Europe’s Social Turn: Contemporary EU Social and Labour Market Policy
At this double seminar, experts and practitioners from Sweden and around Europe discussed the past, present and future of European social and labour market policy, including the impact of two key pieces of legislation: the adequate minimum wage directive and the work-life balance directive.
The European Pillar of Social Rights (or ‘Social Pillar’) sets out 20 principles to guide the European Union’s work in becoming more inclusive and in enhancing the lives of all its citizens. It was mutually approved in November 2017 which means all EU institutions and all member states support the principles and rights specified there and in the attendant declaration.
Has the EU delivered on these aims, since then? Some observers have described a resurgence in social and labour market policies at EU level since the introduction of the Social Pillar, others are more skeptical. This SIEPS seminar discussed this ‘social turn’ and considered the possible impacts of some of the key initiatives.
Programme
09:00 Registration, coffee and breakfast rolls
09:30 The EU’s Social Revival: Here to Stay?
Sven Schreurs (European University Institute) will present his research on the recent ‘social turn’ at EU level. Hanna Sjölund (Vision), Samuel Engblom (former Policy Director, TCO) and Ned Hercock (SIEPS, moderator) will discuss with him where it came from, and whether it is likely to last.
10:30 Coffee and biscuits
10:45 EU Labour Market Policies and Inequality
Dominique Anxo (Linnaeus University) will present his research on the impact of a flagship social Europe initiative, the Adequate Minimum Wages Directive in discussion with Caroline de la Porte (Copenhagen Business School) and Monika Hjeds Löfmark (SIEPS, moderator).
Caroline de la Porte will then present her own research on another important initiative, the work-life balance directive.
11:45 Ends