The European social pillar should counter effects of internal devaluations in European societies

Maltese MEP Alfred Sant said he hoped that the Social Pillar being proposed by the European Commission will be robust enough to counter the effects of internal devaluations in European Societies when he intervened during the debate on the European Pillar of Social Rights’ at the European Parliament in Brussels. The European Commission published its reflections on the social dimension of Europe by 2025. The Commission will now enter into discussions with the European Parliament and all the Member States in the Council to work towards broad political support and high-level endorsement of the Pillar.
Dr Sant said the ongoing thrust to put social concerns at the heart of the European project is welcome if belated. Since 2008, the EU has increasingly focused on the task of reinforcing its economic structures, no matter what the human and social cost. This has fed populist and extremist ideologies.
The Maltese MEP said that making the social pillar meaningful is going to be hard. It will need to go beyond collating pan-European policies and setting them up as remote signposts for future implementation. What has happened with the social goals set for 2020 should serve as a warning. Expectations should not be inflated beyond what can be attained. Within set priorities, resources must be mobilised to really implement goals.

“Then, there is the challenge of facing up to the way by which under EU rules, economies and public budgets react to downturns. Especially in the eurozone, the major policy tool is internal devaluation. As experience has shown, this undermines social cohesion, creates hardship and at best brings about a slow recovery that leaves people with a lower standard of living to what they were used to previously. Will the social pillar be robust enough to counter the effects of internal devaluations in European societies?” remarked the Maltese MEP.

Jean-Claude Juncker said that as Commission President he has been seeking to put social priorities at the heart of Europe’s work, where they belong. “Member States, EU institutions, the social partners and civil society all have to take on their responsibility. I would like to see the Pillar endorsed at the highest political level before the end of this year,” said Mr Juncker.

Maltese Version – IL-PILASTRI SOĊJALI EWROPEJ GĦANDHOM JILQGĦU GĦAD-DIVALWAZZJONIJIET INTERNI FIS-SOĊJETAJIET EWROPEJ

Il-Pilastri Soċjali proposti mill-Kummissjoni Ewropea għandhom ikunu b’saħħithom biżżejjed biex inaqqsu mill-effetti negattivi tad-divalwazzjonijiet interni fis-soċjetajiet Ewropej, qal Alfred Sant waqt id-dibattitu fuq il-Pilastri Ewropej tad-Drittijiet Soċjali fil-Parlament Ewropew fi Brussell. Il-Kummissjoni Ewropea ppubblikat ir-riflessjonijiet tagħha fuq id-dimensjoni soċjali tal-Ewropa sal-2025.
Dr Sant qal li l-ħidma kontinwa biex id-diffikultajiet soċjali jkollhom post fil-qalba tal-proġett Ewropew hija tajba ħafna, anki jekk din qed tasal tard. Sa mill-2008, l-Unjoni Ewropea ffokat biex issaħħaħ l-istrutturi ekonomiċi, mingħajr ma ħarset lejn il-prezz uman u soċjali. Dan ta spinta qawwija lil ideoloġiji estremisti u populisti.
L-Ewroparlamentari Malti qal li se jkun diffiċli biex il-Pilastru jingħata sinifikat. Se jkollu jmur lil hinn milli jgħaqqad il-politika pan-Ewropea u jfassal linji biex xi darba fil-futur jiġu implimentati. Dak li ġara fil-miri għall-2020 għandu jservi ta’ twissija. L-aspettattivi ma għandhomx jitkabbru aktar minn dak li jista’ jinkiseb. Ir-riżorsi għandhom jintużaw biex verament ikunu implimentati l-miri fi ħdan prijoritajiet miftehma.
“Hemm ukoll l-isfida ta’ kif, taħt ir-regoli tal-Unjoni Ewropa, l-ekonomiji u l-baġits pubbliċi jirreaġixxu għad-diffikultajiet. Fiż-żona ewro, speċjalment, l-għodda politika ewlenija hija id-divalwazzjoni interna. Kif urietna l-esperjenza, din taffettwa ħażin lill-koeżjoni soċjali, toħloq tbatija biex finalment twassal għal irkupru kajman li jħalli lin-nies b’livell ta’ għixien iktar baxx minn dak li kellhom qabel. Il-Pilastru Soċjali se jkun b’saħħtu biżżejjed biex jagħmel tajjeb għall-effetti tad-divalwazzjonijiet interni fis-soċjetajiet Ewropej?” staqsa Alfred Sant.

Jean-Claude Juncker, President tal-Kummissjoni qal li fittex li jqiegħed il-prijoritajiet soċjali fil-qalba tal-ħidma Ewropea. “L-Istati Membri, l-istituzzjonijiet Ewropej, l-imsieħba soċjali u s-soċjeta` ċivili kollha jridu jġorru r-responsabbilta` tagħhom. Nixtieq nara l-Pilastru approvat fl-ogħla livell politiku qabel tmiem din is-sena.” qal Juncker.