Integrating the European Pillar of Social Rights into the roadmap for deepening Europe’s Economic and Monetary Union

The European Pillar of Social Rights has already proven a useful tool in fostering the social agenda in the EU, more necessary than ever nowadays with the situation of mounting inequalities and the rise of populism and nationalism. However, its effects are limited by its non-binding nature.

A fundamental step forward in this process would be to integrate the Pillar into EU Policymaking. This study proposes the possibility of 'socialising' of the EU Budget, the establishment of a macro-economic stabilisation mechanism for the EMU in the form of a European Unemployment Benefit Scheme, and the creation of a 'social imbalances procedure' to strike a new balance between the social and economic dimensions of the EU.

With this in mind, the EESC Workers' Group, in collaboration with the European Social Observatory, hosted on Thursday 4 July 2019 the presentation of the study "Integrating the European Pillar of Social Rights into the roadmap for deepening Europe’s Economic and Monetary Union" in which relevant, evidence-based proposals are outlined to ensure that the Pillar becomes a cornerstone of a more social and fair Europe.