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INFO.
Nr 10 The
European Council of Lisbon on 23rd and 24th March 2000 the European Heads of State and Government met each other at the Lisbon Summit with the theme "Employment, economic reform and social cohesion" in order to discuss possibilities to improve employment in Europe. The EUCDW welcomes all concrete steps taken in this direction. However she regrets that the differentiated approach of the Employment guidelines was given up in favour of global objectives. The European strategy formulated by Christian-democratic Heads of Government in order to promote responsibility of Member States and social partners has contributed today to a decrease of unemployed in the EU. The EUCDW is against the approval of challenges of the modern information society without any critic. All people should have the possibility to live a social life, particularly a professional life, and not only those who use modern means of communication. In this field the EUCDW wants the social-democratic Heads of Government to strengthen the participation of Workers with the introduction of modern technologies. In this INFO you will find a critical evaluation of the summit of Lisbon in view of the further steps on European employment policy level. Luc Delanghe The European Council of Lisbon evaluation Concrete goals The conclusions of the most recent European Employment Summit show only a small progress in the European employment policy. The so-called "new open method of co-ordination" cannot be seen as a large progress regarding the specification of the European Employment policy, not to mention the quantification of the goals. The EUCDW demanded following: "The employment guidelines must be further specified, namely on a time limit for implementation, on the quantification of the objectives, and on the evaluation and control of those objectives. To At least 25% of the unemployed people must be offered training facilities or other appropriate measures." It is besides questionable whether the desired rise of the employment quota contributes to a large extent to a dismantling of unemployment; The EUCDW welcomes rather the approach of the Employment guidelines instead of this global approach, concretely to help the specific "problem groups" (long-term unemployed, youth) to enter the job market. in this context the EUCDW misses a clear commitment to the fact that the employment policy must lead to the creation of life - ensured and sustainable jobs. Concerning the reflation, the EUCDW welcomes the planned efforts in order to improve the risk capital markets for small and medium-sized enterprises. The EUCDW misses however in this context the promotion of voluntary and socially acceptable models of participation of the Employees to the capital of the productivity. Qualification Concerning the contents of the employment policy, it is correct that the qualification of the people regarding their integration into the job market is important. The new technologies have an outstanding role. But we may not - as in the final conclusions - turn upside down the requirements: Before we demand that each citizen who acquires the abilities, which are necessary for life and work in this information society, the structures and techniques of this information society must be examined whether they are oriented according the needs and the abilities of the people. The reduction of the qualification profile on a few high-tech aspects described in the Council document, does not calculate that a broad academic education and occupational formation as well as an appropriate continuing education which connects traditional and "new" knowledge and occupational segregation still offer the best career opportunities. Besides this is also the only way to prevent new discriminations and social exclusions of people, who are not qualified for the new demands. Social protection The EUCDW welcomes the fact that the European Council introduced the first steps regarding a European process in the fight against poverty. However it misses a clear commitment to the fact that the social security systems need to be adapted to ensure an existential protection for all entitled citizens in the European Union. The trend to establish employment-friendly social protection systems may not mislead us with the fact that all population groups can be integrated in the active job market policy; therefore social safety nets at high level are needed. In this context the EUCDW expects that the announced study on the future evolution of social protection from a long-term point of view, will be realised with priority, so that according reform steps can be introduced as quick as possible. Finally the EUCDW does not only demand common social minimum standards for the working conditions, but also in different other areas of work and social law such as the right to resign or the integration of people with a disability into the working life. The possibilities, which are offered in the Treaty of Amsterdam in view of the fight against social exclusion, must be realised. Participation rights of the employees The EUCDW points out that the Heads of State or Government did not take any decision regarding the improvement of the information, consultation and participation rights of the employees in relation to Company decisions (EUROPA-AG). It is about the creation or cancellation of jobs, and about investments in people or machines.
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).
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