The
European Commission organised an high level conference following the adoption
of a report on the European Pillar of Social Rights in Brussels on 23 January
2017. The event was designed to highlight the commitment of Jean-Claude Juncker
to establishing the Social Pillar of the EU, or more precisely of the Euro Zone
for the time being. Social Platform members, including EPA were invited, but
were offered little space, for example there were only representatives of other
social partners, employers and trade unions in the closing panel. However, the
commitment was made absolutely clear by the fact that 9 EU Commissioners,
Members of the European Parliament, leaders of the European Economic and Social
Committee (EESC), the Committee of Regions (CoR), UNESCO, OECD, the European
Central Bank and several national ministers attended and contributed to the
event that concluded with the first public speech by the new President of the
European Parliament, Antonio Tajani and President of the European Commission,
Jean-Claude Juncker.
