EU: could the Porto Social Summit mark a turning point?

Portugal took the Presidency of the Council of the European Union in January with the firm intention of pushing forward social issues (see article n°12298). The Porto Social Summit, which was attended on 7 and 8 May by heads of state and government as well as the leaders of EU institutions, in order to discuss the European Pillar of Social Rights, was announced as the pinnacle of the Portuguese presidency. The summit led to a joint statement and series of commitments, however it failed to break the deadlock on the draft directive on minimum wages.
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Joint statement. “Join forces for an inclusive, sustainable, just and jobs-rich recovery, based on a competitive economy and that leaves no one behind.” This is the objective of the EU leaders and social partners (Business Europe, ETUC, SMEunited, SGI Europe, Social Platform) that have signed the joint statement. With the text, the signatories pledge to keep job support measures in place for “as long as necessary” and to mobilise “all necessary resources – investments and reforms” to exit the e

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