A few days before the Elections to the European Parliament Ipse asked three questions to the main groups of the European Parliament (EPP, S & D, ALDE, Greens / EFA and GUE / NGL). On the menu: the Social Dimension of the Economic and Monetary Union, Free movement and social convergence and the Social Economy and Social Entrepreneurship. ALDE Group sent us the answers on behalf of the President Guy Verhofstadt.
1) Adding a social aspect to the Economic and Monetary Union
Ipse : In your opinion, what should be the role and impact of the EMU’s social pillar? What concrete measures (strengthening of social dialogue, social indicators, European unemployment insurance, European financial assistance, etc.) are required to create this pillar and what role can social protection play in this process?
Guy Verhofstadt : ” I would hit this question from another angle and focus on a two tier solution to the crisis, fiscal discipline on the one hand, and a growth strategy on the other, simultaneously. The latter is still missing in the EU response to the crisis. The best social protection is having a job. That’s were our main priority should be.
I am all in favour of the social indicators that have been introduced, complementary to the macro economic imbalances procedure and I think social partners have a lot to contribute. However, I think we need more concrete and target-oriented actions at EU level to kick start the tackling of the consequences of the crisis. There are vacant jobs in the EU as well as a high unemployment rate, not least among young people. To match the vacancies with those seeking jobs, the EU can be of real added value by promoting greater mobility.”
2) Greater social convergence?
Ipse: Must social and fiscal convergence in the EU be intensified to assuage the tensions that exist between North and South, East and West, as well as between the center and periphery of Europe, while promoting worker mobility? What are the specific priorities?
G.V.: “It is true that the implementation of the Posting of workers directive left much to be desired. I am therefore happy that the enforcement directive was finally adopted, with the strong support of the liberal group, despite worrying reluctance and the lack of support from the left in the Parliament.
Posting of workers is a matter of services, but the workers must of course have rights and know that they are looked after. The enforcement directive is an important step to bind Member States to their commitments and to make sure that there is further control that the posting company is following the rules and that the worker is also given a stronger voice.
The problem in Europe is not too much mobility from one corner to another, the problem is that there are far too few EU citizens who move and I don’t think it is because they don’t want to.”
3) Development of social entrepreneurship and the social economy
Ipse: How can the next European Parliament take full ownership of the issues of social entrepreneurship and development of the social economy so as to follow through with the proposals put forward in Strasbourg?
G.V.: “Entrepreneurship is key for us. We believe in the creativity and capacity of the individual and would therefore concentrate on setting the right conditions to boost social business.
Two important steps have recently been made at EU level and the liberal group was strongly supportive and active in putting in place the new European Programme for Employment and Social Innovation (EaSI) which includes a new pillar of social entrepreneurship funding next to microfinance. This will help financing start-ups. In addition, the new Regulation on a European Social Entrepreneurship Fund label will help attract capital and investment to social business.
In this way we believe that both funding and common definitions can be useful at EU level, but I would also stress that much should be done at local level to provide the local conditions necessary for the particular social business and its needs.”
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