Brussels, 09/02/2005 (Agence Europe) - In a communication at a European Commission presentation of its new Social Agenda (see other news item), the British Labour MEP Stephen Hughes reiterated the socialist group in the European Parliament's fears for social policy. This policy should be recognised as “a productive factor for delivering better competitivity and productivity”, he said, continuing that social impact assessments “should be integral to policies on the internal market, industry and competition”. Social dialogue should be a real dialogue, and the social partners should have “a real voice in discussions of broad economic policy”, because the Commission “does not have a monopoly of wisdom on social policy”, said the former President of the EP Committee on Social Affairs.
The Dutch MEP Jan Marinus Wiersma recalled: we have already told President Barroso that social policy and sustainable development cannot be neglected, and also “quite apart from its own merits, social policy is recognised as a very effective way to mobilise public opinion”.