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15 July, 1999Regionalisation has to be part of the globalisation process and not its opposite.
Globalisation is the greatest challenge unions have been faced with in a long time.
I believe that there is a need to meet this with a new strategy and structure.
We all have to think globally and, in doing so, we must always search for the links between shop floor, national and international levels in our daily union work. A great change in modern trade union work has to occur.
It is a great pedagogical exercise that we have to practice in order to adapt our mentality and way of working to the new situation.
But we will make it. And we will be successful.
The first step, in my opinion, is to create and develop instruments which will make it possible for all affiliates to take active part in this process. The best way must be to regionalise activities as much as we can.
It seems contradictory, but the fact of the matter is that economic globalisation has brought us more regionalisation than anything else before. Regional trade agreements are negotiated practically in all corners of the globe. Within economic blocks, new alliances between regions and across political borders have been created by the circumstances; this applies, to a large extent, to the European Union.
The whole trade union movement has to take part and actively influence this development, at all levels and in every region. But we can do more and we have to do more.
The formation of trade areas between countries or blocks of countries are very often motivated by protectionist reasons; they are defensive and aim at being stronger than others to get most of the economic benefits resulting from economic globalisation.
Our objectives are different.
We aim at strengthening international solidarity through improving the contacts and links between different regions. Regionalisation has to be part of the globalisation process and not its opposite.
This is a great challenge.
The region cannot be exclusive to the countries or organisations within it. The role of the IMF is to bring all the regions together and to link them in a global context. In practical terms, this means that we have to create forums and opportunities to discuss together all relevant issues in one region with representatives of other regions as well.
But to enable an international organisation such as the IMF to do this, all affiliates must adapt themselves to the new situation. They have to be open and receptive to discussions and opinions which may not necessarily always be in line with what they believe is right or wrong.
We all have to think globally and, in doing so, we must always search for the links between shop floor, national and international levels in our daily union work. A great change in modern trade union work has to occur.
It is a great pedagogical exercise that we have to practice in order to adapt our mentality and way of working to the new situation.
But we will make it. And we will be successful.
The first step, in my opinion, is to create and develop instruments which will make it possible for all affiliates to take active part in this process. The best way must be to regionalise activities as much as we can.
It seems contradictory, but the fact of the matter is that economic globalisation has brought us more regionalisation than anything else before. Regional trade agreements are negotiated practically in all corners of the globe. Within economic blocks, new alliances between regions and across political borders have been created by the circumstances; this applies, to a large extent, to the European Union.
The whole trade union movement has to take part and actively influence this development, at all levels and in every region. But we can do more and we have to do more.
The formation of trade areas between countries or blocks of countries are very often motivated by protectionist reasons; they are defensive and aim at being stronger than others to get most of the economic benefits resulting from economic globalisation.
Our objectives are different.
We aim at strengthening international solidarity through improving the contacts and links between different regions. Regionalisation has to be part of the globalisation process and not its opposite.
This is a great challenge.
The region cannot be exclusive to the countries or organisations within it. The role of the IMF is to bring all the regions together and to link them in a global context. In practical terms, this means that we have to create forums and opportunities to discuss together all relevant issues in one region with representatives of other regions as well.
But to enable an international organisation such as the IMF to do this, all affiliates must adapt themselves to the new situation. They have to be open and receptive to discussions and opinions which may not necessarily always be in line with what they believe is right or wrong.