Restructuring and anticipation of change: what lessons from recent experience? (Green Paper)

The Committee welcomes the green paper of the European Commission, which has come at an opportune moment. However, it hopes that following these discussions practical and effective action will be taken, involving an integrated approach at all levels of production, consumption and services.

The Committee considers it of fundamental importance, when it comes to anticipation and restructuring, to enhance the role of the social partners, organised civil society and consumers at EU, national, regional, local and company levels, with the involvement of local leaders and knowledge and skills networks.

The Committee thinks that the EU's structural and cohesion policies as well as its innovation and research policies should be directed towards proactive support in shaping the mechanisms for anticipating and accompanying restructuring into win-win systems for both workers and companies.

The Committee believes that EU education, training and lifelong learning programmes should be seen as key tools enabling public authorities and companies to proactively anticipate change, alongside the ongoing efforts of economic players – especially SMEs – and workers.

The Committee advocates closer coordination at EU level between Commission policies and services, agencies and the numerous observatories, so that companies that are restructuring receive clear, consistent support in their decision-making. In particular, suitable support and mentoring systems should be available to SMEs and micro businesses, which face obvious difficulties in planning ahead for restructuring.

The Committee reaffirms the need for State aid supporting employment in businesses affected by globalisation to be based on conditions that guarantee free and fair competition.
Finally, the Committee recommends bolstering EU policy supporting the development of participatory foresight exercises, both territorial and sectoral, with the aim of realising a shared, mutually acceptable vision, partly by making more of local factors, so as to generate more and better jobs within healthy and competitive businesses.

Taking account of demographic trends in Europe, the Committee attaches particular importance to an active policy on ageing and the "silver economy" and the need to adapt products and services to these new opportunities.