Spanish PM denies place for social ministers at Barcelona

Date: 14/03/02

By Martin Banks

BELGIAN Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt is 'very disappointed' with Spain's response to his plea for the Barcelona summit to put more emphasis on social concerns.

Verhofstadt last week wrote to his Spanish counterpart, José María Aznar, suggesting that labour and social affairs ministers from all the EU member states be invited to this weekend's summit in order to send a balanced message about priorities.

His initiative reflected concerns among several Union leaders that right-wing thinking is dominating the EU's economic reform agenda.

In his reply, however, Aznar bluntly rejected the request, saying only foreign and finance ministers will participate in the two-day event, along with heads of government and state.

'The prime minister doesn't consider it necessary to have social affairs ministers along as well,' said Aznar's spokesman.

'But I must stress that this does not mean the summit will not focus on social affairs because it will.'

Alain Gerlache, Verhofstadt's spokesman, said: 'We find this negative response very disappointing.

'Belgium is committed to building a social Europe and had hoped the Spanish presidency would focus more on this issue at Barcelona. Given the importance of an EU social dialogue with employers and trade unions, it would undoubtedly have been useful to invite labour and social affairs ministers to take part in the work of the European Council.'

Aznar's rejection of the Belgian initiative - which was backed by several EU countries, including France - adds to fears that the summit will be deeply divided along liberal and socialist lines on the social and economic strategies, with Spain and France in the rival camps.

Belgium held the six-month rotating presidency of the European Union until Spain took over at the start of the year.

The summit is due to discuss how to achieve the EU's target of making Europe the world's most competitive economy by 2010.

Belgian prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt is 'very disappointed' with Spain's response to his plea for the Barcelona summit to put more emphasis on social concerns.