Brussels, 16/06/2005 (Agence Europe) - At the end of its meeting in Brussels on 14 and 15 June (see EUROPE 8968), the executive committee of the European Trade Unions Confederation (ETUC), adopted a statement in which it calls upon the Heads of State and Government to take urgent action to provide a concrete response to worker demands, whilst continuing to support the European project and the process of the EU's enlargement. Against the backdrop of the French and Dutch "no" to the European Constitution, ETUC feels that the Heads of State and Government must now show that they are capable of: 1) reaching agreement on the financial perspectives, with a substantial programme for growth, investment and research, on the basis of fair contributions for all Member Estates and a clear commitment in favour of social and regional cohesion and solidarity; 2) winning back the confidence of the European citizens by integrating a social dimension into European policies (such as the directives on services, working time, port services or industrial policy) and by carrying out a consultation exercise, in which all subjects which are of concern to the citizens are dealt with frankly and openly.
Vladimir Spidla: "we need to strike a new balance between flexibility and security"
In the referendums on the Constitution, "the social issue was at the heart of the judgment of the European voters, and we need to take this on board", said the Commissioner for Social Policy, Vladimir Spidla, in his address to the executive committee. "The people of Europe expect the Union to take their concerns on board (...), starting with creating good-quality jobs", Mr Spidla stressed, adding: "this is, essentially, is what I have learnt from the French and Dutch referendums. Unfortunately, they ended up rejecting the social progress contained in the Constitutional Treaty and, which is even worse, rejecting a more political Europe". What we need now is to "strike a new balance between flexibility and security, which is what Europe needs to adapt to the globalised economy, demographic change and technological progress", the Commissioner noted, taking the view that "we can meet all of these challenges by implementing the guidelines for employment". Mr Spidla said that he hoped that positive initiatives would come from the forthcoming seminar of the social partners on active ageing, and from their discussions on what to be done with the European youth pact, after the forthcoming social dialogue committee.
Another key dossier for the Commissioner is the management of company restructuring. "Today, we must invent new, efficient and flexible ways of accompanying restructuring throughout our continent. We must mobilise all our instruments", said Vladimir Spidla, referring to the structural funds and the European social fund. This action must be supported by initiatives from the European social partners, he said, calling upon them to take part in the Forum on Restructuring, the first meeting of which is planned for late June or early July (see EUROPE 8925). The Commission also announced that 2006 would be the European Year of Mobility, "a fundamental right of the European citizen", and called upon the European social partners to get involved by presenting projects.