Press Release: Brussels, June 05, 2012

On June 4^th, Social Platform and a delegation of its members met with Olli Rehn, Vice-President of the European Commission to discuss the social dimension of the economic governance.

Mr Conny Reuter, President of Social Platform, stated that “we call for the investment and vigorous implementation of a social pact in the economic governance to counterbalance the social consequences of the crisis and support an inclusive growth. We also want a strong civil dialogue with the EU to ensure that the people who are impacted by the crisis are involved in the decision making process”.

The Commissioner Olli Rehn stated that “growth is not an end in it itself and it needs to be stable and sustainable. Not everything can be at the mercy of the market force.” We understood from him that the social dimension of the economic governance was an important subject that will be built into the next European semester and that he wishes to continue to dialogue and work in partnership with Social Platform.

Social Platform members also presented their proposals on where the EU can invest for an inclusive growth: support the most vulnerable through social protection and social inclusion, invest in early childhood education, reduce gender inequalities and accessibility with appropriate economic tools, long term investment of EU funds in youth employment policies, and health and housing.