Brussels, 24/05/2000 (Agence Europe) - The trade union coordination group, which brings together the representatives of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) and of the European Parliament (one representative from each of the PES, EPP/ED, ELDR, Greens/ALE, GUE/NGL) met last week in Strasbourg under the chairmanship of MEP Stephen Hugues (PES, UK) in order to take stock of the EP proposals after the Lisbon Summit. These proposals are: a) preparation by the Portuguese Presidency of the Forum on 15 June (to be attended by representatives of the Council, the European Central Bank, the European Parliament and the European social partners); b) social action programme; and c) social protection. Michel Rocard (PES, France), Chair of the EP Committee on Social Affairs, took part in the work.
The Lisbon Summit made a positive impression on certain participants like Simon Murphy (PES,UK), but not at all on others like Théo Bouwman (Greens/ALE, Netherlands) and Herman Schmid (GUE/NGL, Sweden), who mainly reproach the Lisbon Summit for not having sufficiently tackled crucial issues such as unemployment or the ageing population, or working hours. The EPP, according to Italian national Luigi Cocilovo, found the final declaration of the Summit "very vague and sterile, and not having any effect on employment". ESC representative Erik Carlslund was of the opinion that the "Lisbon conclusions could mark the beginning of fresh impetus towards full employment in so far as they are integrated in the economic guidelines" and that "during the Forum on 15 June, all the actors must undertake to assume their responsibilities in order to consolidate the new European impetus and return to full employment".
The next meeting of the Group will be on 4 July in Strasbourg, with, on its agenda, revision of the directive on European works councils.