External dimension of the EU Energy Policy - EPSU Contribution to the Public Consultation

(7 March 2011) EPSU has argued that the Energy 2020 strategy should have a social dimension taking account of Just Transition, addressing issues such as skills and qualification shortages and energy poverty for low-income households. These were not reflected in the Energy 2020 – A strategy for competitive, sustainable and secure energy. The EU’s external dimension of the EU Energy Policy as presented by the European Commission’s public consultation document reflects the same absence of a social dimension. We want to see a social chapter in the EU External energy policy:
- Respect for trade union and human rights in the EU’s external relations
- Integration of Just Transition Principles
- High level of health and safety to be respected
- Social dimension in the Energy dialogues including emphasis on social dialogue
- Democratic and transparent debate.

The EU external energy relations and energy dialogue should take account of the values of the overall constitutional framework of the EU and reflect the policies of the EU Commission Communication The Social Dimension of Globalisation - the EU's policy contribution on extending the benefits to all (Com 2004 -383) in which the Commission underlines that the EU has also emphasized the need to build the balance between economic, social and environmental imperatives into its external relations policies. It has already initiated and developed relevant policies such as on the linkages between trade and development, the poverty focus of development cooperation, core labour standards and social governance, CSR, trade and the environment, its commitment to multilateralism, to sustainable development and the fight against corruption and to human rights in the world which should also be reflected in DG Energy’s external dimension. (see also the Communication adopted on 24 May 2006 on promoting "decent work for all" as a global goal, and a communication on 11 December 2007 on the new Lisbon strategy cycle, highlighting the interplay between internal and external EU policies in the context of shaping globalisation. The European Council adopted on 14 December 2007 a declaration on globalisation affirming the EU commitment on strengthening the social dimension of globalisation, and highlighting that decent work is an integral part of this.)

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- The social partners for the European Electricity sector also adopted a common position available