Launch of a European and national debate on realising both economic growth and social protection in an era of globalisation

Doc. 10723

13 October 2005

Launch of a European and national debate on realising
both economic growth and social protection in an era of globalisation

Motion for a resolution

presented by Mr Lloyd and others

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only the members who have signed it

1. Globalisation - or the growing economic interdependence among nations – is an unstoppable process, essentially driven as it is by technological developments, especially in information and communication technologies. While countries have to prepare for and adapt to globalisation as it affects them differently as between regions and types of industry, they face the challenge of reconciling, on the one hand, the requirements of a flexible, open economy capable of growth so that social expenditure can be financed and, on the other, the need to give adequate social protection to their citizens, so that social equity and stability can be maintained.

2. Whatever their response in the educational, social, labour or other fields, it is vital that a major public debate on this now be started, and the political choices and ways forward made clear to a citizenry which often feels anguished, disoriented and increasingly alienated from a political class that appears more to shun the issue than address it head-on. The Assembly therefore calls for the launch of a debate at national and European level on how economic growth, social stability and social protection can all be preserved and strengthened in an era of unrelenting globalisation.

Signed (see overleaf)

Signed ¹:

LLOYD, Tony, United Kingdom, SOC

AUSTIN, John, United Kingdom, SOC

BINDIG, Rudolf, Germany, SOC

de ZULUETA, Tana, Italy, SOC

EVANS, Nigel, United Kingdom, EDG

HURSKAINEN, Sinikka, Finland, SOC

KOX, Tiny, Netherlands, UEL

LOUTFI, Younal, Bulgaria, ALDE

MARGELOV, Mikhail, Russia, EDG

MARSHALL, David, United Kingdom, SOC

McINTOSH of HARINGEY, Andrew, United Kingdom, SOC

PRENTICE, Gordon, United Kingdom, SOC

RUSSELL-JOHNSTON, United Kingdom, ALDE

SEVERIN, Adrian, Romania, SOC

WURM, Gisela, Austria, SOC

¹ SOC: Socialist Group

EPP/CD: Group of the European People’s Party

ALDE: Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe

EDG: European Democratic Group

UEL: Group of the Unified European Left

NR: not registered in a group