Last week, the ETUC organised a final conference within the context of its project entitled “Industrial Regions and Climate Change policies: Trade Union’s perspectives”. The final conference concluded an 18-month project funded by the European Commission those focus is on organising the transition to a low-carbon economy in regions which still highly rely on carbon-intensive activities.
Statement of Solidarity with the Women wearing Black for fear of losing their reproductive rights
Statement adopted at the Women’s Committee of 3 November 2016
ETUC Priorities for the current phase of the European Commission Consultation on the European Pillar of Social Rights, adopted at the ETUC Extraordinary Executive Committee Meeting on 6 September 2016
Working for a Better Deal for All Workers
This Position Paper sets out the ETUC’s observations and recommendations on the European Pillar of Social Rights at the halfway point of the consultation process and summarises the ETUC demands under seven priority areas. These are:
The European Union and China have a multidimensional economic relationship—we trade over 1 billion euro per day, we are negotiating an investment agreement, and we look forward to China’s accession to the Government Procurement Agreement of the WTO-World Trade Organisation.
It is in the interest of European business and trade unions that the EU strives for a balanced economic relationship with China. However, the question of how to treat China in anti-dumping investigations will feature prominently in our relationship this year.
ETUC position paper - Orientation for a new EU framework on information, consultation and board-level representation rights
Adopted at the extraordinary ETUC Executive Committee on 13 April 2016 in The Hague and the ETUC Executive Committee on 9 June 2016 in Brussels
Background
Brussels, 14 June 2016
update : the French version is available
ETUC Position on Commission’s proposal for an Investment Court System in TTIP and CETA
Adopted at the Meeting of 9 June 2016
Country Specific Recommendations 2016 and role of social partners in the EU Semester (ETUC position)
Adopted at the ETUC Executive Committee on 8-9 June 2016
From Country Reports to Country Specific Recommendations
ETUC position on the flexibilities within the Stability and Growth Pact
Adopted at the ETUC Executive Committee on 8-9 June 2016
On 13 January 2015, the European Commission released a Communication on “Making the best use of the flexibility within the existing rules of the Stability and Growth Pact”. The Communication was endorsed by the Council in February 2016.
Ahead of the negotiations to establish an Inter-Regional Association between the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) and the European Union (EU), we want to hereby make this Joint Trade Union Statement:
Brussels, 20 June 2016
To the members of the Executive Committee
Towards a real and effective Youth Guarantee in Europe
Adopted at the Executive Committee of June
BACKGROUND
ETUC position on the European Commission’s Anti Tax Avoidance Package
Adopted at the Extraordinary Executive Committee on 13 April 2016.
Brussels 18, 2016
To Excutive Committee Members
For Information to ETUC Members Orgaisaitons
New Skills Agenda”: Improving training opportunities for workers in Europe (ETUC position)
Adopted at the Meeting of the executive committee on the 13th April 2016
Brussels, 15 April 2016
ETUC position paperOrientation for a new EU framework on information, consultation and board-level representation rights (Part I)
Adopted at the extraordinary ETUC Executive Committee on 13 April 2016 in The Hague
Background
Dear President,
At the end of January, we sent a letter to Vice-President Dombrovskis and Commissioner Thyssen to ask for a social partner consultation regarding the proposed targeted revision of the posting of workers directive.
The COP 21 has delivered a universal agreement which will frame the long term action on climate change. The ETUC welcomes that agreement which concludes a long and complex negotiation process. Giving to the world a global instrument to tackle climate change is a major political breakthrough even though, as stressed below, this agreement is in many respects not as ambitious as we would have wished.
China has been a member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) since 2001 but it is not recognised as a market economy by any of its major trading partners, including the EU and the US. China's WTO Accession Protocol allowed WTO members not to grant “Market Economy Status” (MES) to China for a period up to 11 December 2016.
Not applying MES to China allows the EU to use alternative methods for calculating dumping margins (that apply to Non-Market Economies, NMEs, often based on the higher prices applying in third countries).
ETUC position on single market strategy for Europe
Adopted at the ETUC Executive Committee on 16-17 December 2015
Key points
The conflict between the exercise of fundamental rights and economic freedoms and the development of unfair competition in the single market can no longer be ignored. The ETUC recalls the importance of quality jobs, the principle of equal treatment between all workers at the same workplace and urges the EU institutions to adopt a social progress protocol.
ETUC assessment of the European Commission Work Programme 2016
ETUC position adopted at the ETUC Executive Commitee on the 16-17 December 2015
Introduction
This paper provides an ETUC assessment of the European Commission’s (EC) Work Programme 2016 (WP) No Time for Business as Usual.
Key Issues
Good work-life balance has a positive impact on the well-being of workers. It can also contribute to achieving major EU policy goals: stimulating employment (especially among women and older workers) and growth; promoting children and youth development; and eventually achieving gender equality.
Completing Economic and Monetary Union: Rebalancing European Economic Governance (ETUC position)
Adopted at the ETUC Executive Committee on 16-17 December 2015
Introduction
The Commission Communication of 21 October describes the initiatives the Commission will undertake in stage 1 of the process to deepen EMU. In this stage, the Commission will intensify the use of policy instruments and levers that already exist within the current Treaties in order to improve the functioning of EMU.
We, the European trade union movement, stand in solidarity with the people of France, and the French trade unions following the murderous attacks on innocent people in Paris.
We, trade unions throughout Europe, condemn without reservation these barbaric murders. There can be no justification for the deliberate, cold-blooded taking of people’s lives, for causing injury and trauma, for bringing grief to the family and friends of the victims.
We commend the bravery of the police, security and emergency services, and ordinary citizens, during and after the attacks.
ETUC position on the Annual Growth Survey 2016 - for a Europe that works for workers and citizens
Adopted at the ETUC Executive meeting on 28-29 October 2015
Introduction