Social package - Too little too late

2 September 2008

Commenting on the social package presented to the European Parliament this morning by Commissioner Vladimir Spidla and French Minister Xavier Bertrand, Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, President of the PES, commented

“This is too little too late. I applaud Vladimir Spidla for persuading the conservative European Commission to agree this modest package unveiled towards the end of its mandate. We support the fight against discrimination in all its forms, we agree with trying to strengthen works councils, we back more and better social dialogue. But much more needs to be done if the European Commission is serious about renewing Social Europe. A small step in the right direction is no longer sufficient for Europe. We need a much more ambitious programme to invest in growth, create jobs, tackle the financial crisis and stop social dumping. Instead we have a modest package of useful but relatively minor reforms.”   
    

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