Brussels, 16/10/2007 "A veto would be an excuse to avoid some awkward domestic politics, a gesture of weakness and not the act of the strong, serious statesman that I believe Gordon Brown to be," warns John Monks. "Sign that modest treaty, and let's get on with building the EU into a vehicle for controlling globalisation and for negotiating toughly with the world superpowers on trade, on environment and - yes - on social rights, in a way European nations, acting individually, simply cannot do."

Brussels, 16/10/2007 The exclusion of oil and gas from the scope of the new sanctions means that the major source of foreign finance for the junta will remain basically intact. The previous EU bans have been extended to include a ban on European exports to Burma of equipment for the metal, timber, minerals and gemstone sectors, as well as import and investment prohibitions covering these sectors.

Brussels, 16/10/2007 European trade union leaders will debate issues that feature also on the Social Summit agenda, such as flexicurity in the European labour market, and the reform treaty. The Executive will also discuss a policy statement on the recent turmoil in world financial markets.

Brussels, 10/10/2007 Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), are medical conditions that affect the muscles, tendons and nerves. It is Europe’s most widespread occupational disease, and European workers' main health complaint. “Current European legislation is not enough to tackle this problem. We need to get a draft MSD Directive back on the European agenda”, urged Marc Sapir, Director of the ETUI-REHS. “It is very much in the in-tray”, agreed Antonio Cammarotta, the European Commission official in charge of MSDs.

Brussels, 10/10/2007

Brussels, 08/10/2007 Europe currently has some sanctions in place, but these fall well short of the kind of pressure needed to convince the military that they must allow democracy to be realised. Top of the sanctions list should be the oil and gas sector, which is the main source of international income for the junta. Any sanctions regime which does not include oil and gas would lack effectiveness and credibility according to the ITUC and ETUC.

Brussels, 08/10/2007 In recent days, the ETUC is relieved to note that a debate about the impact of a brutal appreciation of the euro on economic growth has started up.

Brussels, 02/10/2007 The Council of Ministers in Luxembourg approved the total liberalisation of the postal market by 2011, without any clear indication of how postal services to rural, mountain and island-dwelling citizens will be financed. Up to now, protection for mail of up to 50 grams has ensured a basic postal service to all citizens at an affordable price. The ETUC believes it is essential that truly effective measures for financing a universal service are identified and implemented before pursuing full liberalisation of the postal sector.

Brussels, 01/10/2007 To prevent a too expensive euro from pushing the euro area economy back into a slump in growth and jobs, the ECB must: - Signal to exchange rate markets that excessive volatility of the euro will not be accepted, - Rule out the possibility of interest rate hikes over coming months: higher interest rates in the euro area will attract more speculative capital and push the euro exchange rate even higher, - Consider instead the option of cuts in euro area interest rates in order to support domestic demand,

Brussels, 27/09/2007 Addressing a meeting of MEPs and trade unionists in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, he reiterated the conditions for workers' support for the treaty.

Brussels, 27/09/2007 The Women's Committees of the ITUC and ETUC are expressing their full support of and solidarity with the women workers of Novamed, now on strike for exactly one year in the Antalya Free Trade Zone of Turkey. They condemn totally the inhuman treatment imposed on these women workers, which is infringing on human and fundamental rights enshrined in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, the Social Charter of the Council of Europe, and Conventions of the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

Brussels, 27/09/2007 “The reality of many ACP countries today is that they are being required to negotiate simultaneously a regional custom union, a bilateral deal with the EU and a multilateral negotiations process through the World Trade Organisation (WTO),” said John Monks, ETUC General Secretary. “Very few countries in the world would be able to successfully take up such a challenge in five years, and the poorest countries are certainly not in a position to do so.”

Brussels, 26/09/2007 ETUC General Secretary John Monks said: “The EU must now apply effective concerted sanctions against the regime and seek to persuade all those with influence on it to make clear their total rejection of its inhuman actions. It is in particular inconceivable that trade talks with the ASEAN group (Association of South East Asian Nations), which includes Burma, can continue unaffected by this situation.”