European Commission puts social conscience on show
LUCIA KUBOSOVA
02.07.2008 @ 17:45 CET
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The European Commission has come up with a renewed "social agenda" to highlight its efforts for better protection of citizens, despite criticism by some in the European Parliament and in national capitals, accusing Brussels of a narrow focus on economic growth and the internal market.
The commission's health care proposal aims to help patients to receive medical help outside their home country (Photo: wikipedia)
"Europe's social dimension has never been as relevant as it is today," commission president Jose Manuel Barroso said on Wednesday (2 July) in a statement on a package of documents addressing the key social policy areas where Europe is currently active.
Patients' rights and a new anti-discrimination bill have so far attracted the most attention in the basket of policies, but the social agenda also includes specific ideas on how to help Roma people, as well as a proposal on works councils which currently operate in 820 major firms and cover some 14.5 million employees.
Brussels argues the role of works councils in big multinational companies should be strengthened, so as to help foster "transnational social dialogue in large enterprises, to improve corporate governance and to anticipate and manage change in a socially responsible way."
Employers' groups fear the move would mean a slow-down in corporate decision-making. The commission's proposal runs "counter to its intention of having a social agenda that is responsive to change," reacted BusinessEurope, an umbrella group of big businesses.
Arnaldo Abruzzini of Eurochambres commented "we question the rationale of the whole package, which appears like a patchwork of a dozen of initiatives, randomly put together without any clear coherence," adding that there could be questionable impact on businesses from some of the proposals.
On the other hand, the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) argues Brussels has made a "modest step forward" with its social agenda in general and on works councils in particular.
But ETUC chief John Monks said "We are waiting for stronger and more ambitious initiatives."
In a similar tone, The Social Platform, the alliance of European NGOs active in the social sector expressed some "measured optimism" on the commission's package while noting that a clear commitment to making social issues central to EU strategy is still some way off.
"Until the commission puts forward a social pact, making concrete pledges for social progress central to its vision for the EU, equality for all and the eradication of poverty will be impossible to achieve," said Conny Reuter, president of the Social Platform.
In a final remark in his briefing to journalists on Wednesday, social policy commissioner Vladimir Spidla said "if you expect social progress, don't expect it will arrive by mere action in Brussels. We all together make up Europe and we all have to work together to achieve it."