Brussels, 03/01/2002 (Agence Europe) - The ETUC and its Spanish affiliates (Union General des Trabajadores/UGC, Comisiones Obreras/C.COO and Solidaridad de Trabajadores Vascos/ELA-STV) presented their Trade Union Memorandum to the Spanish Presidency of the European Council. As well as emphasising the Future of Europe and the permanent participation of the social partners in the work of the future Convention, the Memorandum also stresses the following:
1. The implementation of the Lisbon Strategy: the spring summit in Barcelona must give priority to stimulating economic growth and job creation. The framework of the Growth and Stability Pact must be utilised in order to elaborate a European package of comprehensive economic measures that stimulate employment, focus on freeing up purchasing power and increasing investment. It also calls for greater emphasis on the macro-economic dialogue of Cologne, which brings together social partners, the ECB, Member States and the Commission. It also calls for a guarantee of political coherency. The role of the ECB is also pertinent in this respect and which, in the current economic climate, can and must, according to the memorandum, reduce current interest rates. A political initiative is also about to be launched in the sphere of enlargement that aims to strengthen economic governance.
2. Workers' Rights and Social Policy: the Unions are keen to point out that current negotiations underway between social partners on Tele-working are in favour of opening new negotiations on providing training for life. An ETUC organised conference on the subject will take place in Valencia at the beginning of the year. The Presidency has been requested to prioritise the conclusion of the new European Strategy on Health and Safety in the Workplace by implementing a practical action plan, which also incorporates the Directive on the self-employed.
3. A Joint Immigration policy: progress should be achieved on the following points: a) enlargement and the free circulation of nationals from third countries living in the EU, and the breaking of the deadlock on the Draft Amendment of Regulation 1408/71 that brings nationals from third countries into the social security systems; b) greater participation of social partners in immigration affairs - the objective being, to avoid deteriorating working conditions in economic sectors that employ foreign workers, and the fight against illegal immigration.
4. European Unification: emphasis must be placed on cross-border regions, particularly on the structural policies of regional development and territorial agreements that stimulate job creation. It is also necessary to bring on board candidate countries as observers on the European consultative committees where other social partners are represented.
5. The EU and Global Affairs: the EU must try and promote a new international social and economic order and play an active role in the war on terrorism. The unions are also calling for all agreements between the EU and other countries to respect ILO standards on workers rights.
The Memorandum is available on the ETUC web site http: //http://www.etuc.org