site.btaHigh-Level Conference Discusses European Pillar of Social Rights

Sofia, June 27 (BTA) - The European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility, Marianne Thyssen, said in Sofia Wednesday that the European Pillar of Social Rights is a joint responsibility between the European Commission, the EU member states, the social partners and civil society. "All of us will have to work together to make the Pillar a reality," Thyssen said, speaking at a news briefing within the framework of a European High-level Tripartite Conference on "The European Pillar of Social Rights: Working Together to Deliver."

She noted that the Pillar has two main objectives: "First, to help convergence between member states. Upward convergence is and has always been one of the objectives of the EU. And second, to help us adapt and modernize our legislation and our services to the new world of work, which is changing very fast before our eyes and we need to be ready for it and to be sure nobody is left behind. The Pillar will serve as a compass - a compass to steer for reforms in education, training, access to the labour market, organizing good working conditions and offering social protection and inclusion."

Thyssen recalled that the European Commission has just proposed a new multiannual financial framework for the period 2021-2027, envisioning 101 billion euro of expenditure in the social area. "The Commission has also proposed a greater concentration of the funds where the greatest needs are. This means that Bulgaria will get 8 per cent more in cohesion funds than in the current period - one of the few member states that will get more than in the current period," she said. "I am sure [...] that Bulgaria will continue to use the Social Fund successfully, just like in the current period."

The Commissioner congratulated Bulgaria on what she described as a "very successful" Presidency of the EU Council over the last six months. Discussing the Presidency's "good results," she singled out the new rules for posting of workers which ensure that "when Bulgarian workers go abroad, they are entitled to the same level of remuneration as the local workers." She added: "The Council has agreed also on a mandate to negotiate with the European Parliament on three important legislative files: the regulation to improve social security coordination between member states so that mobile workers are better protected; the Directive on Transparent and Predictable Working Conditions; and the Directive on Work-Life Balance for Parents and Carers."

Bulgarian Labour and Social Policy Minister Bisser Petkov also described the Bulgarian EU Presidency as "successful" and stressed that the Presidency's programme in the field of employment and social policy has been fulfilled 100 per cent. After its EU Presidency, "Bulgaria will remain committed to building a fairer and more efficient social system in Europe," Petkov vowed.

Wednesday's conference was the last of more than 20 forums on socially significant topics during the Bulgarian EU Presidency. It took place seven months after the proclamation of the European Pillar of Social Rights, Petkov said.