Dear President,
At the end of January, we sent a letter to Vice-President Dombrovskis and Commissioner Thyssen to ask for a social partner consultation regarding the proposed targeted revision of the posting of workers directive.
The COP 21 has delivered a universal agreement which will frame the long term action on climate change. The ETUC welcomes that agreement which concludes a long and complex negotiation process. Giving to the world a global instrument to tackle climate change is a major political breakthrough even though, as stressed below, this agreement is in many respects not as ambitious as we would have wished.
China has been a member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) since 2001 but it is not recognised as a market economy by any of its major trading partners, including the EU and the US. China's WTO Accession Protocol allowed WTO members not to grant “Market Economy Status” (MES) to China for a period up to 11 December 2016.
Not applying MES to China allows the EU to use alternative methods for calculating dumping margins (that apply to Non-Market Economies, NMEs, often based on the higher prices applying in third countries).
ETUC position on single market strategy for Europe
Adopted at the ETUC Executive Committee on 16-17 December 2015
Key points
The conflict between the exercise of fundamental rights and economic freedoms and the development of unfair competition in the single market can no longer be ignored. The ETUC recalls the importance of quality jobs, the principle of equal treatment between all workers at the same workplace and urges the EU institutions to adopt a social progress protocol.
ETUC assessment of the European Commission Work Programme 2016
ETUC position adopted at the ETUC Executive Commitee on the 16-17 December 2015
Introduction
This paper provides an ETUC assessment of the European Commission’s (EC) Work Programme 2016 (WP) No Time for Business as Usual.
Key Issues
Good work-life balance has a positive impact on the well-being of workers. It can also contribute to achieving major EU policy goals: stimulating employment (especially among women and older workers) and growth; promoting children and youth development; and eventually achieving gender equality.
Completing Economic and Monetary Union: Rebalancing European Economic Governance (ETUC position)
Adopted at the ETUC Executive Committee on 16-17 December 2015
Introduction
The Commission Communication of 21 October describes the initiatives the Commission will undertake in stage 1 of the process to deepen EMU. In this stage, the Commission will intensify the use of policy instruments and levers that already exist within the current Treaties in order to improve the functioning of EMU.
ETUC resolution on the rationale for trade union participation in standardisation
Adopted at the ETUC Executive Committee on 16-17 December 2015
Reiterating previous ETUC Resolutions on European standardisation[1] and observing that:
Reforming the Litigation Group into the Fundamental Rights and Litigation Advisory Group
Adopted at the Executive Committee Meeting of 16th and 17th December 2015
Throughout Europe workers and their unions are experiencing attacks on their hard won rights, and fundamental human rights including labour rights are being questioned.
Composition of the ETUC Statutory Bodies Election of the Vice-Presidents
Adopted at the ETUC Executive Committee on 28-29 October 2015
1. MEMBERS OF THE ETUC STEERING COMMITTEE
Elected on the Executive Committee 2 October 2015
MEMBERS OF THE ETUC STEERING COMMITTEE
MEMBRES DU COMITE DE DIRECTION
October 2015 – May 2019
MEMBRES EX-OFFICIO – EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS
President – Président
Resolution on the Role of the ETUC 2015/2019 – follow up: ETUC reorganisation
Adopted at the ETUC Executive Committee on 28-29 October 2015
Document on the role of the ETUC for the next mandate 2015-2019
The ETUC Congress in Paris endorsed a Document meant to set priorities and proposals for action, in order to renew and strengthen the role of the ETUC.
The Executive Committee is called to adopt any necessary resolutions for its implementation.