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EUCDW Annual Report 2003
Introduction For the EUCDW, 2003 was a year dominated by helping with the work being done on the European constitution. The EUCDW followed the discussions of the EU Commission and the Inter-Governmental Conference and, where relevant passed comment with public statements. The Board, the Presidency and, not least, the Policy working group were all involved in this. There were also countless personal contacts made by or via President Elmar Brok MEP (a member of the EU Commission and representative of the EU Parliament at the Inter-Governmental Conference). All in all, we can sum up by recording that we were able to contribute to establishing the values of the social market economy, or rather to the integral and legally binding adoption of the Charter of Fundamental Rights, in the EU Commission's draft of the constitution. Despite every effort, we failed to achieve similar success on the issue of extending the EU's ability to act in the area of social policy. In doing this work, the EUCDW was pursuing a resolution from the Board, which had assigned particular importance in 2002 to social and employment policy becoming deeply embedded in the framework of the EU constitution. While we can formally describe the four demands made at that time as successfully accepted it should however be noted that it will be more difficult in the future, by way of example, to gain the necessary qualified majority in a larger European Council.
The discussions about the European constitution have also made it clear that what is understood by the term 'political union' is very different in the various EU Member States. These differences are largely to do with the relative proportions of Economic Union and Political Union. The fact, for example, that it was not even possible to transfer the questions of 'Protection against wrongful dismissal' and 'Representation of workers' interests' (except for 'Worker participation') from unanimous voting to the qualified majority procedure is a clear sign that too little importance is attributed to the European contribution concerning the social cohesion of our societies. One note: interestingly, relevant blocking positions also came from none other than the camp of Member States run by Social Democrats. Both in preparing the 2004-2009 programme of campaigns and in the 'Economic and social policy' working group, the EUCDW was also repeatedly involved within the EPP in the debate about reforms to economic, social and employment policy. In this work, the EUCDW's contributions were always based on the premise that fundamental change can only be achieved with the willingness of working people to adapt and learn new skills. The Union rejected capitalist polices that were exclusively competition-oriented and market-led, just as it did centrally oriented approaches. The EUCDW therefore welcomes the wording (in the EPP campaign programme) on the reform of social security systems, which simply rejects complete privatisation: "It is important to draw a distinction between the two areas that make up social responsibility: social security based on contributions, public finances or private insurance mechanism on the one hand, and public financed social assistance on the other. The EPP strives for maintaining solidarity while asking for more private responsibility at the same time. Social security systems must be more open to individual differences. This is especially important in order to make it possible to work in different countries during different periods in life." In the course of discussions about the EPP programme of campaigns, we were able to agree this compromise formula jointly with the SME Union. It is also positive to note that prior to the EPP Election Congress (February 2004), we were able to work up a joint resolution (autumn 2003) with all of the EPassociations. For the EUCDW, 2004 will be dominated by the European elections and by preparing content for the European Parliament's coming legislative period. In view of the debate on reforms (for example, the constantly repeated, non-specific, all-embracing call for more 'flexibility in the labour market'), the EUCDW must work up its own, carefully targeted positions. However, it must also be aware of the consequences, for example, of privatisation and competitive pressures on public services, where providing citizens with the necessary, high quality services at affordable prices must ultimately take centre stage. In many policy statements made in 2003, 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 European Social Politics. This has to continued in 2004 and the years to come. 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 within the EPP. I would like to make special mention of First Vice President Fritz Neugebauer, who presided some of the Board Meetings, as well as Tom De Saegher, chairman of the 'working group politics', as well as Vice President Guido Dumon and Secretary General Christoph Weisskirchen who followed the discussions concerning the EPP Action Program 2004-2009.
Activities In summary, the following EUCDW meetings took place during the year:
The Board met on three occasions: on the 26th April 2003 in the Hotel Ciutat de Castelldefels, Castelldefels (Barcelone, Catalonia), on the 28th June 2003 in the training centre of Angermünde, Angermünde (Brandenburg, Germany) as well as on the 04th October 2003 in the Casa di Spiritualità, Massa Pisana (Lucca, Italien). At the meeting in Castelldefels President Elmar Brok MEP reported on the current situation at the EU Convention; after a wide-ranging discussion (covering many topics, including 'open coordination' or 'participatory democracy') the Board approved a statement on the subject of 'Political Union' (issued on 26th April, 2003). A second major topic was the question of the extent to which workers' associations can contribute to the representation of workers' interests. After a long debate, the Board agreed upon a position that recognised both the contribution of workers' associations and other forms of institutionalised worker representation. Other political initiatives were along the lines of 'Take-over Guidelines' and 'the nature of public contracts'. In Angermünde the Board continued to work on the questions posed at Castelldefels and also did preliminary work on the EUCDW's position in preparation for the 2004-2009 EPP campaign programme. Concrete amendments to this were then agreed at the meeting in Lucca, as was a position on the 'Public Services' Green Book and a statement on Cuba. With a view to the European constitution, the EUCDW Board agreed a statement that was sent to all members of the Inter-Governmental Conference.
Outside
of the Board and Presidency meetings, the Working Group 'Politics' met
on 06.01.2003, 21./22.02.2003, 01.04.2003, 21.05.2003, 11.06.2003; 10.09.2003.
Political Work In total the EUCDW published in the last year 13 position papers (see also: positions):
04.11.2003
21.10.2003
23.09.2003
10.09.2003
10.07.2003
26.04.2003
21.03.2003
11.03.2003
04.03.2003
07.02.2003
14.01.2003 06.01.2003
Participation in EPP Meetings At the following EPP meetings, the EUCDW was represented either by President Elmar Brok MEP or Vice-president Guido Dumon or Secretary General Christoph Weisskirchen:
05/06.05.2003 Political Bureau 15.10.2003 Political Bureau 08/09.12.2003 Political Bureau
Working
Group 2 (Economic and social policy): Working Group 3 (Expansion): Guido Dumon Working
Group 5 (Foreign policy): Amendments
Commission
Discussions and Seminar Participation 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).
EUCDW-Dates
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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