The European Trade Union Confederation will welcome European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker for a discussion on the future of Europe with trade union leaders from all EU countries. Also joining the ETUC debate are Sweden’s Europe Minister Ann Linde, European Commissioner Pierre Moscovici, and MEP Maria João Rodrigues
The discussion meeting will take place on Monday 7 November.
The ETUC believes a wide debate on the future of Europe is desperately needed due to the growing lack of trust in the EU caused by high unemployment and poverty, Brexit, terrorism, the failure to deal effectively with the refugee emergency, and growing nationalism and populism across Europe.
European trade unions warn that the EU must become fairer and more social, or it risks collapse.
The ETUC believes the EU needs to focus on
- Sustainable growth to create quality jobs and better working conditions;
- Stronger labour rights and social protection;
- More democracy for workers and citizens.
The ETUC has been very active in encouraging debate on the future of Europe including by
- adopting a resolution https://www.etuc.org/documents/etuc-platform-future-europe
- agreeing a statement with employers https://www.etuc.org/press/tripartite-social-summit-european-social-partners-joint-statement-letter for their joint meeting with Presidents Juncker and Tusk, and Prime Minister Fico at the Tripartite Social Summit;
- helping to initiate a statement signed by 177 civil society organisations and trade unions https://www.etuc.org/press/new-europe-people-planet-and-prosperity;
- supporting the M9M appeal http://www.m9m.eu/L201/ for a ‘New European Renaissance’.
“The ETUC is engaging with the EU institutions and national Governments, and with wider society, to influence the future of Europe and to achieve a fairer and more social Europe” said ETUC General Secretary Luca Visentini, “including through our discussion day on Monday 7 November.”
