Six new Flash Reports prepared by the European Social Policy Network (ESPN) are now available and provide information on recent social policy developments in the Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Greece, Montenegro and North Macedonia.

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• The Czech Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs has prepared three draft laws to continue the pension system reform set out in the government’s 2018 Policy Statement. The proposals are based on the work of the Commission for Fair Pensions and on an analysis made by the OECD. These draft laws have been criticised for not taking sufficiently into account the long-term financial sustainability of pensions. Because of the upcoming parliamentary elections (October 2021), the pension reform is likely to have to wait for the next government.
• In Estonia, analyses show that the temporary subsidy measure implemented between March and June 2020 has been effective in mitigating the negative impact of the COVID-19 crisis on poverty and incomes. Still, some categories of workers affected by the crisis were not (sufficiently) covered by these measures. The new measures, launched in December 2020 and March 2021 have been extended to sole proprietors.
• In May 2021, the French National council to combat poverty and social exclusion (CNLE) published a report showing that the pandemic has increased social and economic inequality. Mostly based on qualitative data, the report underlines the considerable distress experienced by a large number of people in poverty and those on the fringes of poverty. It also highlights the need to monitored and address this distress.
• The Greek government plans to adopt a new reform of “auxiliary” pensions, which are part of the statutory pension scheme, introducing a transition from a pay-as-you-go notional defined-contribution scheme to a fully funded defined-contribution scheme. Debates are ongoing and more details on the reform will be made available with the adoption of the related bill by the parliament (probably September).
• In the first half of 2021, the Montenegrin government adopted a fourth and fifth package of measures to help companies and citizens cope with the socio-economic consequences of the COVID-19 crisis. Like the previous ones, these packages include two sets of measures aimed at supporting vulnerable groups in the population (around 3% of the total amount) and supporting economic activity.
• In North Macedonia, a new Law on Labour Relations is being negotiated between the Government and the social partners, which will regulate, among other aspects of work relationships, telework. The draft law stipulates specific rights and obligations for teleworkers, but fails to regulate certain specific situations such as accidents occurring during telework.

The ESPN Flash Reports reflect the views only of the authors, and the European Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information they contain.