Brussels, 02/04/2003 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday, Anna Diamantopoulou, European Commissioner for Employment, announced the members of the new European Employment Task Force (see EUROPE 27 February p 9). Chaired by long-time Dutch Premier Mr Wim Kok (see EUROPE 22 March p 10), members of the task force include: Ms Anna Ekström, Head of Swedish white collar trade union SACO (Swedish Confederation of Professional Associations); Ms. Anette ROUX, CEO, the Bénéteau company; Mr. Federico DURAN LOPEZ, Labour market specialist and Professor of Employment and Social Security at the University of Cordoba; Mr. Carlo DELL'ARINGA, Professor at the Institute for Microeconomics and Labour at the University of Milano "Sacro Cuore"; Mr Christopher Pissarides, Director of the research programme on technology and growth at the Centre for Economic Performance at the London School of Economics; Ms Maria João Rodrigues, President of the Advisory Group to the EC for Social Sciences, Professor at Lisbon University, Higher Institute for Business and Labour Studies, Portugal; Mr Günther Schmid, Director of Employment, Social Structure, and Welfare State at the Social Science Research Center in Berlin, former member of the German Hartz Commission.
The Task Force will identify practical reform measures that can have the most direct and immediate impact on the ability of Member States to implement the revised European Employment Strategy, approved by the European Summit and will make a report to the Commission, giving the latter enough time to establish a joint report on employment to be submitted to the European Spring Council 2004.