Brussels, 09/12/2003 (Agence Europe) - Speaking on the eve of the Special Tripartite Social Summit, Deputy General Secretary of the European Confederation of Trade Unions (ETUC), Maria Helena André made an appeal to participants at the Social Troika and to Heads of State and Government who meet the following day to put into practice the objectives of the Lisbon strategy by 2010. ""We have to move quickly. Analysing the problems has to stop. We are aware of them and they're on the Lisbon Agenda. Different policies that work in synergy are needed. The IGC has to give the Union the necessary instruments for better governance in the service of the objectives in the Lisbon strategy…If we don't act today, the Lisbon objectives will never be reached by 2010".
In the context of the agenda for the Social summit, the ETUC is following the Initiative for Growth very closely. Ms André noted that "although it's years late, Jacques Delors initiated it". According to the ETUC, the initiative will not have a short term impact on growth and jobs but that it is important for the Trans-European Networks, research and development, especially from a point of view of developing knowledge and education. As for the conclusions of the Kok Task Force, the ETUC indicated that they are part of the different components in the revised European Strategy for Employment (ESE) (2003-2005). These conclusions are an excellent basis for continuing discussions, affirmed the ETUC, which also called for more and better investment in human resources and life long training. Ms André explained that the growth initiative and the Kok report should be anchored in the relaunch of the Lisbon strategy. She also outlined that in the multiannual work programme of the social partners, four cases "could contribute to relaunching the Lisbon strategy": 1) the 2nd report on implementation of the framework action on competencies and qualifications; 2) ongoing negotiations on stress at work and gender equality; 3) report on action by social partners at a national level for the implementation of guidelines for employment; 4) work provided on the participation of social partners from new Member States in European social dialogue. The ETUC also considers that the Stability Pact "could provide solutions in the short term for re-launching the European economy".