I understand that you have been entrusted with role of EPP Spokesperson for Eurofound. Could you explain the role of this agency?

As you rightly stated, I have been appointed EPP representative on the Eurofound agency. The Eurofound agency is the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, a body which is tasked with providing information, advice as well as expertise to major European actors and decision makers in the field of social policy.

The agency is concerned with issues such as poverty, youth unemployment, worker's rights, quality of life, health as well as diversity and gender equality in the workplace. Inevitably, since they are so closely and delicately linked, it also deals with matters related to industrial relations, the work-life balance and industrial change.

The main function of Eurofound is that of conducting research as well as communicating the results of such research. Apart from the agency’s headquarters, Eurofound also has a network of experts all over Europe who assess national situations and conduct surveys, case studies as well as formulate national reports. In order to provide information that is intended to support EU policy in the relevant areas, the agency carries out research and development projects.

However, there is another vital role of the agency – that of having a crucial impact on decision making in the European social field. This agency gathers enough expertise and information in real time and through real representatives from the whole spectrum, allowing it to have a true voice, and an extremely powerful one at that. Being on the committee for employment and social affairs, I can see how an agency that carries out such specialised work can affect decisions that concern people at the risk of poverty.

Social exclusion and poverty are not phenomena that are solely found in poor countries, with 17% of the European population living below the poverty line. Poverty and exclusion do not only affect the well being of individuals and their ability to form an integral part of our society but they also have the indirect consequence of hindering economic development. Keeping this in mind we can appreciate more how an entity controlling and monitoring the labour market every minute is paramount.

The reality is that nowadays social policy makers face tough challenges in the quest to create more and better jobs combined with the main pillar of family life, under the blanket of equal opportunities, and most importantly providing opportunities to have a full role in society. The key is that this agency is led by representatives from trade unions, employer’s organisations, governments from all states and the EU commission. A perfect platform for the analysis of challenges and issues from three different perspectives; workers, employers and Governments has been created through representation of governments and social partners, demonstrating the unique tripartite nature of Eurofound’s work.

Jorma Karppiner, the Director of Eurofound tells us that the agency provides a better corridor of information for working and living conditions. He adds that more importantly it sees to have the highest level of impact on European decision making and on European debate in the social field. I was extremely glad about my appointment, which consists of following Eurofound and keeping the EPP informed on any relevant developments as well as acting as the party’s spokesperson in the European Parliament. Adding to Karppiner’s comments, Eurofound is an exceedingly important agency within the EU and has the crucial role of contributing towards the amelioration of the living and working conditions of EU citizens.