EU vows to continue stimulus plan for economic recovery
Monday, 02 Nov 2009
Xinhua reported that the European Union stressed that it was not time to give up the stimulus plan for economic recovery and vowing to act together with employers and trade unions to fight the global economic crisis.
Mr Jose Manuel Barroso European Commission President said "We all agreed that we must continue with the implementation of our stimulus measures and maintain a strong focus on jobs."
He said that that it was not the moment to abandon the efforts for recovery and the three parties needed to implement exit strategies in a coordinated way because the long term consequences of excessive public debt for the economy and for employment would be disastrous.
Meanwhile, Mr Fredrik Reinfeldt President of the European Council stressed the crucial role that social partners played in combating climate change and achieving long-term sustainable development. He said that "We listen carefully to the concerns and suggestions of social partners and we need to keep up this dialogue in the future."
Earlier at the summit, Mr Philippe de Buck Director General of Business Europe warned that difficult challenges still needed to be addressed though recession might be drawing to a close.
Mr John Monks general secretary of European Trade Union Confederation said at the summit that ETUC biggest worry currently was that EU governments would act prematurely and choked off the recovery. He said that "Don't exit, don't panic was the ETUC message to the European Council and the European Commission.”
