Brussels, 04/02/2011 (Agence Europe) - Prime Ministers Yves Leterme (Belgium) and Jean-Claude Juncker (Luxembourg) agree: they are both completely opposed to the removal of wage indexation. The Luxembourg prime minister told the press this following the altercation between Yves Leterme and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. “We have one of the lowest unemployment rates in the EU. There is no reason to believe that getting rid of indexation would reduce unemployment”, said Jean-Claude Juncker, adding that Luxembourg worked with tripartite agreements, “cooperation we are used to, there is no reason to change this system”. The prime minister added that in any discussion of wage indexation, “we must first of all discuss the minimum wage and working time”.
For his part, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte stressed three points: (1) Egypt: “we need a European position and transition must start immediately”; (2) energy policy: “I want a Europe which functions as best it can and strong investments in the energy market”; (3) a competitive Europe: “more employment, more jobs: this must be given top priority”. (G. B./transl.fl)