‘No miracle solution’

Date: 28/01/1999

By Gareth Harding

Enlargement of the EU to the East “is of advantage to everybody”, says the European People's Party's draft action programme for the next five years.

However, it argues that “far-reaching institutional reform” is needed before the Union expands. This should include a further use of majority voting in the Council of Ministers and an EU constitution with a Bill of Rights.

Echoing Socialist concerns, the document declares unemployment to be the “biggest worry” for both governments and Europe's citizens. Although job-creation measures should primarily be drawn up at the national level, joint policies - such as investing in infrastructure and reducing labour costs - can also help, argues the EPP.

Unlike the Greens and Socialists, Christian Democrats believe that reducing working hours is no “miracle solution” to unemployment. The group also takes a more laissez-faire approach to labour flexibility and reform of the welfare state.

In a detailed section on foreign policy, Christian Democrats call for the EU to be given a seat on the United Nations Security Council and for existing members to promote Union policies in the meantime.