14/02/2007 (Agence Europe) - In Paris on Wednesday, nine EU member states (Belgium, Luxemburg, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Spain, France, Greece, Hungary and Italy) signed a declaration entitled “Fresh impetus for Social Europe”, in which they say it is necessary to link the relaunch of social Europe to the renewal of the institutional dynamic. The signatory countries advocate the strengthening of the European social model and reaffirm the need to enhance economic and social convergence within the EU to encourage jobs, equal opportunities on the labour market, lifelong learning, and modernisation of social protection. They believe that combating unemployment has to remain the main thrust of EU member states' economic and social policies and advocate support for European social dialogue. In the annexes to the text, the signatories support - the fight against insecure employment and illegal working, - increasing the level of employment of women and - ending differing treatments for men and women. The text also recommends the more general inclusion of social clauses in EU trade agreements with third countries. “We believe that Europe cannot be reduced to a free trade area, but that it must ensure the essential balance between economic freedom and social rights, so that the internal market can become an area regulated also on the social level,” the text highlights. (hb)