Social dumping. Mentioned in his political trends, the notion of basic social rights of workers took, within the last ten days before his investiture, a new dimension in the candidate’s words. “We need to make sure that our values of inclusion, equity and social justice are carried forward into a new approach. We will not allow basic social rights, such as the right of association or the right to strike, to be undermined.” In his political trends, Mr. Barroso unequivocally talks about social dumping. “And if globalization puts pressure on our competitiveness, our response should never be to lower our standards” he said. Entrapped, last week, to take a stand on the posting directive (see our dispatch No. 090837), his speech was clearer on September 15 in front of the MEPs since he even promised, if circumstances demand it, a revision of the posting directive, which European green and left-wing parties want. Even if the idea expressed during his hearing with the Green party to come up with an implementing regulation improving the posting directive is maintained, he went on: “If, when preparing the regulation, there are problems which lead to the conclusion that the directive needs to be revised: I will do it. And let me tell you one thing: I am dedicated to fighting any kind of social dumping in Europe.”
cide of the content of the new strategy by the spring 2010. Mr. Barroso recalls the prime competence of the Member States in this domain but mentions the possibility to adapt the European Social Fund to recent needs (as recently done). He also advocates programs rotating between short-time working and training and the improvement of Europeans’ skills regardless of their age or training level.
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