Seanad debates
Tuesday, 10 June 2003
Convention on the Future of Europe: Statements.
The treaty contains some interesting monetary union proposals, such as those dealing with economic and social governance. We need to balance these areas. It is all very well to talk in terms of the broad economic policy guidelines which are produced every year by ECOFIN, but a counter-balance in social policy is needed. This issue has waxed and waned over the years – sometimes it is there and sometimes it is not – and tends to depend on the political colour of the national Governments in the Union at any given time. I gather that an intervention in the area of social policy has considerable support in the Convention, particularly in the PES. If we can define a right for the free movement of capital, we should also be able to state that workers have certain treaty rights. If one goes one way, one also has to go the other way – it is as simple as that. There needs to be a balance in terms of social rights.
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