Conclusions of the Meeting of the Troika - Social Partners in the Context of the Informal Council of Ministers of Employment and Social Affairs in Nafplio
Date: 23-1-2003
- The Lisbon Strategy sets out a roadmap for European Union's economic, social and environmental renewal in the medium and long term. It has been instrumental in bringing about structural reforms by building on the mutually reinforcing nature of economic, employment and social policies. The Lisbon Strategy remains the right way forward for an enlarged Union.
- The successful course of the European Employment Strategy within the last five years has played an important role in the fight for full employment. However, there are major challenges ahead, another 15 million jobs have to be created by 2010 if the EU is to meet the ambitious Lisbon employment targets. Member-States and social partners should continue to manage and promote change on the basis of the revamped Employment Strategy which should be more closely linked to the targets set by Heads of state and Government.
- The active participation of the social partners and the deepened dialogue with civil society are cornerstones of the European Social Model and should be strengthened in the context of the Lisbon Strategy.
- The economic slowdown, the ageing population, structural unemployment and remaining gender gaps are all important challenges that call for joint action of governments and social partners.
- The European Employment Strategy, which is the application of the open method of coordination in the employment area, has proved to be an effective mechanism to engage all stakeholder in our strive towards more and better jobs for all, whilst it respects the autonomy and specificity of the views of each partner. The strategy will not be successful without active partnership.
- Social partners have to play a crucial role in the efforts to bring about more and better jobs for all. Their contribution is particularly important when it comes to managing change, striking a new balance between flexibility and security, boosting productivity and increasing life long learning and investment in human capital.
- The first ever multi-annual work-programme for the social partners was strongly welcomed and much emphasis was put on the follow-up. In this context, the specific contribution by social partners to the employment strategy is much awaited. The formalisation of the Tripartite Social Summit for Growth and Employment should provide a effective tool for the social partners to give their contribution on employment and the Lisbon strategy as a whole.
- At the same time, considerable progress has been in enhancing our policy co-operation in social protection through distinct processes covering Social Inclusion, Pensions and cooperation in the field of health care and care for the elderly and 'making work pay'. These various elements could, with the full support of the Social Partners, be streamlining into a single process in order to reinforce the social dimension of the Lisbon Strategy.
With the pronouncement of 2003 as the European Year of People with Disabilities, co-operation with the social partners should contribute to the enhancement of the process of awareness raising, the promotion of equality of opportunities in all fields and the elimination of obstacles faced by people with disabilities, notably with regard to employment. In this context, a close co-operation is needed with the representatives of people with disabilities and the European Platform of Non-Governmental Organisations so that disability issues are mainstreamed in all relevant policies, including Social Protection Policies and consequently in the review of National Action Plans for Social Inclusion.
The Social Partners and civil society have also and important input to make mid term review of the Social Policy Agenda 2000-2005 which will take place during the Greek Presidency. The Commission will host a major event in the run-up to the Spring Summit in order to hear the views of all stakeholders.