EPSCO Council - December 2012

Roundtable (Employment and Social Policy)

The Council discusses a proposed directive intended to improve implementation and enforcement of the 1996 directive on posting of workers for service provision. Ministers take stock of progress made and hold a debate on two key issues of the proposal. The Council takes note of a progress report on the proposal to maintain the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund, set up in 2006 for the budgetary period 2007-2013, for the period 2014-2020, whilst extending its scope and introducing a number of other changes. The presidency explains the Council on the state of play in the negotiations with the European Parliament on the EU programme for social change and innovation, which is part of the draft legislative package framing cohesion policy for 2014-2020.
Ministers also take stock of the progress of work on the proposal for an equal treatment directive aimed at outlawing discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation also in areas outside the labour market. The Council is due to adopt conclusions on combating violence against women and a declaration marking the end of the European year for active ageing and solidarity between generations (2012).
The Ministers hold an exchange of views on economic governance in the field of employment and social policy within the framework of the implementation of the Europe 2020 strategy. Ministers’ discussions are based on a presentation by the Commission of its Annual Growth Survey 2013, including the Joint Employment report, and of the Alert Mechanism report. In this context, the Council is to be called upon to endorse the December 2012 update of the Employment Performance Monitor. Moreover, the Council takes note of a presentation by the Commission of its youth employment package.
Over lunch, ministers have the opportunity to discuss the issue of a recent Commission
proposal aimed at “improving the gender balance among non-executive directors of companies listed on stock exchanges and related measures”. Health and Consumer affairs Health and Consumer Affairs items are also on the agenda.