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Brussels, 21.03.2003

Better motivated = More competitive

The way out of crisis calls simultaneously for increases in productivity and social security

In view of the spring summit of European government leaders and heads of state, EUCDW has issued a warning against a tendency towards simple, poorly differentiated solutions. Reducing costs, lowering taxes, or the simplification of authorizing procedures for companies, will not automatically point the way to higher growth and employment. EUCDW cannot, in particular, see to which extent the policy of market liberalisation (such as in energy or through the introduction of a Europe-wide financial market) has generated any serious new impetus for growth.

EUCDW assumes that the coordination of economic, employment and social policy can only be realized by aiming at an equal priority of these policy areas. Higher competitiveness (especially of small and medium size businesses) requires motivated workers who are keen to learn.

This means that a good social climate is at least as important a factor of production, as taxes and national insurance contributions.

A good social climate requires an affordable level of social security, being able to provide existential security for citizens of the European Union being entitled to it. But the employment friendly creation of social security systems can not ignore the fact that not all population groups can be integrated by this active job market policy; therefore social safety nets at high level must be present.

Education and training of employees as well as lifelong learning are of crucial importance for a high level of employment and for a stable economic development. Therefore the E.U. and the Member States should promote the development and the use of new technologies as well as a good qualification of workers. Further important elements in this context are the development and modernisation of apprentice systems, the development of training concepts for the transmission of computer skills to pupils, students, and teaching staff, the equipment of schools with computers, and the facilitation of Internet access for pupils and students.

Furthermore, there is the need for training concepts for those having problems in dealing with new technologies.

EUCDW does not expect a major employment policy programme, but rather a structured series of concepts consisting of many small steps, linked to each other on a European level. For this to be successful, it is necessary to involve the social partners more closely in the preparation of the guidelines on a European level and in their implementation on a national level.

20-21.03.2003
European Council - Conclusions
in English, en Français, in Deutsch
(EN, FR, DE, ES, PT, IT, NL ...)

Document for the spring top 2003

The Lisbon strategy for economic, social and environmental renewal:
Documents in English, des documents en français, Dokumente in Deutsch
(EN, FR, DE, ES, PT, IT, NL ...)

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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