The report on “social realities”: a tone of frankness that clashes…

(B2) All States are today confronted with a transformation of society between the "cosmopolitans", winners of globalization, and the "losers" affected by industrial and economic restructuring. And this gap “could increase” in the future.

From the outset, the tone of the report published on February 26 by Roger Liddle, former éminence grise of Tony Blair, and the Frenchman, Frédéric Lerais, members of the Office of Political Advisors to Commission President José-Manuel Barroso, is astonishing in its franchise and its content. This report, presented to the 27 Heads of State and Government on March 8, will serve as the basis for a " public consultation » until 31 December 2007. Objective: « Take stock of current social realities and trends within European societies ».

Far from the usual work of the Commission, which are more exercises in self-satisfaction, this study aims to "provoke discussion", by taking a tour of the societal places of Europe encompassing employment opportunities, social mobility, access to health, aging, such as family life, inequalities, quality of life, insecurity and delinquency, immigration.

The report, supported by numerous figures, sweeps away all the eternal discussions on the differences between Member States to focus on common challenges: demography, increase in cultural and ethnic diversity, individualization of values...

Alongside the sociological and economic gap, there is also a skills gap and a "concentration of unemployment in certain regions" or among certain categories: young people (18,7% on average), seniors (the activity rate of seniors fell from 73-83% in the 1970s to 39-60% in the 2000s). A real challenge, believe the authors of the report, which highlights the "many barriers" persisting in the Member States to equal opportunities. The report also warns against the danger of not better integrating people of immigrant origin, believing that this is a breeding ground for radicalism.