PART III: THE POLICIES AND FUNCTIONING OF THE UNION
TITLE III - INTERNAL POLICIES AND ACTION
CHAPTER III - POLICIES IN OTHER AREAS
SECTION 2 - SOCIAL POLICY
ARTICLE III-209
The Union and the Member States, having in mind fundamental social rights such
as those set out in the European Social Charter signed at Turin on 18 October
1961 and in the 1989 Community Charter of the Fundamental Social Rights of Workers,
shall have as their objectives the promotion of employment, improved living
and working conditions, so as to make possible their harmonisation while the
improvement is being maintained, proper social protection, dialogue between
management and labour, the development of human resources with a view to lasting
high employment and the combating of exclusion.
To this end the Union and the Member States shall act taking account of the diverse forms of national practices, in particular in the field of contractual relations, and the need to maintain the competitiveness of the Union economy.
They believe that such a development will ensue not only from the functioning of the internal market, which will favour the harmonisation of social systems, but also from the procedures provided for in the Constitution and from the approximation of provisions laid down by law, regulation or administrative action of the Member States.
ARTICLE III-210
1. With a view to achieving the objectives of Article III-209, the Union shall
support and complement the activities of the Member States in the following
fields:
(a) improvement in particular of the working environment to protect workers' health and safety;
(b) working conditions;
(c) social security and social protection of workers;
(d) protection of workers where their employment contract is terminated;
(e) the information and consultation of workers;
(f) representation and collective defence of the interests of workers and employers, including co-determination, subject to paragraph 6;
(g) conditions of employment for third-country nationals legally residing in Union territory;
(h) the integration of persons excluded from the labour market, without prejudice to Article III-283;
(i) equality between women and men with regard to labour market opportunities and treatment at work;
(j) the combating of social exclusion;
(k) the modernisation of social protection systems without prejudice to point (c).
2. For the purposes of paragraph 1:
(a) European laws or framework laws may establish measures designed to encourage cooperation between Member States through initiatives aimed at improving knowledge, developing exchanges of information and best practices, promoting innovative approaches and evaluating experiences, excluding any harmonisation of the laws and regulations of the Member States;
(b) in the fields referred to in paragraph 1(a) to (i), European framework laws may establish minimum requirements for gradual implementation, having regard to the conditions and technical rules obtaining in each of the Member States. Such European framework laws shall avoid imposing administrative, financial and legal constraints in a way which would hold back the creation and development of small and medium-sized undertakings.
In all cases, such European laws or framework laws shall be adopted after consultation of the Committee of the Regions and the Economic and Social Committee.
3. By way of derogation from paragraph 2, in the fields referred to in paragraph 1(c), (d), (f) and (g), European laws or framework laws shall be adopted by the Council acting unanimously after consulting the European Parliament, the Committee of the Regions and the Economic and Social Committee.
The Council may, on a proposal from the Commission, adopt a European decision making the ordinary legislative procedure applicable to paragraph 1(d), (f) and (g). It shall act unanimously after consulting the European Parliament.
4. A Member State may entrust management and labour, at their joint request, with the implementation of European framework laws adopted pursuant to paragraphs 2 and 3 or, where appropriate, with the implementation of European regulations or decisions adopted in accordance with Article III-212.
In this case, it shall ensure that, no later than the date on which a European framework law must be transposed, or a European regulation or decision implemented, management and labour have introduced the necessary measures by agreement, the Member State concerned being required to take any necessary measure enabling it at any time to be in a position to guarantee the results imposed by that framework law, regulation or decision.
5. The European laws and framework laws adopted pursuant to this Article:
(a) shall not affect the right of Member States to define the fundamental principles of their social security systems and must not significantly affect the financial equilibrium of such systems;
(b) shall not prevent any Member State from maintaining or introducing more stringent protective measures compatible with the Constitution.
6. This Article shall not apply to pay, the right of association, the right to strike or the right to impose lock-outs.
ARTICLE III-211
1. The Commission shall promote the consultation of management and labour at
Union level and shall adopt any relevant measure to facilitate their dialogue
by ensuring balanced support for the parties.
2. For the purposes of paragraph 1, before submitting proposals in the social policy field, the Commission shall consult management and labour on the possible direction of Union action.
3. If, after the consultation referred to in paragraph 2, the Commission considers Union action desirable, it shall consult management and labour on the content of the envisaged proposal.
Management and labour shall forward to the Commission an opinion or, where appropriate, a recommendation.
4. On the occasion of the consultation referred to in paragraphs 2 and 3, management and labour may inform the Commission of their wish to initiate the process provided for in Article III-212(1).
The duration of this process shall not exceed nine months, unless the management and labour concerned and the Commission decide jointly to extend it.
ARTICLE III-212
1. Should management and labour so desire, the dialogue between them at Union
level may lead to contractual relations, including agreements.
2. Agreements concluded at Union level shall be implemented either in accordance with the procedures and practices specific to management and labour and the Member States or, in matters covered by Article III-210, at the joint request of the signatory parties, by European regulations or decisions adopted by the Council on a proposal from the Commission. The European Parliament shall be informed.
Where the agreement in question contains one or more provisions relating to one of the areas for which unanimity is required pursuant to Article III-210(3), the Council shall act unanimously.
ARTICLE III-213
With a view to achieving the objectives of Article III-209 and without prejudice
to the other provisions of the Constitution, the Commission shall encourage
cooperation between the Member States and facilitate the coordination of their
action in all social policy fields under this Section, particularly in matters
relating to:
(a) employment;
(b) labour law and working conditions;
(c) basic and advanced vocational training;
(d) social security;
(e) prevention of occupational accidents and diseases;
(f) occupational hygiene;
(g) the right of association and collective bargaining between employers and workers.
To this end, the Commission shall act in close contact with Member States by
making studies, delivering opinions and arranging consultations both on problems
arising at national level and on those of concern to international organisations,
in particular initiatives aiming at the establishment of guidelines and indicators,
the organisation of exchange of best practice, and the preparation of the necessary
elements for periodic monitoring and evaluation. The European Parliament shall
be
kept fully informed.
Before delivering the opinions provided for in this Article, the Commission shall consult the Economic and Social Committee.
ARTICLE III-214
1. Each Member State shall ensure that the principle of equal pay for female
and male workers for equal work or work of equal value is applied.
2. For the purpose of this Article, "pay" means the ordinary basic or minimum wage or salary and any other consideration, whether in cash or in kind, which the worker receives directly or indirectly, in respect of his employment, from his employer.
Equal pay without discrimination based on sex means:
(a) that pay for the same work at piece rates shall be calculated on the basis of the same unit of measurement;
(b) that pay for work at time rates shall be the same for the same job.
3. European laws or framework laws shall establish measures to ensure the application of the principle of equal opportunities and equal treatment of women and men in matters of employment and occupation, including the principle of equal pay for equal work or work of equal value. They shall be adopted after consultation of the Economic and Social Committee.
4. With a view to ensuring full equality in practice between women and men in
working life, the principle of equal treatment shall not prevent any Member
State from maintaining or adopting measures providing for specific advantages
in order to make it easier for the under-represented sex to pursue a vocational
activity, or to prevent or compensate for disadvantages in professional careers.
ARTICLE III-215
Member States shall endeavour to maintain the existing equivalence between paid
holiday schemes.
ARTICLE III-216
The Commission shall draw up a report each year on progress in achieving the objectives of Article III-209, including the demographic situation within the Union. It shall forward the report to the European Parliament, the Council and the Economic and Social Committee.
ARTICLE III-217
The Council shall, by a simple majority, adopt a European decision establishing a Social Protection Committee with advisory status to promote cooperation on social protection policies between Member States and with the Commission. The Council shall act after consulting the European Parliament.
The tasks of the Committee shall be:
(a) to monitor the social situation and the development of social protection policies in the Member States and within the Union;
(b) to promote exchanges of information, experience and good practice between Member States and with the Commission;
(c) without prejudice to Article III-344, to prepare reports, formulate opinions or undertake other work within the scope of its powers, at the request of either the Council or the Commission or on its own initiative.
In fulfilling its mandate, the Committee shall establish appropriate contacts with management and labour.
Each Member State and the Commission shall appoint two members of the Committee.
ARTICLE III-218
The Commission shall include a separate chapter on social developments within
the Union in its annual report to the European Parliament.
The European Parliament may invite the Commission to draw up reports on any particular problems concerning social conditions.
ARTICLE III-219
1. In order to improve employment opportunities for workers in the internal
market and to contribute thereby to raising the standard of living, a European
Social Fund is hereby established; it shall aim to render the employment of
workers easier and to increase their geographical and occupational mobility
within the Union, and to facilitate their adaptation to industrial changes and
to changes in production systems, in particular through vocational training
and retraining.
2. The Commission shall administer the Fund. It shall be assisted in this task by a Committee presided over by a member of the Commission and composed of representatives of Member States, trade unions and employers' organisations.
3. European laws shall establish implementing measures relating to the Fund. Such laws shall be adopted after consultation of the Committee of the Regions and the Economic and Social Committee.