The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) welcomes the achievements of European integration, which has brought peace and prosperity for 50 years, and offered a framework for the unification of Europe. Since the 1980s, a social dimension has been added to the main macro-economic, financial and monetary pillars, and is crucial to securing popular support for continuing integration. Through peaceful means of negotiation, dialogue and compromise the European Union (EU) has built an area of greater economic and social progress, cooperation and democracy than anywhere else in the world. The EU, governed by social and ethical principles and committed to high levels of social protection, high living standards, sustainable development, social justice and equal opportunities for all, is a model for other regions of the world.

Over the last 50 years, European integration has also encouraged trade unions to look beyond their national frontiers and to develop new means of working together and offering mutual solidarity. The European Trade Union Confederation - set up in 1973 as a democratic alliance of trade unions that respects pluralism and diversity - makes this possible.

Trade unions were invented in Europe, and it is no coincidence that Europe has shorter working days, longer holidays, greater social responsibility, better social security systems, more universal public services and less inequality than other parts of the world. A social policy chapter, the recognition of European social dialogue (as co-regulatory process) and an ambitious first social policy agenda and work programme constituted major steps towards a more social Europe and the development of the European Social Model. This was followed by legislation on health and safety in the workplace, working conditions, non-discrimination and gender equality, the right to information and consultation and the creation of European Works Councils. But since the late nineties, progress has stalled and the social dimension of the EU has been neglected.

An ambitious agenda is needed

The ETUC is disappointed by the lack of progress on the social dimension of the internal market, the recent unambitious social policy agendas, the standstill in the Lisbon Strategy, and the lack of action on services of general interest.

 The European Constitution

The EU has come a long way down the integration road. But the current constitutional debate following the so-called reflection period must reach a resolution that gives adequate weight to Social Europe. The text of the Constitutional Treaty takes into consideration, to a large extent, the wishes of citizens, workers and trade unions to develop a more efficient and social Europe. Above all, it gives legal weight to the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, with crucial clauses guaranteeing the right to strike and engage in collective bargaining. The Charter is not yet legally binding, so the ETUC insists that it must remain part of any final EU Constitutional Treaty.

 More and better jobs

Despite some recent advances, key challenges such as unemployment and job quality remain unanswered. Over the last 50 years the EU has worked towards creating a single European market for goods and services, and is well on the way to creating one European labour market as well. Now workers too need a level playing field, guaranteeing fair and equal treatment across Europe, protecting the rights of migrant workers and of trade unions to reach collective agreements.

Instead, precarious work is on the rise in the EU. The ongoing push towards ’flexicurity’ in the labour market is only acceptable if it leads to improvements in the quality of work through decent jobs and adequate wages, an end to the expansion of precarious work, a better reconciliation between work and private life and better health and safety in the workplace. It must also combine job security with new forms of assistance for workers, in order to offer adequate social protection, the maintenance of rights and support to income during transition periods, safeguarding of professional paths and the skills needed to confront the rapid pace of change and industrial restructuring. The role of the EU should be, through a combination of legislative and contractual instruments, to establish minimum standards for working conditions, designed to combat unfair competition and social dumping in the labour market and across borders.

 EU legislation

Recent ’social’ legislation proposals have been not so much social as deregulatory, strengthening the hand of business and weakening worker protection. The worst examples have been the failure to end the opt-out from the Working Time Directive, and the original ’Bolkestein’ Directive on services in the internal market - defeated by the trade union movement and European Parliament - which threatened widespread social dumping by applying the country of origin principle as the key driver in opening up markets.

The ETUC welcomes the growing influence of the European Parliament in EU policy-making, and the willingness it has shown to listen to the voice of European citizens, as an important contribution to strengthening democracy in Europe.

The ETUC wants to see better EU legislation on gender equality, information, consultation and co-determination in companies, European Works Councils and health and safety at work. The EU must urgently adopt the draft directive guaranteeing fair treatment for temporary agency workers, and the European Commission should present proposals on the protection of new forms of atypical work.

 Public services High quality public services are a precondition for the general welfare of citizens and workers. The ETUC therefore expects the European Commission to propose a legal framework to support the efforts of the Member States to ensure the quality of services of general interest and their accessibility to all.

 Growing inequalities

We note with concern that the nature of capitalism is changing, moving away from the traditional pact between employer and employee towards the casino capitalism of hedge funds, private equity buy-outs and quick investment returns. There must be regulation of this trend, if we are not to see acceleration in layoffs, casualisation and outsourcing, and a widening rift between rich and poor in society. So far, the EU’s response has been inadequate.

 Energy and sustainable development

The ETUC believes Europe must urgently develop a common energy strategy, to safeguard jobs and supply. Achieving sustainable development requires a greater sense of responsibility on the part of decision-makers and industry. Climate change is an overriding priority for society around the world, and the ETUC is pressing for investment in green technologies and deep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions. It believes climate change can be a spur to new employment and social cohesion opportunities. However, the social impacts of all measures must be taken into account and managed fairly.

 Combating discrimination 2007 is the European Year of Equal Opportunities for All. But a recent survey showed that many EU citizens are unaware of European legislation outlawing discrimination. There is still a long way to go. For example, it is unacceptable that 50 years after the signing of the Treaty of Rome, women still earn on average 15% less then men across the EU.

 Social Dialogue

As a European social partner, the ETUC has shown that it is a mature partner in policy formulation in Europe and that it can make a major contribution to progress in all these areas through autonomous negotiations between the social partners and the process of consultation by the European Commission. It is essential for the Commission to demonstrate a stronger political will to use its right of initiative in the social policy field in order to strengthen social policies and the European Social Model.

The future

As the European Union moves into its second half-century, it must commit itself to promoting and strengthening the European Social Model. The European institutions have to show how they plan to solve economic and social problems in a forward-looking way, addressing public demands for sustainable development, full employment, welfare and consumer protection and a response to globalisation. If the EU is to win the support of workers and their families, it must also highlight fundamental rights and social and labour market conditions in its official declaration. The EU must promote the principles and values of Europe’s social model at the international level. A fairer globalisation can only be achieved through the inclusion of a social clause in all EU trade agreements with other countries, promoting respect for fundamental rights and principles at work and the agenda of decent work for all. The ETUC welcomes the declaration issued the Labour Ministers of nine EU Member States on ‘Enhancing Social Europe’ and expects the remaining EU countries to subscribe to it as well.

Fifty years after the signature of the Rome Treaty is more important than ever to understand that Europe’s social dimension represents a vital investment in its people, and to make social policy as important as economic growth. The EU and its Member States must work for human dignity, equal opportunities, social justice, democracy, freedom, social dialogue, social protection and inclusion, and a decent standard of living for everyone.