EUCDW

Three main events stood out for the EUCDW in 2002: a change of Chairman, (preparation for) the 15th European People's Party (EPP) Congress in Estoril (17th/18th October 2002) and (participation in) the work of the European Convention on drawing up a European constitutional contract.

The change at the top of the EUCDW - from Luc Delanghe to Elmar Brok MEP - was preceded by a long process of discussions about the EUCDW's future role and objectives: as a European umbrella organisation for now over 23 member groups from 15 countries, as the workers' wing of the EPP, and as a contact point for workers' organisations within the EPP-ED group.

Special significance was attributed to two political themes during these discussions: firmly establishing and consolidating social welfare and employment policy within the framework of the EU constitutional contract, plus preparing for and supporting expansion of the European Union.

Against the background of discussions on these themes, the Board followed the Presidency's proposal and, with an overwhelming majority, elected as the new Chairman Elmar Brok MEP - Chairman of the EPP Group in the EU Convention and Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs. In the same breath, the Board thanked Luc Delanghe, who was standing down on age grounds, for his many years of successful work and elected him Honorary President.

At the request of the Maltese members' organisation, this meeting took place in Malta, giving a clear signal that as well as expanding towards the east, the EU was also spreading its wings in a southerly direction. 41 of the 54 Board Members took up the invitation to attend this meeting, at which there was an opportunity to meet the Prime Minister, Dr Eddie Fenech Adami, and further government ministers, Lawrence Gonzi (Employment and Social Affairs) and Prof. Josef Bonnici (Economy).

Preparations for this meeting had been made when the Board met on the 29th June 2002 in Luxembourg, where discussions had taken place both with François Biltgen, Minister for Work and Employment, and with Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker (Honorary President of EUCDW). Here too, the topic was, of course, the further development of a social union as a precondition for political union.

In light of these conversations, the Board made the decision to introduce, as a matter of urgency, the following points into the EU Convention:

At the same time, everyone in the European People's Party should again be encouraged - as agreed unanimously by the Board - to come together and speak out in favour of the Christian Democrat idea of a social market economy. A draft resolution is to be introduced to this effect, based on previous decisions made as part of the EPP's policy programme.

During discussion of motions in advance of the 15th EPP Congress, it was possible to incorporate most of the points referred to by the EUCDW within the lead motion. Of at least equal importance was the fact that the EPP Congress adopted the following resolution, committing the EPP and its member parties to taking concrete action:

"The increasing importance of the European Parliament must also lead to the increasing importance of European Parties. They must not only observe European politics, including day-to-day politics, but must increasingly take part in shaping it. This requires the parties - even though there are differing traditions and movements within them - to develop in future a still greater measure of inner unity.

Therefore the EPP stresses Christian values. We see men and women as responsible persons each endowed with a unique and transcendent dignity. In order to fulfil themselves, people need freedom, autonomy and social responsibility. In this, we differentiate ourselves from all other ideologies.

The EPP states its claim to remain the strongest political force on the European stage. This requires us to be more clearly the party of the social market economy, the party for entrepreneurs as well as for employees.

The EPP must be open to everyone who supports its basic principles of freedom in responsibility in word and deed, and thus demonstrate, also to the outside world, the credibility of the European Peoples' Party."

As well as contributing to a successful EPP Congress, it was of great significance for the EUCDW that, by spring - looking forward to the EU Convention - it had been possible to work out a joint resolution between all of the EPP associations and thus to demonstrate unity in respect of the major questions concerning the future of the EU.

In many policy statements made in 2002, countless discussions and, above all, through the excellent cooperation of the workers' groups within the EPP faction, the EUCDW succeeded in elucidating its views on the Convention and on other issues of EU social policy.

The major challenge for 2003 is to continue to work on these issues. As well as the EU Convention, several issues will play a special role in this: the question of stabilising social security systems, the question of access to services of general benefit and the issue of everyone's responsibility for economic growth. These issues should also be well aired in preparatory work for the 2004-2009 action campaign, in which the EUCDW is cooperating as part of an EPP working group.

A word of thanks is due to all who have committed time and effort to the EUCDW, especially in preparing and organising our conferences and Board meetings, as well as in representing EUCDW positions on the Board and in the EPP Congress. We would like to make special mention of Alexander von Schwerin, who relinquished the office of General Secretary to Christoph Weisskirchen in October 2002 and who, as a Member of the Presidency, has since been a strong proponent of the views of the European Economic and Social Committee within the EUCDW.

The Board met on three occasions: on the 20th April 2002 in the Schwarzbachtal building, Erlbach; on the 29th June 2002 in the Hotel Threeland, Luxembourg, and on the 5th October 2002 in the Seabank Hotel, Malta.

The main points discussed and agreed at the meeting in Erlbach were motions that had not been dealt with at the 8th EUCDW Congress (these related to employment policy, employees' rights and workers' associations). At the same meeting, Ria Oomen-Ruijten was confirmed as Treasurer, Alexander von Schwerin was elected General Secretary and Christoph Weisskirchen as his deputy. The Board also discussed its first thoughts about the EU Convention and about the EPP Congress in October 2002.

Both of these matters were dealt with further at the meeting in Luxembourg. Amongst other issues at this meeting, motions relating to the baseline document for the coming EPP Congress were discussed, and positions of principle in respect of the EU Convention were agreed. Other political initiatives were along the lines of 'Basel II', 'Take-over Guidelines' and 'the nature of public contracts'. The Board also discussed the problems of social security systems. The meeting in Luxembourg paved the way for the personnel decisions that were taken at the meeting in Malta. With Christian Kremer, EPP Deputy General Secretary, in attendance, motions and resolutions for the EPP Congress were also agreed.

The EUCDW Presidency met twice: on the 20th March 2002 in the European Parliament in Brussels, and on the 29th June 2002 in the Hotel Threeland in Luxembourg.

In Brussels, the Presidency continued its assessment of the EUCDW Congress. In addition, a series of questions were dealt with concerning several of the member organisations. Finally, Presidency members also discussed the latest papers from the EPP working group on 'Economic and Social Policy'. On the 29th June 2002, the Presidency prepared the decisions to be taken by the Board, who met on the same day.

Outside of the Board and Presidency meetings, the policy working group met on 07/05/02, 24/06/02, 14/11/02 and 12/12/02.

In these meetings, policy decisions to be taken by the Board and Presidency were prepared.

In total the EUCDW published in the last year 16 position papers (see also: positions):

16.12.2002
Overcoming the Division of Europe EUCDW welcomes the agreement about the accession and financial aid

21.11.2002
Temporary Workers are no rationalisation factors EUCDW welcomes position of the EPP workers group

15.11.2002
EU must also reflect the European Social Model Working Group on "Social Politics" needed to clarify who is in charge of what

06.11.2002
Social and Employment Policies inside the Framework provided by the EU's Constitutional Treaty

23.10.2002
Clear support of the European Peoples Party Contribution of the EUCDW to the XV congress of the EPP

14.10.2002
Clear Commitment to the European Peoples' Party Unity the Precondition for our Leadership Role Motion of the EUCDW for a resolution of the XV Congress of the EPP

24.09.2002
European Responsibility for Growth and Employment Basic Points for the Budgetary and Tax Policies

03.07.2002
The Convention must ensure Europe for all citizens The Constitution must grant the capacity to act in the area of social affairs

13.05.2002
Shaping Social and Employment Policy ! Open Letter to the EPP and the EPP/ ED Parliamentary Party

24.04.2002
Elections in France : a warning to established parties. Control mechanisms are vital to a stable democracy

27.03.2002
The Convention must Critically Monitor the Intergovernmental Conference. EUCDW demands that the Convention should be represented at talks on the constitutional treaty

20.03.2002
Europe rests in the hands of the national states. EUCDW: Lack of courage of the Top of Barcelona stresses necessity for reforms

13.03.2002
Barcelona: At last a summit of decisions? EUCDW: Social criteria analogous to Maastricht criteria

06.03.2002
Open markets for a better world. EUCDW protests against protectionist US customs

28.02.2002
On the Way to a Value-Based Community. Declaration of all Associations of the EPP on the occasion of the first session of the Convention on the Future of the EU

27.02.2002
Europe and the EURO need Stability. EUCDW criticises decision by Ministers of Finance

EUCDW Board representatives and numerous EUCDW member organisations took part in the EPP Congress in Estoril from the 17th to 18th October 2002.

The EUCDW was represented by either by Luc Delanghe, Elmar Brok MEP, Guido Dumon or Christoph Weisskirchen at the following EPP meetings:

In addition, EUCDW representatives took part in the following EPP working group meetings:

As well as the official seminars and meetings, a series of discussions also took place with party and faction representatives.

In addition, EUCDW representatives also took part in a variety of other EUCDW member organisation seminars and events (for example, the KGZE in Vienna).

06.-09.06.2002 Seminar of the workers group of the EPP/ED group
in the European Parliament (Vienna)

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