Topic: Main Aspects of EU Social Policy
Introduction
The EU social concerns led to the formation and development of the Social Committee under the European Union in order to address these concerns. The committee was put in place in the year 1957 under the Rome Treaty (Collins, 1975, Pg. 64). Its main aim was to voice the societal concerns that included matters pertaining to employment, trade and trade unions, farming, consumer protection as well as other emerging social issues (Carmel, 2003, Pg. 14-17). Such emerging issues include but not limited to health, activities of farmers and traders as well as the social welfare of the populations in the member states.
The Main Aspects
The social charter of the EU Social Policy advocates for the creation of jobs for all the stakeholders in the economy. In the same regard, the working environment is of fundamental consideration in this policy. Integration of the entire population indiscriminately is well outlined. The policy also requires that member states promote workers’ mobility, fair remuneration for their work, safe and humane conditions in the place of work, leading to the earning of a better standard living (CEC, 2005, Pg. 33).
All member states are required to adhere to the EU Social Policy laws and regulations. Health of all the populations in the member countries should be addressed across all sectors of the economies. This covers work places, public health and sanitation, awarding maternity and paternity leaves in time, incorporating the disabled and the old in the formulated and implemented health policies and schemes (CEC, 2005, Pg. 42). This helps in the achievement of fairness and equity in the health sector for all people.
Disparities are evident in the social welfare of the member nations under the EU umbrella. The differences evident in these countries cuts across different policies and issues that each country seeks to establish for its population. The EU Social Policy seeks to harmonize these disparities by introducing treaties that bind the member states to the interests of the entire umbrella (Radaelli, 2010, Pg. 77). The aim of these efforts is to harmonize wealth and resource distribution among the different social and economic groups of the member states.
The policy addresses farming and trade issues in the union. Trade among the member states is encouraged through scrapping barriers to trade in a bid to achieve free trade (Collins, 1975, Pg. 72). Trade Unions that serve the diverse EU have also been established. Farming has as well taken the same direction in the region. These two are fundamental to the performance of the economy. Ensuring harmony between them guarantee economic growth and development.
Business operations and the need for further economic development in the EU prompted the establishment of the union. Consumption is a fundamental aspect in the achievement of this. Need for consumer protection therefore comes in handy in the social concerns of the EU Social Policy (Radaelli, 2010, Pg. 93). The functionality of economic activities and consumption in business are intertwined. The two needs to work out in the best way possible to ensure that no party is exploited to benefit the other.
Conclusion
The committee put in place is charged with the responsibility of addressing the concerns aforementioned and discussed alongside other rising fundamental concerns in the same line of responsibility. The importance of addressing social concerns is fundamental to economic conditions of all the member states. The society covered by the EU drives growth and development of that particular region. The functionality of such economies therefore owes much regard to the union, thus the need for social responsibility in the context of the European Union.
References
Carmel, E., (2003), What is European and Social about European Social Policy? Some Remarks on the Open Method of Co-ordination?, Paper presented to ESPAnet conference, Copenhagen, 14–17 November.
Collins, D., (1975), The European Communities: The Social Policy of the First Phase, Vol. 2, The European Economic Community 1958–72, London: Martin Robertson.
Commission of the European Communities (CEC), (2005b), Social Agenda, COM (2005) 33 final.
Radaelli, C., M., (2010), The Open Method of Co-ordination: A New Governance Architecture for the European Union?, Stockholm: Swedish Institute for European Policy Studies.
