Brussels, 12/01/2011 Yet, as the financial crisis has proved, it is unrealistic to expect countries to be able to keep to the strict rules in exceptional circumstances such as now. The bad debts of the banks and their transfer to the public balance sheet have made it impossible for countries to keep to the current rules, and unless there is an exceptional period of growth, some will still be in breach of the stronger rules by 2013. This is a recipe for a collision with democracy.

Brussels, 11/01/2011 The ETUC has received reports from trade unions in Greece and Ireland about the role of EU Commission officials in implementing the EU/IMF rescue packages. According to these reports, it looks clear that the Commission officials are ignoring social dialogue and collective bargaining processes and directly intervening in the labour markets of these countries. Diktats are being issued which are designed to lower living standards.

Brussels, 06/01/2011

Brussels, 23/12/2010

Brussels, 22/12/2010

Brussels, 21/12/2010 The ETUC has insisted now for six years on the following key points: end to the opt-out; respect of on-call work as working time; equivalent compensatory rest being fundamental; no prolongation of reference periods without sufficient safeguards; and that maximum working time be counted per worker and not per contract.

Brussels, 17/12/2010 The European Council of 16-17 December rejected Euro-bonds and approved measures to punish countries in difficulties rather than helping them. ETUC warns that EU risks of plunging into recession for 2011 and that trade unions will continue their campaign against austerity. John Monks, ETUC General Secretary declared: “The outcome of this Council is more in the spirit of the Treaty of Versailles of 1919 and of economics of 30’s. What was needed is still the spirit of the Marshall Plan for vulnerable countries”.

Brussels, 15/12/2010 It has been widely reported that the Treaty amendment to be agreed by the European Council will say that "Member states whose currency is the euro may establish amongst themselves a stability mechanism to safeguard the stability of the euro area as a whole. The granting of financial assistance under the mechanism will be made subject to strict conditions."

Brussels, 15/12/2010

Brussels, 13/12/2010 Several trade unions, members of the ETUC, went ahead of the December 15 call with a number of national mobilisations because of the accelerated deterioration of the economic and social situation in their countries. There will however be many decentralized actions – strikes, demonstrations, work stoppages, meetings – all over Europe (in Greece, Spain, France, Luxemburg, Denmark, Czech Republic, etc.) See the 15 December map: http://www.etuc.org/15122010-european-day-action-journ%C3%A9e-daction-europ%C3%A9enne

Brussels, 13/12/2010 In particular, the trade union movement wants developed countries to commit to ambitious emission reductions under a legally binding framework. Climate finance needs to respond to the needs of the poorest of the world. Millions of workers and their families face destruction of their lands and livelihoods from extreme weather events and some 220 million are unemployed and desperate for a secure, decent and green job.

Brussels, 08/12/2010 The ETUC General Secretary, John Monks, declared: “The European Union must adopt a Sustainable New Deal, underpinned by a development strategy to secure Europe’s recovery from recession, to adopt a just transition, to create millions of decent, sustainable and green jobs, and to make a fair and effective contribution to the global fight against climate change and social inequalities”.

Brussels, 08/12/2010 This Communiqué brings to a culmination the process launched by the Copenhagen Declaration in November 2002, commonly referred to as the “Copenhagen process.”