ETUC assesses the Social results of the German Presidency
The ETUC regards the Presidency as a period in which progress made with regard to EU social policy and legislation can be measured. While ETUC recognizes that an EU Presidency cannot make decisions on its own and needs the cooperation of the Commission, the European Parliament and the Council if it is to take effective action, any Presidency has a special role to play in the way it leads debates, establishes priorities, prepares the practical work done and profiles specific issues.
The ETUC is not giving an overall political assessment of the German Presidency’s performance. The verdict is based primarily on the Memorandum that ETUC presented to the German Presidency (27 February 2007).
Based on this Memorandum, the ETUC concludes that the main priorities of the German Presidency were an agreement on Energy, Climate Change and the Constitutional Treaty. The Presidency has demonstrated professionalism, but did not achieve progress on the social policy objectives, for instance on working time or temporary agencies. It seems fair to say that the Union’s performance has further improved but there is still ample room for further improvement. The innovation issue disappeared from the EU radar screens.
In several instances the European Commission was clearly responsible for the lack of progress (framework for services of general interest; revision of European work councils). In other cases, various governments in the Council delayed the adoption of a compromise or insisted on compromises that are inadequate for the social dimension of the European Union (temporary agency workers; revision of working time directive).
TEN SOCIAL TESTS FOR THE GERMAN PRESIDENCY | VERDICT
1. European Constitution : Positive result
2. Energy: Mixed result
3. Climate Change: Positive result
4. Lisbon Strategy: No progress
5. Quality of jobs and work: Positive result
6. Labour law: Mixed result
7. Information, consultation, participation: No progress
8. Better Regulation Agenda: Mixed result
9.Sustainable Development: Mixed result
10. Portability of Pensions:Negative result
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