Brussels (The Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Left Group’s Chair of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs at the European Parliament MEP Li Andersson stated that heading the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) was a “highest priority” for the group.
What Are Andersson’s Priorities as EMPL Committee Chair?
“After the European elections, I think many are worried that the whole social dimension and investment in the social side is going to drop down on the agenda,” stated the Finnish MEP.
Andersson expressed one of her main goals as committee chair will be to guarantee that social issues remain at the forefront of the parliamentary plan – by striving to “link” social issues to other key EU policy purposes, including competitiveness and the green and digital changes.
What Are Andersson’s Goals for Worker Protection and Education?
“Investing in workers’ protection, education, all of this – I think that this, together with sticking to an ambitious environmental agenda, is really what competitiveness should be built on,” she stated. “I think that is what Europe should be doing during the coming years.” Andersson, a first-term EU lawmaker who succeeded in more votes than any other MEP in Finland’s history last month, will be the only Left Group associate to chair a full parliamentary committee.
How Can Progressive Parties Support Europe’s Social Model?
She expressed that Europe’s shift to the right also highlights the importance of “progressive” political parties operating together to support the bloc’s social model. “In my opinion, it makes it even more important that different political groups, different political forces [that] agree on the importance of these [social] issues, work together to form majorities and coalitions and work together to push the agenda.” ‘There have to be some concrete proposals’
What Legislation Has Strengthened Workers’ Rights Recently?
Andersson stressed that several pieces of pro-worker legislation were enacted in the previous mandate, including the platform work directive, which enhances employment conditions for those gaining money through ride-sharing and delivery apps, and the minimum salary directive, which puts an 80% target for collective bargaining coverage across member states.
How Does von der Leyen’s Agenda Address Social Concerns?
The MEP also accommodated the fact that re-elected Commission President Ursula von der Leyen cited both the right to disconnect and the need to “make better use of” public procurement (which accounts for 14% of the bloc’s annual GDP) in her recently issued political guidelines for the next five-year term.
How Can EU Policies Ensure Fair Treatment of Workers?
On the other hand, She stated the EU executive could place even greater focus on labour issues, especially when it comes to assuring that subcontracting and public procurement respect citizens’ right to collective bargaining. “Collective agreements [are] a way to ensure a level playing field for companies [by] making sure that nobody gets an unjust advantage in terms of competition by not treating workers well,” Andersson presented.
She also voiced support for von der Leyen’s proposal to establish a commissioner with “direct responsibility” for managing Europe’s growing housing crisis but emphasised the need for “concrete proposals” in this area as well. “It’s not sufficient just to say that you have a designated policy area.”
