Brussels, 01/10/2002 (Agence Europe) - In a declaration addressed to the European Convention, the General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), Emilio Gabaglio, said he "fully backs the motion introduced to the European Convention calling for a debate on social Europe" (see page 4). According to him, "European employees would not understand the Convention side-stepping this issue at a time when the EU's objectives and missions for the future are to be defined. It is not a question of discussing concrete policies but of ensuring that the values and principles of the European social model are enshrined in the future European treaty". "I find it hard to see", Gabaglio concluded, "that one should want a Europe closer to the citizens and at the same time deny this demand".