“We are going to Copenhagen with a clear plan of how industrial workers see their role in the major social and economic changes necessary to achieve ambitious climate goals”, stated Peter Scherrer, General Secretary of the European Metalworkers’ Federation, following the adoption of the EMF position that will be presented to policy-makers on 15 December: ‘Metalworkers on the road from Copenhagen’.

Yesterday, the EMF Executive Committee unanimously adopted a position calling on the Commission and Member States to pursue an ambitious European industrial policy to master the transition to a low-carbon economy and avoid further deindustrialisation in Europe at EMF Executive Committee yesterday.

The Commission’s consultation on the EU 2020 Vision – the post-Lisbon strategy was published just last week. In its position, the EMF is highly critical of the approach taken by President Barroso in pursuing further deregulation, labour market flexibility and supply-side measures: the very policy-mix which produced the current economic crisis.

‘Instead, Europe needs a social and economic plan to ensure that it becomes the most sustainable economy in the world, promoting internal demand and investment in sustainable industries providing high quality jobs, job-creation programmes, sustainable consumption and production, and the development of public services’, states the position.

Climate policies should focus on the contribution and greening of all industries and their employees if climate goals are to be achieved in a socially just and stable manner. To help this process industrially and socially, the EMF calls for the creation of a European transition fund. ‘Clear distinctions between the ‘green’ and ‘traditional’ economy are academic in many cases, since there are vital economic and industrial links between these sectors’.

“Now we call on our leaders and decision-makers to take up the gauntlet and adopt a comprehensive, ambitious, binding and fair agreement”, concluded Peter Scherrer.

The EMF position ‘Metalworkers on the road from Copenhagen’.

_____________

PRESS 45/2009

The EMF is the representative body defending the interests of workers in the European metal industry. The EMF has a mandate for the external representation and coordination of the metalworkers' unions and a mandate to engage in bargaining at European level.