Brussels, 16/10/2001 (Agence Europe) - At its meeting in Brussels on 10/11 October, the Executive Committee of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) passed a resolution on trade union demands for the Laeken agenda on the future of Europe, calling for European social partners to be permanently associated as observers with the Convention to prepare for the IGC.
In addition, the ETUC: 1) calls for a genuine Constitution to be set up, clearly outlining the EU's objectives and responsibilities in line with a balanced federal system (simultaneously practising subsidiarity, complementarity and solidarity); 2) argues that it is essential for the European social model (including services of general interest) be anchored in the Constitution and for Social Union and Economic and Monetary Union to be incorporated on an equal basis; 3) wants the EU's Charter of Fundamental Rights, including transnational trade union rights, to be made legally binding and incorporated in the Constitution; 4) suggests that the Laeken European Summit install a dynamic monitoring system; 5) wants the Constitution and the future Treaty to recognise and strengthen the autonomy and the co-regulatory role of the social partners at all levels, and therefore develop a European industrial relations system; 6) wants a Constitutional Pact to be signed; 7) believes it is vital to clarify the role and participation of candidate countries from the start of the future of Europe.