Brussels, 10/06/2004
The European Council meeting on 17-18 June is set as the deadline for agreement on the Constitutional Treaty. The ETUC has grave concerns about some of the latest amendments proposed at the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC).
“ Europeans will become increasingly cynical about the European Union's ability to work in their interests if the social aspects of the new Constitution are further diluted”, says John Monks, the General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC).
“Governments must be aware of the risk of a strong reaction building up among the working peoples of Europe if the Constitution is unsatisfactory on social questions,” warns Mr Monks. This could put trade union support for the Constitutional Treaty in jeopardy, with potential repercussions especially in countries planning to hold referendums.
Up to now, the ETUC has consistently backed the principle of a European Constitution as a vital step towards closer integration, calling on governments to reach urgent agreement. However, following the latest behind-closed-doors negotiations at the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC), the ETUC is especially alarmed at moves to water down the status of the Charter of Fundamental Rights (Part II), making it more a declaration than a measure that will have a concrete impact on workers' rights.
This would send out a clear signal that EU governments give a higher priority to “business Europe” than “social Europe” says the ETUC. “Defending the Charter is a primary goal.”
It appears that some governments - and in particular the UK - are currently set on a policy of opposing every positive social initiative coming from the EU. This could have a very damaging impact on voter turnout in the forthcoming European elections, warns John Monks. “Trade union leaders and members who are seeking to encourage people to participate find the ground cut away from under them by the weakening of the European social dimension.”
Furthermore, the lack of transparency and democracy in the current horse-trading over the details of the Constitution undermines its standing and raises fears that the resulting deal will settle for a ‘lowest common denominator' solution that does nothing to promote the interests of working people.
The ETUC has a number of specific concerns:
· The recent introduction of price stability as a union objective, coming before a social market economy, could change the whole emphasis of economic priorities.
· Part III of the Constitution should be consistent with Part I in articulating social objectives such as full employment and a social market economy.
· The text should clearly acknowledge the role of the social partners, and the trade union movement's right to represent working people, at European level.
It is not too late for the European Heads of State and Governments and their representatives on the IGC to reflect on the vital importance of popular support for the Constitution throughout the enlarged EU, and to take the ETUC's views on board.
European Constitution
