Minister Cotman: Flexicurity with Respect to Specifics of Member States
European social parters convened a tripartite social summit in Lisbon on Thursday to carry out the first joint analysis of key challenges of the European labour markets. Partners agreed on principles of flexicurity which will also include the "specific features of EU countries", Minister of Labour, the Family and Social Affairs Marjeta Cotman told the press.
Cotman explained that the joint principle of flexicurity includes flexibility of labour market, new and better workplaces, better employability, more education, lifelong learning and better productivity.
The ministry meanwhile said it would encourage involvement of various institutions to boost visibility and effects of the agreement. According to European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, EU members should transpose these principles into their reform programmes, as there is no talk about drawing up European-level legislation yet.
Serving as a good example of how to connect flexibility with security in an ever-changing world is Denmark, Barroso said. He moreover stressed that the agreement between European social partners plays an important part in finding an agreement on the questions of globalisation. According to him, Europe needs to adapt, while also maintaining its social model, which includes both flexibility and stability.
Prime Minister Janez Jansa, who also attended the meeting, underlined in his speech the importance of social dialogue in order to achieve the well-being of citizens.
The agreement on flexicurity was reached, after months of negotiations, by the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), the Confederation of European Business (BusinessEurope), the European Association of Craft, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (UEAPME) and the European Center of Enterprises with Public Participation and of Entreprises of General Economic Interest (CEEP).
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