Brussels, 14/06/2005 (Agence Europe) - In a press release, European Employers (UNICE) explained that the 38 national employers' federations it brings together would be attending the European Council of 16-17 June. It points out that, “the crisis in the EU ratification process comes at a difficult moment for the EU” characterised by growth that is “totally insufficient”, poor job creation and high unemployment, public finance threatened by debt and the absence of reforms of the social security and pensions systems, compounded by increased competition from the USA and Asian countries. In this gloomy context employers are calling on the European Council to make a commitment to “increasing competitiveness in Europe”. If not, the lack of confidence in the business community will intensify. UNICE believes that crisis or no crisis, Europe needs growth and jobs, reforms in education, flexibility on the labour market and changes to the pension and retirement systems but also in how the internal services market worked. It therefore considers that it is imperative that the Council clarifies the future constitutional process, “in order to put an end to the current uncertainty”.