New ministers to assume their roles in the Council of Ministers starting from 13-14 June
Timo Harakka, Minister of Employment; Aino-Kaisa Pekonen, Minister of Social Affairs and Health; and Krista Kiuru, Minister of Family Affairs and Social Services will take part in the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO) meeting in Luxembourg on 13-14 June.
The meetings will be chaired by the Romanian Presidency.
Member States will decide on the seat of the European Labour Authority (ELA)
The EPSCO Council will approve the establishment of a new EU agency, the European Labour Authority (ELA). In connection with the Council meeting, government representatives will decide on the official seat of the agency. Bratislava, Riga, Sofia and Nicosia have offered to host the seat.
Two directives on working life regulation will also be adopted at the meeting: the directive on transparent and predictable working conditions, and the directive on work-life balance for parents and carers.
The ministers will discuss the employment and social policy aspects relating to the country-specific recommendations of the European Semester, and progress towards meeting the Europe 2020 strategy targets.
In the field of social policy, the ministers are expected to adopt conclusions on the closing of gender pay gap and on the changing world of work. The Health Council is expected to adopt conclusions on combatting antimicrobial resistance. The ministers will also discuss the use of EU funds in the social welfare and health care sector for investments that would improve the health care service systems in the Member States.
Finland to assume Presidency of the Council of the European Union at the beginning of July
Finnish ministers will provide the councils an overview of Finland’s work programme on employment, social policy, health and consumer affairs.
Finland will hold the Presidency of the Council of the EU from the beginning of July until the end of 2019. The first EPSCO Council meeting during Finland’s Presidency will be held in Brussels on 8 July.
Inquiries:
Pauliina Porkka, Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 295 048 278
Tiina-Kaisa Haanpää, Senior Specialist, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, tel. +358 295 163 268