By Chris Jones - 29th September 2005
European Commission President José Manuel Barroso reacted strongly yesterday to criticism that European citizens wanted jobs, not talk.
Speaking after the European Social Dialogue Summit in Brussels, Barroso said that such meetings were vital if Europe was to tackle problems like high unemployment.
“These discussions have moved us closer to the goal of consensus on the way to stimulate job production in Europe,” he said.
“We cannot pretend that everyone sees eye to eye on this issue, so dialogue is vital.”
The summit celebrated 20 years of European social dialogue between policy makers and social partners.
But it was also an opportunity for business leaders and trade unions to begin negotiations on the direction European social policy should take over the next three years.
John Monks, head of the ETUC, said that the trade unions had highlighted seven areas of concern, including conditions for migrant workers, the ageing workforce and pensions.
“We need to look at examples of good social policy in Europe – Nordic active labour market policies or German vocational training standards, for example.”
“We have to develop a new agenda for social Europe that doesn’t just defend the status quo but faces up to Europe’s problems.”
Ernest Antoine Seillière, head of the European business leaders’ federation UNICE, said that improving social Europe also required action from the policy makers.
“We need a rapid agreement from the member states on the new EU budget.”
“What use is talking about investing in innovation to boost jobs if we cannot even agree on how much money the EU has to spend?”
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