By Chris Jones - 28th September 2005
EU policy makers and national governments have been told they need to work more closely with Europe's social partners if they want to "steer Europe out of lethargy".
This was the message from trade union leaders, small businesses and public sector representatives at a summit on Thursday commemorating 20 years of European ‘social dialogue’ between employees and employers.
“European social dialogue needs to adapt to the current realities of the European economy if it is to make a meaningful contribution towards achieving the European Commission’s growth and competitiveness goals,” said Paul Reckinger, head of small businesses organisation UEAPME.
With unemployment currently standing at 22 million the EU is still far short of achieving its 2000 Lisbon strategy goal of turning Europe into the world’s most competitive economy by the end of the decade.
EU Social Affairs chief Vladimir Spidla said that the European Commission recognised that there was much work still to be done, and called on the social partners to outline specific areas where changes were necessary.
“We must have a clear idea of what we want to change and what needs more work,” he said.
"The social partners are best placed to take the lead on this."
He added that he expected to see a number of concrete proposals on the table at next month’s informal meeting of EU employment ministers in London.
The meeting will be the last time the social partners will meet with national governments and EU officials before the publication of a new three-year action plan in December.
The ageing European workforce, the effects of industrial restructuring and measures to counter falling productivity rates are expected to be among the key issues tackled over the next three years.
Jacques Delors was the first commission president to suggest closer negotiations between the EU policy makers, national governments and the social partners back in 1985.
But it was not until 1991 that the results of these discussions became binding on all member states.
Since then, employees have benefited from new regulations on parental leave, fixed-term contracts and work-related stress, among others.
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