New European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker needs to tackle the persistent over-representation of corporate interests in European Commission ‘expert groups’ warn trade unions and transparency organisations. These organisations (ETUC, EPSU, UNI & CEO) have highlighted this fundamental issue with the EU's advisory groups in response to the European Ombudsman's public consultation on the topic that closed yesterday.

Speaking at the ‘Conférence des Ambassadeurs’ in Paris today with Laurent Fabius and Walter Steinmeier, Bernadette Ségol, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation warned that without tackling unemployment Europe risked a Union without the support of Europeans.     Speaking in a session on the political priorities of the European Union 2014-20 Bernadette Ségol said

European Commissioner Malmstrom's decision to support the 'Mare Nostrum' programme in the Mediterranean Sea – strengthening EU action and funding through the FRONTEX PLUS initiative – is a welcome first step says the ETUC.

“Draghi softens tone on austerity” says Financial Times, “Mario Draghi signals departure from austerity focus” reports the Wall Street Journal, “Draghi tells Eurozone: do more to boost economies” headlines The Guardian following the European Central Bank President’s speech at the prestigious Jackson Hole Economic Symposium.

Commenting on the latest European economic growth figures from Eurostat, showing no rise in GDP in the Eurozone in the 2nd quarter of 2014 (compared to the previous quarter) and 0.2% growth in the EU28, Claudia Menne of the European Trade Union Confederation said  “With Germany contracting, France stagnating and Italy back in recession the outlook is bleak. It’s no use blaming the weather or the situation in the Ukraine – the simple fact is that Europe needs a change in economic policy. Just cutting Government spending and hoping for the best is not enough.”

Commenting on the latest unemployment figures, which show a 0.7% reduction cross the EU over the last 12 months, Claudia Menne, Confederal Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation, said “Unemployment is still over 25 million, which is totally unacceptable. A 0.7% reduction, when unemployment is so high, is completely inadequate.” “Youth unemployment is also still far too high.”

The General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation, Bernadette Ségol, today called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and Israel, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, and a new start for peace negotiations. “The spiral of violence seems to be endless”, said Bernadette Ségol. “But the international community – with the full support of the European Union - must insist on an end to the violence and a new serious effort to find a peaceful political solution.”

Today European trade unions’ concerns about the proposed EU-US Transatlantic trade deal (TTIP) were explained to the US Ambassador to the EU, Anthony L. Gardner, by Bernadette Ségol, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC). The conversation concentrated on ISDS and respect of labour standards. The General Secretary confirmed that the ETUC welcomes closer trade relations with the USA that are effectively regulated, guaranteeing labour, democratic and environmental standards. She underlined in particular that:

Bernadette Ségol, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), in a solidarity declaration addressed to its two Serbian confederations CATUS and NEZAVISNOST, underlined the need for a proper social dialogue in Serbia.

The cancellation of the youth employment Summit scheduled for this week sends out a very bad signal to Europe’s younger generations, showing that the Member States have failed to take the youth guarantee seriously. Young people are bearing the full brunt of austerity policies, unemployment and labour market insecurity. They do not want this guarantee to be yet another missed opportunity. It has the potential to enable better integration into employment, but it has to be used. Where are the funds intended for this guarantee?

Commenting on the European Commission’s Green Growth Package, Bernadette Ségol, General Secretary of the  European Trade Union Confederation said “The European Commission’s Green Growth Package is forward-thinking and progressive. It rightly puts together the need to create jobs with the need for a more environmentally sustainable economy.”   

Dave Feickert, former Head of TUC Office in Brussels, has died. In memory, Bernadette Ségol, writes: “Dave was head of TUC office when Emilio Gabaglio was general Secretary of the ETUC. He was part of the team which negotiated the three European agreements - I was there as well. Dave strongly supported the move towards a European Union as a place of peace, democracy, social protection and workers' right.

Is the European Commission willing to back down on awarding benefits to US companies which are not given to EU companies? That’s the question put by the European Trade Union Confederation as the European Commission closes its consultation on the controversial investor-to-state dispute settlement (ISDS), one of the most contested aspects of the EU-US trade negotiations.