Brussels, 08/07/2010 (Agence Europe) - On the eve of the informal meeting of EU27 employment and social affairs ministers, the ministers of the Troika (Belgium, Hungary and Poland) met representatives of the European social partners and of the European social platform, in the presence of the commissioner for employment, social affairs and inclusion, Laszlo Andor. The Belgian EU Presidency was represented by Joëlle Milquet, Deputy Prime Minister and Employment Minister, and Jean-Marc Délizée, Secretary of State for Social Affairs (see EUROPE 10175).
Speaking to the press on behalf of the Belgian Presidency after their day's business, Joëlle Milquet said it was essential to place employment at the heart of EU 2020 strategy and of future economic governance. He called for clearly targeted and ambitious measures that cannot be held back by blind austerity, which would run counter to deployment of the EU 2020 strategy. Participants also agreed on both points, Milquet noted, namely that it is appropriate to: (1) prepare a growth policy that will generate sustainable employment by giving a boost to both employment demand (training, work participation) and the supply of jobs (cost of work, creation of jobs in new sectors, support for businesses); and (2) place employment policy, which is a key factor for competitiveness, at the heart of the new rules on economic governance and macro-economic oversight by giving an essential role to the EU Employment and Social Affairs Council in the context of drafting recommendations, in parallel to those of the Ecofin Council, before the next spring and June European summits, which should decide on future recommendations made to member states. In particular, Joëlle Milquet called for a “cautious, time-phased exit strategy from employment-related crisis measures”.
The social dimension should be an integral part of EU 2020 strategy in order to address the current crises and meet the challenges of tomorrow, took up Jean-Marc Délizée. He announced that a flagship initiative of the European Commission concerning the fight against poverty was expected in October 2010. Délizée commented that the challenge still to be faced is that this initiative must be a roadmap for the setting up of the strategy's social chapter. He underlined the need to strengthen social protection systems, especially pensions, as “they are a key factor in maintaining cohesion and social stability”.
The general secretary of ETUC (European trade unions), John Monks, said he deplored the fact that the notion of quality of labour had disappeared from the EPSCO agenda. He went on to add: “The Council gives the impression of an agenda hostile to the interests of the workers. And the Commission has quite recently declared it is in favour of a higher retirement age which will undoubtedly deepen euroscepticism”. (EUROPE 10176).
BusinessEurope Director Genearl Philippe de Buck said the trade unions “shoot faster than their shadow - they should not have rejected the Commission's initiative on the future of pensions. It is in everyone's interest to seek to reach an agreement in the social dialogue that we want and that we also wish for in the system for review of pension schemes”. He asserted that growth is crucial and the EU 2020 strategy urgent. “Doubling Europe's growth potential should be the objective, precisely in order to attain goals in terms of employment and social protection that the Belgian Presidency quite rightly wants to develop”, de Buck added, with figures to hand. “If we go from 1% growth in 2010 to 2% - which should be our aim - then 6.5 million jobs will have been created and the debate will have been reduced by €450 billion. It is worth it”, he said.
Ralf Resch, CEEP General Secretary, highlighted the fact that “effective public services provide an important infrastructure for private business development and citizens' quality of life. Therefore, fostering their capacity to innovate and modernise should be high on the agenda in forthcoming years”.
UEAPME General Secretary Andrea Benassi took the view that five conditions must be met in order to have good governance. These are: (1) clear and reduced guidelines with the right focus; (2) limited but well chosen EU quantitative targets; (3) a strong partnership notably with full involvement of social partners at all levels; (4) a single reference point (such as, previously, Mr or Mrs Lisbon); and (5) a stronger evaluation and monitoring from the EC with strong recommendations.
The representative of the European social platform warned that one thing is certain today - employment is no safeguard against poverty. He also added that the crisis is not a social dialogue crisis but springs from something that is unlimited and without control. (G.B./transl.jl)