11 December 1995

Doc. 7437

MOTION FOR A RECOMMENDATION

on new technologies and employment

presented by Mr ROSETA, Portugal, LDR

and others

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

1.       The unprecedented development of science and technology in recent decades is often held responsible for the spectacularly high level of unemployment with which the vast majority of European countries are severely afflicted. Economists, for their part, are convinced that economic growth, and consequently job creation, depend on the capability of the economy to harness and optimise scientific and technological progress.

2.       The disparity between the view held by the majority of public opinion and scientific studies risks compromising the innovative efforts made by firms while at the same time diverting attention from the crux of the problem. The debate should in future focus on the nature of jobs created or lost through the introduction of new technologies, on the restructuring measures taken within firms and on the formulation of economic and scientific policies designed to ensure that maximum benefit is derived from new technologies.

3.       Achieving this will only be possible if all the sectors involved (universities, research and technological development institutes, firms) take a more active part in the creation and application of new technologies. At the same time there is a need to work more closely with both sides of industry.

4.       Accordingly, the Assembly recommends that the Committee of Ministers invite the member states of the Council of Europe to pay particular attention when formulating their social policies to the opportunities offered by new technologies, and especially:

-       to undertake a study of technologies which create jobs, concentrating on developing these rather than technologies which lead to job losses;

-       to ensure greater harmonisation between technological policy and other policies which encourage economic efficiency and job creation;

-       to promote, as a matter of urgency, the creation of dynamic basic and further training schemes to prevent certain sections of the population from being excluded through their inability to master new technolgies;

-       to encourage reflection and research at European level so that more appropriate solutions to the problem of relating technological development to job creation can be found.

Signed:

Roseta, Portugal, LDR

Caccia, Switzerland, EPP

Speroni, Italy, LDR

Olrich, Iceland, EDG

Beaufays, Belgium, EPP

Toshev, Bulgaria, EDG

Cunliffe, United Kingdom, SOC

Litherland, United Kingdom, SOC

Lie, Norway, EPP

Rewaj, Poland, SOC

Hoffmann, Germany, SOC

Newall, United Kingdom, EDG

*       SOC : Socialist Group

      EPP : Group of the European People's Party

      EDG : European Democratic Group

      LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers Group

      UEL : Group of the Unified European Left