On March 8 2016, the European Commission launched a public consultation on a European Pillar of Social Rights. This is part of a greater initiative to strengthen the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), and, implicitly, its social dimension, by ensuring upward social convergence between Member States.

The initiative is targeted at the Eurozone, aimed at strengthening the Economic and Monetary Union, but other Member States can join if they want to. The reasoning is the strong economic interdependence in the Euro area. The legal nature of the Pillar is to be defined, as it will involve a number of different tools of a diverse nature, according to the content, subsidiarity principle, and overall legal EU framework. 

Commitments in the consultation on the Pillar of Social Rights, come under three headings:

1. equal opportunities and access to the labour market: skills, active labour market policies, improving employability, supporting transitions;
2. fair working conditions: achieving balance between flexibility and security, facilitate job creation, promote social dialogue
3. adequate and sustainable social protection and access to high-quality essential services: childcare, healthcare, long-term care, to ensure dignified living and enable professional and social participation

Objectives of the conference: To provide a concrete and timely input to this key consultation at European level.

EAPN will provide its experience and insights into how such a Pillar could complement or build on the existing strategies such as: Europe 2020 and the European Semester and the Social OMC.

The potential of the Pillar of Social Rights will be reflected upon, and links to the future role of the EU in the fight against poverty and social exclusion will be explored.

Participants: Around 60 EAPN members and 70 Brussels-based stakeholders Key speakers: Allan Larsson, special advisor for the European Pillar of Social Rights. And speakers from the European Parliament; other civil society actors, and people with direct experience of poverty. Registration: found in the Register button above!