Congress General Secretary David Begg is to meet with key EU leaders - including Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso - as part of a high level trade union delegation that will press the case for the adoption of a Social Compact across the European Union.
The high-level union delegtation will meet tomorrow and Wednesday (June 26, June 27) with a number of key EU leaders including: Mr Barroso, the Commission President; Mr Herman Van Rompuy, European Council President and Mr Martin Schulz, the President of the European Parliament.
The meetings are designed to press the case for the adoption of a Social Compact across Europe, which aims to fashion a route out of the current crisis through prioritising sustainable growth, quality employment and greater social justice. The Social Compact initiative has received the unanimous backing of European unions affiliated to the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC).
Mr Begg said it was clear austerity had failed in Ireland and across Europe. "In Ireland as in wider Europe, we need growth if we are to have any hope of exiting the crisis. We have put forward proposals on how we can stimulate growth and job creation in Ireland. At a European level, the adoption of a Social Compact focused on sustainable growth and good quality jobs would help spur a European recovery and help restore some hope among the peoples of Europe."
The high level delegation is comprised of union leaders from just eight countries: Ireland, Spain, Germany, Italy, France, Belgium, Greece and the United Kingdom. It will be headed by Bernadette Segol, the head of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC).
The ETUC is also hoping to meet with other key EU officials and the delegation will hold a press conference in Brussels, on June 27.
