A hot summer for social rights

There is no such a thing as a two month weather forecast, but I am pretty sure that we are going to get a very hot summer when it comes to social rights in the European Union.

Let’s start with a recurring heat wave – the Greek debt crisis. As the last Eurogroup meeting showed, there are still discussions taking place between the International Monetary Fund, the EU and the Greek government over measures such as pension reforms.

There’ll be stormy weather in the north west of the continent, with the United Kingdom’s referendum on EU membership looming on 23 June. What worries me most isn’t whether the UK votes to remain or leave, but the threat to social rights in either eventuality. If the UK votes to remain, it will put in place a deal that discriminates against EU citizens working in the UK by preventing them from accessing the same in-work benefits as their British counterparts. If the UK votes to leave, nationalistic tendencies may increase (see presidential elections in Austria, new government in Croatia), putting at risk the adoption of the EU’s pillar on social rights.

Whatever the weather, at Social Platform we plan on being prepared: we will follow closely the impact of the Greek negotiations on people’s wellbeing; in the beginning of June we will be in London with our members and their national members to examine the implications of the EU referendum on social rights; and in mid-June we will organise an event in Brussels to push for strong implementation of the pillar of social rights.

Let’s engage!

Pierre Baussand, Director