The Council will discuss a draft directive intended to improve implementation and enforcement of the 1996 directive on posting of workers for service provision. Ministers will take stock of progress made and hold a debate on key issues of the proposal in order to give guidance for the ongoing work on the text. The aim of the draft directive is to better protect workers and clarify the regulatory framework.

The Council will take note of a progress report on the proposal to maintain the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund, set up in 2006 for the budgetary period 2007-2013, also for the period 2014-2020, whilst extending its scope and introducing a number of other changes.

The Council will look at the state of play in the negotiations with the European Parliament on the EU programme for social change and innovation. In June this year, the Council reached a partial general approach - leaving out the budgetary aspects - on the programme, which is part of the draft legislative package framing cohesion policy for 2014-2020.

The Council will also take stock of the progress of work on the proposal for an equal treatment directive aimed at outlawing discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation also in areas outside the labour market.

The Council is due to adopt conclusions on combating violence against women, calling for more determined action in providing support services for victims of domestic violence.

It will also adopt a declaration marking the end of the European year 2012 for active ageing and solidarity between generations.

Moreover, the Council will hold an exchange of views on Europe 2020 governance and the followup of European Council conclusions in the field of employment and social policy. In this context, the Commission will present its "youth package" including proposals for a recommendation on youth guarantees, a recommendation on a quality framework for traineeships and an update on the implementation of the Youth Opportunities initiative. It will also present its annual growth survey 2013, which sets off the European Semester cycle for 2013, as well as the Joint Employment report and the Alert Mechanism report.

A presidency briefing, agenda and background note will be published on the Council website closer to the date of the meeting.

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The Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO) consists of the Ministers (or State Secretaries) of Employment, Social Affairs, HEalth and/or Consumer Affairs of the Member States of the European Union.

In the Council of the European Union, the ministers from the EU Member States take a joint decision on the policy to be implemented within the EU. The Council is supported by the Committee of Permanent Representatives, which prepares decisions and guards the implementation and adherence of the decisions monitored by the Council.