Brussels, 31/05/2006 At its meeting on 1 June, the European Council for Employment, social policy, health and consumer affairs will try to reach political agreement on the revision of the Working Time Directive (WTD).

Brussels, 30/05/2006 Ministers responsible for the internal market yesterday came to a political agreement on the opening of the services sector between Member States of the European Union.

Berlin, 24/05/2006 To be checked against delivery Liebe Kolleginnen und Kollegen, Mein Deutsch ist sehr gut. Mein Englisch aber ist etwas besser. Deshalb bitte ich Euch um Nachsicht, wenn ich in meiner Muttersprache zu Euch spreche. Delegates, Allow me to go straight forward to some key issues that are of great importance for all of us.

Brussels, 23/05/2006

Warsaw, 19-21 May 2006 To be checked against delivery I am pleased to convey the greetings of the ETUC to the Congress of our newest ETUC affiliate, the OPZZ.

Brussels, 19/05/2006

Brussels, 11/05/2006 Says ETUC General Secretary John Monks: “Europe must be open to change. However, shifting the full burden of adjustment onto workers is not the solution. To reach higher productivity and more innovation, Europe needs a secure workforce.”

Brussels, 08/05/2006 Says John Monks, ETUC General Secretary: “The long run starts now, and it should start with full recovery from slump. The European Central Bank and finance ministers should be working to strengthen growth further in 2007 instead of removing aggregate demand stimulus.” {{ Main points of the ETUC report:}}

Brussels, 04/05/2006 Many successes have been achieved so far. Yet the ETUC is convinced that in order to give the RSC the bright future it deserves - as a cornerstone and core instrument for the protection of fundamental social rights throughout Europe - the following actions, amongst others, are crucial:

Brussels, 01/05/2006 Following EU enlargement in 2004, Member States had until 30 April 2006 to announce whether they would remove restrictions imposed on incoming workers from the new Member States of central and eastern Europe. From 1 May, these citizens have access to labour markets in Finland, Spain and Portugal. Belgium and France have also pledged to ease their rules gradually. Ireland, Sweden and the UK opened their labour markets from 2004 onwards, with recent studies reporting a positive impact on EU economies.

Brussels, 26/04/2006 The publication certainly indicates progress towards recognition of such services, and of the need to clarify the conditions for applying certain Community rules. The ETUC is happy to note the intention of setting the procedure for monitoring and dialogue within the framework of the open method of coordination, and stresses the need to consult the European social partners.

Brussels, 25/04/2006 “The way the French trade unions achieved their objective makes the ETUC optimistic,” John Monks will tell delegates. “Working in unity, together with young people and students' organisations, the movement shows how much influence it can have. I was glad to offer the ETUC's support.”

Lille, 25/04/2006

Brussels, 20/04/2006 The case addresses whether a company can deprive workers of the basic right to collective action, by formally relocating its assets in a country where salaries and benefits are lower. The European Commission must submit its views on the case to the ECJ before the end of April. The ETUC has written to Commission President José Manuel Barroso calling for a carefully “balanced approach” that reflects its obligation to promote social dialogue and the basic social rights laid down in the Charter of Fundamental Rights.

Brussels, 11/04/2006 From the outset, the ETUC has maintained its support for the French trade unions in their battle to block the CPE. This strong action also demonstrates the ETUC's determination to oppose the job insecurity that is affecting young people throughout Europe.

Prague, 07-08/04/2006 To be checked against delivery It is with pleasure that I bring the greetings of the ETUC to the Congress of CMKOS. CMKOS will always have a special place in my affections as I was elected as ETUC General Secretary in Prague in 2003 - a Congress which you hosted impressively.

Vienna, 05/04/2006 To be checked against delivery Dear Colleagues I am very pleased to be here today for this important meeting of trade unions from Europe and Latin America and the Caribbean. I had the opportunity to attend your last meeting, in Mexico, two years ago, and I hope that your deliberations will identify progress in our relationship. This will give us an opportunity to draw up united positions for social justice for presentation to the summit of political leaders next month.

Brussels, 05/04/2006 In a period in which transnational provision of services and mobility of workers is increasingly taking place within the EU 25, the Posting Directive plays a key role in providing for fair competition by guaranteeing the respect for workers' rights, labour law and industrial relations systems in Member States.

Bussels, 04/04/2006 The ETUC, the European Parliament and the European Council had, on numerous occasions, warned the Commission against backtracking and urged it to accept Parliament's compromise - a basis for early adoption of a Services Directive which would also respect the social dimension of the Internal Market.

Brussels, 03/04/2006 The two trade union organisations have written to Bosnian Prime Minister Mr Adnan Terzic, calling on him to take all necessary steps to protect the lives and safety of Mr Biber and his family, and to ensure that he can continue to carry out his trade union activities. Mr Biber has already been the victim of threats and attacks in 2003. Recently, he has been active in pressing for the new law on the 'revision of privatisation', designed to protect workers' employment and contract rights.

Brussels, 27/03/2006 “We call on the European Commission to take good note of the Council's support for the outcome of the Parliament's first reading, and to reflect this in its forthcoming amending proposal,” declared ETUC General Secretary John Monks. “Any move to reverse the hard-won consensus at this stage will only bring further damaging delays in achieving an acceptable opening of the EU market for services.”

Brussels, 23/03/2006 The work programme 2006-2008 is the second multi-annual work programme of the EU social dialogue. It reflects a joint wish to further establish the social partners' autonomy and builds on the achievements of the previous programme, which covered the period 2003-2005.

Brussels, 21/03/2006 Workers in Europe are worried about the lack of decent jobs, precarious and insecure jobs that are spreading throughout the economy and about the rising levels of poverty and social exclusion. They reject a policy agenda that, using the alibi of ‘business friendly' competitiveness, will make matters worse by reducing wages, working conditions, social protection and prolonging working hours. The ETUC calls upon the Spring Council to rebuild workers' confidence and support for Europe by :

Brussels, 20/03/2006 The introduction of insecure employment and the attack on existing workers' rights, in this case in France but also taking place in a number of other European countries, is not the right way to relaunch growth, boost European competitiveness and create jobs. On the contrary, these kinds of measures create a situation of social dumping in the EU, which will damage the future of Europe.

Brussels, 16/03/2006 “We are in favour of a more open approach,” affirmed ETUC General Secretary John Monks, “but it must be based on the principles of equal treatment and upward harmonisation of working conditions and social protection.”