14 July 2023
On 13 and 14 July 2023, Valeria Ronzitti, SGI Europe General Secretary, addressed the informal meeting of employment and social policy ministers (informal EPSCO) of the Spanish presidency of the Council of the EU, held in Madrid, Spain.
This two-day informal EPSCO meeting was the opportunity for Member States’ Ministers for employment and social affairs to discuss with social partners three main topics:
Addressing the first plenary session, Valeria Ronzitti, SGI Europe General Secretary, calls for greater implication and support for EU social partners to identify the key issues they would be ready to negotiate upon before publication of the Commission's work programme. Coupled with better funding opportunities, the EU social dialogue would be stronger and more efficient.
Regarding the care sector, Mrs Ronzitti asked for a plan for job creation, recruitment, and retention in care services, as an urgent response to the sector’s crisis. Re-skilling and up-skilling the workforce in the sector must also be strengthened to avoid career re-orientation, early retirement or emigration. Finally, SGI Europe reaffirmed its commitment to a reform of the EU economic governance that would leave space for Member States to respond to social and economic challenges via public investment.
Contact: Benoît Cassorla
On 11 July, the European Commission proposed two legislative measures and one environmental methodology for tracking greenhouse gas emissions bundled in its “Greening Rail Freight” package.
This package includes a proposal for a Regulation on the use of Railway Infrastructure Capacity in the Single European Railway Area, the Weights and Dimensions Directive proposing new incentives for low-emission lorries and a proposal for a methodology for the quantification and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions arising from the operation of transport chains of passengers and freight.
The proposed Regulation aims to better respond to the rail sector's different needs, which include stable timetables and early booking of tickets for passenger services, and flexible train runs adapted to just-in-time supply chains for freight shippers. Across the EU, rail transport services can have very different characteristics, such as speed and braking distance, which causes difficulties in sharing the same tracks. To achieve the EU Single Market for the rail sector, rail infrastructure capacity and traffic management must be carefully planned and coordinated. Strengthening the European Network of Infrastructure Managers should contribute to developing the Single European railway area by making optimum use of the available infrastructure capacity, maximising the value of rail transport services, ensuring non-discriminatory management of and transparent access to infrastructure capacity to support fair competition, and enabling seamless rail traffic across more than one network.
These proposals represent the 4th flagship package of the Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy, which, in line with the objectives of the EU Green Deal, aims to decrease transport emissions by 90% by 2050. The proposal also builds upon some critical components of the Fit-for-55 Package and the Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR), especially recharging/refuelling stations and deploying sustainable fuels.
The package also complements the Commission’s Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) through incentives and requirements for infrastructure development. It aims at further harmonising different modes within a multimodal transport system. In this context, the Commission plans to revise the Combined Transport Directive later this year to consider intermodal transport and competitiveness further.
Contact: Henriette Gleau
On Tuesday 11 July 2023, the European Commission launched the first phase of the consultation of the social partners under Article 154 TFEU on a possible action for further improving the quality of traineeships.
This consultation concerns a planned Commission initiative to update the Quality Framework for Traineeships (QFT), intended to address issues such as fair remuneration and access to social protection as referred to in the 2023 Commission Work Programme and contributing to the goals of the 2022 European Year of Youth and the 2023 European Year of Skills. This consultation is part of the follow-up to the European Parliament’s resolution on quality traineeships adopted on 14 June 2023 (under Article 225 TFEU).
Published earlier this year, the 2023 evaluation of the QFT found that, since adopting the QFT in 2014, 14 Member States have newly introduced or adapted existing legislation to implement the QFT in their legal frameworks. The consultation document further elaborates on different challenges and discrepancies linked to implementing the QFT: the definition and legal status of trainees, the existence of problematic traineeships of poor quality, the level of financial compensation, access to social protection and learning content.
Given the European Parliament’s resolution and its evaluation of the QFT, the European Commission considers that an EU initiative (either legislative or non-legislative) could help further improve the quality of traineeships and facilitate transitions from education, unemployment or inactivity to the labour market.
The Commission will examine the views expressed by the social partners in their response to the consultation. If, after having considered those views, the Commission concludes that there is a need for legislative action at the EU level under Article 153 TFEU, it will launch a second-stage consultation of the social partners on the envisaged content of any proposal for action.
Contact: Guillaume Afellat
On Tuesday 11 July, the European Parliament debated by rapporteur MEP Dolors Montserrat (EPP, ES). The report was voted on the next day, with 385 votes of support, 193 against and 63 abstentions.
The Report is the result of over one year of work of the Special Committee of the European Parliament on “The COVID-19 pandemic: lessons learned and recommendations for the future and is a fundamental part of the EU for health”. The report highlights that health is an EU priority and that further dialogue and consensus in this field will further strengthen Europe. It is structured in 4 pillars:
The section on health addressed preparedness and the preparation for responding to future emergencies, the establishment of Health Emergency Preparedness and Response (HERA), the joint purchase of vaccines, and the protection of people who need health care. One of the lessons learnt is the importance of investments in health, science and innovation.
The report also recognises the essentiality of healthcare as many healthcare professionals, essential workers, and volunteers sacrificed their lives and health to protect the European population during the pandemic. The report also acknowledges the role of the social economy and social economy entities in supporting our economic systems overall.
Also, other critical infrastructures are recognised as crucial for ensuring the continuity of healthcare and other services. The report highlights that cyber-attacks on hospitals, health systems, and other critical infrastructure have become almost weekly in several parts of Europe. The report calls on the Commission and Member States to form a unified strategic approach and to set up instruments and funding programmes to fight cyber threats and cyber-terrorism.
Contact: Manca Pocivavsek
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