This European Commission It explores how to give States more flexibility in their social spending items when they have to balance their accounts. One of the dossiers that Spain plans to promote during its presidency of the Council of the European Union is preferential treatment of issues related to social protection and inclusion of the most vulnerable groups. This was revealed by the second vice president, Yolanda Diazand the Minister for Inclusion, Jose Luis Escrivathis Friday at a joint press conference with the commissioner Nicholas Schmitt. Asked about possible changes after the general elections on 23 July, the latter took the opportunity and praised the party. labor reform agreed by the current Executive with employers and unions.
Currently, the EU requires states not to spend more than they earn and, if they do, not to exceed a certain income level. open. To control the public debt of countries and to strengthen the monetary stability of the Union. These budgetary discipline rules have been suspended for the past three years to give States room to take action against the epidemic through the injection of public money.
the next day, ICO loans or aid for job solvency have been some of the measures that Spain has put on the table to mitigate the effects of covid, contributing to the fact that in less than two years the labor market will recover pre-quarantine employment levels. But now Brussels is preparing new budgetary rules that States must abide by, with the expectation that the EU, under the Spanish presidency, will be definitively ratified and come into full force in the second half of 2023. Application in 2025 budgets.
In the framework of these new rules for disciplining the accounts of states, the Union is exploring how to give special treatment to social spending and that possible future cuts will not reduce it, thus targeting the most vulnerable groups.
“What the commission proposes in its proposal – and it needs to be discussed, proven and progressed – are certain types of investments, including those associated with their policies. social protectionin medium-term budget planning by governments, more flexibility In the process of adjusting certain debt levels”, Escrivá explained at a press conference.
Whether this “more flexibility” is whether the social cost is not calculated within their clear margins or whether states can split it into their accounts are the details the European club’s 27 members must finish determining. Like what will be considered social expenditure and what flexibility will be given to states and for how long. The calendar prepared by the government is set to hold the previous meeting this fall. Aranjuez, then to move on to the final discussion in November. “The pandemic has shown how important social services are to the resilience of our society,” said European Commissioner Schmit.
Engage more with those who care
Strengthening social dialogue, ratifying a European directive on remote working or moving forward towards equalizing social protection between the self-employed and salaried workers are priorities Spain has put on the table for the presidency. After the votes on July 23, we will see which government encouraged them and in what way. But Nicolas Schmit, European Commissioner for Employment and Social Rights, insisted on improving working conditions for home care workers.
“We have to help the caregivers. […] Most of the time they work for very low wages, we need to improve their working conditions because we are short. [de profesionales] “There will be a growing need in this industry and this given the aging of our societies.”