EU Social Agenda Grace Hudson University of Bradford - a really useful summary of the history of EU social policy agendas.

1. EU Social Agenda
Grace Hudson
University of Bradford

2. History and Context
 EC/EU competencies
 Subsidiarity and proportionality
 Legislative decision-making process
European social model v American economic
model
Strong commitment to social policy by member
states – except Britain under Conservative
Government (1979-1997)

3. Commitment in Treaties
There has been provision for social policy in the
Treaties from the Treaty of Rome 1957
- but originally narrow definition:
working conditions
standard of living
equal pay for equal work
social security for migrants
increased mobility of workers
Wider policy in hands of member states

4. Policies and Initiatives
 1960s – policy focused mainly on labour
mobility
 1970s – harsh economic climate
 1st Social action programme 1974
 For full employment, better living and working
conditions, workers’ participation in decision making,
equal treatment of men and women
 Establishment of EFIWLC and CEDEFOP
Disparities between rich and poor regions

5. Policies and Initiatives
Structural funds
 European Social Fund established 1957
 European Regional Development Fund 1975
 Aimed to reduce regional disparities, address
aspects of social policy, combat long-term
unemployment, promote education and training
 And later, Cohesion fund 1992

6. Policies and Initiatives
 Single European Act
 New “title” on economic and social cohesion
 Qualified majority voting on health and safety of
workers
 Opportunity used by Commission to enact range
of social policy legislation – but raised a number
of legal challenges, eg British government’s
objection to “Working time” Directive 1993
(challenge rejected by Court of Justice)

7. Policies and Initiatives
SEA
Social Dialogue – Commission required to develop a
dialogue between employers and employees
Review of and substantial increase in structural
funds

8. Policies and Initiatives
Delors review of social consequences of single
market programme
Fears of “social dumping”
Attempt to promote social dimension
Community Charter on the Fundamental Social
Rights of Workers (Social Charter)– adopted
1989 by 11 member states (not UK)
Lack of success/blocking of social policy
legislation – unanimous decisions required

9. Policy and Initiatives
 Social Protocol in Maastricht Treaty
 Incorporated social provisions of Social Charter
 Proposed Social chapter opposed by Major
 Britain opted out of Social Protocol but terms of
Treaty of Rome re social policy (as revised by
later treaties) still applied
Social issues now core policy – includes issues
such as protection of children and young people,
freedom of association, public health, help for
elderly and disabled (number of programmes)

10. Policy and Initiatives
 Anomalous situation of the UK
 Little legislation adopted under Social
Protocol, eg only two directives on European
works councils and parental leave – other
legal bases used where possible
 Treaty reform – adoption of Amsterdam
Treaty – new Labour government agreed to
incorporation of social protocol and to
adoption of the two directives

11. Policy and Initiatives
 1990s - Concerns about unemployment and
competitiveness
 White paper on the development of social
policy in the period 1995-1999 (1994)
 Focus on job creation, labour mobility, equal
opportunity, integration of social and economic
policies
 No major legislative agenda in next social action
programme – more focus on discussion

12. Policy and Initiatives
 Social
Policy Agenda adopted 2000 as part of
Lisbon Strategy for jobs and growth
 More and better jobs
 New balance between flexibility and security in a changing work
environment
 Combating poverty, social exclusion, and discrimination
 Modernising social security protection systems
 Promoting equality between men and women
 Reinforcing the social dimension of enlargement and external
relations

13. Policy and Initiatives
 Lisbon Strategy – “modernising the European social
model, investing in people and combating social
exclusion”
 Use of Open Method of Co-ordination
 National Reform Programmes
 Joint Employment Reports
 Action Plans
 Annual Progress Reports
 Benchmarking, best practice, target setting, peer
pressure

14. Policy and Intitiates
Follow up from revised Lisbon Strategy:
Communication on the Social Agenda
COM (2005) 53
Key priorities:
employment
fighting poverty and promoting equal opportunities
Eg older people in workforce – “active ageing”,
employment of women, managing restructuring
through social dialogue

15. Policy and Initiatives
Renewed social agenda: opportunities, access
and solidarity in 21st century Europe
COM (2008) 412
Concept of “Flexicurity”
ESF spend 2007-13 75 billion euros

16. Policy and Initiatives – next
Target of eradicating poverty by 2010
2010 is to be the European Year for
Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion
Consultation on the future “EU 2020” strategy
COM (2009) 647

17. Sources of information
 Key policy documents
 Legislation
 Pending legislation
 Guides and background publications
 Statistics
 Opinion poll surveys
 Europa website
 Comment and analysis – books, journals, reports