A ‘Social Imbalances Procedure’ for the EU: Towards Operationalisation

63 Pages Posted: 24 Mar 2022

See all articles by Sebastiano Sabato

Sebastiano Sabato

European Social Observatory (OSE)

Bart Vanhercke

European Trade Union Institute (ETUI)

Anne-Catherine Guio

Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research (LISER)

Date Written: March 24, 2022

Abstract

In view of the formidable challenges ahead related to recovery from the Covid-19 crisis and to the green and digital transitions, the EU social governance toolbox should urgently be strengthened. This paper discusses the conditions for and added value of setting up an EU Social Imbalances Procedure (SIP), which would be a significant step in this direction. It would contribute to ensuring that EU and Member States’ policies are organised (more) consistently with the notion of competitive sustainability; it would also contribute to achieving upward social convergence and reducing inequalities. After identifying normative, functional, technical and political arguments that support the creation of a Social Imbalances Procedure, the paper develops two main options for its operationalisation. In the first option, the SIP would cover the whole set of headline indicators currently included in the Social Scoreboard of the European Pillar of Social Rights, while in the second option it would be closely linked to the achievement of the EU social targets agreed upon in 2021. In terms of governance arrangements, the paper envisages a three-stage process: (i) the detection and assessment of social imbalances; (ii) the definition of actions to be taken at the national level (including an EU ‘supportive arm’); and (iii) the arrangements to be put in place for monitoring implementation of the Social Imbalances Procedure.

Keywords: social policy ; EU policy ; EU Governance ; social dimension ; European Pillar of Social Rights ; epidemic disease ; economic recovery ; EU countries

Suggested Citation

Sabato, Sebastiano and Vanhercke, Bart and Guio, Anne-Catherine, A ‘Social Imbalances Procedure’ for the EU: Towards Operationalisation (March 24, 2022). ETUI Research Paper - Working Paper 2022.09, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4065513 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4065513

Sebastiano Sabato (Contact Author)

European Social Observatory (OSE)

Belgium

Bart Vanhercke

European Trade Union Institute (ETUI) ( email )

B-1210 Brussels
Belgium

Anne-Catherine Guio

Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research (LISER) ( email )

11, Porte des Sciences
Campus Belval – Maison des Sciences Humaines
Esch-sur-Alzette, L-4366
Luxembourg

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