(Greece's Contribution to the 1996 Intergovernmental)
C. The E. U.' s Social Dimension
a) Social Policy and Employment
13. The crisis within, and questioning of, the Union constitute an acute crisis of legitimisation, which will not be overcome unless the Union evolves into an institution that makes a positive contribution to the solving of the day-to-day problems faced by European society and its citizens. Institutional and procedural adjustments, simplifications and clarifications may very well be important; they cannot, however, be a substitute for positive action on the part of the Union, manifested through actual policies. The European Union, therefore, can only win the support of European society if it develops the policies, means and actions that will make its contribution to the achievement of basic economic and social objectives visible, credible and effective. Such objectives are indispensable to the construction of a society of justice, solidarity, cohesion, prosperity and tolerance, as well as of respect for cultural and environmental values.
14. On this basis, it is imperative to achieve a better balance in the revised Treaty between the promotion of full Monetary Union and the goals of economic and social development and cohesion, promotion of a higher level of employment and social protection and improved living standards, as provided for by Art. 2 of the Treaty.
15. Efforts to achieve nominal convergence must not lead to a fracturing of cohesion and solidarity between the Union's member- States. Our constant pursuit should be the reduction of interregional inequalities through the further promotion of policies of economic and social cohesion, employment and social protection, and through the Union's common policies. Thus, economic imperatives should be balanced with socially acceptable objectives and values.
16. The serious problems of employment, joblessness and social exclusion have worsened to the point where they tend to threaten the social fabric of the Union's countries. Ways should be found to combat such problems in an effective manner; undertaking investments to this end will help bring to the fore the social profile of the European Union.
17. Greece would consider favourably the introduction of a greater degree of coordination in the EU's social actions and the formulation of a more active employment policy than those currently in existence. The Union should further strenghten its strategy on employment, as decided by the European Councils of Essen, Cannes and Madrid, which is based on a combination of macro-economic policies and structural interventions in labour markets, aiming at the creation of new jobs. We therefore support the introduction, in the new Treaty, of a special chapter for the promotion, at Community level, of employment issues and the investments that will underpin them, on the basis of common goals and procedures, as well as financial support (establishment of an Employment Committee; use of Structural Funds to finance employment objectives). However, national employment policies should also be kept sufficiently flexible, as the problem of unemployment differs from country to country.
18. Greece also supports the strengthening of the EU's broader social policy and policy of social protection. We believe that a major contribution in this direction would be the incorporation, in the revised Treaty, of the social rights included in the Social Charter and the Social Protocol. The new Treaty should formally establish a minimum level of social protection, regulation of employment relations and social welfare in favour of disadvantaged persons and groups. We also support a more intensive social dialogue and a wider participation of social partners in the Union process.
b) New policies
19. To help combat the current economic and social problems of its citizens, the European Union should proceed to develop new policies, taking into account the principle of subsidiarity. More specifically, Greece supports the addition of new Titles in the revised Treaty concerning the sectors of civil defence, energy and tourism.
20. With regard to civil defence, in particular, the Greek side proposes the establishment of an assistance mechanism for member- states hit by natural calamities or disasters. This would be a further expression of solidarity between member-States, and a tangible way for the EU to come closer to the European citizen.
21. In the field of energy, Greece attaches importance to the definition of a «European Energy Policy». Greece stresses the need to add provisions concerning the security of supplies, to associate energy with the goal of cohesion and to include references to the Environment, to energy-saving and to the use of renewable sources of energy.
22. For Greece, tourism is a sector that not only contributes to the international recognition of our common cultural heritage, to Europe's peoples being better able to become acquainted with each other and to the growing common European identity; it also represents a major economic activity, greatly contributing to the Community GNP and to employment, especially in areas with significant seasonal fluctuations in economic activity.
23. In the field of the environment, Greece intends to propose certain amendments in the direction, notably, of promoting the goal of sustainable development in the implementation of environment policy and of promoting environmental research and technological development. Greece will also support the inclusion of a specific reference to Environmental Trans-European Networks in Title XII on Trans-European Networks.
24. A goal to which Greece attaches particular importance is the inclusion in the Treaty of provisions on the Union's Island Regions as regions of special cultural, ecological and social significance. The current EU's structural policy has not managed to provide satisfactory solutions to the problems of isolation and economic fragility characterising such areas, since inequalities between mainland and island regions of the EU seem to be constantly growing. It is clear, therefore, that there is an imperative need to bring exceptional means and considerable efforts to bear, if these areas are to overcome the particular disadvantages they face and make full use of their natural wealth and human resources on equal terms with the Union's other regions.
25. Greece is for the strengthening of the Treaty's provisions on Public Health. This will make possible the adoption of binding acts aiming at the introduction of minimum standards in this area, taking due account of the particular conditions prevailing in each member-state.
26. Greece will seek improvements regarding the provisions on culture - a fundamental common element of the European identity. The development of such provisions must continue to respect and promote the Union's variety of cultures. In addition, Greece considers as self-evident the maintenance of the principle of equality of languages in the Union.
27. Finally, special care will be required for the formulation of a demographic policy which will address the problem of low birth rates and population ageing, phenomena with negative repercussions on Europe's social security systems.
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