Michael Finucane
Ceist:25 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will give details of the issues arising at the current Council of Ministers meeting.
Written Answers. - Council of Ministers Meeting.
As part of the activities during the Irish Presidency I am hosting an Informal Council of EC Ministers for Social Security at the end of April to consider a strategy for the convergence of social protection objectives and policies in the member states of the Community. The need to improve in certain areas the existing arrangements for the protection of the social security entitlements of migrant workers will also be discussed at the meeting.
I consider that it is of primary importance to ensure that completion of the internal market results in a real improvement in living standards and social protection for citizens of the Community. Convergence of social protection objectives and policies in the member states could make a major contribution towards achieving this.
All member states face similar problems in the field of social protection which include unemployment, the ageing of the population and changing family structures. Completion of the internal market will greatly increase the need for countries within the Community to enhance their economic competitiveness and there is the danger that in endeavouring to do so levels of social protection may be reduced in real terms. It is also important to ensure that completion of the internal market does not widen the disparities that exist in the area of social protection between different regions of the Community.
The main aim of a policy of convergence would be to promote, as far as possible, convergent solutions to the common problems faced by all member states in the area of social protection with a view to ensuring that existing levels of social protection are at least maintained in real terms and, where possible, improved, having regard to economic circumstances. Such a policy would also aim to ensure that the future development of social protection systems in the Community contributes to its economic and social cohesion.
The informal meeting will provide Ministers with an opportunity to have an exchange of views on the overall aims of a policy of convergence and, in particular, on the most effective strategy to bring it about.
The completion of the internal market will most probably lead to greater mobility of workers in the Community. Many highly skilled workers such as executives, research workers and teachers depend to a significant degree on occupational pension schemes for their pension cover. The EC Regulations which provide for the protection of the social security entitlements of workers who move to other member states to take up employment do not apply to occupational schemes. The protection afforded by these regulations to the unemployed, in particular those unemployed for long periods, is also unduly restrictive.
I consider that priority needs to be given to the development of appropriate arrangements to afford adequate protection to migrant workers in the area of occupational pensions and unemployment benefits. The purpose of the discussions would be to identify priorities for action in this regard and the type of measures which are likely to obtain the general agreement of member states.
Overall, I am confident that the discussions at the Informal Council will give clear guidelines to the Commission in framing proposals in these areas for submission to the Council of Ministers, thereby greatly increasing the likelihood of their adoption by the Council.