Brussels, 30/01/2008 The Convention becomes legally binding on the first ten countries to have ratified it (Albania, Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Georgia, Moldova, Romania and Slovakia), on 1 February, with Bosnia-Herzegovina, France and Norway following on 1 May. Most European countries have taken the first steps to ratify the Convention, with the UK having already announced its intention to complete the ratification by the end of 2008.

Brussels, 23/01/2008

Brussels, 17/01/2008 This agreement reflects the common will – as unions engaged in pension or savings fund management or as cooperative, mutual and non-profit insurance companies or asset managers – to promote actively practices respectful of environmental, social and governance criteria (ESG) in the companies in which they hold shares.

Brussels, 18/01/2008 In particular, it must be guaranteed that companies cannot ride roughshod over European and national workers’ rights without sanctions. Furthermore, there must be guarantees that no layoffs or transfers can be carried out without thorough, prior information and serious consultations with the workers’ representatives and their trade unions. The ETUC has welcomed the Commission’s introduction of the revision of the EWC directive. It must now quickly reach a conclusion.

Brussels, 16/01/2008 At that conference, the ETUC and its industrial federations stated that trade defence instruments (TDI) needed to be strengthened rather than weakened, because they protect not only growth and jobs, but also social progress worldwide. The Commission's proposals – apart from the fact that they did not sufficiently take account of the results of the public consultation – were in danger of accentuating social and environmental dumping by weakening procedures.

Brussels, 15/01/2008 "It is paradoxical that, while the employment argument is used extensively in the Member States, either to oppose or to support more stringent measures to combat climate change, the Commission acts as if this question did not exist at European level", commented ETUC General Secretary John Monks.It is imperative to revise three points: - the introduction of a carbon tax on imports

Brussels, 23-24/01/2008

Brussels, 10/01/2008 John Monks will emphasise the importance of Europe’s single market respecting worker and trade union rights. The effect of the recent decisions of the European Court of Justice, particularly the Laval case has been to subordinate workers’ fundamental rights to bargain and to strike to the unimpeded free movement of labour.

Brussels, 09/01/2008 The European Central Bank continues to use the argument that oil price hikes will trigger a wage-price spiral. However, this view is wrong for two reasons: - With hourly wages growing at only 2.6% and with the share of wages in total income continuing to fall, stronger growth in wage earnings does not represent an inflationary danger.

Brussels, 18/12/07 The decision contains positive features such as upholding in community law the right to strike as a fundamental right and a union’s right to take industrial action against social dumping. On these points it confirms and strengthens last week’s ECJ decision in the Viking case.

Brussels, 18/12/2007 However, it regrets the fact that participants missed the opportunity to agree on binding commitments or targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions of the developed countries in the immediate future, as called for by the European Union negotiators and the ETUC. The ETUC emphasises the urgency of united action and calls on all the parties to respect the commitment to conclude negotiations by the 2009 deadline.

Brussels, 14/12/2007 To be checked against delivery To excuse the absence of John Monks, ETUC General Secretary – he is taking part in an important meeting of the International trade union movement in Washington. To congratulate the Presidency on the achievements and especially on the Reform Treaty. It is high time for Europe to concentrate its energies on the core issues that concern citizens and workers.

Brussels, 14/12/2007 The ETUC urged the European Council to follow the example of employment ministers, the European Parliament and the European social partners and take a balanced approach to common principles for flexicurity.