Testing times for social policy

FOR a number of years the European Union has been toying with the idea of being more than just an organisation to help business increase its markets.

Its efforts in this regard are mixed. Governments in some areas have grasped the opportunity with both hands - such as crime and terrorism.

Then there is also social responsibility - more precisely, corporate social responsibility (CSR). One aspect of this will be addressed shortly in a major document on stress in the workplace.

At a meeting in Lisbon in 1999, leaders from the member states included the CSR concept in their drive to make Europe the world’s most competitive, knowledge-based economy by the year 2010.

However, thanks to an economic slump in many of Europe’s economies, structural and other problems have made the Lisbon agenda seem like a pipe dream.

Now the emphasis is being placed very firmly on basic economic targets - the creation of jobs and increased GDP and profits. Business interests are pushing very hard for a moratorium on further environmental and social legislation saying Europe is now well ahead of the US.

There are signs that the new commission is on the same wave length. The argument is that a rising tide lifts all boats and if you have economic development then everyone will benefit. However as the Irish experience has shown this is not always true.

The latest report on employment in the EU makes the point that the trick is to achieve a balance between having a flexible labour market and ensuring security for workers. This it says is essential to prevent the emergence of a two-tier labour market and it says life long learning is one way of preventing this.

While on the job training might be seen as an area of corporate social responsibility big business is not very enthusiastic about many of the other aspects of CSR.

The document on stress in the workplace will be published just weeks before the Barroso commission takes office. It and the other social issues will be a real test of just how narrowly the new commission defines the Lisbon agenda.

While business interests have a big influence on the EU and member state governments, the commission may find itself under pressure to take greater account of the wider needs of individual citizens given that so many will be asked to vote on the constitution over the next two years.