PES Manifesto

New global strategy to achieve Social Europe

Publié lundi 2 juin 2008 à 16h50
par jose reis santos (vu 585 fois et 0 commentaires)

Today, the Portuguese Secretary of State Fernando Medina takes the floor to present some of his ideas on the “New Social Europe”!

In a time where all over Europe people are presenting proposals for the common European manifesto for the 2009 election, the work developed by the PES activists in Portugal should be praised. I believe that we will have the necessary ideas to build a political agenda that will reinforce the social dimension of the European project. For example, we need to insist in the battle for a European minimum wage, as a protection mechanism, and to appeal to people. Naturally, each country has the liberty to adjust their measures regarding this issue but they should do so respecting common criteria. If most European countries already have this kind of measures, why can’t we give them a political hype, with the necessary visibility attached? We can actually make the same with the struggle against poverty and exclusion, especially when concerning children and youth. This is a crucial dimension in the sustainability of our social and economical models because it reinforces the cohesion dimension of our citizenship; because it fights the spread of poverty and maximizes the human and labor potential of our societies. These themes show that the politics of equality of opportunities should go beyond the non-discrimination approach.

Another issue is active aging and the reform of pension systems. We need to find balanced solutions for this topic, solutions that will ensure financial sustainability, but also economic and social stability, especially by promoting work for older workers and adapting their pensions and reforms to the new life cycles and social risks associated.

The same stands for family support. PES has placed childcare as a European priority. We also need to stance our positions regarding labor market regulations.

We should present solid, concrete, proposals and solutions to European citizens on these dimensions.

Fernando Medina

Secretary of State for Labor and Professional Education

More on the “New Social Europe”

Watch Mr. Medina’s intervention during a conference organised by PES Portuguese activists on the theme “New Social Europe” here – part 1, part 2, part 3 – as well as an interview with him!

Tags: éducation, pensions, seniors, travailleurs