11 July 2005 - Europe needs to meet the challenge of change - Blunkett
David Blunkett today told the European Parliament that the UK Presidency wanted to deal with the challenge of change and build a consensus to modernise the Social Model.
The Work and Pensions Secretary said he was looking forward to having a wide-ranging debate on the modernisation of the Social Model, in the run up to a special European Council meeting in the autumn.
Mr Blunkett, fresh from chairing a meeting of Employment and Social Affairs ministers in Belfast, said: "We do not want to abandon the European Social Model, but if it is to be sustained it must meet the challenges of the 21st century, particularly those of demography and globalisation.
“We need to learn the lessons of change and manage the process to deal with people’s fears and recognise the challenges we face such as those of India and China,” he told members of the Employment Committee.
“That is why it is vital to have a wide-ranging debate on modernising the European Social Model and the extra informal European Council announced by the Prime Minister will provide the forum for this.”
Mr Blunkett said the twin themes of the EU Presidency were raising employment and improving social inclusion, which were inseparable and interdependent.
He went on to highlight the importance of the 70 per cent Lisbon employment target for Europe.
“We need to reappraise and update where we are on delivering the Lisbon agenda of jobs and growth, which are the issues the public want us to focus on.
"The best form of welfare is work, which provides independence and dignity. Last week’s meeting in Belfast gave a real opportunity for ministers to exchange ideas and experience of what works in practice,” he said.
A shrinking working age population and rising dependent population would mean a reduction in Europe’s productive potential, while at the same time increasing the demand on pensions and social services.
“The only answer is to take action to get more people into work across Europe and ensure the skills and productivity of the working population is significantly raised,” Mr Blunkett added.
Notes to editors
- The UK took over the Presidency of the European Union on July 1st 2005.
- Mr Blunkett attended a meeting of the Employment and Social Policy ministers in Belfast last Thursday and Friday (July 7 and 8), the first informal event of the presidency. Minister for Employment and Welfare Reform, Margaret Hodge and Work and Pensions minister James Plaskitt were also present.
- Events on the employment and social affairs during the six month Presidency include: EMPL (Employment Committee) - Brussels – 11 July.; FEMM (Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality) –13/14 July; ESPHCA Councils – 3/4 November and 8/9 December; European Social Fund Conference – 14 October – Manchester; Social Inclusion Round Table/The Employment Committee/Social Protection Committee – 17/18/19 October – Edinburgh, Glasgow; Mutual Information Systems on Social Security – 27/28 October - Oxford; Health and Safety Executive’s Hazardous Installations Directorate (HID) CCA meeting – 25/26/27 October; Informed Choices: Pensions Meeting – 9 October – Brussels; Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs – 3/4 November;Improving Life Chances of Disabled People – 8/9 November – London; Health and Safety Executive Senior Labour Inspectors Committee (SLIC) Conference – 9/10 November – London; Inactivity and Rehabilitation Conference – 23/24 November – Cardiff; HSE Occupational Health and Safety Conference – 11 December or 18/19 October; Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs – 8/9 December, Brussels; Heads of Public Employment Service/Jobcentre Plus Conference – 31 November and 1/2 December – Birmingham.
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