Description:
This paper deals with the connections between European Economic and Monetary Union on the one hand, and the prospects for employment and social cohesion on the other. It describes the thinking of the ETUC on EMU and explains why the ETUC has been supportive of monetary integration, and the reservations which it has expressed. The paper criticises the Maastricht Treaty's almost exclusive focus on stability, and discusses the pros and cons of the convergence criteria. It reports on the discussion at national level in a number of countries about EMU and employment and social cohesion, considers the political motivations driving EMU and concludes by stressing the importance of progress on the ETUC's agenda of accompanying policies for EMU.