in Ukraine.

Contact: Benoit Cassorla

SGI Europe co-signs a call for an EU Social Investment Framework to mobilise capital for social infrastructure

On 10 October 2024, SGI Europe and various Stakeholders called upon the European Commission to establish a Social Investment Framework to channel vital funds into critical areas such as affordable housing, healthcare, essential services, education, and human rights processes. As Europe faces the challenges of the green transition, a growing need exists for investments addressing social and environmental concerns.

The proposed framework would complement the EU Sustainable Finance regulation by defining a "social investment" and creating voluntary standards that guide investors. Lessons from the EU Taxonomy on environmental investments will be applied to ensure the framework is user-friendly and does not increase the reporting burden on enterprises. The framework is also designed to attract investors seeking social impact opportunities, addressing the current EU investment guidance gap.

SGI Europe joined this vital call for a Social Investment Framework, which should channel much-needed funds into SGIs. As key providers of SGIs, our members are committed to ensuring and following closely the development at the EU level on how investments meet social and environmental needs, aligning with Europe’s broader goals of inclusivity and sustainability.

Ahead of the hearings of the Commissioners-designate, the signatories urge the Commission to prioritise this framework, noting the growing demand for social bonds and loans during the COVID-19 pandemic. The framework would help mobilise social services resources, ensure human rights compliance, and align with global standards like the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Contact: Henriette Gleau

SGI Europe joins call for putting a greater focus on distribution grids in the new EU term

On 9 October 2024, SGI Europe joined a coalition of 15 European energy associations in a call to place distribution grids at the heart of the EU’s next five-year agenda. Ahead of the upcoming EU Energy Council meeting, the coalition's statement urges European leaders to acknowledge the critical role Distribution System Operators (DSOs) play in driving energy and digital transitions.

The coalition highlights the importance of DSOs in integrating renewable energy sources, fostering digitalisation, and supporting electric mobility, all of which benefit European citizens, enterprises, and industries.

As a signatory to the statement, SGI Europe reinforces its commitment to ensuring that vital public services such as energy distribution remain at the forefront of Europe’s political agenda. By supporting this call, SGI Europe emphasises the importance of continuing an open dialogue on energy and critical infrastructure to give EU stakeholders, including EU Social Partners, a platform to discuss how to meet the numerous challenges of the energy transition and foster its social acceptance.

The coalition's appeal includes four key recommendations to ensure Europe’s distribution grids are fit for purpose:

• Create a new dedicated Grids Facility, possibly under the EU Competitiveness Fund and align the EU financing instruments with the net-zero targets and DSOs’ needs to gear investments towards the required development of the distribution grid.
• Introduce a grid mainstreaming approach to ensure DSOs’ needs are considered in every new and revised regulation, and that grid expansion does not lag.
• Ensure the Green Deal’s implementation on the ground by enabling anticipatory investments, ensuring faster-permitting procedures, supporting the supply chain by reducing technical complexities and enhancing visibility, and providing suitable and forward-looking regulatory frameworks to guarantee the right investment-friendly environment.
• Launch a European Grid Academy within the EU’s Net-Zero Academies framework to develop direct and indirect grid value chain skills.

Contact: Henriette Gleau

SGI Europe at the Informal meeting of employment and social affairs ministers

On 9-10 October, the Hungarian presidency of the Council of the European Union organised an informal meeting of the Ministers for Employment and Social Policy (EPSCO). In line with the Hungarian Presidency's priorities, the meeting explored ways to engage better labour market reserves and ensure better reasonable accommodation to foster fair, successful employment of persons with disabilities. SGI Europe attended the conference, sharing the perspectives and priorities of SGIs.

To increase labour market participation in the face of demographic changes, SGI Europe emphasised the role of enabling services such as childcare and long-term care. Access to affordable and qualitative childcare was framed as crucial to increasing employment, particularly for women. Additionally, the importance of modernising social protection systems and investing in long-term care was underlined, framing these efforts as critical investments for Europe’s competitiveness and workforce resilience.

On the topic of ensuring reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities, SGI Europe highlighted the need to raise awareness of the state support available for both employers and persons with disabilities. SGI Europe also emphasised the importance of reducing the administrative burden linked to requests for reasonable accommodation so as not to discourage employers from applying for the available state subsidies.

Contact: Guillaume Afellat

Adoption of the schedule for the hearings of the Commissioners-designate

On Thursday 10 October, the European Parliament’s Conference of Presidents decided on the detailed calendar for the hearings of Commissioners-designate. The hearings will take place from 4 to 12 November, with the hearings of the 6 Executive Vice-Presidents-designate to take place on 12 November.

The Legal Affairs Committee (JURI) also concluded the procedure of examining the declaration of interest of the 26 Commissioners-designate, clearing them of any conflicts of interest and granting its green light for the confirmation hearings.

After consulting committee chairs, the European Parliament President and political group leaders adopted the detailed schedule indicating which Commissioner-designate will be heard by which committees and at which time slot.

The European Parliament leaders also adopted the written questions prepared by the different committees, which the Commissioners-designate should reply to by 22 October 2024. Each hearing will be followed by a meeting in which the Chairs of the Committees and group representatives (coordinators) concerned will evaluate the performance of the Commissioner-designate they just heard.

After the evaluation process is completed, the Conference of Committee Chairs will assess the outcome of all hearings and forward its recommendation to the Conference of Presidents. The latter will exchange views and decide whether to close the hearings before a vote on the College as a whole by the plenary.

Contact: Maxime Staelens