WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3605/97 by Nikitas KAKLAMANIS to the Commission. Social dialogue and measures taken against workers
Date: 1997-11-13
Institutions: European Parliament, KAKLAMANIS
Subjects: EU employment policy, fight against unemployment, parental leave, part-time employment, social dialogue (EU), unemployment

8. 6. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 174/85

In  its  communication  adopted  on  24  September  1997,  the  Commission  stressed  that  the  European  aerospace
industry  is  in  urgent  need  of  consolidation  and  restructuring  if  it  is  not  to  be  left  behind  in  international
competition. Europe will need to provide the context in which European aerospace firms can restructure and
flourish.  This  is  why  the  Commission  called  on  Member  States  to  support  the  thrust  of  the  communication,
recognise the necessary urgency, and give their backing to the Community accompanying measures listed in the
communication in order to facilitate and encourage the restructuring process.

(1)  COM(97) 466 final.
(2)  COM(93) 459.
(3)  COM(97) 142, COM(97) 553.

(98/C 174/135)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3605/97

by Nikitas Kaklamanis (UPE) to the Commission

(13 November 1997)

Subject: Social dialogue and measures taken against workers

There has been much talk recently at European level about the usefulness of the social dialogue, especially since
the incorporation of the Social Protocol in the new EU Treaty.

Despite all this, workers continue to face insurmountable problems which are getting worse, without any hope of
a solution in the foreseeable future.

Will the Commission give its views on the results so far of the social dialogue in the Member States and say
whether  it  expects  this  to  bring  about  any  improvement  in  the  employment  situation  of  workers,  given  that
antipopular measures are building up against them, their incomes which are already low are being depressed still
further and well over 20 million persons are out of work in the EU?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission

(19 January 1998)

The dialogue between the social partners greatly contributes to shaping the economic and social environment and
has become one of the cornerstones of our model of society. The crucial importance of informing and consulting
the social partners and involving them in dialogue and negotiations is generally recognised in all Member States.

The social dialogue has made good progress at European level. The Agreement on Social Policy annexed to the
Treaty on European Union has been the source of interesting contractual developments. The social partners have
concluded two agreements, one on parental leave in 1996 and one on part-time work in June 1997.

Combating  unemployment  has  been  a  top  priority  at  Community  level  in  recent  years.  For  the  first  time,  an
extraordinary meeting of the European Council (cid:150) held on 21 November 1997 in Luxembourg (cid:150) was devoted
exclusively to employment.

The European Council invited the social partners to play their part in implementing an integrated and coordinated
employment  strategy,  bearing  in  mind  their  specific  responsibilities  and  powers.  Besides,  the  Luxembourg
guidelines recommend close involvement of the social partners at all stages of the process.

Recent developments in the employment field have nurtured the social dialogue at national level. Thus, tripartite
consultations between the public authorities and the social partners have led to national employment pacts in
several Member States. In addition, trade unions and employers(cid:146) organisations at different levels are pursuing
their collective negotiations on ways of promoting employment and on the adaptation of the rules governing the
labour market in all the Member States.