Keeping social rights in safe hands

We are half way through 2021, which is always a good moment to take stock of what progress has been made on improving social rights for people in Europe.

The Portuguese government has led the charge of one of the most ‘social’ Council presidencies we’ve seen in many years: the Social Pillar Action Plan, directive on adequate minimum wages, EU Child Guarantee, Platform on Homelessness, Digital Platform of the Conference of the Future of Europe, and of course the EU Social Summit are just a few of the social highlights. Perhaps most importantly for us, as a social civil society organisation, is the conscientious approach that the Presidency has taken towards civil dialogue. For years we have been asking for our engagement as civil society organisations to be treated on a par with social partners, and the Portuguese Presidency delivered.

As their Presidency wraps up and they pass the torch to Slovenia, we must be clear as civil society that we expect this standard of civil dialogue to continue, especially given the huge social impact of many of the Slovenian Presidency’s priorities: resilient and inclusive societies, a life-course approach to ageing, quality employment, and adequate minimum wages to name a few. On 8-9 July, EU social and employment ministers will gather with social partners and civil society to discuss some of these issues. Social Platform will be there to share the experience of people on the ground who live with the day-to-day realities of EU policies.

Best wishes,

Alva Finn, Director of Social Platform