ETUC position Adopted at the ETUC Executive Committee on 21-22 October 2014  

Ahead of EU-US trade negotiations the American and European trade unions – AFL-CIO and ETUC  have issued a Declaration of Joint Principles.

Adopted at the Executive Committee Meeting of 11-12 June 2014   Summary ·      The proposed SUP generates serious concerns with regard to fiscal evasion, workers’ rights and sustainable corporate governance in general. If adopted, this Directive would be an open invitation to companies of all sizes to minimise their responsibilities under national law.

Adopted at the meeting of the ETUC Executive Committee on 11-12 June 2014         DG Home affairs launched a Communication aimed at setting priorities in the migration policies for the next five-years. In it, the ETUC recognises a new narrative for the migration phenomenon in Europe. However some areas of concern have been detected and improvements can be introduced.

Adopted at the ETUC Executive Committee 12 June 2014 The ETUC Executive Committee reiterates how important it is that the interests of workers are represented when considering the issue of standardisation. It makes reference to the resolution adopted on 5 and 6 June 2013 and to the ETUC’s role in European standardisation within the framework of the new legislative context defined in Regulation No. 1025/2012.

Adopted at the meeting of the ETUC Executive Committee on 12 June 2014   The result of the elections demonstrates the growing distance between workers and citizens with the EU institutions and their leaders.  It is a clear signal that austerity policies imposed by national governments during the last five years failed.   The message of voters is clear.  Unemployment, precarious work, low pay is the major EU problem.  Policies supporting the creation of quality jobs, protecting people and the European social model must be implemented.

Adopted at the Executive Committee Meeting of 11-12 June 2014 Introduction Key messages:

Adopted at the ETUC Executive Committee on 11-12 March 2014 Undeclared work is a serious form of social dumping and it is high time that concrete action is taken at EU level in order to prevent undeclared work and to protect undeclared workers. The EU needs better enforcement of existing labour laws and standards as well as a stronger role in promoting more, and better, cooperation and coordination between the different national administrations.

Adopted at the ETUC Executive Committee on 11-12 March 2014       Background   Work-based learning, which is generally associated with apprenticeships for young people and dual systems of vocational training, is part of the policies supporting the transition from school to the labour market. It is integrated into broader education and training policies linked to labour market issues. [1]  

Adopted at the ETUC Executive Committee on 11-12 March 2014 Summary The Executive committee endorses the Report “Towards a Legal Framework for Transnational Company Agreements”[1] as a solid basis to support trade union demands for clearer and more transparent rules for transnational negotiations with multinational companies

 Key Messages   To ensure a full recovery, Europe needs structural investments, fair pay and decent working conditions for all workers. The ETUC therefore calls on the Spring European Council to adopt a new direction as, without a radical shift in policy, the European Semester 2014 will do nothing to secure a sustainable recovery.

Adopted at the Executive Committee 11-12 March 2014   Europe 2020 not yet fit for purpose In the very beginning, the Europe 2020 strategy, like its predecessor the Lisbon Strategy, relied on instruments which were not efficient, in particular, the open method of coordination. Then economic governance structures were established to better coordinate economic policies, and Europe 2020 had to fit into this new governance architecture, which was not conceived to help it reach Europe 2020 (namely employment or social) objectives.

Adopted at the meeting of the Executive Committee on 11-12 March 2014     The European Council of 21 March 2014 will address industrial policy, energy and the fight against climate change. On 22 January 2014, the European Commission published two communications entitled "For a European Industrial Renaissance" and "A policy framework for climate and energy in the period from 2020 to 2030". The aim of this declaration is to remind Europe's political leaders of some key elements of the ETUC's position on these issues.