In his Communication on the Social Agenda, Commissioner Spidla has succeeded in demonstrating that social policy should not be relegated to second rank, but will remain a priority for action at European level. This outcome was not self-evident, if one thinks of the Commission’s declarations last week on the Lisbon Strategy.

ETUC General Secretary John Monks said: "This proposal is positive in so far as it places again on the agenda, managing restructuring and promoting European Works Councils as tools to cope with the challenges of globalisation. At the same time, the Social Agenda develops other measures we support, such as gender equality, anti-discrimination, solidarity between generations, and above all the European Initiative for Youth".