22/10/2002 (Agence Europe) - The remarks by President Prodi on the Stability Pact are, according to the Secretary General of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), Emilio Gabaglio, "useful provocation and, in substance, they tally with the positions expressed on many occasions by ETUC. The Pact is not a dogma (…). The time has come to give the Union greater capacity to coordinate economic policies to promote growth and employment". On the other hand, the Secretary General of the European Employers (UNICE), Philippe de Buck, says: "We are in favour of maintaining the rules of the Pact (…). As it is not a matter of revision, it must be applied". "We are in favour of strengthening the Commission (…) but the remarks by Mr Prodi and Mr Lamy do not help the Commission", he added, concluding: "We think the Pact is neither stupid nor outdated!"