Eurocadres Opposes Commission Trade Secrets Proposal at Tripartite Social Summit

"We believe that this piece of legislation would pose a serious threat to professionals and managers, creating lock-in effects and building barriers preventing mobility, especially career mobility. Barriers that would also be obstacles for innovation."

Martin Jefflén also highlighted the need for Europe to direct investments in particular to knowledge-intense activities, higher education and research and that the opportunity to be leader in digitalisation and green technology has to be seized immediately in order for Europe to be able to benefit from potential job growth. Issues of job destruction in the same fields underline the importance of good systems for transition support for affected employees.

Tripartite Social Summit for Growth and Employment March 19, 2015 Speech by Martin Jefflén, President of Eurocadres – Council of European Professional & Managerial Staff, representing the Eurocadres-CEC Liaison Committee

Thank you President Tusk,
Presidents, Commissioner, Ministers, Social Partners, Ladies and Gentlemen.

First of all I would like to take the opportunity to thank for the high level event of the 5th of March. Social dialogue is really at the core of the European Social Model and the benefits of strengthening it should be evident. We, as social partners, do not seek to replace the influence of civil society, institutions and business – but as social partners we have a specific role and when given space to deal jointly with issues our work can be really fruitful for the whole of society.

Eurocadres, for which I am president, and CEC European managers cooperate together in our liaison committee and we together are two of the three social partners representing employees on cross-sectoral European level, working with ETUC and taking part in the employee delegation coordinated by ETUC in the social dialogue.

"When representing professionals and managers as we are, the issues that we highlight are the ones in particular affecting professionals and managers."

When representing professionals and managers as we are, the issues that we highlight are the ones in particular affecting professionals and managers. As an example I would say that the absolute top priority issue of Eurocadres right now is the proposed directive on trade secrets and its unlawful acquisition, use and disclosure. We believe that this piece of legislation would pose a serious threat to professionals and managers, creating lock-in effects and building barriers preventing mobility, especially career mobility.

Barriers that would also be obstacles for innovation. If an employee cannot feel secure to use its skills and competences when taking up a new job, it can seriously reduce the will of the individual to make use of the freedom of mobility. The directive is unbalanced and needs serious amendments if not rejected completely.

Innovation could be an important economic driver enhancing the competitiveness of Europe. We need to foster innovation. Investments should in particular target knowledge-intense activities, higher education and research. There are many fields where Europe needs to seize the opportunity right now in order to have a chance to be leader in the field.

Digitalisation together with the challenges of climate change giving opportunity to green technology and jobs – and as a part of that of course the energy field – are prime examples of these great opportunities to create new jobs. These fields will create serious structural change which of course highlights the paramount importance of good transitional support systems that can assist in the need for just transition for the millions of individual employees affected.

Europe needs to take these opportunities and the managers and professionals of Europe are up for the task.