Spain and Belgium have today signed an agreement to develop closer collaboration in social and labor matters during their respective presidencies of the Council of the European Union. The Second Vice President and Minister for Labor and Social Economy, Yolanda Díaz, and the Minister for Inclusion, Social Security and Migration, José Luis Escrivá, have closed this initiative together with their Belgian counterparts for Labor and Social Affairs, Pierre-Yves Dermagne and Frank Vandenbroucke.
The Spanish-Belgian collaboration materializes with the signing of a political proposal agreed by both parties in Porto, where the second social forum organized by the Portuguese Government and the European Commission is being held.
In the text, signed by the two countries that will preside over the Council of the EU from next July 1 and during the elections to the European Parliament next year, it is included to advance in a protocol of social progress to include it in the treaties of the EU or the promotion of a charter of labor rights for workers.
Likewise, the document contemplates reinforcing the social dimension of European economic governance with the adoption and implementation of a new social convergence framework to correct social imbalances. It also promotes the adoption of actions aimed at reinforcing everyone's access to adequate social protection, social dialogue, green collective bargaining, democracy at work and exploring all ways to encourage the Social Economy.
Spain and Belgium also include in their agreement the need for a global approach to mental health that includes stress, burnout and job instability.
The document sealed by Díaz and Escrivá emphasizes the importance of social investment, advancing the need to negotiate a renewed fiscal framework that guarantees adequate financing of welfare systems and public services, and that also protects social investment in times of crisis. and economic turmoil. Commissioner Nicolas Schmidt yesterday praised the social policies of Spain and Portugal: “The Nordic model has always inspired us, but now we are looking at the Iberian model; they both have strong and innovative economies and social policies that leave no one behind,” said the head of employment and social rights.
In this regard, Spain proposes to strengthen the social protection systems of the EU Member States. In two lines: increasing its coverage and deepening the connection of minimum income mechanisms with the labor market through inclusion itineraries that allow best practices to scale up, as well as improving the sufficiency and transparency of benefits and protection subsidies social for all workers and self-employed.
