Brussels, 04/07/2003 (Agence Europe) - "ETUC will take the time it needs to reflect before it submits its assessment of the new Constitutional Treaty, but it cannot be denied that, compared to the demands put by the Union movement, progress has been made but with clear limitations due to the unfavourable political context", former Secretary General of the European Trade Unions Confederation (ETUC) and ETUC observer at the Convention, Emilio Gabaglio recently declared.
Emilio Gabaglio believes that the reference values (social justice, equality, solidarity) and the Union's objectives (full employment, social market economy, sustainable development) answer Unionist expectations. Integration into the Treaty with legal value of the Charter of Fundamental Rights represents significant progress, even if the addition of interpretative clauses may limit its practical scope for workers and citizens in general, he said, adding that the recognition of the role of the social partners and of social dialogue is also a positive result, which will contribute to the development of a European system of social relations. However, he noted that "this social connotation of the Treaty runs the risk of remaining just a good intention, notably because of the absence of real progress in economic governance, and of any extension of qualified majority, of services of general interest, or even the open method or co-ordination". The former ETUC Secretary General reiterated that "the revision of texts on policies of the third part of the Treaty is more than just a simple brush-up operation. Wording must be chosen to ensure that the principles and objectives of the first part, which have just been endorsed by the Convention, are translated into operation consistently". He pointed out that at the Congress of Prague, Convention President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing had spoken of "a democratic, modern and social Constitution". "For the social part at least, work remains to be done", he concluded.