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EUROPEAN REVIEW

ISSUE 30 - Page 3

Parliament backs constitution, now over to you

IN JANUARY THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT debated the final version of the new European Constitution. The discussion was remarkable for the wide agreement, across political boundaries, that the document represented an advance on the present state of affairs and was worth supporting. Richard Corbett MEP (PES socialist group), who reported back to the Parliament on the final draft, stated that the Constitution 'would enable the EU to upgrade from a 15 seat mini-bus to a full sized coach with seats for 25 and more'. A larger bus would need a larger motor, stronger brakes and even an emergency brake.

Support came from Hans-Gert Pöttering MEP of the centre-right grouping, EPP-ED, who commended the constitution as a big advance on the previous Nice treaty. For the Liberal ALDE group Andrew Duff MEP stated 'if you are for Europe, then you are for the Constitution'. With further support from some Greens

EUConstLogo

and even the Union for Europe of the Nations group, the constitution was approved by 500 to 137 votes. Responding for the Commission, Margot Wallström commented that this was the first time that the European Parliament had not severely criticised the outcome of an Inter-Governmental conference.

The new logo for the campaign in favour of the European Constitution

MEPs were well aware the, following their vote, attention would turn to the views of the citizens of the EU as a whole. An information campaign has already started, with particular stress on those Member States that are to hold referenda. As well as banners and balloons at the site of the Parliament in Strasbourg, a Eurobarometer survey has reported on the current state of knowledge on the constitution. Its findings show that there is a wide variation between countries. Fully 50% of those questioned in the UK had not heard of the document while only 22% of Dutch respondents were in a similar state of ignorance. Yet over the whole EU only 11% would claim to know a broad outline of its contents. Knowledge was lower among women, blue-collar workers, the less-educated and the young. Interestingly, the less was known of the proposal the greater the opposition with the UK recording the only outright majority against it. However when those questioned were told of the citizens' right to initiate legislation, which is contained in the draft, they were keen to use it in their particular area of concern with employment topping the list.

Maltese in-fighting continues

Vodafone's Italian work/life deal

IN ISSUE 28 WE GAVE DETAILS of the economy and industrial relations in Malta and an attempt to move forward spearheaded by the ETUC's John Monks. His efforts seem to have borne fruit recently with both the largest union GWU and their fierce rivals the UHM being involved in talks with the government to negotiate a 'social pact'. The aims were to stimulate work and economic activity, to agree a wages policy and to develop human capital. However both unions were dissatisfied with government proposals and no agreement was reached by the November deadline. GWU then pulled out of the talks provoking criticism not only from the government and employers but also from the UHM which emphasised that beneficial proposals had been put forward such as measures to clamp down on tax evasion, increase spending on employee training and reduce bureaucracy.

VODAFONE OMNITEL RECENTLY SIGNED AN agreement with Italian trade unions which focuses on reconciling work and private life among their employees. 75% of them are women including about 500 young mothers who the company wants to tempt back to work after maternity leave. Those who work in call centres will be given shifts between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. while, in other sections, working mothers will be able to convert full-time contracts to part-time. In addition start and end times will be made more flexible, and shift schedules will be published with good notice, to include a Sunday and an entire weekend off in each 4-week period. Bonuses for working on Sundays and at nights are to increase. According to the director of human resources at Vodafone, this is a 'very innovative agreement which confirms that when there are high-profile industrial relations between a company and the trade unions it is possible to reach high-level results'.

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Support came from Hans-Gert Pöttering MEP of the centre-right grouping, EPP-ED, who commended the constitution as a big advance on the previous Nice treaty. For the Liberal ALDE group Andrew Duff MEP stated 'if you are for Europe, then you are for the Constitution'. With further support from some Greens		and even the Union for Europe of the Nations group, the constitution was approved by 500 to 137 votes. Responding for the Commission, Margot Wallström commented that this was the first time that the European Parliament had not severely criticised the outcome of an Inter-Governmental conference.
	The new logo for the campaign in favour of the European Constitution