On Friday, an informal delegation of the European Parliament’s Employment and Social Affairs Committee is attending a seminar organised by the Economic and Social Council of Portugal.

« Topic of the seminar is the future of social services of general interest and the challenges posed by collective agreements in the EU. The Employment Committee is dealing with these questions in the draft report of MEP Proinsias De Rossa (S&D, IR) on social services of general interest and in the opinion by Liisa Jaakonsaari (S&D, FI) to a report of António Fernando Correia de Campos (S&D, PT) on the single market for Europeans

Pervenche Berès (S&D, FR), Chair of the Employment committee said in her opening remarks: « While Portugal is weathering a political crisis over the austerity policy imposed by the markets, the EMPL committee will focus on the social and employment situation. Social services of general interest have acted as a safety net during the crisis. Today they have to be protected and promoted on EU level, not sacrificed for the sake of fiscal consolidation. We are looking forward to discussions on an EU added value in the fields of employment and social services to answers the citizens needs ».

Other members of the Parliament delegation participating at the seminar are Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL, Vice-chair, PT), Csaba Öry (EPP coordinator, HU), Alejandro Cercas (S&D coordinator, ES), Danuta Jazlowiecka (EPP, PL) and Edite Estrella (S&D, PT).