Palermo, 18/01/2006 To be checked against delivery I am grateful to the CGIL for the opportunity to visit Palermo and Sicily, to come to one of Europe's great crossroads, and to address you today on taking Europe's forward. 2005 was a bad year for Europe. A few years ago, the Queen of England reflecting on the bedroom antics of her children, said that the year in question had been an “annus horribilis”. Well 2005 was such an “annus horribilis” for the European Union. There were several reasons:

Brussels, 11/01/2006 The first half of 2006 should mark a new start for the European Union. “The concept of Social Europe must be central to the development of an EU where economic and social progress go hand in hand,” said John Monks. “The European approach must be the promotion of a social market economy with social rights.”

Brussels, 11/01/2006 “We want a better Services Directive, not one based on the discredited country of origin principle but one which respects collective agreements, labour law and services of general interest,” said ETUC General Secretary John Monks.

Brussels, 13/12/2005 The ETUC welcomes the agreement reached on Tuesday at the extraordinary meeting of the Competitiveness Council because it sets Europe firmly on the road to an economy that takes greater account of the health and environmental impacts of the chemicals industry.

Brussels, 18/11/2005 THE GLOBAL CALL TO ACTION AGAINST POVERTY (GCAP) www.whiteband.org AND THE EUROPEAN TRADE UNION CONFEDERATION (ETUC) www.etuc.org {{ MEDIA ADVISORY WHEN AND WHERE}} {{Monday 21st November 2005, 11:30am in front of the Council Building WHAT

Bordeaux, 16/11/2005

Brussels,14/11/2005 The trade union organisations taking part recognised that the achievements of the Barcelona process so far have fallen short of the objectives set in 1995. However, the partnership remains the right path to follow in the context of a difficult economic and political situation. The Barcelona process must be strengthened and revitalised. At the same time, they re-emphasised that democracy is the only framework allowing the development of workers' rights, social rights, and social dialogue.

Barcelona, 6-7/11/2005 To be checked against delivery Dear friends, It has been with a great interest that I have followed presentations and debates at this 3rd General Assembly of the Euromed Trade Union Forum. The setting up of this structure has been done in close cooperation and together with the ICFTU in 1999, and associating ICATU and USTMA. Let me recall the main reason for this initiative: it was to give a voice to the world of Labour in the context of the Euro-Mediterranean cooperation of the Barcelona process.

Barcelona, 6-7/11/2005

Brussels, 24/10/2005 The proposed directive on the portability of supplementary pensions rights which establishes some common ‘principles' (so these are not rights) seeks to improve the exercise of freedom of movement. This text will go before the European Parliament shortly. Despite its reservations on several points in this proposed directive, ETUC emphasises that it still has the merit of existing, and that these principles apply equally to people moving from one State to another and to those moving within a single country.

Brussels, 29/09/2005 To be checked against delivery I have listened with great attention to the previous speakers and especially to the “founding fathers” of the European Social Dialogue, a feature of the European social model that distinguishes Europe from the rest of the world.

Brussels, 29/09/2005 To be checked against delivery Today we honour and celebrate the past but most importantly, I hope, use it as an inspiration for the future. We may no longer be, to use a phrase, in the heroic age of Jacques Delors. But as the French votes, in particular, reminded us, many Europeans do not want a Europe in which social considerations are relegated in importance to the single market. Europe's leaders forget that lesson at Europe's peril.

Brussels, 20/09/2005 In particular, the ETUC has asked its affiliates to: