Single Market Act: CESI urges EU-Parliament to foster forgotten social dimension

“The single market is a great achievement, but to regain the citizens’ support Europe must foster its social dimension”, said CESI Secretary-General Helmut Müllers on the eve of the questioning of Commissioners Barnier, Dalli and Kroes in the European Parliament. Müllers stresses that the Lisbon Treaty defines the EU as a social market economy. CESI insists that the Single Market should enshrine fundamental social rights. “The 12 levers are supposed to generate economic growth but this growth must be sustainable and to the benefit of the European workers.” Müllers warns the current crisis is not only a financial or an economic but also a social crisis. “Unemployment is soaring in many EU-countries. To fight this must be our main concern.” Müllers calls on the MEPs to close the social gap in the Single Market legislation.

On Tuesday the Commissioners in charge of the Single Market Act will be quizzed by the European Parliament on how this major EU initiative can help to exit the crisis. CESI expects of the MEPs to focus on the citizens and workers demands. “The Commission will need to pull some of the dragon’s teeth unless it wants to meet with resistance from the trades unions’ side”, says Müllers. “The Commission may have some desiderata concerning the services directive but this is not the moment to risk social dumping in national labour markets. They are already under enough strain”.

CESI Secretary-General met with Commissioner Michel Barnier some weeks ago in order to discuss the spring 2011 Single Market Act. According to Müllers there was general acceptance that the important social role of services of general interest must be respected. Müllers concludes: “The Commission is well aware of the support it needs for any future legislation in this highly sensitive field but Parliament will need to take a tough stance to shift things in the right direction and to prevent the Commission from deregulatory policies detrimental to Europe’s social dimension.”