Brussels, 07/02/2003 (Agence Europe) - On the joint invitation of Commissioner Viviane Reding and Greek Education Minister Petros Efthymiou, the Troika of education ministers (with Ms. Tornaes for Denmark and Ms. Moretti for Italy) had an informal meeting with representatives of the European social partners on 5 February (see EUROPE of 5 February, p.14). The aim of this first meeting was to consider together whether or not and if so how to set up a structured dialogue between the Education Council and the social partners, as already exists with the Employment Council and EcoFin. Ms. Reding and the ministers briefed the social partners on topics on the agenda of the Education Council meeting on 6 February (see EUROPE of 5 February, p.10), whereas the social partners presented ministers with their multi-annual 2003-2005 work programme, which integrates the framework of actions for the development of lifelong skills and qualifications (see EUROPE of 27 November, p.14). This first meeting, qualified as very positive be all concerned, will be the subject of a Council Presidency report.
Introducing work, Ms. Reding insisted on the fact that the "immense" challenges facing the education and training systems were such that they had to "bring all our forces together to guarantee the necessary balance between, on the one hand, answers to requirements in terms of qualifications and skill dictated by the economy, and, on the other, the development of active citizenship capable of playing a non-negligible role in social inclusion". To be able to provide adequate answers to the in-depth changes in society, education and training systems must, according to the Commissioner, "listen to all those concerned" and "systems for dialogue thus need setting up, notably with the social partners, who have a unique position in civil society". With this in mind, Viviane Reding said she was "firmly convinced that these meetings between the Troika, the President of the Commission and a small delegation of social partners before each Springtime Summit will mark a considerable stage in the dialogue around the Lisbon Strategy and in the construction of a society of knowledge". She then went on: "dialogue at the Summit could also henceforth benefit the outcome of prior specific dialogue in the fields of education and training, as has already happened in the fields of macroeconomics and employment".
Welcoming this "innovative" meeting, the Confederal Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), Marie-Helene Andre noted that, "for the first time, we have had an informal meeting at European level with, in our trade union delegation, representatives of our affiliates, the European Trade Union Federation for Education" (formerly European Trade Union Committee for Education: ETUCE). We have succeeded in opening a door for dialogue with the Council the social partners and our Trade Union Federation for Teachers", she continued, adding that for the social partners "contact with the Education Council is important to know what is on its agenda, and to make a link between the Lisbon Strategy and the European Employment Strategy". Finally, Marie-Helene Andre welcomed the commitment of Letizia Moratti, future Council President, to pursue this informal dialogue under the Italian Presidency, in the second half of 2003. The Secretary General of Unice (European employers) Philippe de Buck remarked: "this dialogue engages the social partners, who are an important part of our education and training systems". Presenting Unice's main concerns, Philippe de Buck placed emphasis on the need to "bring education and training systems close together to enable them better to respond to the needs of the labour market, account of which must also be taken to prepare for active citizenship". According to him, "More targeted efforts need making at European level, the processes simplified, and work needs doing on clearer priorities, like, for example, have training focus on the real needs of the labour market". Joining him, the Secretary General of the UEAPME (European Association of Craft and Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises), Hans-Werner Muller, called for a "greater galvanisation of financial resources for apprentices", and mooted the idea of "an Ersmus for apprentices, so as to make of training centres the same thing as universities".