Brussels, 18/06/2009 This is a milestone in the 25-year history of the European Social Dialogue as it is the first time that European social partners have agreed on the revision of a pre-existing Framework Agreement. It is their 7th Framework agreement since the original Parental Leave agreement was concluded in 1995, later transposed into a EU Directive in 1996.

Brussels, 17/06/2009 ETUC shares the sense of urgency expressed in this Declaration and has written to European leaders urging them to act boldly in favour of a Social Europe.

Brussels, 16/06/2009

Brussels, 10/06/2009 At the closing conference in Brussels today, ETUC and UEAPME presented an expert report (available in English only) containing a detailed analysis of the four topics that were singled out for discussion during the project:

London, 05/06/2009 Thanks for this chance to contribute to today’s conference. At a time of economic and political storms and crisis, it is easy to dismiss or relegate the only slightly longer term challenges that we face. But that is a luxury we cannot afford because of the magnitude and complexity of the environmental challenge. Tackling climate change cannot just be a strategy for Britain. There must be an international and European dimension.

Londres, 29/05/2009

Bruxelles, 26/05/2009

Brussels, 03/06/2009 To prevent and control a situation of mass unemployment, the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) is calling for a different and broader approach. - To address the lack of demand dynamics and get the economy back moving again, Europe needs an expanded and sustained recovery programme: Europe needs to invest annually 1% of GDP in the coming three years in the ‘greening of the economy’.

London, 29/05/2009 Cathy, Keith and Jeff have remembered our remarkable friend, Brian Bercusson in the most appropriate of ways. To Cathy, let me say simply, ‘Thank you for letting us have Brian for all those years, during which the ETUC was going through a crucial formative period.’ We all know that he was a man who loved his work and that in this sense he was probably impossible to ‘manage’. He worked too hard, but he would have never done it any other way.

Brussels, 26/05/2009 I am glad this meeting is being held in the International Trade Union House (ITUH), home of ETUC and ITUC. I’m glad also that the Commission is seeking to involve civil society in dialogue over trade. This isn’t a subject that can or should be ghettoised to trade experts. International trade is high on the trade union agenda. And the EU’s exclusive competence on trade issues makes this a European subject par excellence. Hence the key interest of the European Trade Union Confederation.

Brussels, 28/05/2009

Paris, 28/05/2009 The Paris Declaration’s aim is twofold: fight the crisis and push forward a more equitable society. The declaration is built on five key points, namely:

Paris, 27/05/2009 President Delors, Frère Jacques, Candido, fellow delegates and guests, make no mistake; we are at a crossroad for trade unionism and for Europe. we are at a crossroads for trade unionism and for Europe. It is now time for the trade unions to be debating the future of our societies and to be asking ourselves fundamental questions about our values, about our objectives and about the means we use to attain them. And asking ourselves too about the role of Europe and its future.