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Brussels, 11.03.2005

EUCDW welcomes decisions of the EPP concerning the Lisbon Strategy

Reforms on the basis of the
Social Market Economy

 

The EUCDW welcomes the adoption of a decision of the EPP concerning the European Employment Policy (Lisbon-Process) with the following key points (which are also based on amendments of the EUCDW):

" As the main architect of our European social market economy, the EPP is committed to do everything possible to implement the measures agreed in Lisbon - both at European, national and regional levels. (…)

Only through bold reforms will it be possible to safeguard and strengthen Europe's role in the world - and with it prosperity and efficient and affordable social security systems for all. Our objective is to reconcile the market and solidarity, free enterprise and social justice, in the concept of the social market economy, as well as economics and ecology in the concept of sustainable development. (…)

The reform of labour market rules or systems of social security cannot be achieved by the governments alone; it will be necessary to include the social partners, which have both on national level and on the European level the right to participate in the decisionmaking process. The EPP calls on the social partners to exercise responsibly their role in the process of reshaping our societies. (…)

The European Union and the Member States have to put emphasis on:

  • Competitiveness, by tracing out a sound basis for enterprise and innovation. Competitiveness must become the guiding policy principle in every economic policy;

  • Employment, with the following priorities:
  • greater flexibility of labour markets in line with the needs of family life and the care of children;
  • improved basic qualifications followed by life-long learning;

  • Social partnership, the employee motivation, their education and training, their trust in the sustainability and efficiency of the social security systems and their sense of belonging to their company so as to increase productivity and create jobs;

  • A high standard of environmental protection. The Lisbon Strategy represents a unique opportunity to stimulate environmental technology and, at the same time, contribute to new and sustainable growth;

  • Speeding up the creation of a single labour market, together with the application of the principle of equal treatment in all fields shortening, as much as possible, the phase of transition;

  • Major common European infrastructure projects that are, to a great extent , dependent upon a higher level of national financial contribution to this end.

The individual Member States have to commit themselves to the jointly- agreed goals.

(...)

In the need of a credible strategy and a roadmap for the EU and its Member States to follow up to 2010, the idea of competition demands a comparison of the achievements of the Member States.

The proposal of the European Commission to establish national roadmaps with the necessary measures, decisions and a framework, is a step in the right direction."

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: Elmar Brok MEP, 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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