Council Decision (EU) 2015/773 of 11 May 2015 establishing the Social Protection Committee

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ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: the Council adopts the act after consulting the European Parliament but without being obliged to follow its opinion. BACKGROUND: in its Resolution of 16 February 2000, the European Parliament welcomed the Commission's communication and the creation of such a group in order to enhance cooperation in the field of social protection by, among other things, setting up a group of high-level officials. In its Conclusions of 17 December 1999 on the strengthening of cooperation for modernising and improving social protection, the Council supported the Commission's proposal to establish a mechanism for enhanced cooperation, brought about by the work of the group of high-level officials, for the implementation of this action. The Social Protection Committee set up by Council Decision 2000/436/EC repealed and replaced by Decision 2004/689/EC clearly demonstrated its utility as an advisory body for both the Council and the Commission and has contributed actively to the development of the Open Method of Coordination (OMC), as established by the Lisbon European Council on 23 and 24 March 2000. The Committee on Employment and Social Affairs, within the framework of a special legislative framework, (consultation of Parliament), adopted the report by Marita ULVSKOG (ADLE, SE) on the draft Council decision establishing the Social Protection Committee and repealing Decision 2004/689/EC. The parliamentary committee recommended that the European Parliament approve, as amended, the proposed Council Decision to establish a Social Protection Committee, with advisory status, to promote cooperation on social protection policies between Member States and with the Commission. The parliamentary committee said that the guarantee of high quality and sustainable health care for all should figure among the four broad objectives identified by the Commission within the overall challenge of modernising social protection systems. With regard to strengthening the social dimension of the economic and monetary union (EMU), the Members stressed the importance of ensuring better coordination of employment , social and socio-economic policies , while fully respecting national competences. The European Parliament adopted by 542 votes to 80, with 15 abstentions, within the framework of a special procedure (consultation of Parliament), a legislative resolution on the draft Council decision establishing the Social Protection Committee and repealing Decision 2004/689/EC. The European Parliament approved, as amended, the proposed Council Decision to establish a Social Protection Committee, with advisory status, to promote cooperation on social protection policies between Member States and with the Commission. Parliament stated, in a recital, that the Council had approved the four broad objectives identified by the Commission within the overall challenge of modernising social protection systems, namely: · to ensure high quality and sustainable health care for all . 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…

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