French Presidency must act on Social Europe

The French Presidency starts on 1st July and the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) looks forward to working with the Presidency although Social Europe is not amongst its four priorities (energy and climate change, migration, security and defence, agricultural policy).

The social dimension will depend very much on the concrete legislative proposals of the New Social Agenda to be announced on Wednesday which should be progressive unlike the unfortunate political agreement on working time. The ETUC expects the French Presidency to take up the widespread unease within Europe amongst citizens and workers; and to this end, a social progress protocol added to the treaties at the next revision would be an important step forwards.

The ETUC would also welcome an initiative to start a revision of the Posted Workers Directive which has become necessary after the recent harmful decisions of the European Court of Justice. The French Presidency has to show that Europe is not about unfair competition or promoting low salaries as competitive advantage, but that Social Europe is alive, progressive and raises standards.

ETUC General Secretary, John Monks, commented :"The French Presidency must act on Social Europe if that concept is to remain meaningful and powerful".

The ETUC exists to speak with a single voice, on behalf of the common interests of workers, at European level. Founded in 1973, it now represents 82 trade union organisations in 36 European countries, plus 12 industry-based federations.