WRITTEN QUESTION E-0354/03

by Anne Jensen (ELDR) to the Commission

(12 February 2003)

Subject: Future Commission initiatives

Can the Commission state what specific plans it has for the social sector including planned measures to be implemented in the light of the enhanced social dialogue at EU level? Can it also state what future measures are envisaged for adoption in relation to e.g. Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71(1)?

What initiatives does it envisage in the years to come pursuant to Article 42 and the following provisions of the EC Treaty:

- Article 137(1), 1st to 5th indents,

- Article 137(2),

- Article 137(3), 1st to 5th indents,

- Article 137(4)-(6)?

(1) OJ L 149, 5.7.1971, p. 2.

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(20 March 2003)

The Commission's specific plans for the social affairs field, in accordance with the competencies set out in Article 137 of the EC Treaty, are set out in the Social Policy Agenda(1) which covers the years 2000 to 2005. The Commission adopted the third Scoreboard on the implementation of the social policy agenda on 6 February 2002. The mid-term review of the agenda takes place in 2003. The review will take stock of what has already achieved, and will provide an opportunity to identify the priorities for action for the coming years including for the articles in the EC Treaty mentioned by the Honourable Member. A high-level conference with a view to having a structured debate on the policy issues to be addressed and deepened in the second phase of the Social Policy Agenda, is being organised by the Commission in Brussels on 19/20 March 2003. The purpose of the mid-term review conference is to provide a Europe-wide platform for all relevant actors to express themselves publicly on the review of the social policy agenda: governments, European Parliament, social partners, regional and local authorities, non governmental organisations, social organisations, interest groups, European Economic and Social Committee, Committee of the Regions, Employment Committee, Social Protection Committee, Union agencies, experts and analysts, international organisations, etc. The mid-term review will be finalised in a Communication to be presented by the Commission in May/June 2003.

The Commission's White Paper on European Governance (2001) identified the crucial and unique position of the social dialogue in the democratic governance of Europe.

On 26 June 2002, the Commission presented a proposal for a Council decision to establish a Tripartite Social Summit for Growth and Employment. It will enable the social partners to contribute in an integrated way to the different components of the strategy, and will draw on the discussions held in the macroeconomic dialogue, the dialogue on employment and the dialogue on social protection.

On 28 November 2002 at the Social Dialogue Summit in Genval, the social partners adopted a joint multi-annual work programme for the period 2003-2005. The work programme signifies an autonomous bipartite social dialogue. It is centred around the three themes of employment, mobility and enlargement.

The Commission plans to present in Spring 2003 a proposal with miscellaneous amendments to Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71 of the Council of 14 June 1971 on the application of social security schemes to employed persons and their families moving within the Community(2). This proposal will contain technical amendments to address issues which arise from changes made in national legislation or in reaction to rulings of the Court of Justice.

It furthermore envisages, within the framework of the European Health Insurance Card, to present in the course of 2003 a proposal to align the rights concerning health care for persons temporarily staying in other Member States than the one where they are insured.

In 2004, the Commission intends to present a proposal for an implementing Regulation when discussions of the proposal to simplify and modernise Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71 in Council and Parliament have been concluded.

(1) COM(2000) 379 final.

(2) OJ L 149, 5.7.1971.