Speaking before the Executive Committee of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), on 1 June, European Commissioner László Andor (employment and social affairs) stressed the social partners’ role in implementing the ‘Europe 2020’ strategy over the next ten years and contributing to the shorter-term goal of bringing Europe out of the crisis. “The social partners are often best placed and closest to the workplace and this is why their views, in these times of constant change, are especially important.” On 4 June, he will meet all the social partners to discuss the social dimension of the crisis, with the participation of European Commission President José Manuel Barroso.

ACTIONS FOR 2010 AND 2020

“It’s true that responsibility for employment and social policy lies mainly at national level. But the EU institutions must support the member states and use all the instruments available. And, in the European Commission, we are ready to do so.” The commissioner highlighted the initiatives in his work programme for 2010 and in the new 2020 strategy.

In each case, he commented on the role reserved for unions. For pensions, on which the Commission will present a green paper in June (see Europolitics3988), the commissioner said he was aware of the unions’ position on working longer. “But we have to acknowledge that time spent in retirement has increased considerably over the last decades, with well known consequences for public budgets,” he added. On revision of the Working Time Directive, he welcomed the ETUC’s recently adopted contribution to the first phase consultation and is looking forward to the negotiations with the social partners in the coming months. The commissioner reiterated his commitment to improve implementation of the Posting of Workers Directive through a future legislative proposal.

He also discussed the social dimension of the strategy for the next decade, ‘Europe 2020’: four out of the ten proposed guidelines concern employment and three of the five headline targets concern employment, education and social affairs. “This translates as stronger governance and the need to associate social partners more closely in drawing up and implementing national reform programmes.”

CONCERNS ABOUT AUSTERITY

There is no escaping the fact that Europe is struggling to relaunch its economy and that the austerity measures mushrooming in the member states are a source of concern. The commissioner shares the unions’ concerns: “It is very worrying for immediate growth outlooks but particularly for the social situation and the impact on labour markets,” he said. In addition to strict monitoring by the European Commission, he stressed that “austerity is not the only game in town,” and that to overcome the crisis, member states should opt for growth.