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Social Protection Committee

2015/0802(CNS)

PURPOSE: to establish a Social Protection Committee.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Decision (EU) 2015/773 establishing the Social Protection Committee and repealing Decision 2004/689/EC.

CONTENT: the Council Decision established a Social Protection Committee with advisory status is hereby established to promote cooperation on social protection policies between Member States and with the Commission.

In its resolution of 16 February 2000, the European Parliament welcomed the Commission's communication recommending strengthened cooperation in the field of social protection and the creation of a group of high-level officials for the implementation of this action.

Functions and tasks: the Committee shall:

  • monitor the social situation and the development of social protection policies in the Member States and the Union;
  • promote exchanges of information, experience and good practice between Member States and with the Commission;
  • prepare reports, formulate opinions or undertake other work within its fields of competence, at the request of either the Council or the Commission or on its own initiative.

To fulfil its tasks, the Committee shall, inter alia:

  • make use of the open method of coordination, including by applying jointly agreed monitoring instruments and implementing mutually agreed evaluation arrangements in the implementation of common objectives agreed by the Council;
  • contribute to all aspects of the European Semester within its field of competence and report on them to the Council;
  • work, as appropriate, in cooperation with other relevant bodies and committees dealing with social and economic policy matters, such as the  Employment Committee, the Economic and Financial Committee, the Economic Policy Committee and the Working Party on Public Health at Senior Level.

In fulfilling its mandate, the Committee shall cooperate with the social partners. The European Parliament shall be informed regarding the activities of the Committee.

Membership and operation: the Committee's membership shall consist of two representatives appointed by each Member State and two representatives of the Commission. The Committee shall elect its Chairperson from among the members appointed by the Member States for a term of two years, which shall be renewable once.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 15.5.2015.