Brussels, 03/06/2009 (Agence Europe) - Presenting the guidelines of the European Commission for employment, in Brussels this Wednesday, together with European Commissioner for Social Affairs and Employment Vladimir Spidla, President José Manuel Barroso sent out a heartfelt appeal to the European Council of 18 and 19 June to endorse this "social recovery plan for Europe; it is part and parcel of social justice and solidarity that we see (...) as part of the European project".
The impact of the crisis on jobs is a vital issue, the president told the press. Proof of this is the hardships and distress all workers are worried about being faced with at any time. But "the European Union can make a real contribution. In this week of elections, it would be a big mistake for Europe to turn its back on this problem", he said. This is the reason behind the communication on "shared commitment for employment", the objective of which is to reduce job losses and help those who have lost their job to find another one as quickly as possible (EUROPE 9911/9912). José Manuel Barroso called on the member states, which have made great efforts to coordinate their actions to return confidence to the financial markets, to "do the same for employment". Employment is a matter of concern both locally and nationally, but it also needs a European dimension, Mr José Manuel Barroso stressed, adding: "Europe is there to protect citizens by inspiring, facilitating and supporting the shared commitment and action to implement it (...). There can be no economic recovery on the foundations of social collapse". And as Vladimir Spidla pointed out, "one person without work is one too many", yet the unemployment rate currently stands at 8.6%!
Among the proposals presented in the communication, President Barroso referred to: (1) the direct support to the European budget to a level of €19 million from the European Social Fund (ESF) for 2009-2010, (2) no national co-funding of the member states will be assured over the same period, (3) the establishment, by the Commission and the EIB group, of a new micro-funding instrument for employment to support the development of micro-businesses and the social economy.
Have the European elections, which are due to take place next weekend, and the non-occurrence of a genuine European summit of 27 for employment, influenced the timetable of the work of the Commission and its approach to employment? In his response, President Barroso said that both the Commission and the Czech Presidency had hoped to see all 27 member states taking part in this Employment summit. "But it was the European Council which didn't want it!", he said, adding: "It is a success in any case, because it allowed dialogue, it allowed us to listen to the social partners, to find concrete and formal elements and to make progress at this Employment summit". In the view of President Barroso, all of the heads of state and government must be in constant contact with the European citizens. "Unemployment is a personal tragedy, which is why Europe needs to take action". Employment is a national competency, "we are aware of this, but there are instruments and tools available to us, such as this general idea to move away from co-funding: the member states will be under serious pressure on their national budgets", commented José Manuel Barroso. He went on to state, with much more conviction: "We must find the means of responding to the deepest concerns of the citizens. We can act in a coordinated manner and face up to the problems of unemployment".
Will the issue of unemployment have an impact on the results of the European elections (to be held at the same time as local elections in a number of member states)? What about the very low turnout rate anticipated for these elections? What is likely to be the influence of the parties which trade on popular discontent? It is the post-election analysis which will be interesting, replied José Manuel Barroso, stating that the turnout rate of the citizens at the European elections has fallen off constantly since 1979. "Paradoxically, however, the European Parliament has grown in importance!" For this reason, the Commission is appealing to the citizens to go and vote, said Mr Barroso, congratulating his vice-president Margot Wallström "on her excellent communication work". "I believe strongly in the exercise of the rights of the voters. I call upon them again to turn out for these elections", said Mr Barroso. (G.B./transl.fl)