EPSCO Council—Brussels, December 2013

Esther McVey Excerpts

Wednesday 4th December 2013 Written Statements

[The Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Esther McVey)]

The Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council will be held on 9 December 2013 in Brussels.

The council will seek general approach on the posting of workers and on the enhanced co-operation between public employment services (PES).

There will be exchange of views on the annual growth survey 2014 (AGS), draft joint employment report (JER) and alert mechanism report (AMR). Ministers will be asked to approve the scoreboard of employment and social indicators under the JER and endorse the updated Employment Committee (EMCO) report on employment performance monitor and benchmarking. The chair of the Social Protection Committee (SPC) will report on ex-ante co-ordination of major reforms.

The Commission will present its communication on the “quality framework for traineeships” and report on the state of play with the implementation of the Youth Guarantee/Youth Employment Initiative.

The council will adopt a recommendation on effective Roma integration measures in the member states and council conclusions on the “effectiveness of institutional mechanisms for the advancement of women and gender equality”.

The council will note progress reports on improving the gender balance among non-executive directors of companies listed on stock exchanges and on implementing the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation.

Under any other business the Commission will present its communication on free movement and a proposal for a directive on seafaring workers. The presidency will report on ongoing issues and there will be a presentation from the incoming Greek presidency on its work programme.