European Commission President José Manuel Barroso and French Prime Minister François Fillon – for the EU Council Presidency – met this morning with employers' and workers' representatives to discuss the impact of the financial crisis on the 'real economy', in particular jobs and growth. Today's Tripartite Social Summit also addressed the impact of climate change and energy policy on employment and social cohesion, including the potential for "green jobs". Vladimír Špidla, Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities and representatives of the future Czech and Swedish Council Presidencies also participated.
"In the current financial crisis, Europe is showing its capacity to act together to secure a sustainable future of our financial and economic system to protect our citizens. The transformation of Europe into a low-carbon economy is another way in which we are building a more sustainable Europe. I call on Member States to adopt the energy and climate package by the end of the year," said President Barroso.
Commissioner Špidla said: "We understand workers' concerns about their job prospects in these uncertain times. But thanks to the labour market reforms carried out across Europe in recent years, we are in a better position now to adapt to change. Flexicurity provides the framework to further pursue and deepen these reforms. But we must not let today's uncertainties detract us from the challenges of tomorrow: while jobs might disappear in energy-intensive sectors, those losses can be more than compensated by new "green jobs". It would be wrong to think that moving to a green economy is incompatible with an economic downturn."
EU leaders heard the views of social partners on how to tackle the turmoil on the world's financial markets and the banking crisis. Participants stressed the need to carefully analyse the impact the financial crisis may have on the job market.
At the Summit, EU leaders and social partners also discussed the implications of the move to a low-carbon economy on employment and the social situation. A recent study[1] by the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) and the ILO (International Labour Organisation) highlights the overall positive employment potential of new green jobs in sectors like clean technologies, renewable energies, energy-efficient construction, environmental services and recycling. The European social partners (ETUC, BUSINESSEUROPE, CEEP and UEAPME) have started talks on how they can deal with the employment impact of climate change and energy policy in their future work programme for social dialogue. Social partners can play a role in emission reduction by adapting, for instance, work organisation, and in preparing companies, workers and labour markets for future change.
Background
The Tripartite Social Summit meets twice a year, ahead of the Spring and Autumn European Councils, to allow for an exchange of views between the social partners, the Commission and the Heads of Government and employment ministers of the current and subsequent two Council Presidencies. The agenda is always closely linked to the items discussed later by the Heads of State and Government.
For further information:
European social dialogue
http://ec.europa.eu/socialdialogue
[1] http://www.ilo.org/integration/greenjobs/lang--en/index.htm
