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13.03.2002

Barcelona: At last a summit of decisions?
EUCDW: Social criteria analogous to Maastricht criteria

Two years have gone by since the Lisbon summit. The European Union ought to be on the way to becoming "the most dynamic and competitive economic area, based on innovation and knowledge." Reality reveals another picture: a fall in economic activity, rising unemployment figures, even in the previously economically strong regions.
The European Parliament is therefore calling for a "coherent package of initiatives" from the European Council in Barcelona. This should aim above all at increasing the employment rate, improving the quality of employment and improving the qualification of employees.
Against this background the European Union of Christian Democratic Workers underlines the following points:

1) The EUCDW welcomes the annual check, by means of a quite large number of indicators, on the realisation and results of the necessary initiatives for strengthening the economic and social Europe. As the success of this strategy in the end also depends on its acceptance by European citizens, the EUCDW proposes that it should be given the same status as the "Maastricht criteria" regarding the Economic and Currency Union. This would give the policies concerned the necessary transparence and credibility.

2) In this connection the EUCDW underlines that the assessment of the national action plans to fight poverty and social exclusion, as put forward for the first time in June 2001, must be seen as an important part of the so-called "Lisbon strategy". The EUCDW expects, particularly in times of economic downturn and increased social tensions, that the Commission and the member states will push ahead more strongly with the realisation of the agreed measures.

3) A third point concerns the modernisation of the social security systems. They can only contribute to increasing Europe's competitiveness if the EU member states coordinate their policies with each other.

In so doing, the systems laid down by law, financed on a basis of solidarity, must be strengthened so that they guarantee security, reliability and a large measure of social protection. They are central to the model of European society, for they are the basis of the assurance to every European citizen that he can, in all circumstances, live a life fit for a human being.

4) The EUCDW calls on the European Council to request an analysis from the Commission stating which additional income is required to guarantee the systems of social security laid down by law.

In addition, the build-up of supplementary systems of social security - based on the competition principle - must be extended.

5) Finally, the EUCDW repeats its demand that the "employment guidelines" and the "essential features of economic policy" be better coordinated with each other. The European Parliament must be brought in at an early stage in the drawing up of both drafts.

6) The EUCDW expects that financial aid and tax relief for firms, to create jobs, are provided exclusively in accordance with their purpose. The same applies to public expenditure in the sphere of education.

7) The aims of the "Lisbon strategy" cannot be achieved by state institutions alone. Thus the social dialogue - particularly at the European level - must be expanded.

The European Union of Christian Democratic Workers (EUCDW) consists of 23 workers' organisations from 15 countries and is an association of the European People's Party (EPP).

responsible: Luc Delanghe, President.

EUCDW
European Union of Christian Democratic Workers
c/o EPP, Rue du Commerce / Handelsstraat 10
B-1000 Brussels

E-mail: EUCDW

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