CORI Justice urges European Commission to recognise the complementarity of economic and social policy

CORI Justice welcomes the reconfirmation by the European Council of the importance of the social dimension of the EU as an integral part of the Lisbon Strategy. We also welcome the emphasis given by the Council to the need to integrate economic, employment and social policies. However, we have heard these commitments before and in the recent past in particular there has been a failure by the European Commission to give sufficient expression in its programmes to similar commitments from the European Council.
We trust that on this occasion the Council’s decision will be followed by appropriate action by the Commission to ensure the social dimension of European policy is given equal priority with its economic dimension.

Ireland’s national agreement between Government and Social Partners, Towards 2016, emphasises the complementarity of economic and social policy. Good economic development is essential to ensure adequate resources exist to fund social development. At the same time, good social development is required if the economy is to thrive.

CORI Justice also notes the Council’s statement that: “The European Council looks forward to the Commission's proposal for a renewed Social Agenda which should play a key role in strengthening the social dimension of the Lisbon Strategy by taking account of Europe's new social and labour realities and also covering issues such as youth, education, migration and demography as well as intercultural dialogue. In this context combating poverty and social exclusion, promoting active inclusion and increasing employment opportunities for those furthest from the labour market are all of major importance. To this end all the appropriate instruments and tools available at Community level should be used.” (paragraph 14 of the EU Council’s final statement).

If these words are to be credible then CORI Justice believes it is crucial that:

• Concrete initiatives are put in place at both EU and national levels immediately to strengthen substantially the social dimension of the Lisbon Strategy.
• Significant action is taken to reduce dramatically the number of people at risk of poverty in the EU from its current level of 78 million.
• The value of all work done by people is fully recognised – not just paid employment but also work done in the home, in the community and beyond which is not currently recognised as being of value but which is essential for families, communities and society to function.
• Significant action is taken to tackle the issue of the ‘working poor’ given that 18.9 million people in the EU who have a job are also at risk of poverty.

Given Ireland’s target on adult literacy (which would leave between half and three quarters of a million people in the labour force having serious literacy difficulties in 2016) the European Council made some very significant calls to Member States to take concrete action to:

• “Substantially reduce the number of young people who cannot read properly and the number of early school leavers, and improve the achievement levels of learners with a migrant background or from disadvantaged groups;
• Attract more adults, particularly low-skilled and older workers into education and training and further facilitate geographic and occupational mobility;
• Improve policy consistency and coordination of economic, employment and social policies in order to enhance social cohesion.” (paragraph 15 of final statement).

CORI Justice calls on the Irish Government to act immediately to give far greater priority to reducing the level of serious literacy difficulties among Ireland’s working age population.