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Social NGOs assess French EU presidency, release Czech presidency tests
[16/01/2009]

Social NGOs assess French EU presidency, release Czech presidency tests

Brussels, January 14, 2009 --- Social Platform, the alliance of European social NGOs, today released a set of tests to benchmark the performance of the six-month Czech presidency of the EU that started on January 1. The tests are introduced to coincide with the launch of the Czech presidency's programme in Strasbourg today. In keeping with the standard procedure for its tests, Social Platform also announced its assessment of the outgoing French EU presidency.

The Platform found that the French presidency performed averagely on social issues. Although France was able to make decisive progress in several key areas, such as the fight against discrimination and the integration of people excluded from the labour market, it generally fell short of securing an overall refocus on social rights in Europe.

France also supported scaling back the level of working time protection in the EU with its backing of the revised Working Time Directive. On migration, France secured the adoption of a European Immigration Pact based on the security of the EU and worker efficiency, rather than taking a rights-based approach. It also demonstrated a lack of openness, excluding civil society from the debates on the Pact.

“The French presidency was very ambitious. Although in the beginning it did not put social issues at the top of its agenda, we’re satisfied that France ultimately advanced the EU in several social fields, such as anti-discrimination,†said Conny Reuter, President of Social Platform. “As our next round of tests will measure, the Czech Republic now needs to pick up where France left off, and respond to the specific challenges of dealing with the economic crisis, promoting civil dialogue and encouraging participation in the European elections.â€