COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL AND THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT - THE EUROPEAN UNION'S FOLLOW-UP TO THE WORLD SUMMIT FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
Date: 1997-02-14
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: employment policy, international cooperation, poverty, social development, summit meeting

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COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

Brussels,  14.02.1997 
COM(96) 724 final 

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION 
TO THE COUNCIL AND THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT 

THE EUROPEAN UNION'S FOLLOW-UP TO 
THE WORLD SUMMIT FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT 

Summary 

At  the  Copenhagen  World  Summit  for  Social  Development  in  March  1995,  Heads  of 
State  and  Government  adopted  a  declaration  and  a  three-pronged  action  programme 
aimed  at  eradicating  poverty,  increasing  productive  employment  along  with  a  cut  in 
unemployment, and fostering social integration. 

The policies being implemented both at Member State and Community level already go a 
long  way  towards  meeting  the  commitments  made  in  Copenhagen.  In  line  with  the 
priorities singled out by the European Union before  and during the Summit, the purpose 
of this communication is to outline a limited number of areas on which the EU could now 
focus its action. This in no way reduces the need for the EU to continue its efforts  to table 
common  positions  on  the  range  of  issues  arising  from  the  Summit  which  are  to  be 
followed up by the United Nations. 

The communication also puts forward  the idea of expert meetings to gauge the extent  to 
which the EU is fulfilling  the undertakings it made in Copenhagen. 

THE EUROPEAN UNION'S FOLLOW-UP TO 
THE WORLD SUMMIT FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT 

Introduction 

1. 

FIVE AREAS FOR ACTION 

1.1 

1.2 

1.3 

Incorporating  social  aspects  into  the  international  institutional 
framework 
Incorporating respect for basic social rights and promoting social and 
human development in bilateral agreements 
Incorporating  the fight against  poverty  in*development  action  and 
continuing efforts to combat marginalization within the Community 

1.4  Keeping  employment  as  the  top  priority  for  economic  and  social 

policy 

1.5  Respect  and  protection  for  immigrants and the fight against  racism 

and xenophobia 

2. 

TAKING  A  CUE  FROM  THE  SUMMIT  TO  EXPAND  AND 
STIMULATE DEBATE 

2.1  Fostering the involvement of civil society 
2.2  A  plan  for  expert  meetings  to  monitor  implementation  of  the 

Copenhagen action programme.... 

3 

4 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

9 

9 

THE EUROPEAN UNION'S FOLLOW-UP TO 
THE WORLD SUMMIT FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT 

Introduction 

The Copenhagen World Summit on Social Development, the first of its kind, provided an 
opportunity  for  the  international  community to  spell  out  the  principles  underpinning  an 
integrated  people-centred  approach  to  development.  Such  an  approach  is  founded  on 
common  values  and  highlights  the  close  links  that  exist  between  certain  development 
goals, prominent among which are upholding human rights and the equality of the sexes, 
reducing  poverty  and  inequality, boosting  employment,  respecting  workers' basic rights 
and integrating disadvantaged groups. In this way, the Summit dovetailed with a series of 
recent conferences on human development (Rio, Vienna, Cairo and Beijing). 

In the run-up to the Summit, the Commission presented a communication (COM(94)669) 
setting  out  the  European  Union's  priorities  for  Copenhagen.  These  priorities  covered 
multilateral  commitments  (aimed  at  encouraging  all  countries  to  set  explicit  social 
development  goals,  improving  social rights in  keeping  with  the  ILO  Conventions,  and 
reducing inequalities) and the incorporation of certain aspects in the Community's bilateral 
relations with countries benefiting from financial aid or trade preferences. 

The purpose of this communication is to look at ways in which the European Union could 
act upon the commitments made in Copenhagen.  While the  Commission  takes the view 
that  the  full  range  of  commitments  and  action  set  out  in  the  declaration  and  action 
programme should be put into practice (as indeed Member State and Community policies 
are  already  starting  to  do),  it  also  feels  that  the  Union  in  line  with  the  priorities  it 
pinpointed  prior  to  and  at  the  Summit  could  formulate  proposals  in five of  the  areas 
mentioned in the Summit texts. These are: 

the international institutional environment, 
the inclusion of basic social rights in bilateral agreements, 
the fight against poverty, 
the priority to be given to employment in economic and social policies, 
respect and protection for immigrants, and measures to combat xenophobia. 

The choice of these five themes in no way reduces the need  for  the EU to  continue its 
efforts  to table common positions  on the range of issues arising from the  Summit to be 
followed up in the UN. 

The Community also subscribes to the notion that civil society should play a part in social 
development and intends to take practical initiatives to achieve this. 

Similarly,  in  a  bid  to  promote  the  principles  of  the  integrated  approach  advanced  in 
Copenhagen and ensure that the Community subsequently does what it undertook to do, 
the  Commission  also  proposes  that  expert  meetings  be  held  to  examine  the  extent  to 
which the undertakings made at the Summit are coming to fruition. 

1. 

FIVE AREAS FOR ACTION 

1.1  DEVELOPING  SOCIAL  ASPECTS 
INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK 

IN  THE 

INTERNATIONAL 

While  stressing  that  social  development  was  primarily  a  domestic  policy  matter,  the 
Summit highlighted the growing importance of the international institutional environment. 
trade  and  growing 
With 
internationalisation,  the  loss  of  national  autonomy  over  policies  calls  for  greater 
cooperation world-wide. 

the  emergence  of  a  global  economy,  burgeoning 

* 

The  overhaul  of  the  system  of  international  institutions  has  also  been  a  topic  of  G7 
discussion:  in  Halifax  and  Lyon  the  main  industrialised  nations  focused  on  the 
consequences of globalization and the increased interdependence both of national policies 
and of the various policies affecting  sustainable development.  At Lyon they also called for 
a  new  Partnership  for  Development  covering,  among  others,  the  social  aspects  of 
development  and  involving  both  the  developing  countries  themselves  and  bilateral  and 
multilateral donors. 

The decisions of the recent European Councils are evidence of the EU's move towards an 
integrated approach, making a necessary link between the fight against unemployment and 
the  curbing  of  public  deficits.  Closer  interaction  between  Council  meetings  on  social 
affairs  and those  on  economics  and finance should  open the  way for  a  more consistent 
approach to such matters. 

Internationally, there is a clear need to create conditions for growth, stability and new jobs 
which abide by multilaterally-agreed labour standards. 

Employment  has certainly moved up the international agenda in recent years, particularly 
in  meetings  of  the  G7  including  the  Detroit  and  Lille  Conferences,  and  in  the  work 
programmes  of  international  organisations  such  as  the  EC  and  the  OECD.  Still,  co 
operation between  international  institutions in the field of employment  has so far  netted 
only modest  results.  Some encouraging  signs are initial  contacts between  the IMF and 
ILO and the creation  of a task force  on sustainable jobs and living conditions as part of 
the UN's Administrative Committee on Co-ordination (CAC). 

Proposed guidelines 

In view of the special role which the action programme accords the ILO in influencing the 
quantity  and  quality  of  employment,  the  Commission  sees  a  vital  need  for  closer 

cooperation between this organisation and those bodies working in three other key areas, 
i.e.  macroeconomic  policies  (IMF),  development  issues,  particularly  structural  and 
sectoral  policies  (World  Bank)  and  trade  policies  (WTO).  This  would  build  on  the 
guidelines  agreed  in  Halifax,  and  followed-up  in  Lyon,  enabling  the  international 
community to make international policies dovetail better. 

Chapter V of the action programme deals with the follow-up to the Summit. The thinking 
behind the programme  highlights the need to  give  more weight  to  economic  and  social 
aspects when drawing up and implementing policies. In practical terms, one suggestion is 
to  have joint  high-level  gatherings,  possibly  on  the  sidelines  of  World  Bank  and  IMF 
Development  Committee  meetings,  which  would  bring 
the  UN 
Secretary-General,  the  IMF,  the  Bank,  the ILO, UN  funds  and  programmes  and  other 
relevant  bodies  to  examine  how  the  declaration  and  action  programme  are  being 
implemented. 

together 

The  Commission  believes  the  Union  should  support  the  holding  of  such  meetings 
the 
(mentioned  in paragraph  95g)  and  recommend  that  the  General  Assembly  call  on 
Secretary-General  to  start  convening  them  from  1996  on  a  regular  basis  under  the 
umbrella of the Administrative Co-ordination Committee. 

The Commission should also back this idea in G7 discussion of international institutions, 
especially in the light of the objective of greater consistency set out in Lyon. 

ECOSOC has a central role to play in ensuring that the main economic, social and other 
relevant conferences lead on from each other so as to avoid overlapping and encourage an 
integrated approach. A revitalised Social Development Committee should assist ECOSOC 
with  a  multiannual  thematic  work  programme  centred  on  the  three  main  topics  of  the 
Summit. 

1.2 

INCORPORATING  RESPECT  FOR  BASIC  SOCIAL  RIGHTS  AND 
PROMOTING SOCIAL AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT IN BILATERAL 
AGREEMENTS 

In  its  relations  with  other  countries,  the  European  Union  has  developed  a  policy  for 
human rights and basic freedoms, covering a wide range of activities. In November 1995, 
the  Commission  published  a  communication  entitled  "The  European  Union  and  the 
external dimension of human rights policy: from Rome to Maastricht and beyond". 

More specifically,  agreements with non-member countries have since 1992 had to include 
a human rights clause as part  and parcel  of the whole accord. Not  only does this cover 
civil and political rights but  also the right to  development  as well as economic, cultural 
and social rights. The clause was fleshed out by the Commission in its communication of 
May  1995  on  "the  inclusion  of  respect  for  democratic  principles  and  human rights in 
agreements between the Community and third countries". 

On the social front, the Community makes sure that due account  is taken of such matters. 
In  this  regard  the  Development  Council  of  November  1996  adopted  a  resolution  on 
'Human and Social Development and European Union Development  policy'.  In addition 
the White Paper, which should help guide the countries of Central and Eastern Europe in 
their  preparations  to  join  the  single  market,  also  covers  social  aspects  and  the  Euro-
Mediterranean  partnership  adopted  by  the  Cannes  European  Council  includes  a  major 
component on social and human issues. 

In that part of the  action  programme  dealing with  improvements  in the  quality  of work 
and  employment  all  governments  represented  in  Copenhagen  undertook  to  promote 
respect for basic workers' rights and to implement the ILO Conventions (where they were 
signatory to them) or abide by their principles (where they were not). 

In its bilateral relations and in granting aid and trade preferences,  the Community  should 
give priority to those countries taking concrete steps to comply with this undertaking. 

Proposed initiative 

(a) 

In relations with other countries, the European Union has developed  a policy  for 
human  rights  and  basic  freedoms  covering  a  range  of  activities.  In  November 
1995, the  Commission  adopted  a Communication  entitled  "The European Union 
and the external dimension of human rights policy: from Rome to  Maastricht and 
beyond". 

More  specifically,  agreements  with  third  countries  have,  since  1992  had  to 
include  a human rights clause  as part and parcel  of the whole  accord.  Not  only 
does this cover civil and political rights but also the right to  development  as well 
as  economic,  social  and  cultural  rights.  The  clause  was  fleshed  out  by  the 
Commission  in its Communication  of May  1995  on  "the inclusion  of  respect  for 
democratic principles and human rights in agreements between the Community and 
third countries. 

Dialogue  between the Union  and developing  countries  therefore  naturally  covers 
these matters. 

(b) 

The Union  ensures that the development  of human resources, through education, 
vocational  training  and  the  improvement  of  living  conditions  of  disadvantaged 
sections of the population, is an integral part of economic and social  development. 
In the human rights context it recognises the need to protect workers fundamental 
rights  on the basis set out in the relevant  instruments  of the International  Labour 
Organisation,  including  those  on  the  prohibition  of  forced  and  child  labour,  the 
freedom of  association,  the right to  organise  and to  bargain  collectively  and the 
principle of non-discrimination. 

In its cooperation with other countries, the Community may take up matters relating 
to employment and respect for basic social rights and try to find ways of 
working together on social aspects. 

(c) the aim would be to 

promote  analysis,  the  development  of  national  policies  and  the  formulation  of 
goals  for  social  progress  in the fields of  employment,  health,  education/training 
and combating poverty; 

foster  dialogue  between  governments,  the  social  partners  and  civil  society  on 
issues relating to employment, health and education; 

implement  schemes  and  programmes  which  contribute  to  the  goals  of  social 
development and ensure compliance with the ILO Conventions. 

In order to  do  all this, the  Community would  have to  seek  closer  cooperation  or  even 
mount joint cooperation programmes with specialised bodies such as UNDP, the ILO and 
European social partners. 

In  the  Commission's  view,  a  good  way  to  strengthen  the  social  dimension  in  the 
Community's development  aid, particularly for  the poorest  countries, is by making good 
the  undertaking  mooted  in  the  Summit's  action  programme  whereby  basic  social 
programmes  would,  by joint  agreement,  receive  one  fifth  of  the  Community's  public 
development aid and one fifth of developing countries' own public spending. 

1.3 

INCORPORATING 
IN 
DEVELOPMENT ACTION AND CONTINUING EFFORTS TO COMBAT 
MARGINALISATION WITHIN THE COMMUNITY 

FIGHT  AGAINST 

POVERTY 

THE 

1.3.1  The  Copenhagen  action  programme  contains  recommendations 
the 
implementation of national strategies which explicitly seek to reduce relative poverty, and 
eradicate  absolute  poverty  and  which  include  such goals in local,  national  and  regional 
economic  and  social  policies.  The  programme  also  calls  for  closer  international  co 
operation, support for international institutions, and mobilisation of the public and private 
sectors alike to help achieve national poverty-reduction goals. 

for 

As part of the EU's development co-operation, the fight against poverty is one of the main 
areas  in  which  the  Member  States  and  Community  intend  to  step  up  co-ordination  of 
policies  and  on-the-spot  action.  In  December  1993, the  Council  adopted  general joint 
guidelines  stressing  the  inherently  political  dimension of  a task  which  can  only  succeed 

with the  sustained  political  will to  ensure  a  more  equitable  distribution  of the  fruits  of 
growth and fairer  access to productive resources and social services. For this to happen, 
priority must be giving to narrowing inequalities between men and women. The approach 
chosen  by  the  Council  is  an  integrated,  long-term  one,  covering  all  development 
mechanisms and emphasising policy dialogue between donors and the recipient countries' 
authorities, as well as grassroots involvement. 

In  order  to  boost  its  role  in  supporting  domestic  policies  to  alleviate  poverty  and 
inequality and fine-tune its priorities in managing development  schemes, the Community 
could  give  more  backing  to  the  development  of  analysis  and  information  instruments, 
incorporating them into the various areas of co-operation. 

Proposed initiative 

In the policy dialogue between the Community and developing countries, poverty would 
be routinely taken into account, using progress indicators and an assessment  of national 
policy action for  reducing  poverty  and  inequality.  Other  indicators would  be examined, 
such  as  the  share  of  public  spending  on  basic  social  services  compared  to  other  non 
productive expenditure or the barriers that prevent access for all, particularly women,  to 
productive resources and activities. 

Alongside  this,  the  Community  would  improve  its  own  system  for  analysing  and 
evaluating its programmes so that their impact on poverty could be gauged more clearly. 

The Community could also step up its development  education activities to make citizens 
more aware of the problems of poverty in the world. 

1.3.2  Efforts  should  also  be  made  to  ensure  that  the  economic  progress  made  by 
Community countries benefit everyone. 

The picture painted at the Summit of the situation in industrialised economies shows that 
social marginalization is growing in the face of structural changes. 

As indicated in its medium-term  social action programme, the Commission will continue 
to monitor this issue carefully.  1996 has seen an EU-wide debate on social exclusion and a 
report on all Community action in this  field. 

The fight against exclusion has been a priority for the European  Social Fund since 1989. 
Among  its main  goals  have  been  measures  to  combat  long-term  unemployment  and  to 
facilitate  the  social  integration  of  young  people  and  those  belonging  more  generally  to 
vulnerable groups (drug addicts, immigrants, ex-prisoners, etc.). 

As regards sex equality, the principle is included in all Community policies and activities. 

Currently, ECU 5.6 billion is being earmarked for the fight against marginalization. 

The  Community  "Employment"  initiative  allows  a  more flexible approach,  taking  into 
account all aspects of exclusion and dealing with them as a whole. ECU 730 million under 
the "Horizon" section of this initiative has gone on the fight against exclusion. 

1.4  KEEPING EMPLOYMENT AS THE TOP PRIORITY  FOR ECONOMIC 

AND SOCIAL POLICY 

The  Copenhagen  declaration  and  action  programme  place  job  creation,  reducing 
unemployment  and promoting  decently paid work  at  the  centre  of economic  and  social 
policies and  strategies for  sustainable development.  Governments  undertook  to  conduct 
active  employment  policies  and  give  priority  to  national  and  international  policies 
conducive to employment. 

The  action  programme  stresses  the  vital  role  of  employment  in  reducing  poverty  and 
fostering  social integration.  Emphasis is placed  on the cooperation  required  at  all levels 
between the  state,  social partners and civil society, and on the need to  invest in people. 
Investment in education and training is essential for economic growth and hence jobs, and 
instrumental  in  enabling  men  and  women  to  adapt  more  easily  to  global  change. 
Employment  policies  must  also  ensure  equality  between  men  and  women  and 
non-discrimination on racial/ethnic, religious or other grounds. 

The EU has made the battle for employment one of its central tasks.  The chosen strategy, 
consistent with macro economic policies aimed at monetary stability and the reduction of 
excessive public deficits identifies five key areas vital for job creation: 

better job prospects through investment in vocational training; 
harnessing growth for greater job creation; 
lower indirect labour costs to help create jobs; 
more effective labour market policies; 
measures to help those worst affected by unemployment. 

The  Essen  European  Council  asked  the  Member  States  to 
these 
recommendations into multiannual policy programmes tailored to the particular economic 
and social situations prevailing in each country. In December  1995, the Madrid European 
Council reaffirmed  that job creation was the main social, economic and political goal of 
the EU and its Member States. For the first time, a joint report by the Council (Ecofin and 
Labour  and  Social  Affairs  ministers)  and  the  Commission  concurred  on  how  best  to 
ensure  that  economic  recovery  was  accompanied  by  a  clearer  improvement  in  the job 
situation. 

incorporate 

In June  1996 President  Santer  proposed  a confidence  pact  for  employment  in  order  to 
mobilise all those concerned, make full use of the European multiplier  effect,  and give a 
medium- and long term dimension to efforts to combat unemployment. This policy, which 

sets out a comprehensive framework, was welcomed by the Florence European  Council, 
which stressed the need to give new impetus to the job creation strategy. 

The  joint  report  and  the  confidence  pact  proposal  were  followed-up  at  the  Dublin 
European  Council with  a Declaration  on Employment, which outlines  a  concrete  set  of 
desirable  measures  to  (1)  improye  labour  market  efficiency  and  investment  in  human 
resources, (2) provide  support  for  the most vulnerable groups in society, (3) render tax 
and  benefit  systems  more  employment friendly, (4)  modernise  markets  for  goods  and 
services, (5) enhance competitiveness, and (6) promote local development. 

Proposed guideline 

The  decisive  steps  taken  by the  European  Union  in  close  collaboration  with  the  social 
partners could, as part of an analysis of best practice, be usefully passed on and compared 
with  other initiatives in a wider international framework. Given the  special  employment 
role  accorded  by the  action  programme  to  the  ILO, the  Commission  proposes  to  hold 
regular meetings with the  organisation.  Discussion  on employment  should  also continue 
within the OECD and G7. 

1.5  RESPECT  AND  PROTECTION  FOR  IMMIGRANTS  AND  THE  FIGHT 

AGAINST RACISM AND XENOPHOBIA 

The  Copenhagen  declaration  commits  governments  to  affording  migrant  workers 
protection as laid down in national and international laws and agreements, to  combating 
acts  of  racism  and  xenophobia,  and  to  fostering  social  tolerance.  Respect  for  human 
rights,  fundamental  freedoms  of  all,  cultural  and  religious  diversity,  social  justice  and 
equal opportunities are vital for more humane, tolerant and just societies. 

Planned initiatives 

In  its medium-term  social  action  programme,  the  Commission  plans  in the  near 
future to present a recommendation encouraging Member States to ratify the 1990 
UN Convention on improving the lot of migrant workers and their families. 

The  same  programme  also  makes  provision  for  a  recommendation  calling  on 
Member  States  to  make  it  easier  for  residents  of  non-member  countries 
permanently and legally domiciled in another Member State to find employment in 
instances where the relevant post cannot be filled by EU nationals or by national of 
other countries legally resident in that Member State. As things stand, nationals of 
non-member countries legally and permanently residing in one Member  State are 
not entitled to go and work in another. 

In  December  1995,  the  Commission  adopted  a  communication  on  racism, 
xenophobia  and  antisemitism  in  a  bid  to  co-ordinate  its  own  activities  in  these 

10 

areas and as a way of mapping out avenues for future  action. The communication 
was  accompanied  by  a  proposal  to  the  Council  to  have  1997 designated  as  the 
"European Year Against Racism". 

2. 

TAKING A CUE FROM THE SUMMIT TO EXPAND AND STIMULATE 
DEBATE 

2.1 

FOSTERING THE INVOLVEMENT OF CIVIL SOCIETY 

The declaration and action programme enshrine the idea of a society for all, in which each 
individual has rights and responsibilities and an active part to play. Governments are urged 
to encourage the involvement of everyone in society. 

Planned initiatives 

The Commission has decided to hold a European forum every eighteen months to discuss 
social policy.  The forum  will bring together  as many relevant  bodies  as possible. While 
fully  acknowledging the role played by the social partners, the Commission believes that 
NGOs and  other  representative  organisations  should  be consulted  on a whole range  of 
social issues. The first forum was held in March 1996. 

2.2  A PLAN FOR EXPERT MEETINGS TO MONITOR IMPLEMENTATION 

OF THE COPENHAGEN ACTION PROGRAMME 

Expert  meetings  are due to  be held  in  1997 and  1999 to  examine how the  main issues 
raised at Copenhagen have been handled and how both the internal and external aspects of 
EU policies have progressed.  This  is with  a view to  the  special  session  of the  General 
Assembly  planned  for  2000,  when  implementation  of  the  action  programme  will  be 
examined. 

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