Carl Cederschiöld, President of CEEP, presented this key message at the Tripartite Social Summit today in Brussels. The Summit was primarily devoted to discussions on enhancing trust and social dialogue to sustain recovery and structural change.

In his intervention, Mr Cederschiöld pointed out that CEEP has never questioned the necessity of fiscal consolidation measures now being implemented in many Member Sates, but there is a need to be selective. He endorsed President Barroso’s commitment, given at the last Spring Tripartite Social Summit: “Fiscal consolidation can not mean cutting essential public services or weakening our commitment to solidarity with the most vulnerable people in our societies”.

Mr Cederschiöld also addressed the high youth unemployment in Europe. This is of immediate concern. Internships and traineeships can be one way for young people not to be excluded from the labour market. “Public employers contribute a lot in this respect but there are limits to what they can achieve alone. Social cohesion should be at the top of European and national policy agendas”.

For further information, please contact:

Valeria RONZITTI, Director of CEEP - tel. +32 (0) 2 219 27 98

CEEP gathers enterprises and organisations from across Europe, both public and private, at national, regional and local level, which are public employers or providers of services of general interest. CEEP members employ a quarter of the EU workforce; CEEP is one of the three European Social Partners.

CEEP GENERAL SECRETARIAT

Rue des Deux Eglises, 26 / BE – 1000 Brussels

Tel: + 32 (0) 2 219 27 98 / Fax: + 32 (0) 2 218 12 13

Email: ceep@ceep.eu / Website: www.ceep.eu