At the urging of the European trade unions, the social partners will meet European Commission President José Manuel Barroso and Commissioner László Andor to discuss the social dimension of the crisis. The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) wrote to the Commission president, on 14 May, to ask him to organise a tripartite social summit as a matter of urgency, considering the austerity plans that are being adopted across Europe. The meeting, which will be less formal that a tripartite social summit, will take the form of a working breakfast, during which the social partners (BusinessEurope, ETUC and UEAPME) will submit a common declaration on the ‘Europe 2020’ strategy to the Commission president.

The ETUC is pleased that its appeal was heeded and has made it known that it will defend a recovery plan to stimulate growth in the EU and strong industrial policies, the strengthening of fiscal coordination at European level and further efforts to tighten financial regulations. At its Executive Committee meeting, on 1 and 2 June, the ETUC also decided to launch a campaign for more growth and against cuts in public spending.