Brussels, 22/10/2007
The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) continues to be concerned about the process used to conclude the agreement which largely excluded the social partners and many others.
We continue too to be concerned about the reduced status of the Charter of Fundamental Rights (compared to the old draft constitutional treaty) and continuing doubts about its degree of legal enforceability on Member States. We also deplore the opt-out by the UK (the new Polish Government appear to be withdrawing its opt-out).
We would have wished to see the principle of social partnership at the head of the treaty, not just contained within the limits of the social policy section.
And we are concerned that at the last minute, the Polish Government secured a clause (the Ioannina clause) which strengthens the blocking possibilities of a minority of Member States – thereby increasing the possibility of more brakes on progress on much needed social measures.
The treaty is a better one than the current provisions of the Nice Treaty but represents a missed opportunity for those of us who are ambitious for a more integrated, effective, social European Union.