LISBON AGENDA: The European trade union movement has expressed strong concern about proposals to create a new European Commission vice-president for competitiveness, saying it would relegate Europe's social aims below the drive for economic growth.
After Europe's "social summit" yesterday, chaired by the Taoiseach, differences of emphasis between unions and employers emerged in relation to the priority to be attached to different elements of the so-called "Lisbon Agenda". This is a programme of measures arising from the pledge at the Lisbon summit in 2000 that the EU will become the "most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world" by 2010.
This reform agenda will be discussed at the European Council meeting this morning. The Irish EU Presidency has concentrated the session on seeking economic growth and creating more jobs. The Lisbon Agenda also includes social and environmental aims.
The general secretary of the European Trade Union Congress, Mr John Monks, said yesterday he had expressed concerns about the suggestion from some member-states that there be a European Commission vice-president for competitiveness.
"The idea in our minds is that the balance between economic and social progress. . .would be derailed by the idea that the competitiveness function would be promoted to a superior status to the social dimension."
This morning the European Council will leave open the prospect of such an appointment in the next European Commission which will take office in November. In the formal "conclusions" of today's discussion on competitiveness - which have already been prepared - the Heads of State and Government will say that when forming the next Commission, the incoming Commission President "will wish to consider how to ensure the competitiveness agenda is effectively supported".
This is a reference to the proposal by Germany, backed by France and Britain, to appoint a vice-president for competitiveness, elevating the issue to a more senior level than in the past. Such a vice-president would co-ordinate the work of other commissioners in the economic area.
Unions fear that such a powerful figure could block social and environmental measures if they were deemed to be contrary to economic growth and the needs of industry.
However, the secretary general of the European employers' federation, UNICE, Mr Philippe de Buck, yesterday backed the proposal and said appointing a vice-president for competitiveness was "not against social affairs, it's not relegating social affairs to a lower level".
The Taoiseach confirmed the appointment of the former Dutch prime minister, Mr Wim Kok, to head a high-level group that would review progress in implementing the Lisbon Agenda so far. Mr Ahern said yesterday that there was "a need to press ahead urgently with the implementation of Lisbon Agenda.
"Sustainable economic and social development is of prime importance to Europe's citizens. We need higher growth in Europe, we need more jobs, and more competition and innovation. Governments can play their part but they certainly can't do it on their own," he added.
Brussels menu: eating Irish
The EU Summit may be taking place in Belgium but the European leaders are eating Irish food during their stay at Castle Bouchout, Meise. The Irish Food Board confirmed yesterday that at last night's dinner all the food served was Irish with the exception of the dessert.
"We did not supply all the dessert but a large portion of it was made up of Irish whiskey," said a Bord Bia spokesman yesterday.
He confirmed that the main course on offer was beef and that the leaders were offered brown bread with their meal which had been specially flown to Belgium yesterday morning. "Our role as President of the Union allowed us the right to provide the food, even though the Summit was not being held here in Ireland," he said. "We took the opportunity to serve up the best of Irish food during the Summit. The caterer was not Irish but we have used him before here in Ireland for major occasions," he said. Italy, he said, had set the precedent during its presidency by insisting that Italian food be served on such occasions. ... - Seán MacConnell