Statement of the Minister of the Environment and Co-chairs ahead of the “Porto Social Forum” 26-27 May 2023
This week’s Porto Social Forum 2023 is another opportunity to make the case for the dire need for urgent action on social issues.The presence of Poverty and instability in one of the richest regions Of earth unacceptable and urgent need Act decisively and in solidarity to ensure a socially just transition sustainable socio-economic model and Significantly improve social resilience The impact on the economy, health and geopolitical crisis is indisputable.
EU institutions and Member States have a fundamental obligation under the Treaties to promote the welfare of their citizens.Combat social exclusion and discrimination, promote gender equality, social justice and protection. We welcome the reaffirmation of this obligation by the EU Parliament, Commission and Council in 2017. A declaration of the principles enshrined in the European Pillar of Social Rights (EPSR) aimed at ensuring universal access to goods and services and quality jobs necessary for an adequate standard of living. And Heads of State and Government have made its implementation at EU and MS level a strategic priority for 2019-2024.
We will continue to support the EPSR, including at least the first attempts to measure societal progress as an integral part of the European Semester process from 2018 and the current European Commission’s 2021 EPSR Action Plan, which focuses on the training aspect. We especially welcome the efforts that have been taken to date to implement this. and reduce unemployment and poverty. Ensuring that children at risk of poverty and social exclusion have effective access to vital services such as health care and education (Child Guarantee). It contributes to a better harmony between professional and private life and supports the strengthening of women’s participation in the labor market.
first Porto Summit in May 2021 and the resulting declarations adopted by Heads of State and Government and the commitments adopted by the European Commission, the Commission and the social partners, Important exercises for building momentum Towards coordinated progress at EU and Member State level Achieve upward social convergence.
In view of the current energy crisis and growing energy poverty across the EU, we emphasize that: The 2023 Porto Social Forum needs to reiterate its commitment to the goals set, further raise its ambitions and pave the way for stronger commitments to concrete measures at EU and national level.
Underline the areas below. action priorities:
- We urge the Commission and Member States to: significantly increase their ambitions and agree Binding targets for implementing all 20 EPSR principles.
- We claim that: Unions are as important as the Green Deal and we need a fully integrated Social Deal All instruments at EU and national level Achieve a socially just, environmentally sustainable and resilient Union within this decade.
- We welcome the following initiatives: “Social integration framework” It has been proposed by some Member States and aims to facilitate the pursuit of social priorities on equal footing with economic and financial objectives. Revised EU economic and social governance Framework.
- We call for a more ambitious Commission action plan. The current proposal sets out a small but useful sub-goal to promote access to training and employment to support the labor market, but does not address the quality of work or the adequacy of wages. We need to do more to provide social protection that helps individuals.
- We welcome the adoption (11 August 2019) of the Recommendation on access to social protection for workers and the self-employed, and the Committee to ensure that national action plans are effectively implemented. Encourage follow-up.
- we call the following Rapid and ambitious changes in social and employment law recently agreed These include the Directive on Adequate Minimum Wages to increase the statutory minimum wage and the Directive on Pay Transparency in the EU.
- We fully support the European Parliament’s demands. Directive on minimum income; as an essential tool to combat poverty and insecurity.
- We believe that for potentially millions of new “green” jobs in general and in particular, Equal pay for work of equal value and to promote collective bargaining through the revision of the European Works Council Directive and implement effective regulation of algorithmic management in the workplace.
- We point out the success of this measure as follows. Support to Reduce Unemployment Risk in Emergencies (SURE) Strengthen national employment protection systems and use this measure permanent means of solidarity To increase resilience.
- access to Decent, affordable and well-insulated housing, where people can live with dignity, must be treated as a right., not a privilege. Public sector action is essential, for example by setting binding targets for public investment in affordable housing and regulating rents where necessary. ambitious steps need to be taken to Eliminate homelessness by 2030 At the latest (including a permanent financial framework for women’s shelters and shelters for transgender and non-binary people).
- We need to significantly improve the reconciliation of professional and private lives for women as well as men, we need to improve access to childcare and dependent care, and we must take action in all areas. Nursing care field In many Member States, workers are in dire need of better wages and better working conditions.
- Women continue to bear the brunt of multiple crises. gender equality policy ~The second pillar of EPSR~ is urgently needed.
- we need to eradicate discriminationWe specifically tackle racism, marginalization of people living with disabilities, LGBTQIA+phobia, gender-based violence, and also tackle all forms of ageism. We must reinstate the long-blocked EU anti-discrimination directive and adopt a comprehensive and ambitious EU directive to combat gender-based violence and classify it as an EU crime. requires new steps to end gender-based violence.
- We believe that upskilling, reskilling and lifelong learning are key elements to ensuring the transition is fair and inclusive. But a green transition must first and foremost involve workers and trade unions at every step of the process, ensuring that working people have access to more and better jobs with stable employment, fair wages, and decent working conditions. It has to be an opportunity.
- we, Review of public procurement Directives are essential to create Mandating social/environmental conditions in public tenders therefore Ensure that public funds receive public benefits.
- More generally, we urge the Committee: social resilience package As a series of measures and instruments to strengthen social welfare and social protection systems in the EU.
Signer:
- henry coxLuxembourg Minister of Housing and Minister of Internal Security.
- Roderick O’GormanIrish Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.
- Lisa Paus German Federal Minister for Family Affairs, Older People, Women and Youth.
- Johannes Rauch Austrian Federal Minister of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection.
- Marie-Corinne LeroySecretary of State for Gender Equality, Equal Opportunities and Diversity in the Federal Government of Belgium.
- philippe lambertGreen Party/EFA co-representative.
- Terry Reinke Green Party/EFA co-chair.