Greens/EFA in the European Parliament call on Vice-President Dombrovskis to respect social dialogue on the labour reform in Spain
Spain
Vladis Dombrovskis, Vice-President of the European Commission has recently stated that he expects "a comprehensive and ambitious labour reform" from Spain, noting his dissatisfaction that, in the framework of the social dialogue, priority is being given to the reform of the ultra-activity of collective agreements.
Philippe Lamberts MEP, President of the Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament, comments:
"In the framework of the Recovery Fund, the European Commission has the obligation to require to Member States to comply with country-specific recommendations. However, the Commission itself has always indicated that would respect the outcome of the social dialogue and the design of reforms decided by the Member States. Therefore, we do not understand that the Vice-President has intervened publicly in the social dialogue on labour reform in Spain in a contrary direction of the social partners and the Government, especially considering that issues such as youth unemployment or active employment policies will also be addressed."
Ernest Urtasun MEP, Greens/EFA Vice-President and shadow rapporteur for the RRF, comments:
"The times of Troika are behind us. If the European Commission tries to impose or prevent reforms agreed by governments and social partners, which are also in line with country-specific recommendations and, in the case of Spain, to reverse the most harmful social aspects of the previous labour reforms of the PP, the only thing it will achieve will be to question the success of the political commitment of the Recovery Fund. We are facing a different scenario from the previous financial crisis, the Recovery Fund is a response to promote the resilience of the economies of Member States. If Spain wants to start reforming its labour legislation, in agreement with the social partners, on the issue of the ultra-activity of collective agreements, the Commission's role must be to support these efforts".
