The so-called 'social lobby' has mobilised strongly in recent months, vocally criticising the method - as well as the message - of the draft 'EU 2020' strategy, arguing that it was agreed behind closed doors between member states without proper consultation of civil society (EurActiv 24/11/09).
Social partners and trade unions scored a strategic victory when pressure from their member organisations led the European Commission to put back the final deadline for approval of the new plan from March to June 2010.
This has created an extended "window of opportunity" during which the social lobby can fight for a revised plan, German Green MEP Elisabeth Schroedter, vice-president of the European Parliament's committee on employment and social affairs, told EurActiv.
The committee, which met yesterday (27 January), wants to see commitments to tackle inequality, social exclusion and low wages explicitly woven into the final text of the EU 2020 strategy.
Meanwhile, social NGOs want European Commission President José Manuel Barroso to move beyond "social term-dropping," in the words of one leading member, and move towards outlining detailed policy prescriptions.
Spanish Presidency could hold the key
With Spain's centre-left government now at the helm of the EU, many social partners believe José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero and his ministers present the best and arguably last chance to make these changes happen.
Social groups endorsed Zapatero's proposal, presented to the European Parliament last week, for a broad social pact to advance a new model of economic growth over the next ten years.
Indeed, following his speech to MEPs, the Spanish prime minister stressed that "if this major European commitment, known as 'EU 2020', receives the support of trade unions, it will be much stronger".
He also stressed the need to include social agents in the task, a move that went down well with social NGOs across Europe.
Schroedter told EurActiv that MEPs on the Parliament's social affairs committee also approved of his speech, as it highlighted divergences between Spain's views and those of the centre-right Barroso Commission.
Social showdown in Barcelona
With this in mind, social partners are today gathering in Barcelona for crunch talks with the EU's 27 social and employment ministers at an informal council.
Speaking to EurActiv on his way to Barcelona, Conny Reuter, president of the Social Platform, a network of social NGOs, said that "we expect a lot from the Spanish Presidency as they have put the social question on the EU agenda far more than any recent presidency, and certainly far more than Barroso or the Commission have been doing".
However, Reuter cautioned against over-optimism, arguing that many of Europe’s governments – most of whom are centre-right – would resist far-reaching changes in this policy area.
Nevertheless, he believes a coordinated campaign by the social lobby can succeed if it supported by the Spanish presidency. “Independently of political majorities, there is a need for commitment on social policy,” he said, “and it is a social need – the crisis is not over, and its effects will continue to be felt unless we make these changes”.
