Brussels, 04/03/2013 A European trade union rally will take place in Brussels on 14 March 2013 on the occasion of the European Council on 14 and 15 March. Trade union delegations from Belgium, France, Germany, Portugal, Spanish, etc. will be there to demand a change of direction. This austerity programme must end as it is having disastrous economic effects. Employment, particularly for young people must be the priority. Where? At the Parc du Cinquantenaire in Brussels When? From 2pm to 4pm.

Brussels, 26/02/2013

Brussels, 01/03/2013 The adoption of the Youth Guarantee shows the priority given to fighting youth unemployment. The cost of doing nothing was estimated at €153 billion by Eurofound and this will make all stakeholders take their share of responsibility.

Brussels, 27/02/2013 At present, some countries in the European Union are combining recession and low growth. Austerity policies are driving down, or even preventing social mobility, which is exacerbating poverty and social inequalities.

Brussels, 22/02/2013 The recession is only over when unemployment is back down, not when markets recover. However, unemployment continues to increase everyday and is already intolerably high in many member states. The Commission cares for the markets, when will they care for the people? Most recent business cycle indicators do not signal an end to the recession. What they are telling us is that the economy, after a collapse in activity in the final quarter of the previous year, still continues to contract.

Brussels, 21/02/2013 National authorities would be discouraged from spotlighting fraudulent companies as only a limited number of control measures would be authorised. Furthermore, an amendment seeks to restrict even more the Posted Workers Directive by only recognising a limited number of collective agreements.

Brussels, 20/02/2013 The Social Investment Package is an important contribution to the debate on the social dimension of Europe and the ETUC welcomes the approach of reshaping EU governance. The Europe 2020 targets must be monitored to ensure that member states and the EU truly follow a common path to secure economic growth and social progress and cohesion. Social partners can make important contributions to achieve this.

Johannesburg, 12-13/02/2013 Check against delivery I am pleased and honoured to be invited to participate in bilateral discussions with South African unions and political actors on the important topic of Just Transition, Green and Decent Jobs. Your country and your trade union movement have for ever marked history. You continue to fight for equality, decent work and decent wages. You support campaigns to eliminate HIV here in South Africa but also in solidarity with neighbouring countries.

Brussels, 08/02/2013

Brussels, 07/02/2013 Just a few days before his death, Chokri Belaid had denounced attempts to destabilise the State through violence and the machinations of obscure militias. The State did nothing to protect his life, although it should have done so, because Chokri Belaid had been receiving threats for a long time. It was no secret to anyone.

Brussels, 06/02/2013 On February 8th Member States will finalise their negotiations on the next Multi Annual Financial Framework. They must agree on a budget that will meet the challenges represented by the current crisis: growing inequality, persisting poverty within Europe and beyond, food insecurity, ecosystem collapse and resource constraints, unsustainable growth, global competition, ageing of the population, technological change and the transition towards a low carbon economy.

Brussels, 06/02/2013 Unfortunately it seems easier for the European Council to adopt austerity plans than to adopt a satisfactory Multiannual Financial Framework for the period 2014-2020. Like the European Parliament, ETUC insists that a Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) must be based on a compromise but also on a “fair deal”. In times of crisis and high unemployment rates the EU budget should not be reduced.

Brussels, 01/02/2013 Check against delivery Dear chair, ladies and gentlemen and friends. I would like to thank the chair for giving me the floor and for organising this meeting. Despite much reticence among ETUC members regarding the desirability of a European level tripartite discussion on wage developments, the ETUC agreed that we should participate in this exploratory meeting.