Brussels, 30/06/2004 More than 100 young trade unionists met together in the framework of the Barcelona Culture Forum on 29-30 June 2004 to discuss a fundamental question: What trade union culture does the younger generation want? Their answer was clear: “The same values, but different methods!”Yes, for the young people of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), defending the interests of working people still has a meaning. And so does the pursuit of peace, justice and solidarity!

Brussels, 23/06/2004 The ECB is appealing through the media to social partners to avoid inflationary second-round effects from higher oil prices.' However it is not only wage formation but also monetary policy that needs to react appropriately ‘, says John Monks, General Secretary of the ETUC.

Brussels, 21/06/04 On 18th June 2004, the Heads of Government and State came finally to a difficult agreement on the European Constitution. This agreement is important given the new situation after the unification of Europe which has created more blocking capacities. This historical event should have been a prolonged moment of celebration for the ETUC but we regret that the agreement has reduced ambitions, compared to the draft of the European Convention.

Brussels, 10/06/2004 The European Council meeting on 17-18 June is set as the deadline for agreement on the Constitutional Treaty. The ETUC has grave concerns about some of the latest amendments proposed at the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC). “ Europeans will become increasingly cynical about the European Union's ability to work in their interests if the social aspects of the new Constitution are further diluted”, says John Monks, the General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC).

Brussels, 09/06/2004 Fresh information is arriving from individual countries which illustrates the far reaching scope of the proposed Directive and is leading to a rising tide of criticism from trade unions across Europe.

Brussels, 17/05/2004 ‘The fierce competition that European industry is facing is real and should not be underestimated. Simple recipes such as unrestrained competition and getting rid of rules and regulation will only lead to lower standards and will not do the job. Europe needs a real industrial policy', states John Monks, General Secretary of the ETUC. The ETUC expresses several concerns on the Commission Communications on industrial policy and competition policy, which the Competitiveness Council will discuss on 17th and 18th May:

Brussels, 13/05/2004 The ETUC Steering Committee meeting on 13 May, expressed their shock and abhorrence at the spiralling atrocities revealed daily in Iraq. They underlined their utter condemnation and revulsion at the many and brutal murders in Iraq. They called for the immediate and safe release of all hostages in Iraq and for an end to the vile practice of kidnapping.

Brussels, 10/05/2004 As the EU Economic and Financial Affairs (ECOFIN) Council prepares to meet tomorrow, the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) has called on ministers to change their approach and prioritise growth as a means of cutting deficits. On 11 May, the ECOFIN Council will discuss the draft Broad Economic Policy Guidelines (BEPGs), addressed mainly at the ever-growing number of EU Member States who are breaching the 3% public deficit limit in the Stability Pact.

Brussels, 06/05/2004 Message from ETUC, and ICFTU to the European Commission ‘The Chinese government is taking advantage of a liberal global trade regime by systematically exploiting its workers and violating their human and labour rights. This is unacceptable and the European Commission should deliver a strong message to the Chinese delegation visiting Brussels', John Monks, General Secretary of the ETUC, stated today.

Brussels, 05/05/2004 ETUC General Secretary John Monks today called on the European Commission Competition Directorate to initiate proceedings and conduct further investigation into the proposed merger of Group 4 Falck's security business with Securicor

Brussels, 27/04/2004 The European Trade Union Confederation warmly welcomes the 10 new Member States joining the European Union on 1 May.The ETUC is demanding strong political action to improve social and employment standards in the new Member States, so that all 455 million citizens of the wider Union can benefit fully from enlargement.

Brussels, 08/04/2004 The ETUC welcomes the European Commission proposal to reform EU legislation on chemicals: REACH The draft REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals) regulation is an important step forward in protecting workers, the public in general and the environment, from the potential dangers posed by some 30,000 chemical substances manufactured or imported into the European Union in quantities of one tonne or more each year.

Brussels, 30/03/2004 On 31 March, the first phase of the European Commission's consultation on the revision of the 1993 Working Time Directive comes to an end. “We call the Commission to come up with proposals that challenge outmoded forms of work organisation. We look forward to proposals that stimulate modern and sustainable solutions for business and workers”, declared John Monks, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation.

Brussels, 25/03/2004 Today, during the meeting of the tripartite social summit for growth and employment, representatives of ETUC, UNICE/UEAPME and CEEP met the President of the European Council, Mr Ahern, and the President of the Commission, Mr Prodi, to take stock of implementation of the Lisbon strategy and present the social partners' contributions to the Spring European Council.

Brussels, 23/03/2004 Press Conference Brussels, 23rd March - The creation of a new Vice-President for competitiveness could be a fatal blow for social Europe - - Letter to Prodi - - Background information

Brussels, 19/03/2004 During the meeting of its Executive Committee (17-18 March), the ETUC defined the message that it will address during the Spring Summit: Lisbon goals of growth and competitiveness depend also on better jobs and social cohesion. “The social pillar is absolutely essential for innovation, productivity and economic growth. It is not something you do with the crumbs that are left on the table after the competitiveness pillar has had its dinner and dessert” says John Monks, General Secretary of the ETUC.

Brussels, 15/03/2004 The European Social Partners, ETUC, UNICE and CEEP joined together in condemning utterly the outrages in Madrid on 11 March, which are an assault on our common European values. We joined together in expressing support for the call by the President of the European Council for a three minutes' silence across Europe to commemorate the victims at midday Madrid time on Monday 15 March.

Brussels, 11/03/2004 The ETUC expresses its sympathy and condolences on the events which happened in Madrid this morning. This is a black day for democracy. Our hearts go out to the families and friends of those who have lost loved ones in this outrage.

Brussels, 11/03/2004 “A market economy needs rules to ensure fair competition to prevent firms from competing on the basis of low standards” said John Monks, General Secretary of the ETUC, in a reaction to 9th March ECOFIN Ministers discussions.

Brussels, 03/03/2004 The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) calls upon the Employment and Social Affairs Ministers Meeting on 4 March to stress the quality of work and the improvement of working conditions in the conclusions of the Spring Summit to be held on 25-26 March 2004. “In order to restore the path of high productivity and high growth, Europe needs to put the quality of work and improvement of working conditions in the centre of policy making”, says John Monks, ETUC General Secretary.

Brussels, 16/02/2004 The ETUC strongly supports the Commission's draft directive on gender equality in the supply of goods and services which will be discussed by the women's rights committee of the European Parliament this week.

Brussels, 12/02/2004 The ETUC welcomes the fact that the European Parliament decided to call on the European Commission to revise the Working Time Directive to better protect workers against the health and safety hazards brought on by working hours.

Brussels, 04/02/2004 {{European Trade Union Confederation MESSAGE TO G7 Finance Ministers

Brussels, 30/01/2004 On the occasion of the joint ETUC - TUTB Conference on “Joint occupational Health and Safety (OSH) strategy for the Enlarged Europe” organised the 30th of January in Brussels, John Monks, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) calls for proper regulation on health and safety and points the finger at British Government for misapplying the Working Time Directive.

Brussels, 27/01/2004 Giving the Jean Monnet lecture in the University of Manchester on January 27, John Monks, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), called for pro-Europeans to fight back against the tide of euroscepticism.