On the eve of the European Council that is going to hopefully pave a solid ground for rectification of the Lisbon Treaty which reinforces the role of European social partners, Rainer Plassmann, Secretary General of CEEP stated:

“It is, from a CEEP point of view, in principle very useful to invite European social partners when social partners’ matters are discussed at Council level like in the current case on the theme “flexicurity”. But then all recognised cross-sectoral social partners should be around the table. Whatever topics will be discussed, it is not a full representation for all employers’ organisations when only BusinessEurope is present”.

The European Council meeting will indeed start with a short hearing of BusinessEurope and ETUC on the item “Flexicurity”, this is linked with the flexicurity principles approved by the EPSCO Council earlier this month and with the “Key challenges facing the European labour market: A joint analysis of European social partners” signed by CEEP, BusinessEurope and ETUC in Lisbon on 18/10/2007 in parallel to the informal tripartite social summit.

For more information contact:
Inge REICHERT, Director of CEEP - Tel: +32 (0) 2 219 27 98