John Monks, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) met the European Commission President, José Manuel Barroso, together with Philippe de Buck, General Secretary of UNICE.

During this meeting, Mr Monks underlined the importance of Social Europe which should not be put on the back burner of the European construction. If this was the case, the European citizens’ support for Europe as well as for its Constitution would no longer be assured. The ETUC supports the need for high growth and more and better jobs but it insists on the necessity to maintain a strong social European model. This message will be expressed within the framework of meetings between the Commissioners Spidla and Verheugen this week and with the President of the Luxemburg Presidency Mr Juncker.