30.12.93 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanCommunities NoC352/55
OpinionontheSecondReportfromtheCommissiontotheCouncil,theEuropeanParliament
andtheEconomicandSocialCommitteeontheapplicationoftheCommunityCharterof
theFundamentalSocialRightsofWorkers
(93/C352/14)
On26January1993,theCommissiondecidedtoconsulttheEconomicandSocialCommittee
ontheSecondReportfromtheCommissiontotheCouncil,theEuropeanParliamentand
theEconomicandSocialCommitteeontheapplicationoftheCommunityCharterofthe
fundamentalsocialrightsofworkers.
TheSectionforSocial,Family,EducationalandCulturalAffairs,whichwasresponsiblefor
preparingtheCommittee'sworkonthesubject,adopteditsOpinionon10September1993.
TheRapporteurwasMrsEngelen-Kefer .
Atits309thPlenarySession(meetingof21October1993)theEconomicandSocialCommittee
adoptedthefollowingOpinionby80votesto55,with5abstentions .
1.Generalobservations nantwomen(wheretheproposedDirectivewascon­
siderablydiluted).A'CommonPosition'ontheorgan­
izationofworkingtime,hasalsobeenadopted.(Once
transformedintoaDirective,itslegalbasewillbe
contestedbytheUKinCourt.)OtherproposedDirec­
tivesattheheartoftheCommunityCharterremain
blockedinCouncil.Thisisnotablythecasefor:
—atypicalwork(J),
—thepostingofworkers(2),
—EuropeanWorksCouncils(3),
—protectionofyoungpeopleatwork(4),
—workerswithreducedmobility(5).1.1.TheCommitteewelcomestheSecondReportof
theCommissionontheapplicationoftheCommunity
CharteroftheFundamentalSocialRightsofWorkers,
inthatitprovidesausefuloverviewofdevelopments
inthispolicyfield.Itregrets,however,thattheCom­
missionhasbeenunabletopublishacomprehensive
andcontinuallyup-datedtableofprogress.(Unlikethe
FirstReport,therewasnoAnnexonthe'adoptionand
progressoftheinitiatives'.Thiswasonlyavailable
underalater'SocialEurope'format).TheCommittee
wouldalsourgetheCommissiontoacquireamore
uniformandcomparablemodelofresponsetothe
questionnaire addressedtoMemberStates.Sucha
responseshouldincludetheviewsofthesocialpartners.
Intheinterestsofprovidingrealassessmentofthe
implementation oftheCharter,andtheSocialAction
Programmederivingfromit,theCommitteeurgesthat
theCommissionincludeinitsnextreportastatement
onprogressinthetranspositionofDirectivesinthe
MemberStates,andonstepstakenbytheCommission
wheretransposaldeadlineshavenotbeenmet.1.3.TheCommitteerecognizesthatthesespecific
proposalshavenotachievedthenecessaryconsensus
requiredfortheiradoptionastheTreatycurrently
standsorisinterpreted .Theminorityviewthatthey
containover-detailed andundulyprescriptivepro­
visionsinevitablyposesanobstacletoimmediatepro­
gress.Nevertheless ,thesedraftDirectiveshavebeen
endorsedbymajoritiesbothintheEconomicandSocial
CommitteeandintheEuropeanParliament .Theirlegit­
imacycanalsobeidentifiedbythefactthatmost
MemberGovernments wouldlikewisewishtoenact
thematEuropeanlevel.
1.4.Inlastyear'sOpinion,theCommitteenotedthat
thefailureoftheCouncilofMinisterstoadoptthese1.2.AsregardstheactualapplicationoftheCharter,
theCommitteenotesthatprogresshascontinuedtobe
madeinadoptingnon-bindingCouncildecisions,the
applicationofwhich,bydefinition,isnotassured.Some
Directivesinthehealthandsafetyfield,wherethe
qualifiedmajorityvotinglegalbasishasnotbeencon­
tested,havealsobeenadopted.ThreeotherDirectives
havebeenadopted:onproofofemployment (where
thosenormallyrecalcitranttowardsECregulationhad
alreadylegislatedonthematter),oncollectiveredun­
dancies(whereestablishedEC-ruleswereupdatedand
enlargedupon)andontheprotectionatworkofpreg­(!)OJNoC332,31.12.1990.
(2)OJNoC49,24.2.1992.
(3)OJNoC120,6.5.1991.
(4)OJNoC313 ,30.11.1992.
(5)OJNoC191,22.7.1991.

NoC352/56 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanCommunities 30.12.93
TheCommitteeisalsoconfidentthatthesocialdialogue
provisionsinArticles3and4oftheSocialProtocol
Agreementwillleadtopracticalprogressatthework­
placeaswellasinundertakingswitha'European
dimension'.importantsocialpolicyproposalswasnotbecauseof
anymajorityoppositiontothem,butbecauseofthe
'liberumveto'whichindividualMemberGovernments
continuedtoexercisegiventhelackofpoliticalwillin
Counciltoapplywithconfidenceandcommitment
Articles100aand118a(allowingforqualifiedmajority
voting).Thiswouldstilloftenappeartobethecase.
2.4.Forexample,andnotonlyduetothe'Hoover
Affair',theCommissionhasalreadyfirmlyindicated
itsintentiontopressaheadwiththeEuropeanWorks
CouncilDirective.Itwouldbestretchingcredibilityto
pretendthatthetransnational businessesconcerned
wouldapplytheDirectivein11butnot12Member
States.Therewouldbeanobviousinteresttooperate
onauniformratherthanonatwo-tierbasis.1.5.Inthemeantime,variousreferendainEurope
havedemonstratedthediscrepancythatexistsbetween
Europe'spoliticaldecision-makers andthecitizensthey
serve.Itcouldbearguedthatastronger'socialdimen­
sion'toEuropeanUnionandamoreefficientand
transparentdecision-making procedurecapableofmak­
ingrealprogresstowardsa'socialEurope'mighthelp
bridgethisdiscrepancy .
2.TheTreatyontheUnionandtheapplicationofthe
CommunityCharter2.5.Itcanbearguedthatsuchcouldbethecasefor
othersocialpolicyinstrumentsandagreementsadopted
throughtheSocialProtocolprocedure.Ifitwerenot
so,the'Europeancitizens',andtradeunionsinthe
oneMemberStatewheresuchEuropean-wide workers'
rightswerenotappliedmightwelldecidetotesttheir
casebeforetheCourtofJustice.2.1.InitsOpinionontheCitizens'Europe,theCom­
mitteeoverwhelmingly cameoutinfavourof'theneed
fortheTreatyunequivocallytoenabletheproperappli­
cationofthe(Community )SocialCharterandSocial
ProtocolAgreementtoallcitizensconcernedthrough­
outtheEuropeanUnionasawhole'(J).
2.6.TheCommitteewouldalsoregistertheview
that,whilsttheSocialProtocolAgreementisamajor
stepforward,thereisstillasubstantialfieldofsocial
policyactivitywherea'Europeandimension'isrecog­
nized,butforwhichthereiseithernoclearlegalbasis
foractionorasyetnoqualifiedmajoritydecision­
makingprocedureenvisaged.Thisisparticularlythe
caseformajorpolicyareaslistedunderArticle118of
theTreaty(mattersrequiring'closecooperation
betweenMemberStates')and/orinArticle2.3ofthe
SocialProtocolAgreement (forexample:employment ,
socialsecurity,protectionofworkerswhoseemploy­
mentcontractisterminated,therightofassociation,
therepresentation andcollectivedefenceoftheinterests
ofworkersandemployers....).TheCommitteecon­
siders,especiallyinthecontextofacceleratedenlarge­
ment,thatTreatyrevisionsonthesepointswillrequire
urgentattention.2.2.Asfullratificationproceeds,itisopportuneonce
againtoconsiderthelegalimplicationsfortheUnionof
an11-MemberCouncildecidingbyqualifiedmajority
voting,assetoutintheSocialProtocolAgreement,on
thedraftDirectivescurrentlyblockedintheCouncilof
the12.Itisworthrecallinginthiscontextthatqualified
majorityvotingunderArticle2oftheSocialProtocol
AgreementwouldcoverDirectivesconcerning :
—improvement ,inparticular,oftheworkingenviron­
menttoprotectworkers'healthandsafety,
—workingconditions,
—theinformationandconsultationofworkers,
—equalitybetweenmenandwomenwithregardto
labourmarketopportunitiesandtreatmentatwork,
—theintegrationofpersonsexcludedfromthelabour
market.2.7.Indeed,oncetheTreatyontheUnionisratified
andattentionalmoststraightawayfocusedonthenext
1996revisionstage,thevisionofaninternalmarket
grapplingwithacumbersometwo-speedsociallegis­
lationsysteminEuropeseemslessandlesscredible.As
recenteventshaveamplydemonstrated ,however,itis
nowthattheriskof'socialdumping'andofdistortion
ofcompetitionisprevalent.Itisintheimmediatetran­
sitionalphaseofaninternalmarketattemptingtowork
coherentlybutwithasyetinadequatesocialandmonet­
arygroundrulesthattheproblemarises.(Thisfactor
mustbeborneinmindparticularlyduringthe
implementation stageoftheEuropeanEconomicArea2.3.TheCommission andan11-MemberCouncil
areexpectedtoseektoachieveprogressinthesefields.
(^OJNoC313,30.11.1992.

30.12.93 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanCommunities NoC352/57
andinbilateralnegotiationsforenlargementofthe
Union.)Theinternalmarketconceptformsawhole
withappropriateresponsibilities atnationalandEuro­
peanlevel;itcannotworkif'optsout'intermsof
deliberateundercuttingoflegitimatebasicsocialrights
andstandardsorunilateral,so-called'competitive',
devaluationscontinuetohamperit.Thekeychallenge
todayisthereforetoestablishthesegroundrules,to
assure'fairplay'.InthecontextofthisOpinion,it
meansapplyingtheSocialCharter.•thereductionandreorganisation ofworkingtime;
•theneed(inanticipationoftheforthcoming
'green'and'white'papers)foramoreresponsive
andaccountable frameworkinwhichefficient
economicdevelopmentandjobscanbepromoted,
basedonacooperativestrategypoolingresources,
skillsandinvestmentonacost-effectiveEuropean
scalewithmore'multiplier'effects.
3.2.EuropeansocialpolicyandtheILO(M
3.TheCommunityCharterofFundamental Social
Rightsasaplatformforfuturemeasures
AplatformofEuropean-wide socialrights,theCom­
mitteehasfrequentlystressed,shouldbeseenasabasic
legalframework,enablingtheEC,theMemberStates,
thesocialpartnersandothersocialandeconomicinter­
estscoherentlytopromoteanddeveloptheirownpoli­
ciesandagreementsinaccordancewiththeprinciple
ofsubsidiarity .Aswelookahead,'post-Maastricht 'as
itwere,newchallengesinthiscontextshouldbemet:
3.1.UpdatingtheSocialActionProgramme3.2.1.Inlastyear'sOpiniontheCommitteestated
that'theECcouldbecomeamemberoftheILOonly
afteralongprocessofintegration...(and)thatsteps
mustbetakeninthemeantimetoensurethatthe
nationalsocialpartners'importanceinILOdecision­
makingisnotimpaired'.
3.2.2.Thecrucialissue,therefore,ishowtheILO
memberstates,whichhavesoleresponsibilityunderits
constitution (onatripartitebasisand,whereappropri­
ate,inagreementwiththeCommunitybodies)puttheir
socialideasintoeffectandhowsolutionsdevisedby
theILOcanalsobeimplementedatCommunitylevel.
3.2.3.TheformofparticipationwhichtheCom­
missionoriginallyhadinmindwouldalsobehandi­
cappedbythefactthatpositionsadoptedinthelight
ofCouncildecisionswouldmostlybebasedonthe
lowestcommondenominator .Inajointmemorandum
of1989,theECMemberStates'workers'and
employers'representatives ontheILOGoverningBody
warnedtheCommissionnottoreducetheirresponsi­
bilitieswithinthatbodyortocircumventtheprinciple
oftripartitedecision-making laiddownbyitsconsti­
tution.In1991theCommissionagainaskedtheEuro­
peanCourtofJusticetoconfirm—onthebasisof
Convention170—itsexclusiveresponsibility fordis­
cussionsandfortheconclusionoftheConvention .In
sodoing,theCommissionwentsofarastodispute
theresponsibility insuchcasesoftheworkers'and
employers'representatives atinternationallabourcon­
ferencesonthegroundsthattheyarerequiredtoassist
theCommissionbyECTreatyArticles228and5.
3.2.4.TheCourt'sOpinionwasannouncedon19
March1993.Thisdecision—whichgivesthefull
reasonsonwhichitisbased—makesitclearthat
ILOConventionsdonotencroachontheCommunity
legislativeauthority(particularlyArticle118aoftheEC
Treaty)sincetheMemberStatesmustalways
implementCommunitylaw,butcannotbepreventedWhilsttheCommissioncanbecomplimented onhaving
presentednearlyalltheproposalsannouncedinthe
ActionProgramme ,thereisstillabacklogofrelevant
policiesandcommitments whichhavebeenleftalittle
adriftandwhichmightrequirerenewedattention
withintheTreatyontheUnion.Theseincludefor
example:
—therightofassociationandofcollectivebargaining,
—therighttofreeemploymentservices(i.e.accessto
publicplacementservicesfreeofcharge),
—draftproposalsemanatingfromthe(First)Social
ActionProgrammewhichcouldbeupdatedand
reintroduced ifneedbethroughArticle2ofthe
SocialProtocolAgreement :
•parentalleaveandleaveforfamilyreasons;
•modifyingtheburdenofproofintheareaof
equalpayandequaltreatmentforwomenand
men;
•informationandconsultationofworkers;(')CommitteeOwn-initiative Opinionproposingwaysof
organizingcooperation (inthelightofemployers'andwork­
ers'comments);requesttoCouncilconcerninglistsofILO
Conventions—RatificationbyECMemberStates(e.g.144).

NoC352/58 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanCommunities 30.12.93
frommakingmorefar-reachingprovisionforthepro­
tectionofworkers.TheCourtthusholdsthatsuch
conventionsfallwithinthejointcompetenceofthe
Commission andtheMemberStatesandthattheir
cooperationisnecessarybecausetheCommunitycan­
notconcludeanILOConventionitself,butonly
throughtheagencyoftheMemberStates.
3.2.5.InthelightoftheCourt'sdecisiontheCom­
mitteecallsontheCouncilandtheCommissiontowork
outruleswhichwillensurethiscooperationwithout
affectingtheconstitutional rightsofILOmembers
including,inparticular,workers'andemployers'rep­
resentatives .Ifnecessary,theCommitteewilltakethe
initiativeanddrawupsuitableproposals.Itshouldalso
examinehowfartheCommunityhasaccededtoan
earlierrecommendation oftheEuropeanParliament
thatitalignitslegislationasfaraspossibleonILOlaw
andthatiturgetheMemberStatestotransposeinto
nationallawILOagreementswhichfallwithintheir
competence .
3.2.6.Thequestionofcloserassociationbetween
ECinstitutionsandMemberStatesintheprocessof
negotiationandconclusionofagreements,andoffulfil­
mentoftheobligationsenteredinto,requiresfurther
clarification .TheCommitteewilldrawupaseparate
Own-initiative OpiniononrelationsbetweentheEC
andtheILO.
3.3.From'SocialRights'to'SocietalRights'
3.3.1.BothintheOpinionon'BasicCommunity
SocialRights'andonthe'Citizens'Europe',theCom­mitteestressedtheneedforaEuropeancommitment
towidersocialand'societal'rightsonmattersincluding
theenvironment ,consumerprotection,privacy,cultural
heritage,thefamily,vulnerableanddisabledgroups
...TheCommitteealsostatedtheneedforaTreaty
provisionbanningdiscrimination ongroundsofsex,
colour,race,opinionsandbeliefs.The'rightofcon­
science'wasalsohighlighted .Theseareallquestions
bywhichEuropeanUnioncantangiblybejudgedby
itscitizens,aswellasbytheoutsideworld.
3.3.2.Someofthesethemesarecurrentlythesubject
ofotherCommitteeOpinionsandconferenceprojects.
WithinthemorelimitedremitofthisOpinion,and
withaviewbothtowideningandhelpingtolink
upCommunitybasicsocialrightswithmarketand
economicindicators,thefollowingthreeareasofreflec­
tionareproposed:
—therighttobetterconsumer/userinformationas
regardsthesocialandenvironmental conditionsin
whichgoodsandservicesareprovided,inorderto
makeaninformedchoiceasregardspriceandsocial
value,
—theneedtopromotea'socialclause'inGATTand
othertradingroundsandagreements .This'social
clause'shouldrefertohumanrights,especiallyas
setoutthroughestablishedILOstandards,for
example:thebanningofchildlabour(Convention
138)andforcedlabour(Conventions 29and105)
andtherighttofreecollectivebargaining (Conven­
tion154),
—thecasefordevelopingbasicsocialand'societal'
convergencecriteriainorderconsensuallytowork
towardsfullEuropeanmonetaryandeconomic
union.
DoneatBrussels,21October1993.
TheChairman
oftheEconomicandSocialCommittee
SusanneTIEMANN

30.12.93 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanCommunities NoC352/59
APPENDIX
totheOpinionoftheEconomicandSocialCommittee
1.BriefsummaryontheapplicationofthemainpolicyproposalsemanatingfromtheCommunityCharter
andSocialActionProgramme
—Labourmarket
•CouncilRegulation2434/92of27,7,92amendsbasicRegulation1612/68onthefreemovementof
workersbypromotingimprovedandmoreequivalentjobclearancestandardsamongstcentralemploy­
mentservicesforworkersseekingjobsinanotherMemberState,
—Employmentandremuneration
•CouncilDirective91/383of25.6.91helpstoimprovethesafetyandhealthatworkofworkerswitha
fixed-duration ortemporaryemploymentrelationship ,
•TwootherdraftDirectiveson'atypical'workaimingtoprovidebasicsocialinsurancerightsand
trainingrightsforpart-timeandtemporaryworkersremainblockedinCouncil.
•Thequestionofafair('equitable')wagehasbeenlimitedsofartoaCommission'Opinion'.
—Improvementoflivingandworkingconditions
•TheCommonPositiononthe'organizationofworkingtime',seekingtosetminimumprovisions
regardingdailyandweeklyrestperiodsandminimumconditionsforshift-work,nightworkandannual
paidleaveisduetobetransformedintoaDirectivewhoselegalbasewillbechallengedbytheUnited
Kingdom.
•CouncilDirective91/533of14.10.91ensuresthatallworkershavearighttoknowforwhomand
wheretheyareworkingandwhattheessentialconditionsofemploymentare(proofofemployment).
•CouncilDirective92/56of24.6.92widensthefieldofapplicationofDirective75/124asregards
collectiveredundanciesdecidedbytransnationalbusinesscentres.
—Freedomofmovement
•ThedraftDirective,aimingtoensureacoreofrulesandregulationsaffordingminimumprotection
forworkers'posted'temporarilytoanotherMemberState,remainsblockedinCouncil.
•Thequestionoftransferability ofsupplementary (occupational )pensionrightshasbeenthesubjectof
anon-bindingCommissioncommunication ,endorsedandanalyzedfurtherbytheCommittee .
VariousupdatingsofCouncilRegulation1408/71onthecoordinationofsocialsecurityschemeshave
beenadoptedbyCouncil.
•TheparticularproblemsoffrontierworkershavenotbeenthesubjectofbindingECinstruments
withinthecurrentprogramme .
—Socialprotection
•Non-bindingproposalson'sufficientresources'andtheconvergenceofsocialprotectionpolicieshave
beenadoptedbyCouncil.
—Information ,consultationandparticipationofworkers
•ThedraftDirectiveproposingtoestablishaEuropeanWorksCouncilinCommunity-scale undertakings ,
forthepurposesofinformingandconsultingworkersintransnationalemploymentorrestructuring
situations (Hoover,forexample),remainsindiscussioninCouncil..
•Non-bindingproposalsurgingthepromotionofemployeeparticipationinprofitsandenterpriseresults
(includingequityparticipation )havebeenadoptedbyCouncil.

NoC352/60 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanCommunities 30.12.93
—Equaltreatmentformenandwomen
•Directive92/85of19.10.92ontheprotectionatworkofpregnantwomenorwomenwhohaverecently
givenbirthestablishesbasicmaternityleave,healthandsafetyandemploymentrightsforsuch
employees.
»Non-bindingCommissionproposalsonchild-carefacilitieshavebeenadoptedbyCouncil.
—Vocationaltraining
•ThekeyquestionoftherightofeveryworkeroftheECtohaveaccesstovocationaltrainingis
currentlyproposedintheformofadraftRecommendation .
—Healthandsafetyprotectionforworkers
•VariousindividualDirectivesemanatingfromtheFrameworkDirective89/391havebeenadopted.
DraftDirectivesonsafetyandhealth,onboardfishingvesselsandasregardsmeansoftransport,plus
thedraftDirectiveonphysicalagentshavenotyetbeenadopted.
—Protectionofchildrenandyoungpeople
•ThedraftDirectiveonlimitingchildlabourandbanningnightwork,remainsblockedinCouncil.
—Theelderly
•TheEuropeanYearoftheElderlyandofSolidaritybetweenGenerations (1993)isthesubjectof
considerableCommitteeinterest,supportandattention.InitsOpinionontheYear,theCommittee
calledforaEuropeanCharterandActionProgrammefortheElderly.
—Disabledpeople
•HELIOSIIhasbeenadoptedinCouncil.
•ThedraftDirectiveonminimumrequirementsandsafetransporttoworkofworkerswithreduced
mobilityremainsblockedinCouncil.

30,12.93 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanCommunities NoC352/61
APPENDIX 11
totheOpinionoftheEconomicandSocialCommittee
Thefollowingmembers,presentorrepresented ,votedfortheOpinion:
Mr/Mrs/Miss:AMATO,ATTLEY,BAEZA,BARBAGLI ,BLESER,BORDES-PAGES ,BOTTAZZI ,
BRIESCH,vandenBURG,VascoCAL,CARROLL,CASSINA,CHRISTIE,COLOMBO ,DECAILLON ,
DIAPOULIS ,vanDIJK,DRAIJER,DRILLEAUD ,DUNKEL,d'ELIA,ELSTNER,ETTY,EULEN,FLUM,
FORGASICABRERA,FRANDI,FREEMAN ,GEUENICH ,GIRON,GOMEZMARTINEZ ,GOTTERO ,
GROBEN,HAGEN,JANSSEN,JENKINS,KIELMAN,deKNEGT,LACAMARTIN,LAPPAS,LAUR,
LIVERANI ,LYONS,MADDOCKS ,MARGALEF MASIA,MAYAYOBELLO,MERCIER,MOLINAVAL­
LEJO,MORIZE,MORRIS,MOURGUES ,MUÑIZGUARDADO ,NIELSEN,NIERHAUS ,OVIDEETIEN­
NE,PASQUALI,PE,PELLARINI ,PELLETIER ,PIETTE,POMPEN,QUEVEDOROJO,RANGONI
MACHIAVELLI ,SAITIS,SANTILLAN CABEZA,SANTOS,SCHMIDT,SCHMITZ ,vonSCHWERIN ,
SEQUEIRA ,SILVA,SMITH,STOKKERS ,STRAUSS,THEONAS ,TIXIER,VANDERMEEREN ,VERBOV­
EN,WALDACK ,ZUFIAURNARVAIZA .
Thefollowingmembers,presentorrepresented,votedagainsttheOpinion:
Mr/Mrs:ANDRADE ,ARENA,ASPINALL,DameJocelynBARROW,BEALE,BELL,BELTRAMI ,BENTO
GONÇALVES ,BLACK,CONNELLAN ,CUNHA,DONCK,DOUVIS,FRERICHS,GAFOFERNANDEZ ,
GARDNER ,GAUTIER ,GHIGONIS ,GIACOMELLI ,GIESECKE ,GREEN,GUILLAUME ,vonHAUS,
HOVGAARD JAKOBSEN ,KAARIS,KAFKA,KIENLE,LINSSEN,LITTLE,LOW,LUSTENHOUWER ,
McGARRY ,MERCF.JUSTE,MEYER-HORN ,MOBBS,MORELAND ,NOORDWAL ,PANEROFLOREZ,
PARDON,PEARSON ,PERRIN-PF.LLETIER ,PETERSEN ,PETROPOULOS ,PRICOLO,PROUMENS ,
ROBINSON ,RODRIGUEZ DEAZEROYDELHOYO,RODRIGUEZ GARCIA-CARO ,SAUWENS,
SCHADE-POULSEN ,SEGUY,STECHERNAVARRA ,TESOROOLIVER,WHITWORTH ,WICK.
Thefollowingmembers,presentorrepresented,abstained :
Mr:BERNS,dePAULdeBARCHIFONTAINE ,ROMOLI,SALA,SOLARI.
APPENDIX III
totheOpinionoftheEconomicandSocialCommittee
AttheendoftherecordedvoteontheOpinionasawhole,theemployers'category,whichhadvotedagainst
theOpinion,madethefollowingdeclaration :
1.TheGroupofEmployersdissentsfromtheCommittee'smajorityOpinionontheSecondReporton
theApplicationoftheCommunityCharteroftheFundamentalSocialRightsofWorkers.
2.TheGroupsharestheOpinion'sconcernthattheDirectiveslistedinparagraph1.2havefailedtosecure
agreementintheCouncilofMinistersbutbelievesthatthisisbecausetheyareinmanycasesunduly
prescriptiveandseektoimposepreciselydetailedarrangementsacrosstheCommunitywhichfailtorespect
establishedlabourpracticesandexistingcollectiveagreementsatnationalandcompanylevels.
3.TheseandanyfuturedraftDirectivesinthesocialfieldshouldsetoutbroadobjectivesleavingthe
responsibilityfortheirdetailedimplementation toMemberStatesorsocialpartnersinaccordancewiththe
principleofSubsidiarity .TheCommissionshouldmakegreatereffortstoachieveaconsensusintheseareas.
4.Employersbelievethat,contrarytotheassertioninparagraph2.7oftheOpinion,thekeychallenge
todayisthereductionofthecurrentlevelofunemployment .Communitysocialpolicymustencourage
competitiveness andjobcreation.Itmustavoidimposingburdensomeandcostlyregulationsoncompanies
whichwillincreasetheirnon-wagelabourcostsanddiscouragethecreationofnewemploymentopportunities .
FutureCommunityinitiativesinthesocialfieldshouldbejudgedagainstthesecriteria.

NoC352/62 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanCommunities 30.12.93
5.Finally,employersbelievethattheratificationoftheMaastrichtTreatyshouldgiveanimpetustothe
CommissiontoreviewexistingCommunityregulations,asforeshadowed attheLisbonandEdinburgh
Summits,toadaptthemtothePrincipleofSubsidiarity .
Mr/Mrs:ANDRADE ,ARENA,BEALE,BELL,BELTRAMI ,BENTOGON£ALVES ,CONNELLAN ,
CUNHA,DONCK,DOUVIS,ERERICHS ,GAFOFERNANDEZ ,GAUTIER,GARDNER ,GHIGONIS ,
GIACOMELLI ,C.IESECKE,GREEN,vonHAUS,KAARIS,KAFKA,KIENLE,LINSSEN,LITTLE,LÖW,
McGARRY,MERCEJUSTE,MEYER-HORN ,MOBBS,NOORDWAL ,PANEROFLOREZ,PARDON,
PEARSON,PERRIN-PELLETIER ,PETERSEN ,PETRÖPOULOS ,PRICOLO,PROUMENS ,ROBINSON ,
RODRIGUEZ deAZEROYDELHOYO,RODRIGUEZ GARCIACARO,SAUWENS ,SCHADE-POULS ­
EN,SEGUY,STECHERNAVARRA ,TESOROOLIVER,WHITWORTH ,WICK.
APPENDIX IV
totheOpinionoftheEconomicandSocialCommittee
Thefollowingamendments ,whichreceivedatleastonequarterofthevotescast,weredefeatedduringthe
discussion :
Deleteparagraphs1.3,1.4,1.5andsubstitute:
'1.3.TheCommitteebelievesthattheseDirectiveshavefailedtosecureagreementintheCouncilof
Ministersbecausetheyareinmanycasesundulyprescriptiveandseektoimposepreciselydetailedarrange­
mentsacrosstheCommunitywhichfailtorespectestablishedlabourpracticesandexistingcollective
agreementsatnationalandcompanylevels.'
Voting
For:57,against:67,abstentions :7.
Paragraph3.1
Deleteallafterfirstsentence(i.e.from'Theseinclude,forexample,'totheendoftheparagraph).
Voting
For:58,against:72,abstentions :4.