Irish Congress of Trade Unions General Secretary David Begg and the General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation, Bernadette Ségol have jointly called for a new European Recovery Programme to focus on job creation and the promotion of the European Social Model, as the key to recovery.
The joint call came as the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) met in Dublin for its mid-term conference, on June 5-6, under the theme: High Noon for Social Europe.
Congress General Secretary David Begg addressed the conference, along with union leaders from the UK, France, Sweden, Italy and Germany and elsewhere.
Mr Begg said: 'the ETUC conference of June 5-6 provides a crucial opportunity for European trade unions to demonstrate that there are coherent and concrete alternatives to the destructive policies currently being imposed by diktat.
'trust and confidence in the very worth of the European project have been eroded and undermined in recent years – not least among trade unions - because we have seen the European Social Model undermined and weakened.
'that means lower living standards, lower employment standards and weaker social protection for millions of European citizens.
"If we are to ensure the future of Europe, we must ensure the future of the European Social Model.
"We need a new European Recovery Programme that will focus on the creation of good, decent jobs as a policy priority and tackle youth unemployment to help keep our young at home. Above all, it means giving hope to millions across Europe that the future can be better," Mr Begg said.
ETUC leader Bernadette Ségol added: "In the recent years, we have not seen any movement towards Social Europe. We see, on the contrary, initiatives to liberalise, to deregulate, to get workers to compete downwards on wages and working conditions.
"With one year to go before the next European elections and increasing anti-EU sentiment amongst its citizens, the European Union is facing its "High noon for Social Europe".
'the empty rhetoric of EU leaders about going beyond austerity and stimulate new growth and jobs will not convince citizens as long as real policies keep concentrating on 'structural reforms" which weaken the social dimension of our economy.
'social Europe must be at the core of all economic decisions. Social Europe is not an optional appendage to economic governance - it is part and parcel of economic governance.
"We have always been supportive of the EU project primarily because it aimed not only at economic integration but was also meant to foster social progress and full employment. We remain convinced that potentially, the European Union is a project worth investing in, but we need a change of course and major investment programme to restore sustainable growth if Social Europe is to become a reality. Without this change the ETUC's support cannot be taken for granted," Bernadette Ségol said.
