COMECE welcomes the initiative of the European Commission to propose a European Labour “Authority” to strengthen the rights of almost 17 million European citizens working in another EU country.
COMECE encourages the European Parliament and the Council of the EU to swiftly review the proposal allowing the institution to start working before the 2019 European elections.
A European Labour “Authority” could play an important role. It could help Member States to better implement the 20 principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights and promote the European social market economy as laid down in the EU treaties.
In an increasingly interconnected European labour market, the new agency could help EU citizens working in another EU country to become fully aware of their rights and tackle irregularities.
COMECE welcomes the proposed mediation board, which could become a forum for dialogue in case of disputes between Member States.
With a view to the changing world of work, COMECE also welcomes the accompanying proposal for a Council Recommendation on access to social protection for workers and self-employed and hopes that this first initiative will be translated into concrete actions that will ensure that everybody will have the best possible access to social protection in the EU.
In the upcoming weeks, COMECE and its Social Affairs Commission will analyse both EU initiatives and address the proposals in its forthcoming publication on the future of work.