Informele Raad Werkgelegenheid bekijkt stroomlijnen sociale stelsels (en)

Social Affairs Minister Ursula Haubner expects the Informal Meeting of EU Employment and Social Affairs Ministers in Villach to send a "common, clear signal" on social protection. Speaking to journalists before the meeting in the Congress Centre in Villach, Haubner said that a signal would be sent to the spring summit of Heads of State or Government that "social protection and social security are inseparable from growth and jobs".

State Secretary Sigisberg Dolinschek advocates streamlining social systems and "raising the level". The Services Directive will also be on the agenda, whereby there would have to be exemptions from the country of origin principle. A particular concern of Haubner and Dolinschek is to integrate those people in the labour market who are "disadvantaged" and the disabled.

Haubner stressed her three priorities for the informal meeting: combating poverty and promoting employment also for disadvantaged groups, securing the retirement pension system in the long-term, an area in which Austria could "set an example" and the care sector. "How can care be secured in the long term given the demographic factor?" The Minister was confident and had "indications that we want to implement these objectives together".