Brussels, 13/03/2008 (Agence Europe) - The Tripartite Social Summit for growth and employment, held just a few hours before the opening of the Spring European Council in Brussels (EUROPE 9621), highlighted the need for the EU's future to have greater synergy between the environmental, social and economic pillars of the Lisbon Strategy, to select best practices in force in the 27 EU member states in this respect and to launch the debate on climate change and its consequences on economic growth, as well as ensure information on Europe is better communicated.
Speaking to the press, the president of the European Council, Janez Jansa, stressed how important it was to “make climate change an opportunity”. In his view, “environmental norms must strengthen competitiveness rather than hinder it”. It is essential for citizens to gain a better knowledge of the new challenges facing the EU. For this, “better communication” is required. How? Through and with the media and journalists who “forge public opinion in order to open up new avenues and introduce new ideas to help give concrete substance to the Lisbon goals”, President Jansa said.
Addressing the press, the president of the European Commission appeared “very pleased with the very open discussion” held on Thursday morning. The “highly consensual” tripartite meeting attended by Xavier Bertrand, French Minister of Labour (to replace President Nicolas Sarkozy), pointed to the progress made in the Lisbon Strategy. However, said José Manuel Barroso, “it must continue to bear fruit”. “The Lisbon Strategy is not growth for growth's sake. No, we need growth for our citizens”, Mr Barroso emphasised, affirming that what is needed is a “modern, more competitive Europe with more social and lasting cohesion at environmental level”. President Barroso went on to add that the participants at the Tripartite Social Summit (which, we recall, is the very highest instrument of social dialogue) will be calling on heads of state and government to double their efforts on education and energy policy, and to focus on SMEs, the driving force for growth and employment. Mr Barroso was particularly pleased with the “broad agreement” reached on the common principles of flexicurity, “which is a positive point for social dialogue”, as well as with the support of social partners for policies on climate change and energy consumption. “The social partners will help us to move towards a low carbon economy - which is nothing but benefit for social Europe”, the president of the European Commission concluded.
John Monks, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), expressed concern about the content of the European Court of Justice rulings (Laval & Viking affairs) in which the single market prevailed over fundamental rights to negotiate or to strike. “I have an impression there is a hierarchy in rights, with fundamental rights being the poor relative of the right to free movement”, he exclaimed, although he did welcome discussions with European Social Affairs Commissioner Vldadimir Spidla and BusinessEurope on the scope of these rulings. President Barroso affirmed that the judgements of the Court of Justice “do not run counter to fundamental rights. The right to strike is a fundamental right, and is protected by the Charter of Fundamental Rights. But one should not lose sight of individual cases and one must protect the rights of member states”. President Jansa considered it was somewhat “delicate” to talk about the rulings of the Court of Justice. “I do not think that this ruling implies interference on the right to strike. I am convinced in this individual case”, he concluded.
Ernest-Antoine Seillière, BusinessEurope President (also speaking on behalf of the CEEP) said “times will be hard”, alluding to the rate of the euro, energy prices, sub-prime lending and to the political climate in the United States. Mr Seillière called for reforms to be strengthened in the future “on the basis of the Lisbon Agenda. What we want is to get on with it”. As far as climate change is concerned, Ernest-Antoine Seillière warned that companies and consumers should shoulder the cost. “We are moving towards a new industrial revolution”, he stated, calling for a meeting between social partners on the social consequences of climate change.
Many jobs are created but their quality leaves much to be desired. A journalist asked how things stood. Janez Jansa answered that very good quality jobs have been created, in growing numbers. “The hitch is that member states are faced with a shortage of quality labour. The question raised is that of knowing whether these jobs are well paid”, Mr Jansa went on, saying that each job must be considered “individually”. For this reason, the conclusions of the European Council will insist on education at every level, on the need to bring young people into the job market and on the training of people in general. But, Mr Jansa went on: “there are more demanding challenges to be raised: the 3rd industrial revolution is on the point of happening. We must leave labour market forces and social dialogue to play it out”. Better employment, Mr Barroso continued, generally means a job that is better paid and of a lasting kind. This may be obtained through better training, through improved education systems, research and innovation. The European Summit should seek to prevent school dropouts, President Barroso concluded. Janez Jansa added: “Better paid jobs are needed in healthier and more gratifying environments”. (G.B.)