We mark Europe Day for a stronger Europe, grounded in unity, democracy and solidarity. It is a day to emphasise the need for fairer deals for workers, social justice, quality jobs, and gender equality. It is also a day to ask Europe to actively promote peace, multilateralism and international law at a global level.
Europe Day is the anniversary of the Schuman Declaration, presented on 9 May 1950. This Declaration signalled a new era of peace, integration and democratic cooperation in Europe, laying the foundations for the European Union as we know it today. It is a day to celebrate “peace and unity in Europe”, but it is also worth remembering that the European project is born out of a willingness to pool energy resources and industrial assets.
At a time when industries and jobs across Europe are under increasing threat, and deindustrialisation has now become a harsh reality, we need to remind EU policymakers that Europe cannot be prosperous or peaceful without good industrial jobs. Manufacturing underpins our welfare states and social cohesion, but is also a key condition of our political sovereignty.
Europe should not be a purely economic project. Europe must be social too, and must deliver for the people. On that front, it is hard to be extremely positive while assessing European achievements. Despite recent progress, there is still an asymmetry in the European project, with a social pillar that is much less developed than its economic ones.
While simplification, defence and competitiveness are the most frequent words on ‘Brussel’s’ lips, and sometimes for good reasons, it must not be forgotten that the social agenda needs to be an integral part of the European project. Wealth created by industry in Europe must be socialised to benefit all Europeans. Fair taxation, well-paid and quality jobs are fundamental to social justice, economic resilience, and democratic legitimacy. But without swift and decisive measures, tax evasion and austerity measures, such as cuts in social protection and pension systems, precarious work and low pay will continue to undermine these goals.
In the same way, social dialogue and collective bargaining are part of the European model of social democracy. They should be promoted, but are in jeopardy in too many places in Europe.
Europe’s manufacturing workers are facing further uncertainty about their jobs as a result of the extremely volatile geopolitical context. The European Commission must lead with bold legislative initiatives and real investment, to ensure quality jobs in every sector and region.
“The threat to European unity is not only external. Political forces that oppose shared social progress in Europe also create the conditions for social polarisation and political backlash. Europe must be much more than a market in real if we want workers to love it”, stresses Judith Kirton-Darling, industriAll Europe’s General Secretary.
IndustriAll Europe demands an industrial policy that keeps and creates quality jobs, that provides solutions for the challenges of our time, and which is rooted in a Just Transition framework that allows the anticipation and management of structural change in a way that is fair for workers in all European regions. This has been our agenda for years and will continue to be our priority for the EU Clean Industrial Deal and related initiatives. We have hammered that message in the streets of Europe, as well as in our meetings with EU officials.
Isabelle Barthès, industriAll Europe’s Deputy General Secretary, states: “The European movement has made significant strides in areas such as social justice, creating quality jobs, and gender equality. We wholeheartedly support the idea of respect for all human beings and strive for a fair and sustainable economy. However, there are dark clouds surrounding us. We live in a time when peace cannot be taken for granted, in times of war on our Continent, of slaughters of civilians and human rights violations in other regions of the world, climate change, the social and economic impact of trade tensions and disruptions, factory closures, the cost-of-living crisis, and injustice at various levels. There remains much work to be done.”
Kirton-Darling says: “We call on world leaders, politicians, industry leaders and trade unions to work together for a better future for everyone. In Europe, we must continue to advocate for fair deals for workers and safer workplaces, and work towards greater gender equality, social justice, and a more fair and sustainable economy. Every day, industriAll Europe stands up for these ideals. We must ensure that workers are heard and that they have a seat at the table when strategies for Europe are developed. Only together can we create the Europe we desire. Through peace and unity, we can also serve as a resource and a positive example for the rest of the world.”
Mark the day
European Movement International, established in 1948 to promote peace, democracy and European integration, is organising a rally in Brussels to commemorate Europe Day and advocate for a stronger Europe, based on unity, democracy and solidarity. The pan-European network brings together diverse elements of civil society to participate in the rally. Trade unions will join the rally to voice the values of European trade unions and call for a fair deal for workers, social justice, quality jobs, gender equality, respect for all, and a fair and sustainable economy. The rally will take place on Friday, 9 May, from 17.00 hrs CET at the Cinquantenaire Park in Brussels.
IndustriAll Europe encourages you to mark the day. Feel free to participate in the event in Brussels or elsewhere.