Brussels, 13/03/2001 (Agence Europe) - During its plenary session last week under the Presidency of Goke Frerichs, the European Economic and Social Committee adopted, with a crushing majority, four opinions relating to various aspects of economic policy and for whom the rapporteurs are all from employee groups (see EUROPE of 24 February, p.14).
In his own-initiative opinion on "Coordination of economic policies as a consequence of EMU" (the rapporteur is the Swede, Lars Allan Nyberg), the Committee calls for greater coordination of its policies. In particular, it feels that the "guideline" chosen is crucial, even more so than the measures which will be adopted, and that before the arrival of concrete measures, it will verifying to what extent the decisions will have an influence on the various Member States. Furthermore, in the choice of measures, it will require leaving a certain degree of freedom to the member countries. Thus the Committee invites the actors in economic policy (governments, the European Central Bank, the Commission and the social partners) to develop the coordination of economic policies.
The own-initiative opinion presented by the German Ursula Konitzer on "Macroeconomic performance indicators" insists for a better understanding, on the part of all the economic and social groups, of the macroeconomic variables. According to the Committee, comparative studies could present problems concerning: a) monetary policy: Is the reference value for the development of monetary supply appropriate? How must the ECB react in the face of budgetary or wage trends within the Euro zone as a whole and in the various countries?; b) budgetary policy: how have the budgetary deficits in the individual countries been reduced since the early 1990s (cuts in expenditure, increases in taxes, cyclical increases in tax revenue)? How should these developments be assessed?; c) wage policy: what divergences in macroeconomic wage trends between the countries participating in monetary union are possible and economically justifiable?
In the own-initiative opinion "Broad economic policy guidelines 2000" by the German Heinz Putzhammer, the Committee estimates that the continuation of the present policy of budgetary consolidation must be accompanied by efforts aiming to improve the quality of public spending by investing in the future, for example in infrastructure and education. The transition towards an economy based on knowledge must be done without the digital divide in society increasing inequalities, asserts the Committee, which notably insists on additional reforms, the enhancing of cooperation in terms of research and specific efforts in favour of workers with low qualifications.
Finally, by adopting the opinion of the Dutchwoman, Marjolaine Bulk, on "Structural indicators", the Committee formulates a few criticisms towards certain indicators concerning employment: thus it feels that it is necessary to also take into account the situation of young workers and not only that of older workers, and to measure the rate of both male and female employment. As for lifelong learning, the Committee feels it is crucial to have indicators covering both the quantitative and qualitative aspects, such as the duration and nature of the training followed.