European Trade Union Committee for Education

On 21 February 2017, the Presidency of Council of the European Union, along with the European Central Bank and the European Commission, held the yearly Macroeconomic dialogue meeting with European social partners. The purpose of this event was to discuss recent trends in the European economy and develop policy strategies, with a focus on fiscal policies’ impact in the target of improving growth.

Representing the trade union movement, Luca Visentini, ETUC General Secretary, welcomed the European Commission’s call for expansionary fiscal policies. However, he insisted that such policies will only be successful if coupled with a revision of the Stability and Growth Pact and an improvement in economic governance. Additionally, he called  for an increase in public investments and a pay rise for all European workers in order to increase domestic demand, growth and job creation.

The Macroeconomic dialogue, which was established in 1999, is a biannual discussion between European finance ministers (who constitute the Economic and Financial Affairs Council), the European Commission, the European Central Bank, and social partners. This dialogue aims at including social partners in the coordination on wage developments, budgetary, monetary and fiscal policies. ETUCE European Director, Susan Flocken commented on the discussion recalling that “the economic crisis still casts its long shadow over the education sector. ETUCE has long been calling for increased public investment in education across European counties. However, strict budgetary constraints make it hard for governments across Europe to find the necessary resources to ensure the provision of quality education for all”. She concluded by supporting the ETUC claim that “a revision of the Stability and Growth Pact is necessary to ensure sufficient, predictable and sustainable public financing”.

Council of the EU: Press statement on the Macroeconomic dialogue with the social partners