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 Portuguese Presidency’s performance. The verdict is based primarily on the Memorandum that ETUC presented to the Portuguese Presidency (29 June 2007).

Based on this Memorandum, the ETUC concludes that the main priorities of the Portuguese Presidency were an agreement on the Lisbon Treaty. The ETUC welcomes the fact that the Portuguese Presidency has been able to conduct the treaty reform to a signature in December. A preliminary evaluation of the content shows that the agreement is a big step forward compared to the Nice treaty, but a step back compared to the EU draft constitution which introduced a hierarchy of norms putting Fundamental Rights above simple policy rules. The Charter of Fundamental Rights becomes legally binding – with exception of UK and Poland which is deplorable. It is not in the Treaty itself but is given treaty status. The ETUC regrets that the article on social dialogue was downgraded to the social policy chapter. The Presidency has demonstrated professionalism, but did not achieve progress on the social policy objectives, for instance on working time or temporary agencies or the revision of the EWC directive.

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 PORTUGUESE PRESIDENCY VERDICT

1. Lisbon Treaty: Overall positive result

2. Energy: No progress

3. Climate Change: No progress

4. New cycle of Lisbon Strategy: Insufficient

5. Flexicurity debate : Positive

6. Migration: Insufficient

7. Information, consultation, participation: No progress

8. Better Regulation Agenda: No progress

9. Sustainable Development: No progress

10. Portability of Pensions: No progress