Beskæftigelsesudvalget 2020-21
BEU Alm.del Bilag 126
Offentligt
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Council of the European Union
General Secretariat
Brussels, 4 December 2020
CM 5179/20
INST
POLGEN
AG
PROCED
COMMUNICATION
WRITTEN PROCEDURE
Contact:
Tel./Fax:
Subject:
[email protected]
[email protected]
+32 2 281 57 24
Legislative Programming
a) Joint Declaration on the EU legislative priorities for 2021
b) Joint Conclusions on the policy objectives and priorities for 2020-2024
Outcome of the written procedure initiated by CM 5098/20:
- Approval
Delegations are informed that the written procedure, opened by CM 5098/20 of 2 December 2020
was completed on 4 December 2020 and that all delegations agreed to the approval of the Joint
Declaration on the EU legislative priorities for 2021, as set out in ST 13546/20, and the Joint
Conclusions on the policy objectives and priorities for 2020-2024, as set out in ST 13547/20.
The statements by Austria, Cyprus, Denmark, Hungary, Malta, Poland and Sweden are reproduced
in the Annex to this CM.
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 BEU, Alm.del - 2020-21 - Bilag 126: Orientering om EU-mindsteløn, fra beskæftigelsesministeren
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The above statements will be included in the summary of acts adopted by the written procedure as
statements to be entered in the Council minutes, in accordance with the third subparagraph of
Article 12(1) of the Council's Rules of Procedure.
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 BEU, Alm.del - 2020-21 - Bilag 126: Orientering om EU-mindsteløn, fra beskæftigelsesministeren
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ANNEX
Statement by Austria, Denmark and Sweden
on the Joint Conclusions on policy objectives and priorities for 2020-2024
Austria, Denmark and Sweden hereby underline that the wording of the Joint Conclusions on policy
objectives and priorities for 2020-2024 does not prejudice our
position on the Commission’s
proposal on adequate minimum wages.
The European Pillar of Social Rights does not prescribe a legal initiative for adequate minimum
wages. On the contrary, the European Pillar of Social Rights should be implemented at EU and
Member State level with due regard for respective competences as well as with full respect to the
autonomy of social partners. Preserving the autonomy of the social partners
–
also with regard to
the principles of the social pillar
–
is essential for maintaining a flexible and dynamic labour
market.
We need to carefully analyse the Commission’s proposal on adequate minimum wages, in particular
its legal basis, which we find questionable in the light of the limits in TFEU, the question of
subsidiarity and the risk of undermining well-functioning labour market models, including those
where social partners can bargain collectively with no government interference.
Statement by Hungary and Poland
on the Joint Conclusions on the policy objectives and priorities for 2020-2024
Hungary and Poland reiterate their position expressed in the statement made during the
endorsement of the European Pillar of Social Rights in 2017, namely that the Pillar’s purpose is to
give political guidance. Therefore the Pillar (and by extension its future Action Plan) does not
create new rights and obligations, and must respect the division of competences laid down in the
Treaties.
Hungary and Poland find it important
that the European Commission’s legislative proposal on
adequate minimum wages in the EU duly takes into account the Treaty provisions and the
competences of the Member States. It is also crucial for us that in the event of a possible adoption
the correct legal base is applied.
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Statement by Malta and Austria
on the Joint Conclusions on the policy objectives and priorities for 2020-2024
Malta and Austria take note of the reference in paragraph 7 of the Joint Conclusions and the use of
the word “alliance” in the context of improving the EU’s defence capabilities for a stronger
Europe.
The use of this word may give rise to misinterpretation, especially considering that it is used in the
context of both defence capabilities and Transatlantic relations. In this respect, Malta and Austria
recall that the improvement of the EU’s defence
capabilities should be done in full respect of the
principles set out in the Treaties and by the European Council, including the principles of
inclusiveness, reciprocity and decision-making autonomy of the EU and in full respect of the
specific character of security and defence policies of Member States.
Statement by Sweden
on the Joint Conclusions on policy objectives and priorities for 2020-2024
Sweden underlines that the wording of the Joint Conclusions on policy objectives and priorities for
2020-2024 does not prejudice our position on any forthcoming proposal on wage transparency.
Statement by Malta and Cyprus
on the Joint Declaration on the EU legislative priorities for 2021
Malta and Cyprus regret that the legislative proposals mentioned in the Pharmaceutical Strategy do
not feature in the Joint Declaration on Legislative Priorities for 2021. It is a matter of priority that
pharmaceutical products are placed on the markets of all Member States. The current model under
which decisions to place products on markets is based on commercial reasons is not workable. The
consequences of the withdrawal of the United Kingdom as well as of the COVID-19 pandemic have
only served to amplify this problem. Malta and Cyprus therefore look forward to seeing these
proposals included in the Joint Declaration on Legislative Priorities for 2022.
Malta and Cyprus also regret that the Joint Declaration also includes no reference to principle of
solidarity and fair sharing of responsibility in the context of the reference to work on migration.
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