EUCDW priorities for the next parliamentary term 2024-2029
1. For a social policy that involves and protects all
A revision of the European Treaties should entrench the Social Pillar (EPSR) with its 20 principles as a social compass of the Union. In addition, qualified majority voting in the Council for decisions on social matters should be sought. A social progress protocol should also be added to the Treaties to ensure equal protection of social rights as economic freedoms in the internal market.
There should be a concretization of European rights to a decent income and a decent wage. All incomes must be automatically indexed taking into account inflation and changing living costs. Minimum income benefits must exceed 60% of median family income. Therefore, EUCDW aims for a Directive on Minimum Income. To ensure public funds are socially and sustainably oriented, EUCDW calls for a revision of the Public Procurement Directive to ensure a proper inclusion of social and sustainable criteria in public procurement.
The support to the development of skills and competences of people who have already access to the labour market is of upmost importance. Basis education, increase of soft skills and the further development of Life Long Learning should be a priority. To ensure future proof jobs the development of digital skills and the regularisation of AI are essential.
Established in 2019, ELA can currently not realise its full potential. ELA’s activities are limited by the voluntary nature of cooperation and participation of Member States. EUCDW calls for an expansion of the ELA mandate that would allow ELA to organise inspections on its own initiative to effectively tackle social fraud, abuse and dumping. Voluntary cooperation on educational and labour legislation needs to be encouraged as well.
2. For an EU that puts the precautionary principle at the center and focuses on the most vulnerable
We expect from Europe an elaborate and socially just prevention policy that continues the objectives of the Green Deal and the Action Plan for zero pollution of air, water and soil by 2050. Here, the precautionary principle is crucial and the focus should be on the most vulnerable. Every European citizen should be able to live in a healthy environment where exposure to harmful chemicals is reduced to the absolute minimum.
We support the recent revision of the Ambient Air Quality Directive as a first step to reduce air pollution and call on all stakeholders to align air quality standards with the World Health Organisation’s recommendations as soon as possible. During the next legislative term, the revision of the REACH legislation needs to be a priority in order to reduce chemical pollution in the long term. We also call on the next European Commission and Parliament to end the stalemate on Sustainable Use of Plant Protection Products Regulation.
In 2024 nobody should suffer from job related diseases or accidents, but the reality is that every year more than 200.000 Europeans die from work-related illnesses. Therefore, it is crucial to fully support the implementation of the EU strategic framework on health and safety at work. The EUCDW calls on the European Commission to present an ambitious revision of the CMRD directive with safe thresholds for the 50 most dangerous hazardous substances.
3. For a sustainable, strong domestic industrial policy
The further roll-out of the Green Deal should be linked to a strong industrial policy that supports European strategic independence. If we want to continue to pursue our European values and support our prosperity in the future, we need to reduce our dependency from other continents. Both in terms of raw material extraction and production, as much as possible should be done within European borders, while keeping into account environmental legislation. The climate transition needs to go hand in hand with a green industrial policy that ensures sustainable, future-oriented and high quality jobs for all.
4. For a fair fiscal policy where the strongest shoulders bear the heaviest burden
We call for the international minimum tax on multinationals (currently 15%) to evolve to 25% and for the existing exemptions to be gradually phased out, and for the EU to make a case for this within the OECD.
We call for an objectification of the European black list of tax havens: the assessment must be more transparent, according to clearer and stricter criteria.
5. For a European Health Union
The European level must play an essential role in reducing the existing health gap between member states when it comes to access to medicines and medical treatments. European cooperation is key to reduce medicine shortages. Therefore, we support the establishment of registers of national medicine stocks to enable cross-border cooperation when needed. European public procurement of the most expensive treatments can ensure availability for all participating Member States. EUCDW supports the ongoing revision of the European pharmaceutical legislation, which needs to ensure availability and affordability of both conventional and innovative medicine.
The COVID-19 crisis has shown that during a cross-border health crisis, the European level needs to have more competences to ensure common and fair policies. EUCDW supports het further development of HERA to ensure our Union is fully prepared to counter new cross-border health threats.
6. For a budgetary policy that places real social and sustainable investment at its heart
Major investments, especially in the context of the digital and green transition, should be co-financed from European resources with drawing rights for member states according to their share in GDP and with repayment of debt and interest by the member states concerned. Europe will look for additional resources for this, including to compensate for the removal of the British contribution; including own resources, collected progressively.
7. A fair and just transition
The transition to a digital and climate neutral European economy is a generational challenge. Its impact will be felt across the European society, although some regions and sectors will be more affected than others. The transition will only be successful if we ensure that no one is left behind. Therefore, we fully support the Social Climate Fund and call for a swift roll out in all Member States, targeting the energy and transport poverty of the lowest income groups. In the future, it should be strengthened to ensure the financial stability of the Fund by incorporating it into the next Multiannual Financial Framework.
8. A gender-equal Europe
Although inequalities still exist, the EU has made significant progress in gender equality over the past term. The EU delivered with the Gender-Based Violence Directive, the European ratification of the Istanbul Convention, the Directive on pay transparency, the women on boards Directive, … However, we still have a lot of work to be done.
We should continue to promote gender equality in and beyond the EU by fighting gender stereotypes, implement gender mainstreaming in all policies and continue in the fight for a comprehensive approach to gender-based violence by addressing both prevention and prosecution.
9. A strong Social Dialogue
The Social Market Economy and a strong Social Dialogue are the heart of our European economy and key to decent working conditions and economic prosperity.
We want to strengthen the role of Social Partners by supporting Social Partners agreements, further involving them in EU policy making and providing more financial and administrative support. EU funds should be used to promote fair competition and inclusive labour markets and to contribute to the elaboration of the Green Deal and the Social Pillar. Moreover, it should also be an essential instrument for increasing collective bargaining coverage in line with the new Directive on adequate minimum wages in the European Union.
Moreover, we should enforce the role of European Works Councils to ensure that proper information and consultation procedures are in place before major restructuring decisions are taken.
10. No cooperation with the far right
As EUCDW, we cannot accept any cooperation with extreme and far right parties at any level, local, regional, national or European. We must not make the mistake of cooperating with the enemies of democracy for the sake of power. Clear boundaries are necessary to strengthen our values and our democracy.
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