The European Central Bank (ECB) buying bonds is necessary, but will not be enough to stimulate growth or create jobs warned the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC).
“There is a welcome shift in economic policy” said Veronica Nilsson, Confederal Secretary at the ETUC referring to the expected and long-awaited quantitative easing announcement by the ECB, the recent reinterpretation of fiscal pact rules and investment plan by the European Commission.
The huge flow of investments by US companies in Europe, and by European companies in the US, show that it is not necessary to introduce new special legal procedures for investors, the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) told EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström in a meeting today.
The ETUC congratulated the Commissioner for making the TTIP negotiations more transparent, and urged her to do the same for other trade talks such as with Japan and China.
The ETUC also stressed the need for trade agreements, including TTIP, to
The European Trade Union Confederation and European employers’ organisations met national employers and trade unions confederations of three Balkan countries to promote dialogue between employers and employees, and with Governments.
ETUC Deputy Secretary Patrick Itschert said “Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia are at different stages of accession to the European Union. Functioning social dialogue is one of the important requirements that will be negotiated”.
Commenting on the European Summit which finished in record time last night, Bernadette Ségol, Secretary General of the European Trade Union Confederation said
“Adopting the investment plan is a positive move and I urge the member states to boost the funds available as the current proposal is too small. The proposals for Energy Union and digital single market are ambitious and might create additional jobs. I would like to see the same ambition applied to worker, consumer and environmental protection but I am still waiting.”
Commenting on the appointment of Edmund Stoiber as European Commission Special Advisor on ‘Better Regulation’, Veronica Nilsson, Confederal Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation said “I fear Mr Stoiber will not help with better regulation, but lobby on behalf of business for less regulation. That risks being at the expense of workers, consumers and the environment. It could mean further delays in much needed health and safety regulations such as on exposure at work to cancer-causing chemicals.
To mark International Migrants Day, trade unions are calling for continued humanitarian action to save migrants in the Mediterranean Sea.
The Italian Government has announced it will end its ‘Mare Nostrum’ search and rescue operation in the absence of support from the EU and other member states. It is being ‘replaced’ by the EU Frontex Agency’s ‘Triton’ programme which is primarily concerned with border control.
‘Mare Nostrum’ found and saved more than 100.000 migrants at sea.
EU Prime Ministers, Presidents and Chancellors attending this week’s European Summit are being urged to agree, and increase, the European Commission’s €315bn investment package by the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC).
Commenting on the European Commission’s statement on its work programme, Bernadette Ségol, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation said “The priority given to jobs and the economy is correct.”
“There is not a single proposal to improve worker, consumer or environmental protection. This does not seem the best way to restore public confidence in Europe. It is a business agenda, with no sign of Juncker’s commitment to the social market economy: it is all market and no social.”
The EU Competitiveness Council is today expected to ask the Commission to propose targets for reducing ‘regulatory burden’.
The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) is strongly opposed to such targets.
Discussion points by Tom Jenkins, Chief adviser at the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC)
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The ETUC has three sine qua non conditions on TTIP: No ISDS; a guaranteed protection of public services; and an enforceable labour chapter. Today’s meeting is dealing with that issue.
Growth and Employment
The European Trade Union Confederation denounces the decision of the Italian Government and EU institutions to abandon search and rescue operations for migrants in the Mediterranean Sea.
More than 100,000 migrants have been found and assisted at sea, while more than 2000 are estimated to have died attempting to reach the EU by boat from North Africa.
Desperate people fleeing war and poverty in Africa and the Middle East are making the dangerous crossing, often in overcrowded boats in poor condition, and dependent on ruthless traffickers.
The EU must take action to stop the 100,000 deaths a year caused by occupational cancers.
The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) meeting in Brussels today condemned the European Commission for blocking health and safety improvements* and for putting forward an extremely weak health and safety strategy (‘Framework Strategy 2014-2020’).
The ETUC called today for
