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  • 20-01-2021 11:26

EU/Presidency: Von der Leyen thanks Costa for lead on pillar of social rights

EU/Presidency: Von der Leyen thanks Costa for lead on pillar of social rights

Brussels, Jan. 20, 2021 (Lusa) - The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, on Wednesday thanked the Portuguese prime minister, António Costa, for his "leadership and support" in the pillar of social rights, one of the priorities of the Portuguese presidency of the Council of the European Union.

"I want to thank António for his leadership and support on this issue", she said at the European Parliament in Brussels.

Speaking after António Costa presented the priorities of the Portuguese presidency of the Council of the EU, Von der Leyen stressed that, as Portugal has said, "the ecological and digital recovery must be something that creates jobs" at a time when the EU is going through one of the most severe crises generated by the Covid-19 pandemic.

"I am looking forward to the social summit in Porto in May, where we can send a united message together with the trade unions, employers' associations, social partners and EU institutions," she said.

Von der Leyen said that in February, the European Commission will "respond to some of the major societal trends" and then, in March, "present the social rights action plan".

Adopted three years ago, the pillar of social rights advocates a fairer and more effective functioning of labour markets and social protection systems, including equal opportunities, access to the labour market, social protection, health care, lifelong learning, work-life balance and gender pay equality.

The European Commission is preparing its proposal for the action plan. It should present it within weeks, with the Portuguese presidency conducting the debate and negotiating a compromise among the 27 to agree in May at the social summit in Porto.

Prime Minister António Costa, who chairs the Presidency of the Council of the EU, today discussed the priorities of the Portuguese presidency for the first half of the year with the European Parliament in Brussels.

Also speaking in the European Parliament today, Costa described the social pillar as "the best vaccine against inequality, fear and populism" and said it would "give confidence to Europeans" that the current changes "are an opportunity".

ANE/ADB // ADB.

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