Coordination of international relations

The Directorate-General for Coordination and Planning (DGCP) is the body within the Ministry of Labour, Solidarity and Social Security that coordinates the activity of international scope, ensuring the coherence of interventions and their articulation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In the area of international relations to DGCP is responsible for:

a) Ensure and coordinate the participation of the MTSSS in the European and international domain, in the area of its responsibilities, in coordination with the other Directorates of Service of the DGCP;

b) ensure the technical coordination of international relations activities, in particular with the support of the Directorates-General of the MTSSS, ensuring the coherence of the intervention, and in liaison with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA);

c) Ensure the representation of the social security system at international level, in collaboration with other services, without prejudice to the MFA's own competences;

d) Ensure coordination with the various organisational units and entities of the Ministry in the preparation, coordination and monitoring of matters of a European and international nature, contributing to the definition, consolidation and monitoring of national positions;

e) Coordinate the process of negotiation and adoption of Community acts in conjunction with the other organisational units and competent entities;

f) Technically support the transposition of Community directives;

g) Promote bilateral and multilateral cooperation with international bodies, institutions and partners, fostering the sharing of knowledge, experience and good practices in the Ministry’s areas of intervention;

h) Coordinate and collaborate in the preparation of reports, opinions, questionnaires, surveys and other reporting exercises addressed to international organizations, in articulation with other governmental areas, Ministry services and organic units of the DGCP;

i) monitor the work carried out by European and international organisations relevant to the Ministry’s areas of activity, ensuring the proper circulation of information and support for national participation;

j) Promote the production, systematization and dissemination of relevant information on the international activity of the Ministry and on the evolution of European and international policies and agendas with impact on the respective areas of intervention;

k) Participate in meetings, working groups and commissions at national, European and international level.