From 9 t0 11 May 2019 took place in Vilnius / Lithuania a seminar about “European Pillar of Social Rights – implementations and proposals for workers' organisations”, organised by LPS „Solidarumas“ (Lietuvos Profesinė Sąjunga „Solidarumas“), with the support of EZA and of the European Union.
Representatives of workers’ organisations from Poland, Belgium, Estonia, Latvia, Spain, Portugal, Sweden, Ireland, Hungary, and as guests from Belorus, Ukraine and Georgia participated in the conference.
Conclusions
Without any further undue delay, we must promote solidarity and stop nationalism, racism and short-sighted politics in Europe.
The European Pillar of Social Rights is a crucial tool aimed at improving working and pay conditions, developing social protection systems in Europe, ensuring a work-life balance, improving social standards and boosting convergence between EU Member States, including through collective bargaining and entitlement to social services.
However, without adequate funding the situation cannot be improved. EU Member States will be able to effectively implement the pillar if sufficient financial resources are allocated to invest in social policies. Only then can the rights and principles embedded in EPSR be translated into concrete policy initiatives.
Therefore, such mechanisms as the European Social Fund, the European Fund for Strategic Investments and other instruments play a key role securing adequate funding ensuring EPSR implementation. No less important is the aspiration to introduce fairer tax systems and establish a balanced budget rule, which makes it possible not to include certain social investments such as investment into education, infrastructure, etc. into the state budget deficit., and which allows for an increase in social investment while respecting fiscal rules.
The EESC is currently drawing up an opinion on the financing of the European Pillar of Social Rights, which will assess how this could and should be achieved by securing more investment, in particular using the funds allocated for the ESF, EFSI and other funds within the Multiannual Financial Framework post 2020.
The European Pillar of Social Rights (ESRP) cannot be regarded merely as a declaration of principles or good intentions. It must be regarded as an instrument consisting of material things (legislation, policy-making mechanisms and financial instruments) and having a positive impact on citizens' lives in the short term while effectively preserving social rights and the objectives of the Treaties, strengthening cohesion and convergence, and helping to complete the process of establishing the Economic and Monetary Union.