• Social Security: The Cyprus Presidency successfully completed negotiations for the revision of the regulation on the coordination of European social security systems.

• Worker Safety: An agreement was reached on protection against carcinogenic factors, and the impact of climate change on working conditions was highlighted.

• Legislative Work: The simplification of the framework for chemical products was promoted, and the European fund supporting workers due to economic changes was revised.

• Future of Work: European dialogue focused on artificial intelligence, the green transition, and demographic developments to ensure quality employment.

• International Representation: Cyprus represented the EU internationally, putting forward the need to combine European competitiveness with social justice and cohesion.

The Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU concluded with significant results in the areas of employment, social policy, health and safety at work, and the coordination of social security systems, Marinos Mousiouttas, Minister of Labour, stressed today.

Speaking in the context of a press conference where he presented the report on the work of the Ministry of Labour during the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU, he noted that Cyprus confirmed the active and substantial role it can play in shaping European policies.

Agreement on the revision of Regulation 883/2004

The most important achievement of the Cyprus Presidency, according to the Minister of Labour, was the successful completion of negotiations, with the achievement of an agreement on the revision of Regulation (EC) No. 883/2004 on the coordination of social security systems, closing a file that had remained open for almost a decade.

The agreement, he said, modernizes the European social security framework, strengthens the protection of mobile workers and citizens exercising the right to free movement, and proves that through dialogue and trust-building, even the most complex legislative files can lead to an agreement.

Strengthening the protection, health, and safety of workers

According to Mr. Mousiouttas, the Cyprus Presidency achieved a preliminary agreement with the European Parliament on the sixth revision of the Carcinogens, Mutagens and Reprotoxic Substances Directive (CMRD6), further strengthening the protection of workers' health and safety by updating occupational exposure limits in accordance with the most recent scientific data.

“Agreements were also reached in the field of nuclear safety regarding International Cooperation in the Field of Nuclear Safety and Decommissioning (INSC-D), as well as with the Decommissioning Programme of the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant in Lithuania,” he stated, adding:

“At the same time, recognizing that increasingly frequent and intense heatwaves are already significantly affecting working conditions, particularly in Mediterranean countries, the Cyprus Presidency brought up, for the first time at Council level, the issue of the impact of climate change on occupational safety and health as a topic of European dialogue.”

Simplification of European legislation

Significant progress was also made with the achievement of a preliminary agreement with the European Parliament on the Chemicals Omnibus VI package, which simplifies the regulatory framework for chemical products without downgrading the high level of protection for human health and the environment.

Support for workers

During the Cyprus Presidency, the revision of the Regulation on the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund was also completed, ensuring more effective European support for workers affected by major economic changes and restructuring.

Shaping the European agenda for the future of work

The Cyprus Presidency, according to Mr. Mousiouttas, did not limit itself only to promoting legislative work. It contributed substantially to shaping the European dialogue on the challenges of the next decade.

It is noted that during the Informal Council of Ministers of Employment and Social Affairs in Nicosia and the proceedings of the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO), artificial intelligence, the green transition, and demographic developments were at the center, aiming to harness new technologies for the benefit of quality employment, productivity, and worker protection.

A special contribution to the dialogue was made by the Nobel laureate in Economics, Professor Dr. Christopher Pissarides, while on the initiative of the Cyprus Presidency, an opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee was secured on the quality of employment, artificial intelligence, social dialogue, and collective bargaining.

Social justice and European governance

Significant emphasis was also placed on the social dimension of European competitiveness through the organization of a high-level conference in Nicosia on social justice.

As the Minister of Labour noted, important policy documents were completed within the framework of the European Semester, including the Recommendation on Human Capital and the Joint Employment Report, contributing to the formulation of European priorities for the coming years.

Dynamic international representation of the EU

The Cyprus Presidency also represented the EU and its Member States at the 114th International Labour Conference of the International Labour Organization and at the 64th Session of the United Nations Commission for Social Development, promoting common European positions on decent work, gender equality, social dialogue, and social cohesion.

Summarizing, the Minister of Labour stated:

“The Cyprus Presidency proved that competitiveness and social justice are not conflicting goals. On the contrary, a competitive Europe presupposes quality jobs, worker protection, and investment in human capital. This is the legacy left behind by the Republic of Cyprus.”

Source: ink.com