Brussels, 24/03/2011 (Agence Europe) - The backdrop to the tripartite Social Summit on Thursday 24 March was a trade union demonstration that paralysed the centre of Brussels, protestors denouncing austerity measures and expressing the concern that rights acquired might be brought into question. After the meeting, European Commission President José Manuel Barroso, European Council President Herman Van Rompuy, and Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said they had received the demonstrators' message loud and clear and noted their demands. Discussions within the Social Summit covered the consequences of budgetary and tax consolidation on growth and employment as well as on the autonomy of the social partners (see EUROPE 10343).
The situation is improving as growth grows stronger but recovery is fragile, stressed José Manuel Barroso, who said he was listening to what demonstrators had to say. This fragility is due to the inequalities that exist between member states and within civil society. One thing is certain, the president said: it is necessary to improve the budgetary situation and structural reform is required, especially if one wants to promote more investment. It is also essential, he said, to strengthen the autonomy of social partners and the importance of social dialogue. The pact for the euro will also strengthen our ability to take action, José Manuel Barroso said, pointing out that it is “important to reach the broadest possible consensus on common objectives such as growth and employment”.
Herman Van Rompuy asserted that the European Council would, on Thursday evening, adopt a comprehensive package of measures aimed at safeguarding financial stability. He addressed demonstrators, saying: “Our ultimate aim is to create jobs, strengthen competitiveness and maintain our social model, which is the guarantor of economic growth. We are noting your demands. Putting an end to social protection is out of the question”. Van Rompuy went on to say that the economic package also covers the pact for the euro “which is coherent and which will make it possible to move towards better economic stability”. The president of the European Council also affirmed that efforts to be undertaken will be focused on the creation of jobs, business competitiveness and maintaining the European social model. The pact reinforces all that. Social partners have a role to play in reform of the labour markets, lifelong learning and education. He went on to conclude that there is no contradiction between making an effort from the economic point of view and job creation.
Viktor Orbán announced a good piece of news for demonstrators, namely that there is every chance that the summit of heads of state and government in June this year will reach an agreement that creates employment and reduces budgetary deficit. “Our aim”, said the Hungarian prime minister, “is to find the new model for Europe to follow after the crisis. For that, two things are needed: public deficits must be reduced and work must be given to all those who want to work”. Everyone agreed on this. Orbán nonetheless commented that growth is not necessarily something that creates jobs. “Europe needs jobs to create recovery and growth”, he added. When it comes to employment, the state has a role to play in the organisation of public work for one and all, Orbán said. He pointed out that there are sections of the population that cannot benefit from growth because they do not have the training or the qualifications required, or because they are too old.
John Monks, the general secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) which is organising demonstrations in various European towns and cities, considered the meeting this Thursday a success as emphasis had been placed by everyone on the need to have growth and jobs, and to take the social dimension more into consideration. He went on to conclude on a realistic note, saying: “Workers will pay for the labour market crisis, which itself springs from the crisis on the financial markets”.
Philippe De Buck, Director General of BusinessEurope, immediately gave his support to the pact for the euro, which, he said, “is a good thing, the future's bedrock”. He fails to understand the hostility shown by trade unions towards the pact for the euro, saying he agrees with them about the fact that growth and jobs are needed, as well as competiveness and an autonomous social dialogue conducted in a responsible manner. To those demonstrators who have fears for the future, De Buck says: “Companies are ready to work in a competitive way, on condition that things are clear, i.e. that what is needed is an active labour market, security and information”.
Where is the pact for jobs proposed by the Barroso Commission? In reply to the journalist, José Manuel Barroso said: “the pact for jobs is the EU 2020 strategy which focuses on growth and jobs. Employment is central to all we are doing”. The aim is to return to growth and to creating jobs once again. Thanks to the “excellent” cooperation with Herman Van Rompuy on consulting the member states, Barroso was able to note that “everything is in order: the pact for the euro is in line with the Treaty and the EU 2020 strategy. Yes, it's a pact for jobs”. Van Rompuy went on: “Our ultimate aim is stabilising our economy and developing employment. We will soon see the first signs of growth and job creation. We must all do our bit, individually and collectively”.
On respect for the independence of the social partners, Barroso noted that the pact for the euro was a matter of national responsibility. “The tradition of social dialogue will always be respected. And if we speak about competitiveness at European level, it will be difficult for heads of state or government not to talk about wages. This has to be talked about, but that does not mean that Brussels will decide what will or won't happen in member states. We have never intended to touch that area of responsibility. We intend to concentrate on growth”, he said. (G.B./transl.rt)