ETUC answer to the Reflection Paper Towards a Sustainable Europe 2030
Adopted at the Executive Committee Meeting of 26-27 March 2019
Starting with Scenario 2, swiftly moving toward Scenario 1
On 30 January 2019, the European Commission issued a Reflection Paper Towards a Sustainable Europe 2030. It includes three scenarios which the Strategic Agenda 2019-2024 of the EU will be built upon[1].
The European Union has given long-lasting peace across our continent and has brought European people together around the fundamental values of democracy, human rights, freedom and equality.
Democracy needs to be lived in order to remain alive. We therefore urge citizens across Europe to go out and vote in the European elections from 23-26 May 2019 in order to have a say on the future and to defend democracy, sustainable economic growth and social justice.
Update on the ETUC positions on the completion of EMU considering the most recent Commission proposals
Adopted at the Executive Committee of 18 – 19 December 2018
Introduction
EU Employment Ministers meeting in the Employment Council yesterday agreed to recommend that all member states should guarantee adequate and effective social protection - such as sickness, unemployment, maternity and paternity benefits and pensions - to all working people including the self-employed. Unfortunately the Ministers did NOT agree to recommend that mandatory social protection should include the self-employed – who now make up more than 15% of the Europe’s workforce - somewhat undermining the principle of equal social protection for all.
EU Employment Ministers today agreed a ‘general approach’ on the Regulation establishing a European Labour Authority (ELA).
This now means the final regulation to set up the Authority will be negotiated in trialogue discussions between national government officials, MEPs and the European Commission.
Trade unions this week succeeded in getting Just Transition accepted as an integral part of the UN framework of climate action.
At the opening of COP24 in Katowice the Polish Presidency presented its ‘Solidarity and Just Transition Silesia Declaration’ with the full support of the European Union.
The declaration
ETUC position on the proposal of Pan European Personal Pensions (PEPP)
Adopted at the Executive Committee of 23-24 October 2018
Key messages
1. The regulation of a Pan-European Personal Pension product, currently under the Trialogue process, should acknowledge the high social relevance of pension savings. Despite its nature within the financial market dimension, PEPPs should remain restricted to the market of private products, freely but with high safety guarantees available to individuals.
Joint ETUC-ETUCE Reflection to Proposal on the Erasmus Programme 2021-27: October, 2018
Background
On 30 May 2018, the European Commission published its Proposal for establishing 'Erasmus': the Union programme for education, training, youth and sport and repealing Regulation (EU) No 1288/2013.
Letter sent to Saulius Skvernelis, Prime Minister of the Republic of Lithuania
Subject: Lithuania needs a significant increase of the minimum monthly wage
The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) supports the position of the Lithuanian Trade Union Confederation (LTUC/LPSK), which is its affiliate, and favours its aim to raise the minimum monthly wage in Lithuania by 50 instead of 20 euros.
ETUC position on the EU Commission Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the protection of persons reporting on breaches of Union law – Whistleblowing
Adopted at the executive committee meeting of 25-26 June Sofia
Introduction
Letter sent to Ms Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and to Ms Marianne Thyssen, Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility
Dear High Representative Mogherini, dear Commissioner Thyssen,
