Committee of the Regions' opinion on the White Paper concerning European social policy
Further to its November 1994 session, the Committee of the Regions has drawn up, on its own initiative, an opinion on the White Paper concerning European social policy entitled "A way forward for the Union". The Committee of the Regions strongly welcomes the White Paper on the future of social policy and the debate it has stimulated. The Committee emphasizes, however, the crucial role of local and regional authorities in the process of social and economic development, which it feels was not always adequately represented in the Paper. It is also disappointed that consultation on social policy is not specifically provided for in the Treaties. In its Opinion, the Committee stresses the interdependence between the White Paper on social policy and the White Paper on employment, growth and competitiveness. It welcomes the focus that both these documents places on unemployment and agrees with the Commission's view that unemployment is the single most important economic and social problem and challenge that faces the European Union. On the same theme, the Committee also welcomes the proposal to develop a Union-wide guarantee that no person under the age of 18 can be unemployed, and recognised that this can only be achieved through appropriate, high-quality education and training. Among other points the Committee strongly emphasizes the importance of strengthening the involvement of local and regional authorities in the European Social Fund partnership arrangements, particularly with regard to job-related training. The Committee supports moves to remove the remaining legal barriers to the free movement of workers throughout the European Union and notes that an important part of this process is the mutual recognition of qualifications. The Committee also feels that local and regional authorities should be encouraged to promote good employment practice, especially with regard to the employment of women. The Committee of the Regions endorses the view that European social policy should go beyond issues related to employment and should be directed towards the social and economic integration of all citizens, which would embrace: - Welfare systems; - Housing; - Public health; - Trade Unions and voluntary organizations. Finally, it is the opinion of the Committee that the Commission's enforcement strategies should recognize the contribution and experience of local regional authority associations in ensuring the effective and timely implementation of European social policy legislation. In conclusion, the Committee calls on the European Union to build relationships with less developed countries with a view to promoting local, democratic self-government and community participation in economic and social planning, for example in Central and Eastern countries. To this end, the Committee recommends that the European Union should campaign more vigorously for the introduction of certain minimum social standards in international trade agreements.