Brussels, 25/05/2007 (Agence Europe) - During Thursday's debate on the Constitutional Treaty at the Seville Congress, European trade unionists firmly condemned “any changes proposed by European leaders to the Treaty that would reduce or remove the Charter of Fundamental Rights”. They also opposed the notion of a “mini-treaty” - originally proposed by new French President Nicola Sarkozy, who now speaks of a “simplified treaty” (see EUROPE 9432) - which would not contain all the social measures of the European Constitutional Treaty. Trade unionists were, therefore, concerned by the comments of European Commission President José Manuel Barroso at his press conference with Mr Sarkozy on Wednesday, that a consensus was beginning to form around the idea of a “simplified treaty” (see EUROPE 9432).
“We cannot accept this,” declared John Monks, repeating the warning he gave in Brussels on the eve of the Congress (see EUROPE 9429). “We call for the full inclusion of the Charter in any text - no ifs, no buts, but the full inclusion, making it legally binding. And we propose to go on the offensive to achieve that,” he added. The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) called for a demonstration to be held in Brussels at the European Council of 21-22 June, demanding the inclusion of the Charter of Fundamental Rights as a legally binding section of the future treaty.
In their “Seville Manifesto”, adopted on Thursday 24 May, ETUC argues for “the defence of the substance of the Constitutional Treaty, including the Charter of Fundamental Rights and trade union rights to organise and to call strikes”. During the debate, Michael Sommer, leader of the German union DGB, said he thought Angela Merkel's position was “ambiguous” since “it is by no means certain that she will commit herself to including this Charter in the mini-treaty”, he is quoted as saying by AFP. John Monks said he thought that France and the United Kingdom would “put pressure on the German presidency to go for a mini-treaty which did not include the Charter of Fundamental rights”. Spanish Labour Minister Jesus Caldera said that Spain “wants the Charter to be included in the mini-treaty”. Judit Czuglerne Ivany of the Hungarian union MOSz said the Charter of Fundamental Rights was of great importance to the new EU member states. “It's the cornerstone, non-negotiable,” added José Javier Cubillo (UGT, Spain).
In the debate, however, there was no unanimity among the trade unionists. Jean-Christophe Le Duigou (CGT, France), quoted, once again, by AFP, said that ETUC “is locked into the idea that the constitution is a crossing point for social Europe, but everything will be put in question at the European summit in June!” He wondered, “Does there have to be a pre-existing European political power for social Europe to develop? Trade unionism must, itself, begin to build social Europe, and this will bring about a political Europe”.
The “Seville Manifesto” sets out an ambitious new strategy for action in the social, economic and environmental spheres (see EUROPE 9429 and website http: //sevilla.etuc.org). (gb)