CEEP takes part today [on Friday 24 March] in an Extraordinary Meeting between EU Social Partners and EU Institutions in Rome, opening the celebrations for the 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome. EU social partners presented to Presidents Juncker and Tusk, to Commissioners Thyssen and Dombrovskis and to the Prime Ministers of Italy, Malta, Estonia and Sweden, a joint statement, “declaring their full commitment to the European Union and dedication to continuing to contribute to a successful project and united Europe that delivers for its workers and enterprises.”

During the meeting, CEEP Vice-President Filippo Brandolini said: “CEEP is honoured to be associated to the 60th Anniversary of the Treaty of Rome. This involvement is for us a clear sign of the new political will of the Council and Commission to involve Social Partners in the crucial decisions being made for the future of Europe.”

Mr Brandolini emphasised three key priorities for CEEP:

• “Europe shall not be reduced to the single market. This would be in contradiction with all the work we have been doing for decades as a social partner to foster social Europe. That is why the right balance between the economic and social dimensions of the EU needs to be achieved. A key step in that direction will be to ensure that the reflection on the future of the European Social model and of the Economic and Monetary Union go hand in hand. Member States should never favour one at the expense of the development of the other.””

• “A key foundation for the European project should be its infrastructures, both physical and social. Our main instrument to accomplish this remains an ambitious and responsible investment policy fully supported by our rules and engagements.  We will continue to make proposals to facilitate investments in key public services infrastructures. We need to be smart about this and remember that we can find social progress beyond technicity, for instance by codifying a clear distinction between operational expenditure and investments and allowing for a long-term horizon. This is for us the meaning of “smart reading of fiscal rules”, which you can find in the social partners’ joint statement.”

• “Through Social dialogue, we will ensure social market economy better supports employers and workers. Social partners have a key role to play not only through consultations by contributing to government policy making, but also and mainly by directly shaping industrial relations and labour markets through negotiations. We are very pleased that this meeting creates a bridge with the Social Summit scheduled in November, where we are sure that the role of social partners will be strongly reaffirmed.”

CEEP delegation in Rome was composed of Filippo Brandolini (Vice-President), Valeria Ronzitti (General Secretary), Joseph Farrugia (President of CEEP Maltese Section) and Kristin Ivarsson (CEEP Sweden).
 

For further information, please contact:
Maxime STAELENS, Communication Officer
Email: maxime.staelens@ceep.eu
Tel.: + 32(0) 2 229 21 40

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CEEP, European Centre of Employers and Enterprises providing Public Services, is one of the three general cross-sectoral European Social Partners. It gathers public and private providers of services of general interest from across Europe. CEEP members contribute to more than 26% of EU GDP and employ 30% of the EU workforce.