The European Parliament adopted by 542 votes to 80, with 15 abstentions, within the framework of a special procedure (consultation of Parliament), a legislative resolution on the draft Council decision establishing the Social Protection Committee and repealing Decision 2004/689/EC.
The European Parliament approved, as amended, the proposed Council Decision to establish a Social Protection Committee, with advisory status, to promote cooperation on social protection policies between Member States and with the Commission.
Parliament stated, in a recital, that the Council had approved the four broad objectives identified by the Commission within the overall challenge of modernising social protection systems, namely:
· to make work pay and provide secure income,
· to make pensions safe and pension systems sustainable,
· to promote social inclusion, and
· to ensure high quality and sustainable health care for all.
With regard to strengthening the social dimension of the economic and monetary union (EMU), the Parliament stressed the importance of ensuring better coordination of employment, social and socio-economic policies, while fully respecting national competences.