Debate: La Hulpe declaration on the future of social Europe
Date: WEDNESDAY, 24 APRIL 2024
Speaker: Nicolas Schmit
Language: EN

So much has been achieved since the landmark Porto Social Summit almost three years ago, where we jointly set out a long-term vision for a strong social Europe. There is a lot to be proud of collectively. Inspired by the vision of Jacques Delors, we have concentrated on embedding the social into the economic, into the industrial, into the digital, into the green.  This Commission has taken action on each of the 20 principles of the Pillar of Social Rights, breathing life into it. We have committed to new targets on employment, skills and poverty reduction by 2030.  In view of strengthening upward social convergence, cohesion and competitiveness, we have delivered breakthrough employment legislation ensuring adequate minimum wages and extension of collective agreements, protecting platform workers and guaranteeing higher standards of health and safety at work.  We have put the spotlight on skills and training, including in this Year of Skills. This is helping to make the transition more inclusive and to make the opportunities accessible to all workers by tackling the labour and skills shortages faced by so many sectors. We have addressed long-standing inequalities and boosted social protection and social inclusion from the European Child Guarantee to long-term care systems, from adequate minimum income to tackling homelessness.  But the achievement I am most proud of is the fact that this Commission has mainstreamed the social into EU policymaking, and this shall not stop. The declaration precisely calls for the European Pillar of Social Rights to be mainstreamed in all relevant policy domains.  Let me just mention the Economic Governance Review, where the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights has been anchored among the common priorities of the Union and the importance of upward social convergence recognised. This was part of our original legislative proposal and was further reinforced by your Parliament.  Last week’s summit at La Hulpe marked an important step on the road since Porto, with the signing of the Declaration on the Future of Social Europe, and your House was well-represented. The declaration also reaffirms the necessity of effective social dialogue as a fundamental component of the European social model, and of European democracy.  This declaration sends an important signal about the importance of keeping social at the heart of future EU policy, and reaffirms the relevance and importance of the pillar of social rights. The declaration takes a holistic look at employment and social policy. As always, it is about investing in people and providing supportive reforms.  I would like to thank the Belgian Presidency for its work in bringing this process to a successful outcome, and for giving social the spotlight it deserves. We have a new roadmap for promoting social policies, adapted to the new challenges and addressing inequalities that still divide our societies. We must consolidate our achievements and go further ahead. As a still stand would be the biggest error.  I would also like to give my heartfelt thanks to this House for your support and your energy. Over the past five years, even at the toughest times, you have continued to push for progress. You have proposed innovative ideas and called for a European Child Guarantee. You have adopted legislative resolutions calling for EU legislation on telework and the right to disconnect, on asbestos and the new exposure limits to dangerous substances at work to protect workers. You have called for a revision of the European Works Councils Directive and called for legislation on traineeships.  This Commission has always followed up. The question now is where should we go from here? The La Hulpe Declaration will help us to shape a Europe that provides more opportunities, more equality and less poverty. A Europe that is more resilient, inclusive and competitive, with people at its centre – including by helping lift people, and particularly the young – up when they have lost their way. A Europe where people can learn new skills, move between sectors, earn decent wages, enjoy a good work-life balance and feel secure.  A major driver for making this a reality is that it is what EU citizens want and expect. In the latest Eurobarometer survey, published this month, nine out of ten people – 88% across the EU – said a social Europe is important to them personally. We also asked them what they felt should be the biggest priority in their country, and the answer is ‘tackling the high cost of living’ is by far the most frequently-mentioned issue. This confirms that strengthening the social dimension of our Union is indispensable. This has to be done in full respect of subsidiarity – but we cannot build a strong Union, assuring security in a more unstable geopolitical environment, without giving clear responses to citizens’ concerns, difficulties and sometimes also fears.  Last week, after addressing the summit at La Hulpe, Enrico Letta presented his report on the future of the single market. He says clearly that further development of the single market can only be successful if it includes a genuine social dimension that ensures social justice and cohesion. The latter report also involves important developments to services of general interest and universal access to essential services. This is also underlined in the declaration.  The La Hulpe Declaration stresses how our social market economy makes social progress go hand-in-hand with a competitive and innovative economy. This is the real strength of Europe. The foundation also of our democracy. This is what we signed up, and what we must deliver together.