European Social Partners together for Growth

Joint statement of the European Social Partners on the Europe 2020 Strategy

On 4 June 2010 high level representatives of the BUSINESSEUROPE, UEAPME and CEEP met President of the European Commission Barroso and Commissionar László Andor addressing Commission with the European Social Partners´ joint message on the Europe 2020 Strategy.

The main objective should be to put Europe on a sustained growth path, ensure a rapid return to more and better jobs, while ensuring fiscal sustainability. A sense of collective responsibility will be needed to achieve this objective, based on clear targets and greater accountability for Member States and EU institutions.

The main priorities highlighted in the joint statement are - combining exit and entry strategies, promoting the knowledge triangle (education, research, innovation), flexicurity policies accompanied by sound macroeconomic policies and a supportive public environment.

The role of the Member States is also stressed in the common text. Member States should strongly support a climate of trust and social dialogue between employers and worker organisations by respecting the autonomy of social partners, assisting and supporting social partners and associating them in decisions on how to spend capacity-building funds available notably under the European social fund.

Joint statement of the European Social Partners on the Europe 2020 Strategy [pdf 143 kB]

Vladimíra Drbalová
International Organisations and EU Affairs