
EU Commission Work Programme 2019
Roadmap for the future to delivering concrete, tangible results.
KB/AD – 11/2018
The
European Commission presented its Work
Programme 2019 on 23 October. It is the last
of its kind from the current Commission, as its term in office ends next year.
It is based on the ‘State of the Union Speech’ given by Commission President
Juncker in September.
The
key elements of the Work Programme will be discussed in dialogue with the
Parliament and the Council, including agreeing on future priorities. The
opinions of the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the
Regions will also be taken into consideration.
The
programme has three priorities:
- agree on the legislative
proposals already presented in order to implement the Commission’s ten policy
priorities;
- adopt a limited number of new
initiatives to address outstanding challenges;
- submit
several initiatives for the future of the remaining 27 Member States after
Brexit.
Pending proposals
Some
of the pending proposals that are relevant to social security include:
- Digital
Europe Programme 2021-2027;
- Pan-European Personal Pension Product (PEPP);
- Establishment
of a European Labour Authority;
- Amendment of the Directive on the protection of
workers from the risks related to exposure to carcinogens or mutagens at work;
- Transparent
and predictable working conditions in the EU;
- The Directive on work-life
balance for parents and carers;
- Coordination of social security systems – Regulations
(EC) No 987/2009 and No 883/2004;
- Insolvency proceedings in companies.
New initiatives
New
initiatives include:
- Recommendation to establish a format for the exchange of
European Electronic Health Records;
- Strategy for endocrine disruptors;
- Identifying
possible areas for a transition to qualified majority voting with a view to
more effective law making in social policy.
"Delivering concrete, tangible results"
Commission
President Juncker is calling on the European Parliament and the Council to
adopt the Commission’s proposals. Given the upcoming elections to the European
Parliament, delivering laws in force would be proof of a well-functioning
European Union.