Brussels, 23/10/2009

Brussels, 21/10/2009 The ETUC demands: •  An ambitious, binding and comprehensive international agreement aiming to limit the global rise in temperatures to maximum 2°C, in accordance with the scenarios laid down by the IPCC, reducing at least 25%-40% by developed countries by 2020 below 1990 levels. • An enhanced European contribution to finance the global mitigation of climate change.

Brussels, 20/10/2009 For the ETUC, European financial ministers are missing the key point: The economy is not going through a temporary downturn but is facing instead a prolonged weakness of demand and economic activity because of excessive private sector debt loads. Therefore, the real issue right now is not how to withdraw fiscal stimulus but how to maintain and significantly improve fiscal stimulus so as to help the private sector in reducing its debts, without at the same time causing a protracted slump in economic activity.

Brussels, 14/10/2009 Thank you for the privilege of inviting me to give the John Fitzmaurice lecture this year. I honour his memory and I follow in distinguished footsteps including those of Neil Kinnock, Margot Wallström and Geoff Hoon to address an old question about where Europe might be heading in the months and years ahead, an old question but one set against a rapidly changing landscape.

Bruxelles, 14/10/2009

Brussels, 05/10/2009 John Monks, ETUC General Secretary declared: 'It is a blow for the European trade unions to hear that an unknown person got into the DISK President's office and fired at him. We were relieved to hear that the wounds are not serious. These kinds of attempts are not acceptable. Trade union action is a right and trying to take the life of one of the leaders flouts this fundamental right'.

London, 05/10/2009 Commissioner Spidla, colleagues, we meet today to discuss climate change, the implications for existing jobs, the potential for new jobs, and the contribution this can make to helping resolve the economic crisis that we are currently in.

Brussels, 02/10/2009 Finding solutions to climate disturbances is a huge challenge. Climate protection cannot be tackled simply from the environmental point of view, it is also crucial to address the social issues if we do not want to see the inequalities exacerbated. This is why the ETUC is calling on decision-makers to pledge to address climate change by likewise taking account of the social and employment aspects.

Brussels, 23/09/2009 The G20 has to take strong action on effective financial market regulation. To limit executive pay and bonuses would be useful and desirable but it is not enough. Binding decisions on financial market supervision and sufficient capital reserves requirements are the key to ensuring that such a crisis cannot happen again. It is also important to tackle tax heavens.

Brussels, 23/09/2009

Brussels, 21/09/2009 By scrapping the full association agreement with the Andean Community, the European Union flies in the face of the strategy launched with the Rio Summit in 1999 (and which it reiterated at subsequent summits) in support of the development of political associations that strengthen integration and social cohesion processes in Latin America.

Brussels, 16/09/2009

Brussels, 16/09/2009 Despite the massive support of governments to the banks, (three trillions of euros in capital and bank guarantees, massive liquidity at almost zero interest rate), credit for productive investment remains squeezed whereas, at the same time, speculative behaviour are reappearing again together with overblown bank profits and bonuses for the bankers and their traders.