Brussels, 09/05/2012 (Agence Europe) - The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) has expressed “serious concerns” regarding a number of issues on proposals for the cohesion policy 2014-2020, such as the level and division of financial resources and in particular the macro-economic conditions for the structural funds to be granted, under the revised Stability Pact (see other article).
“The ETUC strongly disagrees with the Commission's proposal concerning the application of financial sanctions and incentives regarding the structural funds related to the Growth and Stability Pact. These sanctions would penalise already fragile member states, regions and local areas. The result would be an impoverishment of the people of the European Union and would therefore run counter to the fundamental principles of the economic, social and territorial cohesion policy enshrined by the Treaty of Lisbon”, a press release issued by the organisation states.
The ETUC takes the view that the extraordinary context of the economic crisis calls for an EU budget aiming above all to “support the growth of the economy and employment” and a “real and reinforced” participation of the social partners in discussions on new rules for the structural funds.
In the view of Luca Visentini, General Secretary of the ETUC, the European Social Fund should be used as an instrument for the implementation of the European employment strategy and to guarantee and reinforce European solidarity. It is therefore essential that the member states first of all ensure that the European Social Fund (ESF) has the minimum resources, by granting “at least 25% of the envelope earmarked for cohesion to the ESF in the least-developed regions”. It is also vital, he argues, for the ESF to continue to support the development of social dialogue, by improving the capacities of the social partners. This commitment should be binding and guarantee that 2% of the resources of the ESF are earmarked for activities undertaken by initiative of the social partners. (LC/transl.fl)