European Labour Law
Jean Monnet Chair of EU Labour Law
Academic Year 2015-2016
Silvia Borelli: [email protected]
Please, check the web site for any materials distributed during the
course!
Lesson 4
European Employment Strategy
Objectives: The Union shall work for «a highly competitive social market economy, aiming at
full employment and social progress” (art. 3 TEU).
“In defining and implementing its policies and activities, the Union shall take into account
requirements linked to the promotion of a high level of employment” (Art. 9 TFEU).
Member States and the Union shall “work towards developing a coordinated strategy for
employment and particularly for promoting a skilled, trained and adaptable workforce and
labour markets responsive to economic change” (art. 145 TFEU).
States’ role: «Member States, through their employment policies, shall contribute to the
achievement of the objectives referred to in Art. 145 in a way consistent with the broad
guidelines of the economic policies of the Member States and of the Union” (art. 146 TFUE).
MS “shall regard promoting employment as a matter of common concern and shall coordinate
their action” (art. 146 TFEU).
UE role: encouraging cooperation between Member States, supporting and complementing
their action (art. 147 TFEU).
«The objective of a high level of employment shall be taken into consideration in the formulation and implementation of Union policies and activities” (art. 147 TFEU)
European Employment Strategy
Employment Committee: created by the Council;
each MS and the Commission appoint 2 members.
Task: monitoring the employment situation and
employment policies in the Member States and the
Union; formulating opinions at the request of the
Council or the Commission or on its own initiative;
contributing to the preparation of the Council
proceedings referred to in Article 148
(art. 150 TFEU)
EES Methodology (art. 148 TFEU)
Annual Report by the
Council and the
Commission (Join
employment report)
Guidelines which the MS shall take into account
in their employment policies, adopted by the
Council, on a proposal from the Commission,
after consulting the European Parliament, the
Economic and Social Committee, the Committee
of the Regions and the Employment Committee
Analysis of the
employment situation
in the Union and
conclusion of the
European Council
EES Methodology (art. 148 TFEU)
Annual report on the
principal measures taken to
implement its employment
policy in the light of the
Guidelines, provided by
the MSs
(national reform
programme- NRP)
Examination of the NRP by the Council. The
Council, on a recommendation from the
Commission, may make recommendations to
MSs (country-specific recommendations)
the Council and the Commission make a joint annual
report to the European Council on the employment
situation in the Union and on the implementation of the
guidelines for employment
Coordination of Employment policies
(art. 150 TFEU)
The European Parliament and the Council, acting in accordance with
the ordinary legislative procedure and after consulting the Economic
and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, may adopt
incentive measures designed to encourage cooperation between
Member States and to support their action in the field of employment
through initiatives aimed at developing exchanges of information and
best practices, providing comparative analysis and advice as well as
promoting innovative approaches and evaluating experiences, in
particular by recourse to pilot projects.
Those measures shall not include harmonisation of the laws and
regulations of the Member States.
EES Phases
• 1997-2000: 4 pillars - adaptability, entrepreneurship, equal
opportunities and employability.
• 2001-2002: 4 pillars + orizontal objectives
• 2003-2004: 3 main objectives (full employment, improving
quality and productivity at work, and strengthening social
cohesion and inclusion) + specific guidelines
• 2005-2008: 24 integrated guidelines on macro and microeconomic and employment policies, revised every three
years
• 2010: Europe 2020 strategy