Press

Non-governmental organisations from Luxembourg and the European Union met today [3 June] with Nicolas Schmit, Luxembourg’s Minister of Labour, Employment and the Social and Solidarity Economy, to call on the Luxembourish government to give substance and take action on the EU’s social agenda during its upcoming six-month Presidency of the Council of the EU.

The conference, hosted by Social Platform – the largest civil society alliance fighting for social justice and participatory democracy in Europe – saw EU and Luxembourgish NGOs present their key recommendations to Minister Schmit, including the following aspects:

• Social economy is the sector that can boost inclusive growth in Europe. As well as adequate recognition of social economy through capacity building and awareness-raising, the sector should be effectively financed and member states should set up appropriate legal frameworks to support it.
• Social and economic policies should complement each other. Although the Commission has focused much of its resources on its Investment Plan, it is important to give the same attention to social investment; a peer review system of the Social Investment Package’s implementation at national level, with specific focus on active inclusion strategies, would be one step towards achieving this.
• Investment in people through investing in social, health and education services should be reflected in budget priorities. A strong social dimension will in turn strengthen the economy.
• There is no equality without the same legal protection for all against discrimination. A political commitment to adopt the Equal Treatment directive on access to goods and services should be made at the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs (EPSCO) council meeting chaired by Minister Schmit, with meaningful engagement with EU and national civil society organisations made beforehand.

Minister Schmit confirmed that the Luxembourgish Presidency is committed to setting a more social tone through defined objectives, stating that “announcements are very well, but actions are even better […] Europe has not assessed properly the social challenges that threaten social cohesion.” He revealed that Social Platform’s key messages resemble the Presidency’s priorities.

Pierre Baussand, Director of Social Platform, said, “I look forward to working with the Luxembourgish Presidency which deems civil society as an absolute necessity for getting across the message that the EU’s current policies respond neither to people’s needs nor to the EU’s long term goals. If we cannot put social priorities on a par with economic policies – with particular emphasis on social investment and social economy – then we will not be able to steer the EU in the direction of greater social cohesion.”

Social Platform encouraged the Luxembourgish Presidency to regard the conference as the opening of a meaningful partnership between civil society and decision-makers that should continue throughout the Presidency, and beyond.

ENDS

Press enquiries

Helen Joseph

Communications & Media Officer, Social Platform

Email helen.joseph@socialplatform.org | Tel. +32 (0) 489 77 26 94