Brussels, 07/05/2007 (Agence Europe) - Jacek Protasiewicz's (EPP-ED) draft report on the modernisation of labour law, necessary for meeting the challenges of the 21st century, will be debated on Tuesday at the European Parliament's employment and social affairs committee. The report was slammed by the EP's socialist group who described it as unacceptable and a provocation, and who think it is ultraliberal. They are therefore proposing a new report “which could provide the starting point for constructive negotiations”. The Protasiewicz report “is a caricature of neo-liberal doctrine and the market approach to jobs. As an idea, it is wholly at odds with the European social model, in whose respect the spring European Council, whilst reiterating the need for its modernisation, also reiterated the need to defend it,” said the group's deputy leader, Harlem Désir. He added that the report “extols flexibility and advocates its generalisation on the pretext of providing a level playing field for insiders and outsiders”. Socialist group spokesman Stephen Hughes, concerned over the adoption of more radical positions on employment by the Right in the EP, said that this report “is a provocation which leaves zero room for compromise”. Danish Socialist MEP and rapporteur for the Socialist group Ole Christiansen said this report “rejects any possibility of harmonising labour law in Europe and presents an approach contrary to the proven one of 'flexicurity'”. (gb)