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EFAT Secretary General, Harald Wiedenhofer, gave a lecture

RISKS OF ENTERING THE EUROPEAN UNION




Belgrade, October 10, 2006

The Secretary General of EFAT (European Federation of food-processing industry, catering and tourism), Harald Wiedenhofer, gave a lecture on the topic titled “Expansion and risks of entering the EU”, by stressing the Union’s role in that process, as well as the social dialogue. Besides the management of “Nezavisnost” Branch Union of food-processing industry, catering and tourism and region facilitators, the lecture was attended by the President and Secretary of MWBU “Nezavisnost”, D. Matic and A. Todic, as well as by the representatives of “Nezavisnost” Branch Union of Chemistry, Energy Sources and Mining.

The European Federation includes 120 member countries with over 2,5 million members from the European Union and countries which will enter the Union soon. It is important that the Government of the Republic of Serbia has decided for European integrations as its strategic and preferential activity, the result of which should be entering the EU. Colleague Harald emphasized that Unions had to take an active part in that process and contribute that the integration process would be more efficient and transparent. The European Unions contributed to a great extent that certain countries became EU members in a faster and easier way, which are presently members of European Union.

The greatest challenge for all Europeans in the last and in this century was European integration and creation of the Union, because the European Union, in spite of frequent critical positions of Unions, was supported by the same Unions, as a guarantee of peace, social justice and economic prosperity. The European Union conduces to a great extent to increasing the chances that employees and Unions fight for political and social standards that shall be applied in all member countries. The European social model is better compared to the rest of the world (South America, Asia, Africa..) and as such it can be improved further.

There are certain risks for the countries which will be EU members in the future, first of all, in non-competitive economy, what may result in the loss of jobs, increase of prices, tax rates and living costs, are an inevitable part of consequences in the process of integration and living in the European family. Serbia must not be an isolated “island”, but a part of the EU system, as in geographical sense, so also in economic, political and social sense. The candidate countries have to become competitive, and economies market-oriented and efficient. The EU endeavors for considering the differences at national levels is also reflected in the European social model advocating a secure job, adequate earnings, job security, and this must be expressed by the State, employer and Union. Highlighting social dialogue, as the basis in social partner relations, isn’t often respected to a sufficient extent in the member countries themselves, but this does not occur frequently. Stressing human rights, as the priority issue for the States and Governments, must be applied in the same manner in all the States, as well as in those that are not yet a part of European Union.

The Union set a new strategic goal for itself for the next decade, namely, to be the most competitive and most active economic area of the world, based on knowledge, i.e. economic area capable of achieving a sustained economic growth, with more jobs being better at the same time and with stronger social unity.

‘’It is very important that candidate countries win the position of associate member and thereby make possible the access to and use of the European funds. Those funds enable a more intense economic development, favor and spur employment. The projects must be conceived at national level, and this makes possible to get financial resources. Such resources require that the States form structures-institutions that will monitor and audit the spending of financial resources from the fund. The status of candidate state spurs investment and encourages the investors, and this means the arrival of multi-national companies. The Unions must be ready for that moment, organized and educated. We must accept the fact that employees have never got something and exercised certain right and that this has been achieved through union activities and struggle’’, stressed colleague Harald Wiedenhofer.

 
     
 
 
 
 
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