Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council

Thursday 8th December 2011 Written Statements

[The Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Chris Grayling)]

The Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council met on 1 December 2011 in Brussels. I represented the United Kingdom.

There were two negotiations at this Council. In the first negotiation, the presidency secured a general approach on a package of amendments to Regulation (EC) No 883/2004 on the co-ordination of social security systems. One of the proposals in the package would take UK income support out of the regulations. Some member states expressed concerns at some elements but accepted the package in the spirit of compromise. I intervened to stress that a broader policy debate was required at the political level on mechanisms to prevent benefit tourism.

In the second negotiation, the presidency failed to reach political agreement on extensions of the crisis derogations to the European globalisation adjustment fund. I intervened to state that in our view EGF did not add value and that we could not accept any compromise amendments. A blocking minority which included the United Kingdom held out comfortably during the vote.

There was a policy debate on the implementation of the Europe 2020 strategy in the field of employment and social policy. The debate was informed by three papers; the Commission’s annual growth survey (including the joint employment report); a set of conclusions on the European semester; and an opinion of the Social Protection Committee on the social impact of the crisis. I intervened to welcome the annual growth survey and emphasised the need for all member states to have a credible and determined approach to fiscal consolidation and, structural reform, including through deeper growth-friendly labour market reforms. I also stressed that it was vital that the EU did not take any counter-productive measures which might actually end up having the effect of reducing employment. I suggested that Ministers bring specific ideas to the February EPSCO for further discussion.

There were progress reports on three topics; minimum health and safety requirements regarding the exposure of workers to the risks arising from physical agents (electromagnetic fields); the pregnant workers directive; and the equal treatment of persons irrespective of religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation.

Ministers adopted three sets of Council conclusions; ageing as an opportunity for the labour market and the development of social services and community activities; the review of the implementation of the Beijing platform for action; and the follow-up of the first European semester and thematic surveillance in employment and social policies.

The Commission presented a report on the functioning of the transitional arrangements on the free movement of workers from Bulgaria and Romania.

Under any other business the presidency and Commission reported on the first annual convention of the European platform against poverty and social exclusion. The presidency provided information on the legislative proposals in the area of migration (single permit, intra-corporate transfers and seasonal workers) and reported on the informal meeting of Ministers for family and gender equality. The Commission provided an update on the review of the working time directive; the posting of workers directive; and the state of play on the European debate on women on company boards.