1. The social content of European integration, the social face of Europe, is a matter of crucial concern for the citizens of the Union. It is also a matter that has become prominent in the deliberations of the Convention. European citizens are at one with their representatives in their concern over employment, conditions of work, social security, people's welfare before they become professionally active, while they are active and after they retire with an adequate pension available to all.

2. Social considerations constitute an essential part of European integration. The EU cannot be a credible force for good in the wider world if it is indifferent to questions of social justice and poverty in European society or to how its citizens are treated at work and in retirement. As set out in Article 2 TEC: "The Community has the mission, by means of creating a common market, an economic and monetary union... to promote... a high level of employment and social protection". Social regulation is seen as a means necessary for the advancement of the common market itself. The Treaty of 1957 already included a chapter on Social Policy (Part III, Title III, Chapter I) as well as a chapter on the free movement of workers (Part II, Title III, Chapter I). On this basis already in 1958 the Council adopted regulations on the free movement of workers (No. 15) and on the coordination of social security of workers (No. 3 and 4). In 1967, a Directive in the field of occupational safety and health (Directive 67/548/EEC was adopted. Finally, as the European enterprise developed from its early phase of a common market to the mature form of a community of values, "economic and social progress" are proclaimed in Article 2 TEU as major aims of the European Union.

3. The outlines of a coherent social policy began to emerge with the Paris Summit of 1972 and the Commission action programme drawn up accordingly. It was built around three themes: achievement of full employment and of high quality jobs in the Community, improvement of living and working conditions for labour and an increase in the participation of social partners in the economic decision-making of the Community and of working personnel in the development of their businesses. After the Paris summit, and as part of the implementation of the Commission action programme, several directives in the field of occupational safety and health and of labour law were adopted. In Maastricht, a protocol on social policy was added to the Treaty. The Amsterdam Treaty was a watershed in the development of social policy competences. The new Treaty gave a new impetus, providing a new title on employment coordination as well as a new revised Social Chapter, thereby facilitating efforts to expand and strengthen EU social policy, while at the same respecting the principle of subsidiarity.

4. The Working Group held 5 meetings during which it examined the seven questions set out in its mandate. It heard the following experts: Ms Anna DIAMANTOPOULOU, Commissioner for Employment and Social Affairs, Mr Frank VANDENBROUCKE, Belgian Minister of Social Affairs and Pensions, Professor Tony ATKINSON, Warden of Oxford University's Nuffield College, and Mr Olivier DUTHEILLET de LAMOTHE, French Conseiller d'État, Member of the Conseil Constitutionnel.

5. It was actively assisted by a Secretariat consisting of Alain Pilette, Kristin de Peyron, Elisabeth Gateau, Guy Milton, and Etienne de Poncins to whom the Group expresses its thanks. It conducted its deliberations on the basis of a Mandate by the Praesidium of the Convention. The responses of the Group to the topics outlined in the Mandate are set out below.