Even growth will not lead to decrease unemployment again. The rigour of the EMU puts limits to excess budget spending. Both factors are perceived to enlarge the likelihood of cuts in social security levels. The problems the social security systems are confronted with could be solved through European regulation. It is a position advocated by the representative organizations, such as labour unions.
Social security is based on solidarity.
While four out of five respon-dents accept to pay a fiscal contribution for aid to regions in their own country, only one in three feels the same way about aid to regions in other EC countries. That applied to all countries of the Community, with very little difference among countries. Although quantification is deficient, the distribution of these effects over member countries seems to have enhanced cohesion. On the level of the individual citizen the benefits of integration are perceived only vaguely and are overshadowed by the risk to have to adapt to new situations. As disparities between regions are still considerable, the cohesion policy must be continued.