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10 May, 2000Skopje was the venue for an IMF/EMF Balkan conference to discuss the stability pact and the role of the trade unions.
MACEDONIA, Former Yugoslav Republic of: Two days of constructive talks took place in Skopje on April 27-28 during the Balkan Conference on the Stability Pact. Thirty-one metal unions from West, Central and Southeast Europe participated in the meeting, which was jointly organised by the International Metalworkers' Federation and the European Metalworkers' Federation.
The focal point of the discussions was the stability pact and the role of the trade unions. The philosophy of the pact, backed by the European Union, World Bank, other donor organisations and international institutions, is very clear: "We help people who are prepared to work with one another in concrete projects." So cross-border, cross-ethnic cooperation is the essential principle for this pact, and it implies overcoming divisions created by the various wars which have occurred in the former Yugoslavia, rejecting and fighting against all nationalistic policies and avoiding any sort of propaganda which may create biases against the 'other'.
The conference emphasised the limitations and opportunities of the stability pact.
With regard to its limitations, not enough place is given to the importance of jobs and the role of the trade unions in the reconstruction process. The issue of work is 'confined' to the domain of civil society.
As for opportunities, the stability pact has a clear political dimension and gives guidelines for action in different areas including: reconstruction, infrastructure, democratisation, refugees, human rights and vocational training.
The conference evaluated very positively the decision of the European Trade Union Confederation to establish a working group on the stability pact with the task of drawing up a Social Charter. All IMF affiliates and metal unions in the region are urged to work together with this group in order to offer suggestions which may add to their information and offer useful input. Information about the activities of the pact will be periodically sent out by the IMF.
A final conference document will be published taking into consideration the input of participants.
The focal point of the discussions was the stability pact and the role of the trade unions. The philosophy of the pact, backed by the European Union, World Bank, other donor organisations and international institutions, is very clear: "We help people who are prepared to work with one another in concrete projects." So cross-border, cross-ethnic cooperation is the essential principle for this pact, and it implies overcoming divisions created by the various wars which have occurred in the former Yugoslavia, rejecting and fighting against all nationalistic policies and avoiding any sort of propaganda which may create biases against the 'other'.
The conference emphasised the limitations and opportunities of the stability pact.
With regard to its limitations, not enough place is given to the importance of jobs and the role of the trade unions in the reconstruction process. The issue of work is 'confined' to the domain of civil society.
As for opportunities, the stability pact has a clear political dimension and gives guidelines for action in different areas including: reconstruction, infrastructure, democratisation, refugees, human rights and vocational training.
The conference evaluated very positively the decision of the European Trade Union Confederation to establish a working group on the stability pact with the task of drawing up a Social Charter. All IMF affiliates and metal unions in the region are urged to work together with this group in order to offer suggestions which may add to their information and offer useful input. Information about the activities of the pact will be periodically sent out by the IMF.
A final conference document will be published taking into consideration the input of participants.