The report of the Commission on the social situation in Europe in 2003 has recently been published. The document fourth of the series since the Lisbon summit “analyses the various factors that, on the basis of the social indicators common to the current 15 member states, concur to describe the social situation of the European Union”. Apart from issues relating to employment, education, social support, population ageing and immigration, the report for 2003 tackles the question of “access to quality healthcare”, which is described as “one of the most dynamic sectors of the European economy”. The Commission maintains in fact that “the growth of life expectancy in the EU (75 years for men, 81 for women) testifies to the high European standards of healthcare and represents an important signal in terms of the Lisbon strategy for social policy and employment”. European social policies were also discussed in recent days at a meeting of the leaders of trades-union organizations in Rome. The Italian Presidency of the EU, following the meeting, announced its intention to convene an “extraordinary tripartite social summit”. This summit, support for which has already been expressed by the Commission and member states, will be held in tandem with the European Council at Brussels in December. The aim of the meeting will be to define “measures to develop employment and give an impetus to the Lisbon strategy”.
