Weber, Tina

In its recently published opinion on the conclusion of the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC), the Union of Industrial and Employers' Confederations of Europe (UNICE) underlines the need for the negotiating parties to "place a strengthening of Europe's competitiveness at the heart of the (new) Treaty, since promotion of competitiveness is the sine qua non to increase employment". The promotion of employment can, according to UNICE, never be treated in isolation. While European employers have repeatedly pronounced themselves in favour of the Essen employment strategy, they are keen to underline that responsibility for employment policy must continue to lie primarily with the member states.

The negotiating teams representing the Union of Industrial and Employers' Confederations of Europe (UNICE), the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) and the European Centre of Enterprises with Public Participation and of Enterprises of General Economic Interest (CEEP) reached a draft framework agreement on part-time work in the evening of 14 May 1997.

The importance of continuing vocational education is increasingly being recognised by policy-makers across the European Union, not only because of its positive impact on maintaining the competitiveness of enterprises, but also because of its potential contribution to the free movement of labour and the improvement of employment prospects. This is particularly important in the context of the evolving "information society". The Commission has given particular emphasis and resources to continuing training through its vocational training programme, LEONARDO, and in declaring 1996 the European Year of Lifelong Learning.

The Green Paper focuses on three questions:

Padraig Flynn, the commissioner responsible for employment, industrial relations and social affairs, announced on 3 April 1997 that the Commission is to take infringement proceedings against three member states for their failure to apply certain Community legislation in the social field. Reasoned opinions outlining the Commission's view are to be sent to France, Italy and Greece. The details of the cases are as follows:

The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) has published more information about the activities to be launched as part of its "European Day of Action for Employment", to take place all across the EU as well as in some Central and Eastern European countries on 28 May 1997.

In a recent report (/Social Europe/ 4/96, published in March/April 1997), the European Commission assesses the progress towards the achievement of the goals of the medium-term social action programme covering the period between 1995-7. This social action programme, adopted in April 1995, is seen by the Commission as marking a breakthrough for new ideas and policies. The basic concept underlying the programme is that social policy is a productive factor facilitating change and progress, rather than a burden on the economy or an obstacle to growth.

Speaking at the Institute of European Affairs in Dublin, Padraig Flynn, the commissioner for employment, industrial relations and social affairs, outlined his priorities for the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) and provided the audience with an update of the continuing negotiations leading up the Amsterdam summit in June (EU9704117F [1]). [1] www.eurofound.europa.eu/ef/observatories/eurwork/articles/undefined/progress-of-the-intergovernmental-conference

The issue of the use of national and European subsidies to support employment in a particular country, region or sector, has come under the spotlight in recent weeks in the context of the controversy which has arisen from Renault's announcement of the closure of its factory at Vilvoorde in Belgium (see Record EU9703108F [1]). Renault's request for subsidies to expand its operations in Spain was blocked by European competition policy commissioner, Karel Van Miert, in order to investigate whether EU funding was being used to transfer employment to a region offering lower wage and social costs. [1] www.eurofound.europa.eu/ef/observatories/eurwork/articles/undefined-working-conditions/the-renault-case-and-the-future-of-social-europe

On 19 March 1997, the European Commission launched the second stage of consultations with the social partners under the Maastricht Agreement on social policy on the proposal for an EU policy to counter sexual harassment at work. At this second stage, the social partners will be able to choose whether to go down the route of negotiation - leading to a framework agreement which can be given legal validity at the EU level. The alternative would be to submit their views in anticipation of a policy initiative emanating from the Commission.