site.btaBulgaria Welcomes Proclamation of European Pillar of Social Rights

Gothenburg/Sofia, November 17 (BTA) - Bulgaria's Labour and Social Policy Minister Bisser Petkov Friday hailed the Proclamation of the European Pillar of Social Rights (EPSR). The initiative was proclaimed by the European Parliament, the EU Council and the European Commission at the first ever Social Summit for Fair Jobs and Growth, held in Gothenburg. Petkov participated in the event, his Ministry said.

The forum was hosted by European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven. Attending were Presidents of the EU Institutions, EU heads of State or Government, social partners and other key stakeholders.

The text of the EPSR was approved unanimously by the EU labour and social policy ministers at the October 23 EU Council meeting in Luxembourg. It is a political commitment and offers guidelines for EU institutions and Member States on delivering new and more effective rights for citizens. The EPSR has three main categories: equal opportunities and access to the labour market, fair working conditions, and social protection and inclusion.

The debate on the EU's social dimension will be a priority of Bulgaria's EU Council Presidency, Petkov said at the Social Summit. "Bulgaria will spare no effort in making progress in the key areas of employment and social policy," he said.

On Friday Petkov also participated in a working session on policies supporting transition between jobs.

On Thursday during the forum Petkov participated in a debate on Europe's social future with representatives of EU institutions and social partners in Gothenburg.

During the debate, Petkov said that while discussing the future of Europe's social dimension, a bigger picture should be reviewed: the future of the debate on the EU. He cited a position of the European Economic and Social Committee, according to which the resources for social convergence and investments should be increased in view of the future challenges.

"We should remember that this is a debate not only on social Europe's future but also on the future of EU's finances. Both debates should be interconnected, because without the necessary financial resources and a more socially oriented multiannual financial framework for the next programming period, it will be difficult to achieve the big targets we have set in the economic and social dimension," Petkov noted, as quoted by his Ministry.