Written Answers - EU Summits.
Ruairí Quinn
Question:
449
Mr. Quinn
asked the
Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs
if, in respect of commitments made at the Lisbon Summit 2000 concerning economic reform in order to make the European Union the most competitive economic area by 2010, he will list the number of measures that have to be undertaken by his Department; the stage at which these measures are; the title and brief description of each measure; when it is expected to have the measure taken or implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[11765/01]
The European Council in Lisbon (March 2000) set itself a new strategic goal for the next decade "to become the most competitive and dynamic knowledge based economy in the world, capable of sustainable economic growth with more and better jobs and greater social cohesion." The achievement of that goal requires an integrated policy approach in the economic, employment and social areas. The European Council considered that in the social area this will involve " modernising the European social model, investing in people and combating social exclusion" and that "the European social model, with its developed systems of social protection must underpin the transformation to the knowledge economy".
The European Council recognised in this context that social protection systems need to be adapted as part of an active welfare state: (a) to ensure that work pays (b) to secure their long-term sustainability in the face of an ageing population, (c) to promote social inclusion and gender equality, and (d) to provide quality health services. Responsibility for meeting these objectives remains at national level. However, the challenge of meeting them can be better addressed as part of a co-operative effort between member states with the support of the EU Commission.
The European Council, therefore, invited the Council to strengthen co-operation between member states by exchanging experiences and best practice on the basis of improved information networks which are the basic tools in this field. A social protection committee composed of representatives of all the member states and the Commission has been established to co-ordinate the co-operative process and to report regularly on the process to the Council of Ministers. It is also working in this regard with the EU committees on economic policy and employment in developing an integrated approach to achieving the Lisbon strategic goal.
To strengthen this process in the social protection policy area and ensure that it has equal status with employment and economic policy, Ireland proposed two amendments to the treaty at the recent Inter-Governmental Conference. The first specifically provides that the "modernisation of social protection systems", together with "the combating of social exclusion"– based on previous amendment proposed by Ireland – would be the focus for ongoing co-operation among member states. The second amendment provides a clear basis in the treaty for the social protection committee, thus guaranteeing its continuing role in co-ordinating social protection policy at EU level on an equal basis with the committees on employment and economic policy. Both amendments have been incorporated in the Treaty of Nice.
Much progress in developing co-operation has been achieved since the European Council in Lisbon, apart from the treaty amendments and establishment of the social protection committee. Two priorities were also set at Lisbon in the social protection field. Under the modernisation of social protection heading, it was agreed to commission a study on the sustainability of pensions, which is of major concern to all Member states as a result of the ageing of the population. A framework for national reports on member states' strategies on pensions was agreed and the reports by member states were submitted to the Commission in February. A synthesis report is being compiled by the social protection committee for submission to the European Council in Gothenburg in June.
The European Council also agreed that policies for combating social exclusion should be based on an open method of co-ordination. This should include national action plans to promote social inclusion and a Commission initiative for co-operation in the field. A set of objectives in the fight against poverty and social exclusion was also agreed and these will provide a framework for the national action plans due to be submitted to the Commission by 1 June. The Commission organised seminars for Government officials, representatives of the social partners and the NGOs in all the member states to present and discuss the national action plan requirements. The Irish seminar, on 28 March, afforded an excellent opportunity for a detailed exchange of views on the preparation of the national action plan for Ireland and on what it should contain. Currently, preparations are fully on course for completion of the plan and its submission to the Commission by the 1 June deadline. Commission proposals for an action programme to support the process are currently being considered by the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament with Ireland's full support.
The contribution which systems of social protection can make "to ensuring that work pays" is scheduled to be examined by the social protection committee later this year. The committee has also established anad hoc group to prepare reports on appropriate social indicators to assist in measuring progress in achieving the social protection and social inclusion goals, and in identifying best practice in this regard.
There has already been major strides made in modernising our social protection systems, especially in the more active approaches to supports for the unemployed in terms of income support, education and training, job search and assisting with the transition back to employment, in the much improved supports for families in meeting their caring responsibilities, and in the whole area of securing sustainable pensions and the care of the elderly. Ireland has a pioneering role in combating social exclusion through the national anti-poverty strategy. Given the progress achieved, Ireland has much to offer in the EU wide exchanges on social protection and social inclusion now getting under way.
I am conscious, however, that we have also much to learn on these matters from the other member states, among whom are states with the most developed and progressive social protection systems in the world. I have ensured that my Department has been fully committed to the development of this co-operative process from the outset and I am equally determined that this will continue. I am also determined that full account will be taken of the various outcomes of the process in developing policies and programmes to modernise our systems of social protection and promote social inclusion in the future.
