Debate: European Semester: annual sustainable growth strategy  – European Semester: employment and social aspects in the annual sustainable growth strategy
Date: WEDNESDAY, 10 MARCH 2021
Speaker: Nicolas Schmit
Language: EN

I would like to thank the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs and in particular the rapporteur, Lina Gálvez Muñoz, for the very comprehensive report and her presentation. Parliament has underlined the importance of employment and social aspects in overcoming the crisis and putting us on the path towards renewed inclusive growth. It calls to give fairness and social rights the same importance as macroeconomic objectives and the social and economic model that improves the well—being of people in the EU. The COVID—19 crisis has significantly increased the vulnerability of our economies and societies. Its socio—economic consequences could leave deep and long—lasting scars, in particular on our young generations. It is imperative to swiftly implement policies and measures leading to a fair, inclusive and sustainable recovery. Social Europe must be at the heart of the recovery, and without a strong social dimension, there will be no lasting and sustainable recovery.  We dispose of powerful tools – the renewed multiannual financial framework, Next Generation EU and the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) – to put the European economy back on track and boost reforms and investments, while fully exploiting the potential of the green and digital transitions.  The European pillar of social rights action plan, adopted last week, embeds social progress in our recovery strategy and strengthens the social dimension across all policies of the Union. Our efforts towards a sustainable and solid recovery need to encompass all dimensions. Social aspects must be on an equal footing with the economic, environmental and digital dimensions.  The implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility is embedded in the Semester, and the latter will continue to play its role as the main framework to coordinate and monitor the Member States’ economic, employment and social policies, based on the national recovery and resilience plans. The level of ambition of reforms and investments covered by the national plans should fully match the employment, skills, education and social challenges highlighted in the country—specific recommendations.  The European pillar of social rights should guide the national recovery and resilience plans of all Member States, thereby enhancing economic, social and territorial cohesion and supporting upward convergence within the Union. The joint employment report, which has been adopted by the Council, helps Member States identify priority areas for reforms and investment to be included in their recovery and resilience plans. It is key to invest in active labour market policies and employment services, to adapt working environments and ensure adequate working conditions, to tackle labour market segmentation and atypical contracts, to ensure quality and inclusive education, to promote skilling, upskilling and reskilling, to boost employability and guarantee gender equality through equal wages and opportunities. The employment guidelines have been aligned to reflect the COVID—19 crisis and take into account the green and digital transitions. They remain fully relevant under the current circumstances. We need to avert an unemployment crisis and further exacerbation of poverty and inequalities.  The Commission wants to put a strong focus on quality job creation, especially for young people and women. Well—designed and coherent active labour market policies and effective and inclusive skills policies are key – not only to tackling the consequences of the COVID—19 crisis, but also in accompanying the green and digital transitions to ease job-to-job transitions. I would like to highlight an important initiative adopted last week by the Commission, together with the pillar of social rights action plan: the Commission recommendation on effective active support to employment following the COVID—19 crisis, called EASE. This recommendation provides guidance to Member States with a view to accompanying the labour market transition from declining to expanding sectors. It is based on the policy package and covers hiring and transition incentives, upskilling and reskilling, and enhanced support by employment services. It indicates how Member States could use EU funds, including those available under the RRF, to support EASE policies. We encourage Member States to design EASE policies and include them in their national recovery and resilience plans. We need to combine our efforts now to turn our recovery strategy into a unique opportunity to bounce back better and prepare a better future for our young generations.