Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2001-03-14-Speech-3-060"
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"en.20010314.2.3-060"2
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"Mr President, the Lisbon decisions were unique. On the one hand, they were characterised by a clearly right-wing financial policy of deregulation and privatisation and, on the other hand, by a left-wing policy of full employment, which thus, for the first time, became an official goal for the EU. There was talk of a social agenda, social cohesion, combating poverty, lifelong learning for all, etc., in other words natural elements of left-wing policy.
At that time I was very surprised. I wondered how it was possible to unite – or balance, as Mrs Lindh said – right-wing and left-wing policy at the same time. Now, the picture has become clearer, and I see that disagreement on financial policy remains.
Right-wing policy is clearly dominant ahead of the Stockholm Summit. The focus is on stability policy, liberalisation and deregulation of the internal market. The social profile is very weak. The Stockholm Summit was to have employment as its main issue, but there are no proposals for meaningful action to combat the major unemployment which currently affects 14 – 15 million people.
One aim is to encourage women to enter the workplace. This is good. Another aim is to increase employment of the older population, raise the retirement age, etc. However, the proposals are primarily aimed at increasing the level of employment, not at lowering unemployment. These are two different things. The 15 million people who are unemployed in Europe today but already count as part of the labour force will not benefit to any great degree from new groups joining that labour force.
My political group considers that this is very serious. The Swedish Government should naturally also be concerned but, unlike France and Portugal, it has chosen not to create its own profile but instead to implement what the Commission and the large Member States want as loyally as possible.
When, in the past, the Swedish Government was heading the campaign for Sweden to join the EU, it said the goal was not only to retain the Swedish welfare state but also, together with other left-wing forces, to pursue a social welfare policy throughout Europe. Now, we are heading in the opposite direction. Right-wing policy is promoted in the EU, and the Swedish welfare policy is at risk. This is taking place despite the fact that the economy is sound, despite a majority of left-wing governments in the Council and despite a left-wing majority in the Swedish Parliament. Not even given optimum conditions have we in the last year approached a social Europe. What will happen if the economic situation deteriorates and the Council gains more right-wing governments?
Time has run out for the Swedish Presidency. To conclude, I wonder whether there really is nothing which the Swedish Government could prioritise ahead of the coming employment summit for those who are unemployed here and now."@en1
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