21/03/2011 (Agence Europe) - Trade unions: critical assessment of the state of social Europe. Is the EUROPE 2020 strategy leading us, as it promises, towards smart, sustainable and inclusive growth? Is it up to the task of providing an appropriate framework for the creation of more and better quality jobs? Are the policies and indicators set to promote an increase in social cohesion? How can workers better participate in the achievement of these various aims? These are some of the questions addressed in the benchmarking report on social EUROPE 2011, prepared by the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) and the European Trade Union Institute (ETUI). The report offers a critical assessment of the 2020 strategy and its various components in the medium term and the state of the economic, employment and social indicators. The strategy, the report notes, firmly places the emphasis on fiscal consolidation while neglecting the need for economic growth and quality jobs. The report is structured in eight chapters by topic, illustrated by a significant number of graphs. Benchmarking Working EUROPE 2011 will be presented to the press by ETUC General Secretary John Monks and ETUI General Director Philippe Pochet in Brussels on Wednesday 23 March. For further information, go to: http://www.etui.org (G.B./transl.rt)