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Brussels, 24.03.2004

Spring summit must formulate verifiable targets

Improving productivity - bringing reforms in line with people's values and needs

In view of the upcoming spring summit on 25/26 March 2004, the European Union of Christian Democratic Workers (EUCDW) supports the dual objective of creating sustained growth and hence more and better jobs, and welcomes the fact that the priority issues for the upcoming spring summit include reinforcing the willingness to implement the structural reforms necessary to achieve this objective.

However, in view of the urgency with which these reforms are required, the EUCDW calls upon the European Council to link the required structural reforms to a clear schedule and strict deadlines. European citizens have the right to be able to regularly check whether objectives and targets have been achieved. Against this background, the EUCDW welcomes the EPP-ED faction's call for an interim report in 2005 on the measures achieved up to that point.

The EUCDW is against all job-lot demands for 'more flexibility' in the employment market. It is much more necessary in the first line for social partners to take targeted action to improve competitiveness. To achieve this, reforms are required in all areas: in employment and social policies, as well as in economic and financial policies.

The EUCDW calls in particular for tax systems to be designed in such a way that they are simple and fair and simultaneously safeguard the State's income in view of its responsibility for the social cohesion of society.

With regard to strengthening the competitiveness of the EU, the EUCDW furthermore emphasises the need to improve productivity. This entails affecting changes with regard to the capital intensity of production as well as the total factor productivity.
In order to create the kind of dynamics required to achieve the objectives set out in Lisbon we need to do more than just reform national rules and regulations, improve the structures of the financial markets and increase overall investment levels. One of the most decisive factors regarding any attempt to increase factor productivity is promoting "knowledge production", which means adapting all relevant policies (economic, financial, social, employment and education policies) to people's abilities to learn, to change, to reform.

The structural reforms under debate require that governments and social partners fulfil their responsibilities. The required measures must, however, simultaneously take the requirements of businesses into consideration and address the issue of people's needs and values, such as the compatibility of work and family life and the trust in high standards of social protection. The willingness of the individual to assume responsibility, to become involved in entrepreneurial initiatives and to contribute to society will be decisive in achieving the objective of Lisbon.

This, in turn, means that investments into education policy that aim to achieve a high level of quality across the board - in general as well as vocational education - are needed. Adult education (lifelong learning) in particular could prove to be an important factor in keeping employees in the labour market for longer and that, as a consequence, the structures of the labour market will adapt in the medium-term to the changed demographic conditions.

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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