Brussels, 06/07/2001 (Agence Europe) - On 5 July, the general secretaries of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), Emilio Gabaglio, and of the European Association for Craft and Small and Medium Enterprises (UEAPME), Hans-Werner Müller, officially signed, in Brussels, in the presence of Commissioner Anna Diamantopoulou, their joint declaration on the development of "social dialogue". They say it must be "seen as a tool with which to meet the economic and social challenges of small enterprises". The joint declaration (for content, see EUROPE of 10 May, p.11) comes after several other joint initiatives, mainly in the field of vocational training and mobility. It is also the result of reflection by ETUC and UEAPME on the role and importance of social dialogue in relation to the specificity of small enterprises.
On this occasion, Anna Diamantopoulou stressed the vital importance of SMEs in the development of European social policy and in the Lisbon strategy. She added that the document was more than just a document, rather a step forward towards a new form of cooperation. "Fifty years ago who would have thought we would one day make such a declaration?" commented Hans-Werner Müller. He stressed that "we shall all play our roles in the European social model that we defend". Emilio Gabaglio recalled that the social dimension is "also necessary in SMEs". This declaration is the "first recognition of the need for social dialogue between social partners and SME"s, he said.