Brussels, 28/06/2006 (Agence Europe) - Bringing in a European minimum wage: this is one of the ideas suggested by former President of the European Commission, Jacques Delors, at a seminar in Brussels on 28 June on the "European dimension" of the new social Europe. The objective of this initiative, which was launched last year by the Party of European Socialists (PES), is to allow the Europe of the 21st century to face up to challenges related to globalisation, by linking solidarity with competitiveness, PES President Poul Nyrup Rasmussen and former European Commissioner for Social Affairs, Anna Diamantopoulou, told the press on Wednesday (see EUROPE 9110). In order to do this, the work has been divided into three forums: "For an active society", "For an inclusive society" and "the European dimension", which will be chaired by Ms Diamantopoulou. The final report will be put to the PES Congress in Porto this December.
Speaking to the press, Jacques Delors, who is leading the project together with Mr Rasmussen, presented his areas for reflection, which he had previously spoken of his colleagues, to "reinforce the social dimension of European construction" (our translation throughout). Amongst other things, he said, we must "imagine new social minimum standards, a kind of European minimum wage", which would be "in proportion to the level of development of each Member State" of the European Union. This idea, Mr Delors believes, must first and foremost be debated by the social partners. The former Commission President also stressed the need to relaunch social dialogue", criticising the lack of interest from Unice, the union of European employers, on this point. "The employers must agree to undertake social dialogue once again", particularly on subjects such as the idea of a European minimum wage and permanent training, he said. Jacques Delors also called for a reflection on the role of the European economic and social cohesion policy, creating a better balance between the economic and monetary because "the euro protects (...), but it does not create impetus" in economic growth, and immigration. The crisis currently spreading across the European Union is "more political than economic and social", Mr Delors concluded, calling on the Heads of State and Government of the Member States of the European Union to "reason European".