Portugal took over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union at a decisive moment in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic: frontline workers continue to fight for the lives of European citizens, entire economic ecosystems are on the verge of financial collapse, and free movement remains severely inhibited. At the same time, Member States are rolling out vaccination campaigns and the EU has agreed on an extensive Recovery and Resilience Facility, which will not only make for a new foundation of European solidarity but, hopefully, pave the way for a future-oriented and sustainable recovery – all of which requires efficient coordination in the EU Council.

In a Joint Statement, CoESS and its Portuguese member AES express their hopes that the Portuguese EU Council Presidency will coordinate the implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility in a way that ensures a sustainable recovery of the European economy – ensuring financial aid to businesses, particularly in heavily hit sectors, and providing effective measures to help companies retain workers. Also, both associations call on the EU Council to step up efforts for the coordination of travel restrictions in the Schengen area and a common approach towards testing and quarantine policies for cross-border travel.

Likewise, the Portuguese Presidency will shape decision-making on a number of important legal proposals presented by the European Commission. CoESS and AES count on the Presidency to build consensus and promote constructive dialogue among stakeholder groups, Social Partners and Member States. Concerns of European employer groups must urgently be addressed in the discussions around the European Commission’s proposal for a Directive on adequate European minimum wages. In the proposals on the NIS Directive 2 and the Directive on resilience of Critical Entities, cybersecurity and physical protection provisions must be better aligned. And also on the implementation of the new EU Security Union Strategy, the EU Counterterrorism Agenda, and the new EU Cybersecurity Strategy, the European private security industry is committed to offer support and expertise.

CoESS and AES count on the Portuguese EU Council Presidency to ensure that the recovery from the COVID-19 crisis will make European society, workers, businesses and Social Partners fit for a new future, and look forward to a pro-active engagement in the months to come.

Read the full Joint Statement here.