Commission co-chairs Extraordinary Tripartite Social Summit on employment and growth
Date: 11-12-2003 - Brussels
Romano Prodi, President of the European Commission, will today co-chair with the Italian Presidency a meeting with representatives of employers and workers the 'social partners' - to discuss the Commission's growth initiative and the report of the Employment Task Force, chaired by former Dutch Prime Minister Wim Kok. The contribution of the social partners is crucial if the European Union is to reach the targets it has set for itself in the area of employment.
President Prodi said "The European Social Model is based on mutual confidence and a partnership approach. The European Commission sees dialogue with the social partners as a fundamental part of that model". Anna Diamantopoulou, Commissioner for Employment and Social Affairs added: "These Tripartite summits confirm the importance of the social dialogue at European level. Social partners now need to ensure that they play their part in tackling the challenges posed by the current economic situation, and the forthcoming enlargement of the European Union."
The decision to hold this Extraordinary Tripartite Summit was taken at the European Council meeting in October. Concern was expressed by some Member States about the current economic and employment situation in Europe, and it was agreed that the views of the social partners would play a vital role in restoring the potential for economic and employment growth, looking towards the 2010 targets on employment.
Since that meeting in October, there have been two major initiatives of direct relevance: the Commission's proposal for a European Initiative on Growth, designed to stimulate economic recovery within Europe, and the presentation by the Employment Task Force, set up in March 2003, of its final report. The "Kok report", as it is known, takes stock of the present situation of the EU labour market, analyses the main reasons why the EU risks not meeting all of its employment targets and identifies concrete reforms.
President Prodi and Prime Minister Berlusconi will report to the European Council the following day on the results of the discussions with social partners.
The summit will be attended by:
European Commission: President Prodi will be accompanied by Commissioner Diamantopoulou.
Social partners: representatives of employers and workers, with UNICE speaking for employers and ETUC for workers. Other organisations present will be CEEP (enterprises with public participation), UEAPME (small and medium-sized enterprises), Eurocadres (managerial staff unions).
Member States/Council: Mr Berlusconi, President of the European Council will co-chair the meeting. Heads of State and Government from future Irish and Dutch Presidencies will also attend.