CES/Industrial change: cross-border regions can benefit from free movement of workers
At the request of the Austrian Presidency, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) has drawn up an exploratory opinion on industrial change in cross-border regions following EU enlargement. The draft opinion, prepared by M. Marian Krzaklewski (Group II, employees, Poland) is due for adoption during its April plenary session. It calls upon member states to re-examine the transitional period for free movement of workers.
The Committee’s draft opinion argues that the development of labour markets in cross-border regions is a factor for industrial change that should not be underestimated. At present, there remain temporary obstacles to the cross-border mobility of workers within the EU. The Committee calls on the Member States to look seriously at whether the transition periods could be ended earlier.
The draft affirms that this requires appropriate involvement and consultation of the social partners at all relevant levels. If the transition periods are to be maintained, this needs to be justified with weighty and objective arguments.
The Committee’s draft notes that a very important and possibly decisive factor which has affected the conduct and development of industrial policy in cross-border regions in the enlarged Europe, both now and in the past, is the ability of stakeholders in these regions areas to access EU Structural Fund resources. Increasing their role in these regions is absolutely vital for the industrial policy in these regions.
As far as other industrial policy instruments are concerned, the Committee’s draft stresses the importance of the possible introduction of a Common Consolidated Corporate Tax Base (CCCTB).
In its opinion, the Committee repeatedly stresses the particularly important role that social dialogue and civil society commitment can play in managing industrial policy in the regions in question; both in implementing dynamic industrial policies and in seeking to overcome problems affecting the mutual relations between different nationalities, cultural and ethnic groups. For further information please contact: Karel Govaert or Christian Weger, EESC Press Office 99 rue Belliard , B-1040 Brussels Tel.: 02 546 9396/9586; Mobile: 0475 753 202 E-mail: press@eesc.europa.eu Website: http://eesc.europa.eu/press/index_en.asp
The European Economic and Social Committee represents the various economic and social components of organised civil society. It is an institutional consultative body established by the 1957 Treaty of Rome. Its consultative role enables its members, and hence the organisations they represent, to participate in the Community decision-making process. The Committee has 317 members. Its members are appointed by the Council. 
