European Social NGOs to evaluate the French EU presidency with six tests[11/07/2008]
European Social NGOs to evaluate the French EU presidency with six tests
Brussels, July 9 2008 --- The alliance of European social NGOs today announced six tests to assess the French presidency of the European Union, which started last week. The Social Platform also made specific proposals to France for a pact* to make social issues central to EU strategy. The Platform is currently attending the Informal Summit in Chantilly, France, alongside Labour and Social Policy ministers from all 27 EU Member States.
With last week’s presentation by the Commission of a long-awaited set of proposals , the so-called ‘social package’, France is now positioned to shape the agenda into meaningful actions to positively affect the lives of millions of people living in the EU. France takes over the rotating six-month Presidency at a crucial time for Europe, weakened by Ireland’s rejection of the Lisbon Treaty – which was meant to streamline how the EU works – and racked by widening inequality and rising food and energy costs.
“The Irish ‘No’ was a wake-up call: Europe is disconnected from what its people want,†said Conny Reuter, President, Social Platform. “Armed with these latest social proposals, France now has a unique opportunity to answer that call and gain the public support necessary for Europe to advance.â€
The Social Platform will evaluate the French presidency, on the basis of the tests, at the end of its mandate in December 2008.
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The French Presidency Tests
Test 1: European Social Agenda
Has the French Presidency guaranteed the adoption of a Council of Ministers resolution on the renewed European Social Agenda that explicitly positions the EU as an actor of social progress rather than as a threat to social rights?
Test 2: Protection against all discrimination
Has the French Presidency guaranteed the adoption of new European legislation with the aim of ensuring the same legal protection against all discrimination prohibited by Article 13 TEC specifically on the grounds of sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation?
Test 3: European Pact for Immigration
Has the French Presidency guaranteed the adoption of a European Pact for Immigration that conforms to European and International human rights conventions, that sends a positive message on the contribution of migrants to European society and that underlines the importance of the social dimension of immigration policies, e.g. gender and equality related issues, access to housing, healthcare and employment?
Test 4: Active inclusion
Has the French Presidency guaranteed the adoption of the so-called European active inclusion principles that specifically include the right to an unconditional adequate minimum income, an effective access to public services and more and better jobs?
Test 5: Social and health services
Has the French Presidency committed to a bottom-up approach to a European quality framework for social and health services and a supportive economic and legal environment for these services across Europe?
Test 6: Civil society participation
Has the French Presidency taken an active role in supporting a meaningful participation of civil society, both at European and national level, in relevant Presidency initiatives and conferences, including in the planning of these events?
About the Social Platform
The Platform of European Social NGOs (the Social Platform) is the alliance of representative European federations and networks of non-governmental organisations active in the social sector, promoting social justice and participatory democracy by voicing the concerns of its member organisations. The Social Platform and its members are committed to the advancement of the principles of equality, solidarity, non discrimination and the promotion and respect of fundamental rights for all, within Europe and in particular the European Union.
For more information please see http://www.socialplatform.org/
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Notes to the editor
- *The Social Pact, called for by the Social Platform, should:
- Take the form of a Council commitment to integrate social concerns in all EU policies
- Restore the balance between social rights and market freedoms, fight discrimination and promote equality, and strengthen the social infrastructure and services of general interest
- Be developed using an ambitious participatory process that includes all key actors, in order to generate a new social consensus across Europe
- Social Platform contribution to the Chantilly Summit – in English / in French (9/7/08)
