Social investment, coordination of social security systems and improvements for the self-employed and minimum incomes, priorities of the Spanish presidency

The minister stressed the importance of strengthening and extending social policies to deal with crises such as the pandemic and the war in Ukraine, and to protect the most vulnerable in order to avoid increasing inequalities as a result of the structural changes in which our societies are already immersed, including the digital and green transitions.

In this regard, Escrivá presented three main lines of action in the area of inclusion and social security: strengthening European social protection systems, improving the coordination of social security systems in Europe, and protecting and promoting high-yield social investments.

First, Escrivá explained that in terms of social protection the emphasis will be on promoting better protection for the self-employed and reinforcing minimum income schemes by extending their coverage and strengthening empirical evidence and evaluation as elements that will enable the most effective measures to be scaled up.

Second, with regard to social security coordination, work will be done to advance in regulatory simplification and to avoid unnecessary administrative burdens for companies and workers, while supporting social security digitalisation projects at European level.

Last, on social investment, a framework for addressing social investment and reforms in the context of the new economic governance to promote sustainable and inclusive growth will be developed in collaboration with the Belgian presidency of the next Council. The informal working group tasked with developing this issue had its first meeting this week.

"The priorities of the Spanish presidency are aligned with the idea that social progress and economic development must advance together to reduce inequalities, to provide current and future employment and social opportunities for people and to protect the most vulnerable groups," the minister concluded during his speech to the Committee.

Non official translation