COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
COM(94) 669 final 
Brussels, 21.12.1994 
COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL 
AND THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT 
THE EUROPEAN UNION'S PRIORITIES FOR THE 
WORLD SUMMIT FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT 
(COPENHAGEN, MARCH 1995) 

Introduction 
The globalization of the world economy and technological progress continually increase 
the degree of interdependence between nations. Simultaneously, the contrast between 
wealth and poverty is being reinforced, whether between or within nations. Thus, on the 
one hand, new development poles emerge while , on the other, some regions , which are 
not yet in a position to benefit from those trends, sink further into poverty. Similarly, all 
countries, industrialized and developing , are faced with the issue of dualisation of their 
societies : those economic operators who have been instrumental in boosting productivity, 
or have grasped the opportunities created by globalization, see their situation improve 
while those, chiefly the unskilled, who are being excluded from the labour market, 
underpaid or relegated to the informal sector, are as a result pushed gradually to the 
fringes of society. As a result, the tensions created by structural unemployment, extreme 
poverty and social exclusion are at work in all countries; they are aggravated by 
migration and by the evolution in family structures which make the weakest in society 
more isolated and vulnerable. 
Such trends run counter to the notions of justice and cohesion of the United Nations 
Charter. They pose a threat to their internal stability, fuelling nationalist and 
fundamentalist movements, themselves a source of regional tensions and a spawning 
ground for international terrorism. They may also jeopardize the worldwide move towards 
democracy, stability, free trade, free movement of capital and market economies, and 
hence endanger world peace and security. 
The World Summit for Social Development is one of a series of UN human development 
conferences already held (Rio, Vienna, Cairo) or due to take place (Beijing). It should be 
seized as an opportunity to raise the world's awareness of these imbalances . Its 
conclusions will permit the re-orientation of national economic systems and international 
cooperation along fairer and more cohesive lines on which stable growth and sustainable 
development hinge. 
The EU , which has set itself as one of its prime objectives "the promotion of economic 
and social progress which is balanced and sustainable " ( article B of the Common 
provisions of the TEU) , is committed to contribute to this process of greater awareness 
on the basis of its experience. It wishes to promote at the Social Summit, principles and 
objectives defined hereafter and ensure their follow-up and the provision of resources to 
implement them. 
1. Principles 
Firstly, social development cannot be dissociated from democracy; the respect for human 
rights implies the participation of the whole of civil society , including via dialogue 
between employers and workers . 
The integration of social policies into economic policies is necessary for allowing our 
societies to adapt continuously to a constantly changing world environment. 
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The opening-up of markets and the interplay of competitive forces , combined with 
appropriate macroeconomic policies , constitute a source of dynamism that cannot be 
substituted for. But it is also necessary that structural actions, on the national as well as 
international levels, take their place in economic policy-making with a view to ensuring 
the sustainability of growth and to preventing the development of too wide inequalities. 
In many instances the twin objectives of sustainability and fight against poverty are 
pursued through the same actions that are aimed at : enhancing the employment-creating 
effect of growth, promoting effective and fair access to productive resources (land, credit 
and education), providing public goods and services aimed at fostering respect for human 
dignity and eradicating extreme poverty (clean drinking water, food, housing, 
environment, welfare), improving equal opportunities (between men and women and in 
education, training and culture), providing minimum social protection against serious 
misfortune (such as sickness and industrial accidents) and facilitating labour mobility and 
placement (training, fiinctioning of the labour market). Social integration, especially of 
migrant workers, should also be reinforced. 
The EU has set out to bridge the gap between the various economic and social policies by 
singling out employment as a new priority. This is the subject of the two white papers 
presented by the Commission (one on growth, competitiveness and employment, the other 
on social policy) and of the short- and medium-term action plan for combating 
unemployment. It is also one of the main concerns of the Community's Broad Economic 
Policy Guidelines. 
The White Paper on social policy outlined an overall strategy designed to bolster the 
European Union's social policy action and stressed that the creation of jobs, even in 
appreciable numbers, will not be enough to eliminate social exclusion and poverty and that 
other efforts are necessary to foster solidarity and muster the support of all those involved 
in combating social exclusion, foremost among them the Member States and the national, 
regional and local authorities. 
2. Objectives 
Among the objectives already identified in the draft UN political declaration ahead of the 
Social Summit, the EU , taking into account the guidelines established in the White Paper 
on social policy, should above all strive: 
(a) multilaterally 
- to secure a commitment from all countries to set and phase in social development 
objectives in accordance with their level of development. These would relate to: food, 
primary education, housing, access to drinking water and basic health facilities, schooling, 
health, jobs, equitable access to the market and to productive resources, the gradual 
development of social protection systems, higher education and continuing training; 
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- to advance social rights by encouraging countries to ratify ILO agreements, particularly 
those on the freedom of association and collective bargaining, and on child labour and 
forced labour, and ensuring compliance with them. This is because employment can only 
help reduce poverty and facilitate social integration if working conditions are satisfactory. 
The negotiations embarked upon at Marrakesh and set to continue within the World 
Trade Organization (WTO) will help ensure that international trade contributes to social 
development; 
- to ensure that social development policy goals specifically aim to close the yawning gap 
in many poor and middle-income countries caused by unequal access to land, credit and 
education (particularly for women); 
- to better coordinate cooperation and development policies towards the attainment of 
social development objectives, respect for social rights and reduction of excessive 
inequalities; 
- to have social development included in the policies recommended and financially 
sponsored by international institutions such as the IMF and World Bank, particularly 
structural adjustment; 
- to ensure that international free movement of capital, which is vital for the development 
of the South and modernization of the East, takes place within a legal framework so that 
precious development resources are not diverted towards criminal activities (drugs, 
corruption and terrorism) or improperly avoid taxation; 
(b) bilaterally , to secure, from countries which receive financial aid from the Community 
or benefit from its trade preferences, reciprocal undertakings : 
- to ratify and comply with the above multilateral agreements; 
-to give priority to job creation and the fight against poverty incooperation programmes 
for development between the EU and its partners by reducing inequalities and striving to 
have such goals included in their domestic policies; 
- to give priority in granting aid and trade preferences to countries which undertake 
genuine and effective social development strategies. 
- in Africa in particular, the EU should use its aid and cooperation instruments to support 
and strengthen domestic efforts to enable countries to gain a sounder foothold in world 
trade and foster investment growth; 
- in Central and Eastern European countries in transition it is essential that the benefits of 
reform are realized as rapidly as possible while reducing the resultant social risks by 
assisting those most disadvantaged by the social effects of the changes under way. The 
EU will increasingly take into account the social dimension of development in 
programmes designed to support the economic and political reforms. 
3. Means: resources and follow-up 
(a) Resources 
The debate should not focus solely on the 0.7% objective for official development aid 
(ODA). Clearly, that target is still an important one and those countries which are furthest 
from meeting it should be encouraged to work towards it to spread the aid effort better. 
Further, cost/efficiency and targeting of ODA need to be improved. 
However, the whole issue of development resources needs to be looked at in the much 
wider context of sound domestic policies and the growing role of exports and private 
capital flows between North and South through liberalized international markets. 
Fundamental to the generation of sufficient development resources and their effective use 
are an increase in global savings through appropriate national macroeconomic policies 
(including a cut in excessive budget deficits) and moves to make investment more 
effective by liberalizing international financial markets and adopting domestic structural 
policies geared towards efficiency and fairness (by ensuring proper access to productive 
resources and markets in order to integrate the informal sector gradually into the 
economy). 
Developing countries and countries in transition which are embarking on social 
development strategies should be encouraged to direct public spending away from heavy 
military spending towards precise social development objectives and to introduce fair 
systems of taxation in which incomes are taxed on a progressive basis. Reduction in 
military expenditure will be facilitated by the reinforcement of regional cooperation with 
the aim of creating a climate of trust and of reducing instability. 
The international community must in turn support domestic policies for mobilizing 
resources for development by liberalizing markets to encourage the flow of capital and the 
transfer of technology and know-how, particularly through joint ventures, to developing 
countries and economies in transition. Ratification of the Uruguay Round agreements and 
implementation under the WTO of the Marrakesh agenda, including the link between 
trade and social development, are important in this regard. Similarly, ODA needs to be 
made more effective and the debt burden of heavily indebted countries, particularly in 
Africa, alleviated. The efforts of countries in transition ^fco%ld also be supported. 
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(b) Follow-up 
Responsibility for the follow-up of the Social Summit will lie primarily with national 
governments. At the same time, the Summit will offer a unique opportunity to push for 
fuller integration of social development issues within the UN. More specifically, the UN 
should offer a forum for countries to compare notes on the Summit's three central themes. 
Any follow-up must be take place within the framework of existing institutions, with the 
General Assembly, ECOSOC and a revitalized Social Development Commission all 
playing a role. It is also vital that UN bodies and specialized agencies, the Bretton Woods 
institutions and the WTO should play an active part in following up the Summit in those 
areas in which they are competent.. The Summit should also underscore the need to 
promote a coherent and coordinated approach to social development through closer 
cooperation with UN bodies and agencies, the ILO, the IMF, the World Bank and the 
WTO. 
Conclusions 
The World Summit for Social Development should give meaning to the globalization of 
the economy by setting the goal of development centred on people and rooted in a set of 
principles and rules espoused across all continents and in all countries in order to avoid 
any risk of confrontation and to ensure maximum exchange and cooperation between 
countries. In the context of an international order which sets objectives and standards of 
fairness and social progress that mesh with policies for stable growth and sustainable 
development, national policies should be geared explicitly to reducing poverty, fostering 
productive employment and ensuring social integration whilst protecting the environment. 
At national level, poverty and social exclusion must be tackled and prevented first and 
foremost by ensuring genuine and fair access for all to productive resources and markets 
and to a minimum of social protection. But eradication of poverty and exclusion also 
entails taking systematic action to tackle the problems at root: key facets of such action 
include participation founded on democracy and human rights (including equality between 
men and women), the satisfaction of basic needs in terms of decent housing, food and 
health through the solidarity of society as a whole, and the provision of education and 
training. Furthermore, action by voluntary associations close to the grass roots should be 
supported by the state and by the regional and local authorities. 
At international level, respect for democracy and human rights must be widened and 
safeguarded and the multilateral negotiation of social standards encouraged, particularly 
through the ILO and ECOSOC. Those standards should be integrated into the policies of 
UN bodies and agencies, the WTO, the IMF and the World feank, all of which should set 
clear and concrete human development objectives. Bilateral and multilateral aid devoted 
to social programmes should be stepped up in order to support the necessary transfers of 
internal resources to human development, in particular within public budgets. 
Monitoring of national policies and international cooperation should be systematic so that 
substantial progress can be registered at the next Social Summit due to be held in 2005. 
For its part, the European Union will continue its efforts, while opening up its markets as 
wide as possible, to create the millions of jobs that are needed, to prevent social exclusion 
and to overhaul, with that object in view, its systems of social protection. It will strive to 
eradicate poverty and to integrate all sections of society. 
Finally the European Union as major provider of development aid is determined to 
continue to make a substantial contribution to international action both in multilateral 
negotiations on standards and conventions and in cooperation with its partners among the 
developing countries. 
T-

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