Medlemmerne af Folketingets Europaudvalg og deres stedfortrædere Bilag Journalnummer Kontor 1 400.C.2-0 EUK 19. juli 2005 Til underretning for Folketingets Europaudvalg vedlægges Beskæftigelses- og Socialministeriets notat om det britiske EU-formandskabsprogram på be- skæftigelses- og socialområdet.

2 Socialministeriet Socialministeriet Beskæftigelsesministeriet Folketingets Europaudvalg kopi:   Folketingets Arbejdsmarkedsudvalg Folketingets Socialudvalg   Det britiske EU-formandskabsprogram på beskæftigelses- og so- cialområdet Det overordnede tema Det britiske EU-formandskabs overordnede tema på beskæftigelses- og socialom- rådet  er,  hvordan  vi  kan  forøge  beskæftigelsen  og  forbedre  den  sociale  inklusion som led i gennemførelsen af den reviderede Lissabon-strategi.   Temaet skal signalere, at øget beskæftigelse er den mest effektive vej til en forbedret sociale  beskyttelse  –  helt  i  overensstemmelse  med  Tony  Blairs  tale  til  Europa- Parlamentet den 23. juni d.å., hvor han slog til lyd for en modernisering af Europas sociale model. Temaet blev slået an på det uformelle ministermøde den 7.-9. juli d.å. i  Belfast og vil gå igen på flere konferencer/møder under formandskabet (vedlagt kopi af listen over konferencer/møder).    De enkelte sager For så vidt angår de sager, som optræder på den foreløbige dagsorden for rådsmø- det den 8.-9. december (kopi vedlagt), som forventes at blive det eneste rådsmøde på  beskæftigelses-  og  socialområdet  under  britisk  formandskab,  kan  følgende  ele- menter fremhæves: Forslag  til  et  fællesskabsprogram  for  beskæftigelse  og  social  solidaritet  (”Pro- gress”) LDJ JIC 8. juli 2005 Sag nr. 7111-0006

3 Muligt punkt på dagsordenen for rådsmødet til politisk enighed. Eneste udestående i sagen er beløbsstørrelser og temafordeling. Programmet overordnede budget fast- lægges i forbindelse med vedtagelsen af EU’s finansielle perspektiver 2007-2013. Det europæiske ligestillingsinstitut Muligt  punkt  på  dagsordenen  for  rådsmødet  til  politisk  enighed.  Det  kræver,  at Europa-Parlamentets holdning foreligger forud for rådsmødet, hvilket formandska- bet  ikke  forventer.  Instituttets  overordnede  budget  fastlægges  i  forbindelse  med vedtagelsen af EU's finansielle perspektiver 2007-2013.     Direktiv om overførsel af supplerende pensionsrettigheder Kommissionen er ved at forberede et direktivforslag, som forventes fremsat inden rådsmødet.  Formandskabet  ønsker  en  udveksling  af  synspunkter  om  forslaget  på rådsmødet.   Arbejdstidssagen Formandskabet  ønsker  at  fremme  sagen  mest  muligt,  som  er  sat  på  dagsordenen for rådsmødet til mulig politisk enighed. Formandskabet vil frem til medio septem- ber gennemføre bilaterale konsultationer og derefter fortsætte de tekniske drøftelser i Rådets socialgruppe med henblik på at finde en løsning.   Forordning 1408/71 om koordination af de sociale sikringsordninger Der er tale om den årlige opdatering af forordningen. Formandskabet sigter mod at opnå en generel indstilling hertil på rådsmødet.    Forslag til rådsbeslutning om et europæisk år om lige muligheder for alle i 2007 Kommissionen har i juni 2005 fremlagt forslag til rådsafgørelse. Forslaget behand- les  for  indeværende  i Rådets  socialgruppe.  Formandskabet  sigter  mod  at  opnå  en generel indstilling til forslaget på rådsmødet.   Forslag til direktiv til forenkling af procedurerne i eksisterende arbejdsmiljødirektiver Muligt  punkt  på  dagsordenen  for  rådsmødet  med  henblik  på  udveksling  af  syns- punkter eller opnåelse af en generel indstilling. Det kræver, at Kommissionen frem- lægger et direktivforslag før rådsmødet, hvilket formandskabet forventer.    Demografisk udvikling og menneskelig kapital Formandskabet ønsker en politisk debat på rådsmødet i december herom i forlæn- gelse af Kommissionens grønbog om den demografiske udvikling. Virksomhedernes sociale ansvar (CSR) Kommissionen har oplyst, at man forventer at præsentere en meddelelse herom i oktober d.å. Formandskabet ønsker en drøftelse af meddelelsen på rådsmødet.   Kommissionens meddelelse om bæredygtigheden af Europas sociale model Muligt punkt på dagsordenen for rådsmødet. Kommissionen forventes at præsente- re meddelelsen på det uformelle møde blandt stats- og regeringscheferne i oktober eller november d.å.. For  så  vidt  angår  de  sager,  som  ikke  optræder  på  den  foreløbige  dagsorden  for rådsmødet, kan  følgende  oplyses:

4 Optisk stråling Formandskabet sigter mod opnåelse af et fleksibelt forhandlingsmandat i Coreper forud for Europa-Parlamentets anden plenarafstemning i september, hvorved man håber at kunne nå til enighed i anden læsning.    Vikarsagen Formandskabet forventer ikke bevægelse i denne sag, som må anses for fastlåst. Sammenskrivning af en række direktiver på ligebehandlingsområdet (”Recast”) Kommissionen  skal  efter  Europa-Parlamentets  plenarafstemning  den  6.  juli  d.å. eventuelt fremlægge et revideret forslag. Formandskabet forventer, at man kan nå til enighed i anden læsning.   Sociale tjenesteydelser af generel interesse Kommissionen forventer at fremlægge en meddelelse herom i oktober d.å.   Employment and Social Policy Presidency Events 1. Ministerial Informal (EPSCO) - 7/8 July 2005, Waterfront Hall, Bel- fast The Informal will be an opportunity for Ministers to explore how employ- ment can increased and inclusion improved for: - the economically inactive - young people - older people Ministers will be invited to visit employment projects based in Belfast that have  been  successful  in  targeting  help  at  groups  of  people  who  have previously been excluded from the labour market. Ministerial  discussions  will  be  organised  around  workshops  which  will identify effective policy responses. Attendance: EU Employment ministers, social partners, NGOs 2 bilag

5 Contact: Frances Thompson 0207 340 4482 [email protected] 2. High Performance Workplace Conference –  15 September 2005, London A major conference, building on the work of the Irish Presi- dency. The objective of the event is to raise the profile of the concept of high performance workplaces, agree a common understanding of its key elements and demonstrate how it can contribute to productivity growth and the Lisbon goals. Attendance: Officials, business representatives and social partners Contact: Melissa Perry 0207 215 6645 [email protected] 3.  Hazardous  Installations  Directorate  (HID)  CCA  meeting  –   12/13 October 2005, Buxton One  day  conference  looking  at  Seveso  (control  of  major-accident  ha- zards)      implementation   and  future   strategies   to   enhance   consistent compliance, followed by a site visit to the new Health and Safety Labora- tory (HSL) site in Buxton, Derbyshire. Attendance: Senior Health and Safety officers Contact: Anton Wilson 0151 951 5772 [email protected] 4. European Social Fund Conference –  14 October 2005, Manchester This event will examine how ESF in 2000-06 is supporting national poli- cies  to promote  employment  opportunities for  all.  It  will  showcase  good practice  from  current  ESF  programmes,  looking  at  their  contribution  to the Lisbon  employment  agenda and  disseminating  good practice to  do- mestic policy makers and planners. This will help to inform the develop- ment of successor programmes after 2006. Attendance: European Social Fund policy makers and project staff Contact: Duncan Carnie 0114 267 7293 [email protected] 5.  Social  Inclusion  Round  Table/  EMCO/  SPC  –   17/18/19  October 2005, Edinburgh/Glasgow

6 The  Round  table  is  an  annual  event  which  usually  takes  place  in  Oct, bringing together a wide range of stakeholders in the EU Social Inclusion process. Discussion is likely to focus on looking forward to the 2006 So- cial Inclusion NAP.  Following on from this, we are bringing together both the EMCO and SPC events for a combined seminar. Attendance: Officials, NGOs, social partners Contact: Tricia Griffiths 0207 712 2477 [email protected] 6.  Occupational  Health  and  Safety  Conference  -  18/19  October,  Li- verpool This event is intended to focus on health and safety as a key element of EU Social Policy and key factor  contributing to the success of the Lisbon agenda.   Attendance: Health and Safety officials, employers and social partners Contact: Rob Olsen 0207 717 6491 [email protected] 7.  eAccessibility conference –  21 October, Landmark Hotel, London The main theme running through the conference will be the forthcoming Communication from the European Commission on eAccessibility, which will set out an action plan to ensure that disabled and elderly citizens in Europe get equal access to electronic ICT products and therefore enjoy the social and economic freedom that these products and services gives everyone. Speakers; EU Commissioner Vladimir Spidla, Richard Howitt (President of  the  European  Parliament's  All  Party  Disability  Group),  Bert  Massie (Chief Executive of the Disability Rights Commission) and Yannis Varda- kastanis (President of European Disability Forum). Attendance: Officials and disability groups Contact: Paul Redwin 0207 215 1853 [email protected] 8. MISSOC –  27/28 October 2005, Newman Room, Catholic Chaplin- cy, Oxford MISSOC meets twice yearly and is hosted by the MS holding the Presi- dency. It  was  established  by  the  Commission  as  an  instrument  to  provide  the continuous exchange of information on social protection between MS and EFTA countries.  Its main task is to collect and process detailed factual information on the organisational structure and legal regulations of social

7 protection. Attendance: Officials working in the field of social protection Contact: Mary Gough 0207 340 4328 [email protected] 10. Informed Choices: Retirement and Savings –  9 November 2005, Brussels The population throughout Europe is both ageing and living longer, with resulting  concern  about  the  future  sustainability  of  State  spending  on pensions. All Member States are having to make a radical re-appraisal of their current pension provision, both State and private, to cope with ex- pected  demographic  changes.  The  UK  has  developed  the  Informed Choice  programme,  which  aims  to  foster  an  increasingly  proactive  ap- proach by individuals to saving for retirement. The Informed Choices: Retirement and Savings meeting will showca- se  the  Informed  Choice  programme  and  similar  programmes  from  two other  Member  States.  It  will  also  allow  Member  Stares  to  focus  on  the key challenges, the steps taken so far to address those shared challen- ges, and how Member States can best work together to meet them. Attendance: Pension officials and stakeholders Contact: Geoff Warriner 020 7712 2474 [email protected] 11. Gender Equality Conference- Equality Ministers’ Informal - 7/8/9 November 2005, Birmingham  (M) 2005 will mark the tenth anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action, which was agreed at the Fourth World Conference on Women in 1995. The Luxembourg and UK Presidencies have agreed, (in conjunction with the Commission and other Member States) to highlight this anniversary as the central theme of our gender equality Presidency programmes. At their conference in February, Luxembourg will focus on the different models of national machineries for women that Member States have evolved to implement Beijing, whilst at the UK conference (7/8 Nov) we will highlight practical models of good practice and cutting edge policy that Member States have successfully developed, to help implement and progress the Beijing Platform for Action. This conference will involve a broad spectrum of partners, such as NGOs, academics, senior policy officials, social partners  and MEPs, totalling up to  200 people. Following the excellent practice established by most Presidencies over the last few years, we will invite Equality Ministers to an Informal meeting, which will take place immediately after the wider conference (8/9 Nov, Birmingham). Ministers will be able to consider how EU

8 Member States have taken forward the agenda set in Beijing. We will be discussing ideas for format and content of the Ministerial at a meeting with Luxembourg and Luisa Pavan Wolfe on 5 November, to ensure that UK plans are complementary to those of Luxembourg. In line with usual practice we shall also convene a meeting of the European Commission High Level Group on Gender Mainstreaming, to be held in London in September. Attendance: Ministers with responsibility for gender equality, NGOs and social partners Contact: Sue Valentiny 0207 276 5694 [email protected] 12.  Improving  Life  Chances  of  Disabled  People  –   8/9  November 2005, EXCEL Centre, London (M) This  event  will  focus  on  four  key  areas:  Strategies  for  change  and  the media,  Promoting  Independence,  Engaging  with  Disabled  People  and Mainstreaming Disability in Policy.    The  conference  will  comprise plenary  and workshop  sessions designed to showcase achievements and share best practice across the EU. Attendance: Disability officials and NGOs. Contact: Darren Evett 0207 712 2294 [email protected] 13. Senior Labour Inspectors Committee (SLIC) Conference  –  9/10 November 2005, Lancaster House, London SLIC will take place over 3 days covering various aspects of occupational health  and  safety  (details  yet  tbc  by  CION).  The  event  will  consist  of  a formal business meeting, a thematic day and a site visit. Attendance: Members of the Senior Labour Inspectors Committee Contact: Rob Olsen 0207 717 6491 [email protected] 14. Small Business in the social dialogue in an enlarged Europe – 17 November 2005, London As part of the UK’s enterprise week we plan for the event on Social Dia- logue to be very focused and practical - essentially a meeting of experts - looking at ways in which the existing Social Dialogue processes might be further developed where, particularly in new Member States, industries

9 comprising mainly small and medium sized firms may lack structured un- ion and business representation at national level to enable their voice to be effectively represented at the European level. In taking this forward we would look to address some of the concerns flagged by new member states during the Modena Conference held un- der the Italian Presidency and in the Commission’s own recent Social Dialogue communication – that, particularly in new Member States and where sectors are predominantly comprise small firms the structures for social dialogue at national level are weak which means they are less able to contribute effectively to the European Social Dialogue process. Attendance: Officials and social partners Contact: Melissa Perry 0207 215 6645 [email protected] 15.   EURES Working Party –  17/18 November 2005, Apex Internatio- nal Hotel,  Edinburgh The EURES Working Party is a quarterly meeting of EURES Managers that takes place in the appropriate Presidency countries and in Brussels throughout the year.  It is a business meeting to consider current and future issues affecting the 28 Member States that comprise the EURES network (the EU 25 plus Iceland, Norway and Switzerland). Current issues that are likely to be carried forward to the UK meeting in Edinburgh are: development of EURES Web Services, progress reports from working groups on labour market information, review of training pro- vision for EURES advisers, preparation for the International Year of Wor- kers' Mobility Attendance: Officials, social partners Contact: Peter Sydserff 0114 259 6240 [email protected] 16. Economic Inactivity and Ill Health - Challenges and Solu- tions23/24 November 2005, Cardiff City Hall, Cardiff Present UK approach to welfare reform, in particular people with an ill- ness, health condition or injury, and to discuss the wider implications for EC. Presentations  on  -  pathways  to  work,  vocational  rehab,  occupational health, partnership working/ engaging with stakeholders Attendance: Officials, NGOs and social partners Contact: David Jackson 0114 209 8109

10 [email protected] 17. Heads of PES/Employment Service Conference –  30 November and 1/2 December, International Conference Centre (ICC), Birming- ham The regular meeting of  Heads of the EU  Public Employment Service will be followed by 2 day conference focusing on delivery towards the Lisbon employment targets. Looking at; addressing individual needs services for employers delivered in a more tailored way PES - promoting diversity in the labour market through more per- sonalised  services  for  individual  unemployed  customers  and  for employers showcasing  the  Jobcentre  Plus  approach  (delivering  active  LM policies) Attendance: Officials, employers, social partners Contact: Anton Eckersley 0207 273 6176 [email protected] 18. Corporate Social Responsibility Conference - 1/2 December 2005, London The aim for the conference is to focus on how financial institutions can help to drive an increase in CSR through their approach to assessing company performance and future prospects; and through their potential contribution towards meeting the Millennium Development goals ie through international investment and finance for development The conference would provide an opportunity to share and spread best practice  across  member  states.  We  would  also  aim  to  examine  the contribution of existing models aimed at the financial sector with a view to generating wider sign up among financial companies and other stakehol- ders to relevant initiatives in support our sustainable development goals. We would also look to draw relevant links with other events in the lead up to our conference, for example the G8 summit and consider the scope for other organisations to run related events on the back of our conference. Attendance: Officials, employers and social partners Contact: Jane Leavens 0207 215 1686 [email protected]

11 EMPLOYMENT, SOCIAL POLICY, HEALTH AND CON- SUMER AFFAIRS COUNCIL 8–9 DECEMBER 2005 EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL POLICY ITEMS 1. (poss.) Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a Community Programme for Employment and Social Solidarity –  PROGRESS Interinstitutional File: 2004/0158 (COD) Political agreement 2. (poss.) Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a European Institute for Gender Equality Interinstitutional File: 2005/0017 (COD) Political agreement 3. Directive on portability of supplementary pensions Exchange of views 4. Amended proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2003/88/EC concerning certain as- pects of the organisation of working time Interinstitutional File: 2004/0209 (COD) (poss.) Political agreement 5. Proposal for a Regulation amending Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71 on the application of social security schemes to employed persons and their families moving within the Community (Miscellaneous amend- ments 2005) General approach 6. Proposal for a Decision on the European Year of Equal Opportunities for all in 2007 Interinstitutional File: 2005/0107 (COD) General approach 7. (poss.) Proposal for a Directive amending and simplifying procedures in existing health and safety Directives Exchange of views or general approach 8. Demography and Human Capital Policy debate Employment Committee Opinion on Human Capital

12 Green Paper on Demography

13 9. EU Sustainable development strategy Conclusions 10. Corporate Social Responsibility Exchange of views on Commission communication 11. Annual follow-up to the Beijing Platform Council conclusions 12. Annual Commission report on Immigration and Integration Employment Committee Opinion 13. (poss.) Commission communication on the sustainability of the Euro- pean Social Model Social Protection Committee Opinion