Brussels, 26/05/2004 (Agence Europe) - Following up the report on "A Fair Globalisation: creating opportunities for all" of the World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalisation (WCSDG) of the ILO (see EUROPE of 25 February, p.13), the Commission has published its communication on "The Social Dimension of Globalisation - the EU's policy contribution on extending the benefits to all". The communication is the Commission's contribution to establishing social benefits linked to globalisation. In its communication, the Commission notes the efforts made by the EU, not only within Member States but also elsewhere in the world, to ensure that economic and social progress go hand in hand. As the WCSDG states, the positive aspects of globalisation can be seen throughout the world, but its advantages are unevenly distributed. In order to be really sustainable, globalisation must ensure more equitable social development for all. The EU is already playing an active part in achieving this goal, but greater effort is needed. Such is the aim of the Commission's contribution, it is stressed in a press release from the European Commission.
Welcoming the communication, Social Affairs Commissioner Stavros Dimas said the European experience of the Lisbon strategy could be a source of inspiration for countries of other regions of the world faced with the challenges of globalisation, especially that of seeking equitable sharing of the advantages of globalisation. The EU is convinced of the need to adopt measures in favour of sustainable globalisation in the social dimension, Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy said for his part, adding: "Although efforts made to tackle this problem at multilateral level through the WTO have not yet been a success, we can see a great possibility of promoting this objective through our bilateral and unilateral policies". (The communication is available on: http: //europa.eu.int/comm/trade/issues/global/index_en.htm).