Brussels, 12/04/2002 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday, the President of the European Commission, Romano Prodi (see EUROPE 11 April page 18), President of UNICE (European Employers Federation), Georges Jacobs and his Secretary General, Philippe de Buck, as well as ETUC General Secretary (European unions); Emilio Gabaglio met together and decided to continue meetings on a regular basis in order to provide an up-date on the European social dialogue. They also decided to spend three months analysing the delicate question of company restructuring with the aim of reaching operational conclusions by June, as well as discussing the social situation in EU Member States.
ETUC General Secretary, Emilio Gabaglio, pointed out to Romano Prodi, that the social conflict in Italy had been provoked by the government attempting to get rid of certain salary protection measures in the case of unjustified sackings. Mr Gabaglio said that the situation had to be followed attentively so that there was no impact on European social legislation. He also described the fact that this law was got rid of under the pretext of EU demands was unacceptable and untrue. There was much talk in Italy that the EU was exerting pressure to deregulate, Mr Gabaglio added. He was keen to point out that Europe was not just about deregulation but also about a balance between the economy, solidarity and social cohesion. Mr Gabaglio concluded (in addressing Mr Prodi, who will be shortly visiting Italy) that he hoped that the President of the Commission would affirm that our European social model remained based on the safeguard of rights and social consultation.