Opinion of the Committee of the Regions on the "Communication from the Commission A concerted strategy for modernising social protection"
Date: 2000-04-12
Institutions: European Committee of the Regions
Subjects: cooperation policy, social policy, social security

C 226/12

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

8.8.2000

Opinion of the Committee of the Regions on the ‘Communication from the Commission “A
concerted strategy for modernising social protection”’

(2000/C 226/05)

THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS,

having regard to the Communication from the Commission ‘A concerted strategy for modernising social
protection’ (COM(1999)347 final);

having regard to the decision by the Commission on 19 July 1999, acting under the first paragraph of
Article 265 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, to consult the Committee of the Regions
on the matter;

having regard to the decision taken by its Bureau on 2 June 1999 to direct Commission 5 (Social policy,
public health, consumer protection, research and tourism) to prepare the opinion on this subject;

having regard to its opinion (CdR 277/98 fin) (1) on the Communication from the Commission on the
Social Action Programme 1998-2000;

having regard to the conclusions of the Council meeting on 17 December on the strengthening of
cooperation for modernising and improving social protection (2);

having regard to the Commission’s Work Programme 2000 (COM(2000)155 final);

having regard to the Portuguese Presidency’s Work Programme;

having regard to the draft opinion (CdR 481/99 rev. 2) adopted by its Commission 5 on 6 March 2000
(rapporteur: Mrs Buron (F/PSE);

whereas the European Union must ensure that economic development and social development go hand-
in-hand and hence a comprehensive, coordinated approach to economic policy, employment policy and
social development is a key prerequisite;

whereas the European social model has to face up to many challenges and will have to be modernised,
without undermining the level of social protection but, on the contrary, striving for an inclusive society,

adopted the following opinion at its 33rd plenary session, held on 12 and 13 April 2000 (meeting of
12 April).

The Committee of the Regions

1. Stresses the importance of the process set in motion by
the Council Recommendation on the Convergence of
Social Protection Objectives and Policies (1992) and draws
attention to its active participation at various stages in this
process, in particular the European social policy forums;

2. Accordingly welcomes the Commission’s Communication,

which is a milestone in this process;

3. Appreciates the Council’s commitment to such cooper-
ation by regarding it as ‘a coherent action, parallel to and
interactive with the European employment strategy as well
as to macroeconomic dialogue’;

4. Agrees with the Commission in stressing that the manage-
ment and financing of social protection systems, including
welfare schemes, must clearly remain the responsibility of
the individual Member States but that the Union can
contribute added value by framing common objectives on
the basis of exchanges of experiences and the identification
of good practice, in the light of a wide-ranging public
debate;

5. Recognises the relevance of the four broad objectives
proposed by the Commission and endorsed by the Council:

— to make work pay and provide secure income,

(1) OJ C 93, 6.4.1999, p. 56.
(2) OJ C 8, 12.1.2000, p. 7.

— to make pensions safe and pension systems sustainable,

8.8.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 226/13

— to promote social integration,

— to ensure high quality and sustainability of health care;

6. Nonetheless insists on the key role played by the regional
and local authorities in implementing the policies designed
to attain these objectives, in their capacity as

— funders of social benefits,

— managers of welfare services, care for the elderly and
vulnerable people, and measures to combat exclusion,

— catalysts of economic activity and employment, and

themselves acting as employers,

— responsible for democratic debate among the general

public,

— administrators and coordinators of

the actions or

services of various bodies,

— champions of subsidiarity,

— champions of the role of civil society;

7. Therefore appreciates the wish expressed by the Com-
mission and the Council to involve the Committee of the
Regions in the process of cooperation for modernising and
improving social protection, but calls for this principle to
be translated into practice;

8. Reiterates its request to participate in the setting up of a
regional and local data base covering the main aspects of
social policy with a view to identifying the role of the
territorial authorities and the share of the financial costs
they shoulder;

Brussels, 12 April 2000.

9. Calls for the remit of the Working Group of high level
officials to take account of the regional and local dimension
and to draw on the territorial authorities’ experiences and
good practice in the sphere of social protection. In this
connection, it points to the success of the Territorial Pacts
in implementing the Employment Strategy;

10. With this in mind, urges the Member States to ensure that
the contribution of their respective representatives on the
high level Group is based on wide-ranging consultation at
national level (social partners, social security institutions
and managers of welfare services, along with organisations
representing the territorial authorities and interested
NGOs);

11. In its turn, will set up a working group to follow the
cooperation process proposed by the Commission and the
Council. This working group will be able to liaise with the
high level Group and allow the Committee to play an
active part on future bodies set up to coordinate social
protection and in the high-level forum in June planned by
the Portuguese Presidency;

12. Further requests the Commission, when preparing the new
Social Action Programme announced for 2000, to take
account of the role of the territorial authorities;

13. Lastly, views the European model as guarantee of a high
level of social protection and hence part of the acquis
communautaire;
the applicant
therefore calls
countries to be involved in the process of cooperation set
in motion, to enable them to assess their country’s status
with regard to the acquis communautaire which they will
have to take on board.

for

it

The President

of the Committee of the Regions

Jos CHABERT