• 17.12.2015 Press release

    There cannot be a two speed social dimension in Europe

    Source Lithuanian Foreign Ministry
    The ETUC and its British (TUC) and Italian affiliates (CGIL, CISL, UIL) deplore the social implications of the call for a two speed Europe as outlined by Foreign Ministers Gentiloni and Hammond in their joint article published on 15 December (see link below).
  • 16.12.2015 Press release

    ETUC welcomes EDC ruling

    Today - Wednesday December 16 - the European Court of Justice has ruled that the European Commission breached EU law in the way it has managed the issue of endocrine disruptor chemicals (EDCs). The Court found that the EU Commission failed to adopt criteria for testing endocrine disruptors, contrary to EU legal provisions setting strict deadlines for protecting health. In June 2014, Sweden decided to take legal action against the Commission, and was supported by the European Parliament and several Member States.
  • 16.12.2015 Press release

    What's new at the European Summit?

    The European Council is meeting tomorrow and Friday to discuss 6 issues: the refugee crisis, terrorism, economic and monetary union, internal market, energy union and the United Kingdom. What’s new to look out for? The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) will be watching out for the following:
  • 15.12.2015 Press release

    ETUC Youth Committee has a new face

    Today, Tom Vrijens was elected President of the Youth Committee of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC). ETUC Youth Committee elected its President and its ‘bureau’, the governing body which steers political decisions.  
  • 15.12.2015 Press release

    Employment stats: job recovery "painfully slow"

    Commenting on employment figures for Q3 2015 that show a 1.1% increase in the Euro area and the EU 28 compared to the same quarter last year, and a 0.3% increase in the Euro area, and 0.4% in the EU28 compared to the previous quarter; Veronica Nilsson, Deputy General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), said “If this is a recovery it is painfully slow.”
  • 08.12.2015 Press release

    FTT ALIVE!

    EU Council
    The ETUC welcomes the announcement made by Finance Ministers on going ahead with a Financial Transaction Tax. ETUC Deputy General Secretary Veronica Nilsson said “The FTT is still on track after all this time, although many of the key details still need to be worked out.”
  • 27.11.2015 Press release

    EU must reject Market Economy Status for China

    The ETUC warns that granting Market Economy Status (MES) to China, now, would damage European workers and economies, and it calls on EU Trade Ministers meeting today (27.11.2015) not to take this decision. “Recognising China as a market economy would encourage the unlimited dumping of cheap Chinese imports, with an immediate and devastating impact on a large number of manufacturing sectors in the EU,” stated ETUC General Secretary Luca Visentini.
  • 26.11.2015 Press release

    European Commission goes quiet on quality jobs

    The European Commission kicked off its annual cycle of economic policy guidance with a heavy emphasis on ‘structural reforms’, very little reference to the ‘fairer’ Europe repeatedly promised by President Juncker, and no mention of additional efforts to increase investment. The ETUC is concerned that creating more flexible labour markets appears to be the number one priority. Despite claims to the contrary, this will inevitably lead to more precarious jobs.  
  • 25.11.2015 Press release

    Trade unions for the elimination of violence against women

    European trade unionists will mark November 25 – the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against women – with a pledge to work against violence against women, whether at the workplace or at home, until it is eliminated.  The shocking facts are that
  • 17.11.2015 Press release

    National Budget Plans: Commission eases off austerity

    The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) notes that the European Commission has not rejected any national budget plan for next year, and takes this as a much-needed sign of easing off austerity. “Renewed austerity is the last thing Europe needs right now” said Veronica Nilsson, Deputy General Secretary of the ETUC “The European Commission is absolutely right not to push for it. With fragile recovery, high unemployment and the refugee emergency, cutting public spending could create another crisis.”