EU Commission President Jos Manuel Barroso said at todays social dialogue summit in Brussels: "Without solidarity there would not be a European Union. Faced with rapid globalisation, we must work hard, together with our social partners, to renew and strengthen Europes economic and social models." Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal opportunities, Vladimir Spidla emphasized that the social partners' role has become even more important due to the economic and social challenges facing the EU, such as industrial restructuring and an ageing population. The meeting was an opportunity for the social partners to provide input to the debate on the future of the European social model, which will be discussed at next month's informal EU heads of state summit in the UK.

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