” “Notes for the Agenda

Following the Executive’s adoption, on 12 February, of the “Third Annual Report on the situation of the EU’s social policy Agenda”, SirEurope has gathered the views of trades unions and industry, in particular the general Secretary of the European Trades-Union Confederation, Emilio Gabaglio, and the Union of Industries of the European Community (UNICE). Commission: the progress of the social agenda. The Executive adopted the “Third Annual Report on the situation of the EU’s social policy Agenda” on Wednesday, 12 February. Presenting the document to the press, the European Commissioner for employment and social affairs Anna Diamantopoulou explained that “the social policy Agenda is the EU instrument for the achievement of the objectives of ‘more numerous and better jobs’ and ‘social cohesion’, contained in the Lisbon Strategy”. Diamantopoulou also declared that “the member states, the world of the economy and the trades unions are too hesitant in realizing the necessary reforms and too reluctant when it comes to tackling the Lisbon objectives”. On 19 and 20 March the Commission is organizing a pan-European conference in Brussels to debate the present and future of the social Agenda. In March 2000, the European Council met in Lisbon to “agree on a new strategic objective – better known as “The Lisbon Strategy” – for the Union with a view to supporting employment, economic reforms and social cohesion in the context of an economy based on knowledge”. The voice of the unions… “There are two significant questions – according to Gabaglio – linked to the Communication of the Commission on industrial restructuring. The first is that Europe is going through a period of far-reaching industrial changes, that need to be managed with suitable formulae and in a balanced way. There’s also the question of the reform of the Directive on European company councils, the permanent structures for the consultation of workers introduced five years ago that in theory ought to help to control the processes, by anticipating them. Despite the fact that the question is contemplated by the Agenda, no discussion of the reform of the by now inadequate Directive has yet begun. The second question concerns industrial policy. A more active industrial policy needs to be put in place, thanks to the instruments of the EU (re-allocation of the Social Fund and the other Structural Funds, opportunities offered by funds for technological research and development), to support and control the processes of re-conversion. Undoubtedly – the trades-unionist concludes – other points of the social Agenda are positive: I’m thinking of the provisions on work stress and on health and safety on the work place. …and that of industries. According to UNICE, “the Lisbon objectives of a rise in industrial growth and employment can only be achieved through the channel of companies themselves”. European industries consider that a priority should be the reform of EU business policy and the creation of a more favourable economic environment: “it’s indispensable – says UNICE – to promote innovation and the capacity of industry to create new jobs, also because the USA is growing more rapidly and with better employment and productivity rates” than Europe. According to Georges Jacobs, president of UNICE, “businesses generate growth, accept new opportunities, give added values to products and services, and permit the maintenance and creation of employment. To achieve the Lisbon objectives, we need to concentrate on businesses”. UNICE has also, in recent days, presented the five priorities of European industry for the next EU Summit on social issues: reinforcing entrepreneurship; realizing innovation; freeing the single market; ensuring the efficiency of human resources; and pursuing sustainable development.