Brussels, 21/01/2005
John Monks, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation met President of France Jacques Chirac at the Elysee today.
Following the meeting, John Monks said “I had a very useful meeting with President Chirac. There were points of agreement on the importance of social Europe and the need for this to be reflected fully in the Lisbon strategy and at the forthcoming EU Summit meeting in Brussels in late March”.
There was also a discussion on the Services Directive and the need to ensure that within the single market there is no attempt to social dumping and that workers are properly protected from unfair competition.
The European Constitution was also considered and there was a joint recognition that the advance of social Europe should be at the heart of the debate to secure positive results in the various referendums that are to be held.
There will be continuing contacts between the ETUC and the French Presidency.
