EU Employment and Social Policy Council, Luxembourg, 3 June 2002 (Hansard, 24 June 2002)

§ Baroness Hollis of Heigham

This was a quiet Council with a relatively thin agenda. Bill Stow, the Deputy Permanent Representative to Brussels, represented the UK.

The Council agreed a general orientation on a proposal to extend the provisions of Regulation 1408/71 to nationals of third countries legally resident in a member state. The European Parliament will now give an opinion. Council also discussed Chapters I and II of a regulation to simplify Regulation 1408/71, which coordinates the member states' social security systems in respect of persons moving within the EU. This dossier is subject to a German reserve which the Presidency hopes will be lifted before the Seville European Council, allowing an agreement on a general orientation to be reached.

The Council also agreed a general orientation on the European Co-operative Statute, which consists of a regulation and a directive on employee involvement. The European Parliament will be re-consulted on this amended Commission proposal, including the change of legal base.

The Council reached political agreement on a directive amending Directive 83/477/EEC on the protection of workers from the risks of exposure to asbestos.

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The Council adopted two Resolutions at this meeting: the first, on a Community strategy on health and safety at work, is broadly similar to the recent Commission Communication; the second follows up the Commission's recent Action Plan on Skills and Mobility.

There was a lunchtime discussion on the Broad Economic Policy Guidelines which endorsed the Opinions of the Employment Committee and Social Protection Committee, stressing the importance of a balanced approach to economic, employment and social issues. A number of delegations, including the UK, argued that member states should do more to coordinate policies at national level.

The rest of the (shortened) meeting was taken up with reports on Spanish Presidency activities over the past six months, including: a Presidency report on the Barcelona Spring Council; the presentation of a paper on a Study and Guide that the Presidency had drawn up on methods of tackling violence against women; and a Presidency report on gender mainstreaming in different Council formations and the stuctural funds. The Presidency also provided reports on recent conferences, including the UN World Conference on Ageing.

The Social Protection Committee presented its report on social protection in Europe.

Under "Any Other Business", the Commission presented its plans for a directive on agency workers, following the failure of the social partners to reach agreement last year; and a recommendation on the health and safety of self-employed workers. Both of these are likely to appear at the next Employment and Social Policy Council in Luxembourg in October.