John Bruton
Question:36 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Finance if he will outline the action he expects the forthcoming EC Summit will take on the problem of unemployment in Europe.
Written Answers. - EC Summit.
Unemployment is not a specific agenda topic for the forthcoming European Council.
As the Deputy will be aware, the main purpose of the meeting of the European Council will be to review progress in the Intergovernmental Conferences on Political Union and on Economic and Monetary Union.
Of course, all member states are very concerned about the problem of unemployment and, collectively and individually they are doing all in their power to create the conditions necessary for its resolution. In this context, the work of the ECOFIN Council is focussed sharply on the best means of reducing unemployment in the Community, in particular through the co-ordination of economic policies. The special significance which Ireland ascribes to the creation of additional employment in the Community is reflected in Treaty amendments which we have tabled in both Conferences. In particular we propose that full employment be enshrined in the Treaty as one of its basic principles.