Greek Prime Minister Simitis: Spring Summit to Give Message of Confidence in EU Economic Prospects
Date: 20-3-2003
BRUSSELS -- Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis, European Council President in-office, on Thursday in Brussels told the first Tripartite Social Summit that the current political conjuncture with the war in Iraq was exacerbating the economic situation and warned of further unfavourable implications on oil prices, international trade, tourist activity, consumers and investors confidence.
"In today's global uncertainty, the Spring Summit is summoned to give a convincing message of development and confidence on Europe's economic prospects and on its potential to generate growth, wealth and jobs," Simitis said.
He said the stable macro-economic framework, long-term viability and the quality of national economies constituted the foundation for growth and the way to confront the implications that Europe's aging population has on social protection systems.
Simitis also said that via the Tripartite Social Summit a better organisation in social dialogue would be institutionalised, and a message would be disseminated to our societies that the EU's political leadership acknowledged the significance of the role of the social partners.
He said the Greek EU presidency was seeking solutions with regard to the Community Directive pertaining to conditions in the workplace through temporary employment offices, and stressed that the approval of the guideline would facilitate businesses to better use human resources and toward the protection of employees in that category.
Referring to migration, the Greek prime minister said that so far the issue was being dealt with as a border protection question, and stressed the need to examine the implications that migration has on the economy, employment, competitiveness, "third market" activities, taxation, the pension system, the policies vis-a-vis society, such as housing, health and education, but also the multiculturalism of our societies.