Brussels, 29/11/2002 (Agence Europe) - On the occasion of the Social Dialogue Summit, held in Genval on 28 November, the General Secretaries of ETUC (European trade unions), Emilio Gabaglio, UNICE, Philippe de Buck and UEAPME Hans-Werner Muller (European employers) and CEEP (state-owned companies) Rainer Plassmann, presented their 2003-2005 work programme. This programme provides a contribution to the European strategy of Lisbon and follows-up a joint declaration by the social partners addressed to the Laeken Summit of December 2001 (see EUROPE of 27 November, p.14). The General Secretaries declared that their "new working method demonstrates that after 17 years of experience, the European social dialogue has matured and is entering a more autonomous phase. This work programme also sends out a strong signal to the European Convention regarding the central role played by the social partners in social governance in Europe". Commissioner Anna Diamantopoulou, Convention Vice-President Jean-Luc Dehaene and Danish Employment Minister Claus Hjort Frederiksen took part in the work, as did the national social partners of 30 countries of Europe (the EU's 15 Member states, the two EEA states and 13 candidate countries)
The Summit's conclusions were drawn by Romano Prodi "The social dialogue has entered a new era", he observed. "In presenting their work programme, the social partners place their dialogue in a dynamic perspective, responding to the EU's current challenges, making a positive contribution to the Lisbon Strategy and integrating the dimension of the forthcoming enlargement", he considered. Ms. Diamantopoulou welcomed this progress and saw "the social dialogue finding its autonomous feet". For her, this work programme "gives birth to genuine industrial relations at European level".
"The programme as such and today's meeting are a strong message … In many countries we see a series of social movements, industrial restructuring, a change in the economic apparatus", Emilio Gabaglio, ETUC General Secretary, stressed before the press. "What is politically important, is that the social dialogue is the instrument to manage changes, reforms and restructuring in Europe", he added. "We have set up a work programme", explained UNICE General Secretary, Philippe de Buck, "firstly because we want a practical methodology … know what we want to think about, which in no way means the end of framework-agreements with a legislative vocation; and then, because in UNICE we consider that, in the context of the Lisbon Strategy, we can act in a certain number of areas". He then cited the essential elements for employers: the employment chapter with the annual report, restructuring, mobility and enlargement. For CEEP, Rainer Plassmann said that this work programme was "in no way exclusive, other subjects being able to be introduced depending on developments". As for Hans-Werner Muller (UEAPME), he placed emphasis on the need to take account of the special needs of SMEs, and stressed three points that his organisation holds dear: education and life-long training, the ageing of the work force and qualified labour being give its due, undeclared work.