INFORMAL EMPLOYMENT COUNCIL (BERLIN) : SOCIAL ADDENDUM TO NEW CONSTITUTIONAL TREATY PROVING DIFFICULT.

• Position: Brief article

The discussion about a social Europe' seems to have begun. During the informal meeting of ministers for employment and social affairs in Berlin from 18 to 20 January, Franz Muntefering clarified the view held by the German EU Presidency on the subject, thereby responding to the wishes of the Prime Minister of Luxembourg, Jean-Claude Juncker, and the Socialist candidate for the presidential elections in France, Segolene Royal, to have workers' rights included in the EU's new Constitutional Treaty. German Chancellor Angela Merkel was the first to raise the idea, without going into any detail. "To have the opportunity to describe a marked social dimension in the Constitutional Treaty is something we would really appreciate. We have discussed the matter at federal level," said Muntefering. "Wouldn't it be useful to know the social impact of a legislative initiative? [...] But giving more visibility to this social...