Informal video conference of the EU employment and social affairs ministers on European recovery

The German Presidency of the Council of the EU will organise an informal video conference of EU ministers responsible for employment and social affairs on 17 July 2020. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss various measures that support the post-COVID-19 recovery of working life. No decisions will be made at the informal meeting. Saila Ruuth, State Secretary to Minister of Social Affairs and Health Aino-Kaisa Pekonen, will represent Finland at the meeting.

The ministers intend to discuss social protection systems as part of the EU’s recovery plan. One of the priorities of the German Presidency is to strengthen the economy and the social dimension of the EU, emphasising the fact that the social affairs and employment sectors have played an increasingly important role in the EU during the COVID-19 pandemic. Other matters to be discussed include the protection of the rights of seasonal and mobile workers and the promotion of safe employment as part of the EU’s recovery. Finland will speak about the role of social protection in the EU’s recovery from the pandemic.

Finland supports the strengthening of the EU’s social dimension

Finland welcomes efforts to strengthen the EU’s social dimension. It is important to discuss minimum income security systems as a tool for combating poverty and inequality. Finland also stresses the need for effective enforcement of the rights of seasonal and mobile workers, and the need to eliminate risks arising from the coronavirus pandemic.

“Finland considers actions to combat poverty and inequality a key priority, and stresses the need for broad-based policy measures and discussion as we pursue this goal. Social justice plays an increasingly important role in our society, which is inevitably being shaped by measures required to respond to climate change and the coronavirus pandemic,” State Secretary Saila Ruuth underlines.

Finland wants to draw special attention to the wellbeing economy approach as a path of reconstruction that is socially, ecologically and economically sustainable.  This represents a key tenet of the European Green Deal, which aims to safeguard the wellbeing of citizens and the resilience and competitiveness of society.

Inquiries
Liisa Heinonen, Senior Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 295 064 131
Veli-Mikko Niemi, Director General, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, tel. +358 295 163 425