site.btaSocial Policy Minister Petkov Participates in Debate on Europe's Social Future in Gothenburg

Gothenburg/Sofia, November 17 (BTA) - Labour and Social Policy Minister Bisser Petkov Thursday participated in a debate on Europe's social future with representatives of EU institutions and social partners in Gothenburg, Sweden. The forum took place on the eve of the Gothenburg Social Summit for Fair Jobs and Growth, where the European Pillar of Social Rights (EPSR) is expected to be proclaimed, the Labour and Social Policy Ministry said in a press release Friday.

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 that we have set in the economic and social dimension," Petkov noted, as quoted by his ministry.

The text of the EPSR was approved unanimously by the EU labour and social policy ministers at a EU Council meeting in Luxembourg on October 23. 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 press release reads.