Brussels, 30/09/2005 (Agence Europe) - On the occasion of the Social Dialogue Summit held on 29 September in Brussels both to celebrate the 20th anniversary of European social dialogue (in the presence of Jacques Delors, who in 1985 organised the first tripartite summit) and to debate its future, the social partners call on politicians to act to “take Europe out of lethargy”. The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), European employers (UNICE), the European Association of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (UEAPME) and the European Centre of Enterprises with Public Participation (CEEP) also announced their commitment to holding negotiations on a European social dialogue work programme 2006-2008; it is due to be published by the end of the year. “The European social partners intend to continue contributing constructively to the EU integration process. But the EU social dialogue counts on the EU Council and on the Commission to give a clear signal that they intend to steer Europe out of lethargy”, say the presidents of the ETUC, CEEP, UNICE and UEAPME in a joint press release. On Thursday they all reaffirmed their support for the Lisbon programme and the European strategy for growth and employment. The social partners also signalled their agreement on the three observations which will form the foundation of further dialogue: - it is possible to have a well-functioning market economy with low unemployment and social protection against risks, as demonstrated by experience in some Member States. “However, with almost 22 million people unemployed, insufficient growth and falling productivity rates one cannot say that Europe as a whole is meeting its ambitions”; - the European social model is translated into different national social systems having in common that they seek to combine economic and social progress, competitiveness and social protection, productivity and solidarity; - for the European growth and employment strategy to contribute to restoring trust and to gain momentum in Member States, policy at Community level must steer a clear course towards modernisation.
“All of us - European Commission, Presidency of the Council and social partners - have confirmed today our attachment and commitment to social dialogue, which is an will remain a key element in the European way of viewing society and socio-economic life”, said the President of the Commission, José Manuel Barroso, on Thursday night in front of the press. The social partners play an important role in the current debate on the future of Europe and the European social model, “and I hope that they will come with their own ideas” to fuel the debate which will be held between the heads of state and government of the EU on the 27 and 28 October at the informal European Council at Hampton Court (near London ). The social summit which will precede this meeting will be another opportunity for the social partners to present their suggestions and reflections on the way in which Europe should plan its future, said Mr Barroso. A basic consensus already exists among “everybody” that the Lisbon strategy is indispensable in reforming the European system. “With 20 million people unemployed, the status quo is not an option. However, we must follow an approach which preserves the foundation of common values” on social dialogue, worker protection and social protection, Mr Barroso emphasised. These values form part of the “European Heritage” and must be preserved, he said. This will also be reflected in the document which the Commission is currently preparing for the European summit at Hampton Court. The European institutions and the social partners are also “unanimous” on another observation: “We have an urgent need for an agreement on the Union's budget”, which is indispensable in making the necessary policies and reforms, Mr Barroso stressed. The General Secretary of the ETUC, John Monks, like Mr Barroso thought that there are “common values” in the national social models in the Member States. However, it is not possible to find single solutions which will work for everyone, he acknowledged. There are common values, but also many “common problems”, particularly because of the single market and the free movement of workers, because there is still a lack of clear common rules on social protection and workers' rights in the single market, said Mr Monks. European employers are prepared to pursue and even improve social dialogue with the unions, but everyone is aware that “growth and wealth-creation are vital in ensuring solidarity and preserving social security. Without jobs, without growth, no social policy is possible”, emphasised the President of UNICE, Ernest-Antoine Seillière.