Eurocadres President addresses Tripartite Social Summit for Growth and Employment
Addressing today’s Tripartite Social Summit for Growth and Employment, Eurocadres President, Martin Jefflén, profiled the successful whistleblowers protection campaign, which through the hard work of trade unions and NGOs, has led to a stronger Directive, giving more options for reporting crime and corruption and better protection for whistleblowers.
The head of Eurocadres recalled that the first Tripartite Summit where he called for European wide whistleblowers protection was back in 2016. ‘Today may be the last time, as the whistleblower protection directive is now close to being finalised’, continued Jefflén.
He went on to say, ‘we are particularly pleased with the fact that the final text offers protection when reporting directly to competent authorities and reporting is not only protected on unlawful acts and omissions. We would however have wanted clear provisions on the right to seek advice from and to be represented by a trade union, to mention two of the shortcomings.’
We are particularly pleased with the fact that the final text offers protection when reporting directly to competent authorities.
Jefflén insisted that he recent whistleblower protection developments have to be viewed positively saying: ‘The EU is taking an important step with this new piece of legislation. In particular coming up to the elections in May, this is a welcome addition to a more social Europe, promoting transparency and accountability.’
Moving on place whistleblower protection in the context of cross-border mobility, a theme of today’s summit, the Eurocadres Presidents said, ‘one of the main reasons why we promoted an EU wide whistleblower protection,’ was due to the case made by our report “Cross-border workers at risk”, which argued for an EU-wide whistleblower protection based of freedom of movement. Eurocadres members are professionals and managers, categories of workers which we know are making good use of the freedom of movement.’
'The labour mobility of highly qualified professionals and managers makes a vital contribution to Europe’s knowledge-based economy.
Jefflén welcomed a recent Commission study which shows a strong growth of high skilled movers. High skilled and medium skilled movers now make up for three times the share of low skilled movers. The results of the study show that EU populists who claims that freedom of mobility mainly results in large numbers of low skilled movers - due to lower wages and social dumping - are wrong. High skilled and medium skilled movers now make up for three times the share of low skilled movers.
The Eurocadres President also noted that, ‘the labour mobility of highly qualified professionals and managers makes a vital contribution to Europe’s knowledge-based economy. Greater labour mobility leads to improved career opportunities and can also offer greater professional and personal fulfillment.’
Europe cannot afford to lose its talent in research and innovation.
In concluding his address to the summit Jefflén warned that, ‘Europe cannot afford to lose its talent in research and innovation. To stay competitive in the world market and be a forerunner in new ideas and inventions, public money is needed to ensure that we do not lose track. Therefore, the provisional agreement on Horizon Europe last night is a strong signal that the EU wants to lead the race on this. Sharing excellence and joining forces for a stronger knowledge-base will make us seen and heard on the global arena.’