SEK Trade Union School 2011 The EU2020 strategy and Economic Governance Nicosia, 19 – 20 September 2011 Why the “Social Dimension of Europe 2020” is an Oxymoron Bart Vanhercke Co-Director, European Social Observatory (OSE) Associate academic staff K.U.Leuven (CESO)
Not about
1. The European Social Observatory (OSE) •Founded in 1984 •Centre for research, information and training with historical trade union roots •Specialises in the social dimension of the EU: social and employment policies •Mission is to analyse the mutual influence between the EU and the Member State level (important important: reciprocal relationship, not ‘top down’)
Network •Works closely with – Belgian and European public authorities (tendering) – Academics (B and EU) – Trade unions (B and EU) – Civil society organisations
The team (14) The team (14) Dalila Dalila David David Cécile Cécile Sophie Sophie Benoît Benoît Françoise Françoise Bart Bart Régine Régine Seba/ Seba/ Tereza Tereza Lorena Lorena Rita Rita Pascal Pascal Ramón Ramón Renaud Renaud
Our core research topics Our core research topics •Employment and restructuring •Health care systems •Pensions •Social Inclusion and Social Protection •Institutional issues •New forms of governance (‘OMC’)
At your disposal…
Questions/Clarifications during presentation? Interrupt me! (if not I will keep on talking ☺ ) � Translation (moving target)
Why the “Social Dimension of Europe 2020” is an Oxymoron
Careful • Why is the ‘Social Dimension of Europe 2020’ an Oxymoron (a contradiction) And NOT • Why is ‘Social Europe’ an Oxymoron (easily confused)
1. A small detour about ‘Social Europe’ A. Social acquis (legislation) – non-discrimination (e.g.. pensions, retirement age) – Coordination of social security rights (incl. for third country nationals – Chilean taxi driver ) – Working time (hospitals, transport) – Patient right (cross-border care) � impacts on social policies in all MS (eg. information and consultation)
1. A small detour about ‘Social Europe’ B. European social dialogue • Parental leave (reviewed in 2009) • Part time work • Etc. C. Structural Funds (ESF and ERDF) • Infrastructure (incl. hospitals) • Re-integration of persons far away from the labour market (creativity) • Priorities more firmly linked to Europe 2020 objectives ( conditionality )
1. A small detour about ‘Social Europe’ D. Internal Market legislation •Economic integration through ‘four freedoms (persons, capital, …): cornerstone of European integration (cf. ‘Bolkestein’) •But: a social dimension is equally being developed… •Some examples: – European legislation re. equal treatment M/W ( � fear for unfair competition – issue in Cyprus) – Health and safety, e.g. fire prevention, machinery directive (e.g. unsafe FR chainsaws in IT Regions) ( � free movement of goods) – Protection of victims of car accidents abroad and in the Member States ( � free movement of persons)
Internal market • Approximation: – not towards the bottom – nor to an average level – but to highest level of protection (often Germany…) • Basic reason: shield off external competition (China, Brasil etc.) • Social Europe ‘under the radar’ • Internal market legislation: QMV
In sum: Europe 2020 and ‘Social Europe’ • Social Europe cannot be reduced to ‘Lisbon’ or ‘Europe 2020’ • Include in assessment of ‘Social Europe’ – Other instruments (legislation, Social Dialogue, Structural Funds) – Other policy areas (internal market)
Now, time to address the Oxymoron! Questions/Clarifications?
Remember an Oxymoron? • A figure of speech, or a phrase, that combines two notions that seem to be the opposite of each other • Examples are ‘deafening silence’, ‘extremely average’, ‘virtual reality’ and ‘known secret’ � c ontradiction in terms/paradox
Why would the social dimensions of Europe 2020 be an oxymoron? – First reading of the EU‘s new socio-economic governance: • social issues (employment, social protection and social inclusion) seem far from central
Europe 2020 Stability and Growth Integrated Guidelines Pact 1. Macro-economic 2. Thematic coordination surveillance (Integrated Guidelines 4-10) 3. Fiscal Monitored through 5 EU Surveillance (Integrated Guidelines 1-3) Headline Targets Stability and Convergence National Reform Programmes Programmes (SCP) (NRPs) synchronized Member States – April (including national targets) Member States - April Already at first sight… the social dimension is far from key!
II. Lisbon and Europe 2020 compared: some progress for Social Europe • Europe 2020 provides some progress, when compared to its predecessor (‘ Titanic 2010’ )
1. Europe 2020 presents a more all- encompassing strategy • Rather comprehensive political agenda for Europe (incl. environmental targets, continued EES) • Smart, Sustainable and Inclusive Growth : return to the original Lisbon Strategy � more than just growths and jobs ( socioeconomic policy triangle ), as compared to Revised Lisbon (2005) � But: the discourse is changing… (crisis, Euro+ Pact)
2. Increased pressure on targets and monitoring of progress • European indicators, allowing comparison between Member States (peer pressure, ‘benchmarking’) • Cyprus: – poverty of elderly (see European Council Recommendation) – Poverty among women (esp. single parents) – R&D – Digital divide – Soft ‘law’ to implement EU legislation beyond its formal transposition
EU Poverty target (decrease ‘AROP’ by 20 million) - the mere existence is a step forward (even though less ambitious than many hoped) - Social cohesion/inclusion: now the same status as the other political priorities (on paper) - Adoption of national targets : - Increased pressure (e.g. B) - See NRP Cyprus - High pressure on Member States -> taken more seriously than in the past decade (??)
3. Social protection and Social Inclusion are back in (compared to 2005) – Increased potential visibility and importance of social issues: • Several Integrated Guidelines – Guideline 10 re Social Inclusion and combatting poverty – Guideline 9 re Education and training (!) • Seven European Platforms (but what are they?) – Platform against Poverty (EPAP) – Digital divide
Lisbon and Europe 2020 compared: some progress for Social Europe •Window of opportunity: can still be seized •But –let us beware what we wish for –there is not only a “ keep moving ” sign for social Europe
III. Risks in relation to Europe 2020 1. No room for complacency •Pursuing the wrong paradigm – growth, growth, growth (instead of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth) – First EC Annual Growth Survey… where is the social dimension •Criticism (repeat some of Lisbon‘s flaws): – supply-side measures; market-based understanding of growth – absence of an optimal policy-mix (e.g. no stricter wage coordination in Europe; no mechanisms to balance external economic asymmetries) – Lack of qualitative considerations (“ decent work ”)
2. Social Dimension subsumed into economic objectives – Innovation and social progress tied to fulfillment of debt criteria • tunnel vision, even IMF/Lagarde agrees! – Close link NRPs and Stability and Convergence Programmes – Synchronisation: read together • Cyprus NRP 6 May 2011 • Cyprus Stability Programme 7 may 2011
Europe 2020 - Integrated Guidelines Stability and Growth Pact Macro-economic surveillance Thematic coordination (IGs 4-10) Fiscal (Integrated Guidelines 1-3) Monitored through 5 EU Headline Surveillance Targets National Reform Programmes (NRPs) Stability and Convergence Programmes (SCP) (including national targets) synchronized Member States – April Member States - April Spring European Council: Debate and Policy Guidance (Opinions and Orientation Recommendations) (Progress towards headline targets) - March European Commission – June Supported by: Finalisation and Adoption of Opinions and Debate and Orientation Recommendations • EU Flagship Initiatives European Parliament and • Single Market Relaunch Council of the EU (ECOFIN and EPSCO) – June Council of the EU –February • Trade and External Policies • EU Financial Support Annual Growth Survey: Progress and Endorsment of Opinions and Orientation Recommendations European Commission – January European Council – June European Semester European Semester Domestic Semester Domestic Semester • Finalisation of National Budgets • Policy measures at national level
In such a framework – Unclear: to what extent will country- specific Recommendations focus on Social Inclusion (Guideline 10?) – And what if (say) Germany of Poland do not set poverty targets, – What if Cyprus misses its R&D or educational targets (by far?): • Mentioned/stressed in AGS? Policy warning? – See first round of NRPs (ECOFIN/EPC)
Questions/Clarifications?
Recommend
More recommend
