Brussels, 23/03/2009 (Agence Europe) - Responding to a journalist who wanted clarification of the format of the May employment summit, which has been “reduced to a Troika” (see EUROPE 9866), European Commission spokesman Johannes Laitenberger said that it was the Council that decided on the format of its meetings. The Commission was fully committed to employment, he said, and intended to make a substantial and detailed contribution, whatever the format of the meeting on 7 May. With regard to social and employment issues, EU action was complementary to that of member states. There were, he said, some quite considerable sectors: the European Social Fund and the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund. Coordination and sharing best practice among member states had to be facilitated at Community level, he argued. He added that the Commission was working hard with the social partners to this effect: it was substance that mattered for the Commission. In response to a question of what President José Manuel Barroso and his commissioner for social affairs and employment, Vladimir Spidla, thought, Johannes Laitenberger explained that it is not up to the Commission president to endorse or not endorse the choice made by member states. He added that Mr Barroso and Mr Spidla both want a deep-reaching discussion and strong signal sent out on jobs. He said that the whole of the European Commission was mobilising and that they took the concerns of employers and workers during this crisis period, very much into consideration. Mr Laitenberger also affirmed that they wanted to do everything possible but avoid creating too great expectations whilst tackling important issues. (G.B./transl.rh)