Brussels, 08/12/2004 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday the Employment and Social Affairs Council managed to put in place the bases for more practical action in the framework of the Social Policy Agenda by identifying six specific areas. Ministers want this approach, proposed by the presidency and entitled A.C.T.I.O.N., to continue to serve the objectives of the Lisbon process. The Council concluded that the social agenda could "remain within the Lisbon objectives but it is important to be more concrete", explained the Dutch minister of social affairs and employment to the press, Aart Jan De Geus.
A.C.T.I.O.N. includes the following elements: activation of labour market participation, especially the elderly and deprived youngsters (Activation); the commitment of all actors (Commitment); investment in human capital (Training); inclusion of the most vulnerable groups (Inclusion); improvement of organisation of work (Organisation); equal opportunities (Non-discrimination).