Three proposals on recasting EMU lie on the table. Schäuble´s vision of “EU master-cutter” for the Union is contrasted by Macron´s idea of a Eurozone finance minister with fiscal policy competence, complemented by a separate “Euro”-Parliament. By contrast, EU-Commission President Juncker proposes an EU finance minister embedded within the structure of the EU constitution, more precisely an economic- and finance commissioner, Vice-president of the EU- Commission and at the same time chairperson of the Eurogroup. S/He would take a mid- position between the current autocratic government of the European Stability Mechanism and Macron´s EU- finance minister who would be accountable to the European Parliament.
What are the consequences for the EU? The result will be either way a continuation of the single market agenda, while the social agenda would remain a patchwork. An EU economy and finance minister would push forward the radicalization of the single market: The removal of national legislation on social and labour protection, privatization of public services and stabilization of the Euro by a debt brake. Even if Macron´s concept became reality, the purely economic and finance agenda would occupy centre stage, the social- and labour law agenda a mere addendum. [...]
Juncker in his State of the Union Speech 2017 proposed a European Labour Authority. This approach must be grasped and built upon. However, such an authority will not be sufficient by itself. A European Labour Minister is needed, giving new impetus for developing European social- and labour law, bringing the socio-political agenda forward according to the European Pillar on Social Rights and exploiting the existing competences set out within the TFEU as explained below.
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