Tripartite Social Summit in Brussels: Main Message

„For a stronger, united and forward-looking Europe” – this is the main message of the Tripartite Social Summit that took place on Wednesday, 20 March, in Brussels. Discussions were structured around three sub-themes:

• 50 years of labour mobility – making the best of free movement of workers for well-functioning labour markets

• Delivering investments in a deeper and fairer Single Market

• Building on the New Start for Social Dialogue to shape the new world of work.

President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker: “In the past four years, we have put social priorities back to where they belong – at the heart of the European agenda. 12 million jobs have been created. Employment level is at a record high. Unemployment is at its lowest since the turn of the century. With the proclamation of the European Pillar of Social Rights, 25 initiatives proposed by the Commission in the social field have now been agreed upon. Posted workers will get the same pay for the same work at the same place. Parents and carers will have new opportunities to balance work and private life. Millions of workers will be better informed about their labour rights and social protection, and better protected from cancer-causing chemicals. A European Labour Authority is being set up. I call on everyone to build on this progress and further strengthen Social Europe in the coming months and years.”

From the side of EU’s rotating presidency, Romania’s Prime Minister, Viorica Dăncilă: “Romanian Presidency of the EU Council is focused on cohesion, as a common European value, for a secure, dynamic and strong Union, in an ever changing and challenging international environment. Presidency’s efforts are aimed at protecting the rights of European citizens whilst supporting the business environment. The next decade will see deep transformations of our economy and society led by digitalisation and decarbonisation. These transformations will bring essential challenges and opportunities to the future of Europe, its internal consolidation, as well as to the enforcement of its position as a global actor. In this context, we must focus on well-targeted investments and the continuous development and adaptation of workers’ skills. Labour mobility, as one of the fundamental freedoms of the Union, must be backed by well-articulated mechanisms that support the European social model. Such reforms must involve the European social partners. Today’s Summit reflected the complexity of the challenges that our Union needs to face, but it has also highlighted the willingness of all the stakeholders to act together in order to build a prosperous European future”.

Source:Romania2019.eu