Europe’s human rights watchdog has today sounded the alarm over the European Commission’s deregulation agenda, which is putting at risk the fundamental rights that the institution is tasked with upholding.
In its annual report, the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights says workers, along with consumers and the environment, are most likely to see their rights weakened as a result of the Commission’s ‘competitiveness’ agenda.
“While presented as a means to alleviate regulatory burdens on businesses, a number of these changes – if adopted – risk weakening human rights and environmental protections,” says the report of the Omnibus legislation.
The Commission’s plan for 2025 includes eight pieces of ‘simplification’ legislation demanded by corporate lobbyists, but not a single proposal to help working people. That decision has been taken despite the fact that a new report found that workers’ rights are ‘worst level’ in at least a decade across Europe.
The European Trade Union Confederation is calling for the Commission to change course on its deregulation agenda and ensure that no simplification undermines employment rights and standards. Instead, it urgently bring forward a Quality Jobs Package including legislation that will reinforce rights in Europe, including new rules on public procurement that ensure that public money goes to companies which respect collective agreements.
ETUC General Secretary Esther Lynch said:
“Today’s report confirms that, through its deregulation agenda – including the proposals for a 28th company regime, the Commission is putting at risks the fundamental rights of European citizens that it is meant to be responsible for upholding.
“This report should be the wake-up call that the Commission needs to stop being bullied out of our social model and stand up the fundamental rights enshrined in the European treaties.”
ETUC Deputy General Secretary Isabelle Schömann said:
“It is a significant moment for the EU’s own in-house human rights watchdog to join trade unionists and campaigners in raising the alarm over the risk to workers’ rights posed by deregulation.
“The deregulation agenda is against European objectives of social progress, full employment and the protection of the environment. Workers' rights and trade union rights are human rights. The ETUC is mobilising strongly to defend the social acquis, and for the EU to deliver better protection for workers and their family.”
