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On Monday, 23 February, Aija Barča, Chairperson of the Social and Employment Matters Committee of the Saeima, addressed her counterparts from the parliaments of all the EU member states who had gathered in the Saeima to participate in the Meeting of the Chairpersons of the Committees on Employment and Social Affairs, which is one of the events of the Parliamentary Dimension of the Latvian Presidency of the Council of the European Union. In her address, Barča emphasised that the regaining of European citizens’ trust depends on professional and effective resolution of social challenges. 

The Chairperson of the meeting pointed out that the regaining of trust is a task shared by the national parliaments and the European Parliament; she added that although the political tools and the available resources may differ, we share a common goal – promoting the happiness of the inhabitants of the European Union.

Barča also emphasised that the financial and economic crisis has revealed serious flaws in the EU‘s system of governance. “The aftermath of the crisis clearly shows what happens when important social issues are either ignored or subordinated to purely fiscal aspects, such as the national budget deficit, controlling debt and implementing austerity. Undeniably, these issues are very important, but it is equally important to strike a healthy balance,” said Barča. 

She urged the participants to seek new approaches to attain the social objectives in a more effective and sustainable manner. “Difficulties in the economy and financial sector have motivated civic society and public institutions to jointly address the problems of unemployment, social exclusion, ageing of the population, as well as to promote creation of quality jobs and social engagement in urban and rural areas,” Barča declared.

The Chairperson also stressed the importance of devising EU and national policies that are aimed at creating a cohesive society in which people are aware of future developments and capable of managing changes; this will enable them to participate actively in both economic and social processes. She added that it is important to distribute common resources fairly among EU’s citizens even in the most remote regions of the EU. 

In conclusion, Barča listed the most pressing employment challenges, pointing out that the labour markets of several member states require substantial reformation; also, education systems must be reoriented so that their graduates are able to meet the needs of labour markets. Furthermore, she cited serious problems pertaining to structural unemployment, salary dumping, and the working poor faced by several member states.  

Saeima Press Service