Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions - Scoreboard on implementing the social policy agenda
Date: 2001-02-22
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU employment policy, European social policy, action programme, arrangement of working time, enlargement of the Union, gender equality, information society, job mobility, social integration, social security

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

Brussels, 22.02.2001
COM(2001) 104 final

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL, THE
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND
THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS

SCOREBOARD ON IMPLEMENTING THE SOCIAL POLICY AGENDA

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL, THE
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND
THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS

SCOREBOARD ON IMPLEMENTING THE SOCIAL POLICY AGENDA

1.

INTRODUCTION

The Nice European Council endorsed the Social Policy Agenda until 2005. It invited the
Commission to present annually a scoreboard outlining the progress made in implementing
the Agenda, starting with a first report to be submitted to the Stockholm Summit.

The Social Policy Agenda is based on the Commission Communication of 28 June 20001. The
Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions adopted their opinion
respectively on 19 October 20002 and 13 December 20003. The EP adopted its resolution on
25 October and the Employment and Social Affairs Ministers agreed a Council contribution
on 28 November. Both the European Parliament and the Council invited the Commission to
present a scoreboard in which progress made in terms of implementing the agenda can be
monitored. Social partners and Non-Governmental Organisations have been fully involved
throughout this process and their input has been reflected in the positions adopted by the
Commission, the European Parliament and the Council. The Social Policy Agenda was
endorsed by Heads of State and Government at the Nice Summit.

The Social Policy Agenda provides a coherent framework for new initiatives. They are not
only derived from the Amsterdam Treaty, but also play a major role in transposing the reform
agenda agreed in Lisbon in March 2000.

The Lisbon Summit laid down a highly ambitious, yet realistic, strategic objective for the
European Union to become by 2010 'the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based
economy capable of sustainable economic growth with more and better jobs and greater social
cohesion'.

This calls for an agenda aimed at economic and social renewal, as outlined in the Commission
strategic objectives for the period 2000-2005. The Lisbon European Council referred to the
adoption of a Social Policy Agenda to mark the commitment of all Member States, European
institutions and other actors to modernise and improve the European social model.

For ease of presentation, the scoreboard retains the six headlines of the Social Policy Agenda
as annexed to the Nice Presidency Conclusions. Together they provide a clear overview of the
situation in terms of action to reinforce the quality of work, quality of social policy and
quality of industrial relations.

1 COM(2000)379:
2 CES/2000/1189:
3 CDR/2000/300/:

Social Policy Agenda
Social Policy Agenda
Social Policy Agenda

2

2.

GENERAL ASSESSMENT

The Social Policy Agenda is about reform, in particular to respond to changes in the economy
and in society. This will be a positive answer to the needs of people and businesses, aimed at
strengthening at the same time productivity and competitiveness as well as solidarity and
social justice.

The presentation of a first scoreboard for the Stockholm Summit, a few months after the
Agenda's endorsement in Nice, means that a number of initiatives are only at a first stage,
while, on the other hand, some achievements are the result of initiatives launched before the
Social Policy Agenda. However, implementation is a dynamic process linking the old to the
new, and involving many actors at different levels. Therefore, this dynamic and flexible
aspect is reflected in the Scoreboard.

This scoreboard so early in the process, does in no way pre-empt the format or the substance
of any future scoreboards monitoring the progress of implementing the Social Policy Agenda.

The further down in the process, the more explicit the precise steps of all relevant actors can
and will be articulated. Furthermore, developing tools for better measurement, including on
the quality dimension, is an intrinsic part of the Agenda. This aspect will need further
attention in future editions of the scoreboard. In this context, reference must be made to the
Annual Synthesis Report, prepared for the Spring European Council. This report highlights in
particular the practical outcome of measures carried out to work towards the Lisbon strategic
objective and the specific targets in terms of the overall economic and social reform
programme.

Effective and lasting success in implementing the Social Policy Agenda depends on the active
the positive interaction of all policy measures, and the
involvement of all actors,
complementarity of the policy instruments. European institutions, national governments,
regional and local authorities, social partners at European level and within the Member States,
non-governmental organisations, and businesses have been explicitly invited to take up their
responsibility to carry out the Social Policy Agenda.

Straightforward progress can only be realised if all initiatives are aimed at the overall strategic
is also why economic, employment and social policies should mutually
objective. That
reinforce one another. It is also the reason why the open method of co-ordination (OMC),
legislation, social dialogue, the structural funds (in particular ESF), and programmes have all
a prominent place. Research, including the one carried out within the framework of EU
into a wide range of issues
is instrumental
research programmes,
addressed in the Social Policy Agenda.

in acquiring insight

3.

PROMOTING MORE AND BETTER JOBS

The Agenda calls for policies to encourage a radical increase of employment participation in
line with the political top priority of full employment agreed in Lisbon4, and underlines the
importance of better jobs. This will contribute to a society more adapted to the personal
choices of men and women. The Social Policy Agenda emphasises therefore the need to

4 The Lisbon European Council identified an employment rate of 70% by 2010 as well as an increase of

working women to 60% as the ultimate goal.

3

strengthen the quality of work, along improving the quality of social policy as well as the
quality of industrial relations.

Progress was made on both accounts of this key theme as a result of the Employment
package, involving the 'Joint Employment Report 2000' 5, the 'Council Recommendation on
the implementation of Member States' employment policies'6 and the 'Guidelines for Member
States' employment policies for the year 2001' 7. The employment guidelines for 2001
incorporate the objectives laid down at Lisbon within the policy initiatives. A preparatory
debate on an impact evaluation on the Employment Strategy for 2002 has been initiated. The
social partners expressed their support to the Lisbon strategic objective in a joint declaration
adopted on 15 June 2000. On 21 November 2000, they adopted a joint declaration asking that
an annual meeting with social partners be organised before each European Council in the
Spring in order to assess progress in the implementation strategy for economic growth and
full employment defined in Lisbon and to bring their contribution to it.

The acquis of the employment strategy reflects the positive contribution of the open method
of co-ordination. Guidelines, agreed at European level, set out a general orientation. Member
States incorporate them into their policy-making, articulated in the National Action Plans, and
this with full respect for the diversity within the EU. Peer group evaluation at EU level re-
inforces the dynamism and commitment to make real changes. The Broad Economic Policy
Guidelines should, in this context, create a broad framework which supports and complements
the implementation of the detailed objectives of the Employment Strategy.

the
The macro-economic dialogue, bringing together
Commission, the European Central Bank and the social partners, plays an important role
through mutual information of key players on their respective aims and concerns as regards
reforms and promoting
the role of macroeconomic policy in supporting structural
employment.

representatives of

the Council,

The main financial instrument to support the European Employment Strategy is the European
Social Fund. The programming documents for 2000-2006 have been finalised and approved
by the Commission. The ESF is an essential tool to move national and regional policies closer
to EU policies. The Commission Communication on 'European Social Fund Support for the
European Employment Strategy'8 outlines how the 60 billion EUR investment in people over
the period 2000-2006 will help to modernise and reform labour markets in the EU in line with
the objectives of the Union.

EQUAL,
the Community initiative on transnational co-operation for the fight against
is also playing a major role here.
discrimination and inequalities in the labour market
Furthermore, the Commission adopted a Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament
and of the Council on 'Community incentive measures in the field of employment'9, to
financially underpin further policy work.

Reaching full employment and improving quality of work requires the involvement and
participation of many actors at different levels. The Communication on 'Acting Locally for

5 COM(2000)551: Joint Employment Report 2000
6 COM(2000)549: Implementation of Member States' employment policies
7 COM(2000)548: Guidelines for Member States' employment policies for the year 2001
8 COM(2001)016: European Social Fund support for the European employment strategy
9 COM(2000)459: Community incentive measures in the field of employment

4

Employment. A Local Dimension for the European Employment Strategy'10 addresses how
progress can be made in these areas.

Promoting mobility

A European labour market is built on the mobility of workers and the accompanying legal
arrangements to facilitate this mobility.

A certain progress was made with regard to social security and social protection issues, in
particular on simplifying and reforming Regulation 1408/71, as well as on carrying out
miscellaneous amendments to Regulation 1408/71. The Commission also adopted a proposal
for a Directive 'on the activities of institutions for occupational retirement provisions' 11 This
initiative, once adopted by the Council and the European Parliament, should encourage labour
mobility as it would make it possible to remain a member of the same pension fund, as is
currently already the case for posted workers.

Facilitating the transition to the knowledge based economy

The Communication on 'Strategies for jobs in the information society'12 proposed concrete
solutions to problems such as matching the supply with demand for new skills needed in the
knowledge based economy. It also addressed the need to combat a growing "digital divide"
between those who do and do not have access to the knowledge based society.

teacher

training,

As part of the follow-up to monitor progress, a benchmark report, setting out Member State
figures for computers in schools,
level of the workforce,
teleworking and public access to internet has been finalised. In addition, the Employment
Guidelines were adapted to integrate specific targets for Member States and Social Partners in
teleworking, work
the area of
organisation), and equality (women in technology). The commitment of Member States to
develop measures in order to halve by 2010 the number of 18 to 24 year olds with only lower-
in further education and training is of crucial
secondary level education who are not
importance for the transition towards the knowledge based economy.

learning (schools,

force (skills,

the labour

ICT skill

teachers),

4.

ANTICIPATING AND CAPITALISING ON CHANGE IN THE WORKING ENVIRONMENT BY
CREATING A NEW BALANCE BETWEEN FLEXIBILITY AND SECURITY

This is a domain which is particularly apt for initiatives by the social partners, at both sectoral
and interprofessional level.

This is also a domain which is based on a wide range of specific activities, rather than on a
large package as for the employment strategy. However, such targeted approach with the
direct involvement of those immediately affected facilitates the provision of the specific
responses in terms of legislation, binding agreements, or any other action needed.

As to one large issue – the European Company Statute - a major political breakthrough was
reached in Nice. Formal agreement on the Statute was reached by the Council, meeting just
after the Nice Summit and a new consultation of the European Parliament is under way. This

10 COM(2000)196: Acting locally for employment - a local dimension for the European Employment Strategy
11 COM(2000)507: Proposal for a Directive on the activities of institutions for occupational retirement provision.
12 COM(2000)048: Strategies for jobs in the Information Society

5

also opens up new perspectives for
Consultation Directive.

reaching an agreement on the Information and

The Council and the European Parliament reached agreement to extend the working time
directive of 1993, to most sectors and activities which were excluded from the Directive. This
extension affects about five million workers in the air, rail, road, sea and inland waterway and
offshore sector as well as doctors in training. The Council reached also a common position on
a Directive on the organisation of working time for mobile workers performing road transport
activities and for self employed drivers. As to the social partners, they concluded agreements
in civil aviation13 on working time arrangements for mobile staff – confirmed as directive by
the Council. Social partners in the telecom sector adopted guidelines on telework14. Social
partners in commerce are negotiating on telework and on ageing work force.

Political agreement on a common position was made in the Council on proposals of directives
on scaffolding15 and physical agents (vibrations)16 in the health and safety sector.

Social partners also completed first
stage consultations on the modernisation and
improvement of working relations, engaged in negotiations on temporary agencies, are
identifying questions that need to be examined concerning telework and have set up a
working group in order to identify ways of promoting access to life long learning and
developing the skills of men and women. They also contributed to the preparation of the
establishment of a 'European Centre on Change', within the framework of the Dublin
Foundation. As a follow-up to the formal consultation rounds of social partners on
insolvency, the Commission put forward a proposal to revise the Insolvency Directive17.

Corporate responsibility received a boost by the signing of the voluntary corporate social
responsibility reporting guidelines by the business world and the Commissioner in charge of
employment and social affairs. Furthermore, sectoral codes of conduct on social rights have
been adopted in footwear and leather18, completing the existing codes in textile and clothing
as well as in commerce.

5.

FIGHTING POVERTY AND ALL FORMS OF EXCLUSION AND DISCRIMINATION IN
ORDER TO PROMOTE SOCIAL INTEGRATION

Promoting social inclusion

13 COM(2000)382: European Agreement on the Organisation of Working Time of Mobile Workers in Civil
the European
Aviation concluded by the Association of European Airlines (AEA),
Transport Workers' Federation (ETF),
the
European Regions Airline Association (ERA) and the International Air Carrier Association
(IACA)

the European Cockpit Association (ECA),

14 Signed on 7 February
15 1998/0327 (COD)

and

COM(2000)648: Amending for the second time Directive 89/655/EEC concerning the minimum safety and
health requirements for the use of work equipment by workers at work (2nd individual
Directive within the meaning of Article 16 of Directive 89/391/EEC)

16 1994/0449 (COD)

and

COM(1994)284: Amended proposal for a Council Directive on the minimum health and safety requirements
regarding the exposure of workers to the risks arising from physical agents (tenth individual
directive within the meaning of Article 16 of Directive 89/391/EEC)
17 COM(2000)832 The approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the protection of employees

18 November 2000

in the event of the insolvency of their employer

6

The Social Policy Agenda refers to a European level approach promoting social inclusion.
Such approach should counter what the Lisbon Summit called the 'unacceptable high number
of people living below the poverty line in the European Union'.

The establishment of the Social Protection Committee19 (composed of representatives of the
Member States, supported by the Commission) - which is written down in the mean time in
the Draft Nice Treaty20 – has already proven to provide an appropriate platform to take
forward this approach. It prepared the strategy approved by the Council in October for
inclusion policies, including the definition of the objectives which are the base for the
National Action Plans (NAP's)for the coming two years. The NAP's will be submitted in June
of this year. This will provide for initiatives by all Member States within the context of the
open method of co-ordination to develop a comprehensive inclusion policy, responding to the
specific needs per country.

In order to complement the strategy, the Commission proposed a programme21 to combat
social exclusion. It aims at establishing comparable ways to measure poverty, encouraging co-
operation between Member States and supporting capacity building and networking of NGO's
to fight social exclusion.

NGO's have been involved in the informal discussions in the Council, as well as in the
preparatory work on the exclusion programme.

Fighting discrimination and reinforcing fundamental rights

The adoption of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, bringing together
in one European document fundamental, economic and social rights, is a major achievement.

Progress in the fight against discrimination has been very significant. Two directives22 23,
unanimously agreed in record time by the Council, after consultation of the European
Parliament, underline the commitment of all Member States for a legislative framework
providing a minimum common level of protection against discrimination. The action
programme24, agreed by the Council after consultation of the EP, will provide financial
incentives to complement
legislation with awareness raising campaigns, exchange of
information and the dissemination of best practices in both legislative and non-legislative
areas. The Commission has benefited from the input of NGO's to prepare the anti-
discrimination package.

A group of citizens facing specific and severe barriers to participate in the economy and
society are those with disabilities. The Commission Communication 'Towards a barrier free
Europe for people with disabilities'25 addresses how these impediments can be overcome.
Furthermore, the European Day for the Disabled focused on discrimination in the field of
employment. Work on these issues is carried out in close co-operation with the European
Disability Forum.

19 COM(2000)134: Setting up of a Social Protection Committee
20 SN 533/00:
Draft Treaty of Nice
21 COM(2000)368: Establishment of a programme of Community action to encourage cooperation between

Member States to combat social exclusion

22 COM(1999)565: Establishing a general framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation
23 COM(1999)566: Implementing the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of racial or

ethnic origin

24 COM(1999)567: Establishing a Community Action Programme to combat discrimination 2001 – 2006
25 COM(2000)284: Towards a Barrier Free Europe for People with Disabilities

7

6.

MODERNISING SOCIAL PROTECTION

Social protection systems face common challenges across the European Union. That is why
co-operation between the Member States is being strengthened, even when responsibility for
the systems clearly remain with each Member State. The co-operation is intended to facilitate
reform and to adjust systems to the changes in the economy and in society, with a view to
ensure the double objective of solidarity and social justice together with an active welfare
state based on incentives and encouragement for a high labour market participation.

The formal establishment of the Social Protection Committee is a milestone in European co-
operation in the social field. This Committee will be a platform for the Member States to
exchange information that will underpin the modernisation of social protection systems.

From a policy angle, the Commission adopted a Communication on pensions26 within the
framework of the concerted strategy on social protection. This served also as the kick-off for
work in the Social Protection Committee to engage into a reflection to ensure the
sustainability of social protection systems. A status report on social protection on the viability
of pensions systems, drawn up by the Committee as requested by the Lisbon European
Council, and which included the contribution from the Economic Policy Committee, was
endorsed at the Nice European Council. The Commission also issued a Communication on
'the contribution of public finances to growth and employment: improving quality and
sustainability'.27

7.

PROMOTING GENDER EQUALITY

Establishing gender equality is written down in the EC Treaty as a major objective and field
of action for the European Community. A new framework strategy covering the period 2001
to 2005 has been laid down28. This strategy, based on both mainstreaming equal opportunities
and launching specific actions, is intended to play an important role in reducing gender
inequality in the economy and society at large. This framework strategy is complemented by a
programme29 adopted by the Council after consultation of the European Parliament, to
financially support awareness raising campaigns, data collection and transnational projects.

A proposal of directive modifying directive 76/207/EEC30 with regards to equal treatment
between men and women was also adopted by the Commission. This draft directive is
intended to give a definition of sexual harassment as an illicit gender discrimination at the
workplace.

26 COM(2000)622: The future evolution of Social Protection from a long-term point of view: safe and

27 COM(2000)846: The Contribution of public finances to growth and employment: improving quality and

sustainable pensions

sustainability.
28 COM(2000)335: Towards

a

Community

Framework

Strategy

on

29 COM(2000)335: Programme

relating

to

the

Community

framework

strategy

Gender Equality (2001-2005)

on gender equality (2001-2005)

30 COM(2000)334: amending Council Directive 76/207/EEC on the implementation of the principle of equal
treatment for men and women as regards access to employment, vocational training and
promotion, and working conditions

8

The advisory committee on equal opportunities, composed of representatives of the Member
States, social partners and equal opportunities' organisations as well as the European Women's
Lobby has played a crucial role to take forward concrete action.

Furthermore, on the follow-up to the Beijing Women's Conference, the Council adopted
conclusions on reconciliation of family and working life.

8.

STRENGTHENING THE SOCIAL POLICY ASPECTS OF ENLARGEMENT AND THE
EUROPEAN UNION'S EXTERNAL RELATIONS

Both the enlargement of the European Union and its external relations are in many ways both
a challenge and opportunity for action in the social area. In addition to the new elan given to
enlargement negotiations, important concrete achievements have been made to help applicant
countries design policies and establish the institutional architecture (public sector, social
partners, NGO's) to take on board EU initiatives in the social field. Evidence of this is given
in the signature of the so called Joint Assessment Reports, which the Commission signed
already with the Czech Republic, Slovenia, and Poland31. Early 2001,
Joint Assessment
Reports are expected to be signed with Hungary, Estonia, Malta and Cyprus.

to core labour

in its
As
Recommendation from 15 September to ratify ILO Convention 182 – Worst forms of Child
Labour Convention.

the Commission encouraged Member States

standards,

9.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the early period in the implementation phase of the Social Policy Agenda, significant
progress has already been made to put in place concrete policy measures.

However, the complete implementation of the Agenda depends on the full commitment of all
actors to take up their responsibility and to engage in work aimed at sustainable economic
growth, more and better jobs and greater social cohesion. The social partners hold an
important key in their hands. It is crucial that they use this key to make real progress in those
areas for which they are competent.

31 11 May 2000:

Joint Assessment of the Employment Policy Priorities of the Czech Republic

18 July 2000:

Joint Assessment of the Employment Policy Priorities of Slovenia

29 January 2001: Joint Assessment of the Employment Policy Priorities of Poland

9