European economic recovery plan
The European Commission recently chaired a meeting to discuss its European Economic Recovery Plan (EERP). The meeting included representatives from European social partners including Business Europe, CEEP (European social partner organisation), UEAPME (European small business representatives) and the ETUC (European trade union confederation).
At the meeting the representatives agreed on the urgency of working together to tackle the economic crisis and to take action to try and save jobs in Europe. A press release reports that the representatives agreed on the need to work together to safeguard and develop further the social and economic achievements of the EU and its internal market as the source of prosperity, growth and jobs in Europe.
The EERP which was adopted by the Council in December 2008 includes a large number of measures to protect and create employment and to seek to minimise the effects of the recession. An increased amount of funding is also becoming available through the European Social Fund, the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund and for SMEs.