On October 16, 2023, the European Parliament’s lead committees, the Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) and the Committee on International Trade (INTA) adopted, with an overwhelming majority, their position on the proposed on the proposed EU Forced Labour Regulation.
The ETUC joined forces with civil society organisations to urge the EU Council to speed up negotiations to adopt a General Approach.
The letter outlines four core elements that must be included in the Council's position:
The ETUC stands with teachers and their European trade union federation, the ETUCE, for the European Week of Teachers. The week of action aims to raise policy solutions in their 10 key demands to make teaching more attractive.
The European Commission recently published its long-awaited BEFIT (Business in Europe: Framework for Income Taxation) proposal for the taxation of large multinational companies.
It follows a long-term effort to introduce group taxation with a formula for allocating taxable profits where value is created (in terms of payroll, number of employees, assets). This was the intended objective of the CCTB and CCCTB proposals, which have now been withdrawn from the European agenda.
It is with sorrow that we learnt about the passing away of MEP Véronique Trillet-Lenoir earlier this month. Her remarkable dedication to the health and safety of workers will be remembered.
As a public servant dedicated to achieving health and safety at work, MEP Trillet-Lenoir demonstrated a solid commitment to improving the lives of workers throughout the EU. Her recent involvement in the revision of the Directive on asbestos at work demonstrated her dedication and commitment to making workplaces safer for all.
Working people always suffer in conflicts and the pursuit of peace is a fundamental trade union value.
On 24 February 2022 Russian military forces invaded Ukraine, bringing destruction to peaceful cities and workplaces. It has been a year of shock and pain, devastating news and images, but also a year of bravery and consolidation of Ukrainian people and their unions and a year of solidarity, unity, and support.
Dear President of the European Commission Ms von der Leyen,
Dear High Representative and Vice-President of the European Commission Mr Borrell,
Dear President of the European Parliament Ms Metsola,
Dear President of the European Council Mr Michel,
ETUC Proposal for a SURE 2.0
ETUC Resolution adopted at the Executive Committee Meeting of 27-28 October 2022
IN A NUTSHELLThe ETUC proposes to refinance and scale up the current SURE instrument in the following manner:
After the year of rail in 2021 and the year of youth in 2022, the European Commission decided to put the focus on skills for 2023. The challenge of skills is of course of paramount importance for the trade union movement, but we expect results and concrete policies, not declarations of good intentions. Rail workers have seen little to no improvements to their difficult working conditions and young workers are the most affected by consecutive crisis.
With the publication of final reports including the Report on Minimum Safeguards, the Platform on Sustainable Finance of the EU is shutting down. The ETUC appreciates the committed and open-minded participation of different stakeholders and the constructive and engaged work of the Chairs.
Have a look at the calendar of trade union actions across Europe on the cost-of-living crisis
Photos of the trade union action and of the meeting in the European Parliament in Strasbourg - Video of the meeting with MEPS
Dear President von der Leyen,
Dear President Michel,
Dear High Representative Borrell,
Dear President Metsola,
We welcome the recent decision to grant Ukraine EU candidate status. That is a long-time aspiration of Ukrainian workers who stood in the revolution of dignity and who now sacrifice their lives, health and wellbeing in the fight for democracy and sovereignty against Russian aggression.
European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan, the Future of Social Protection
ETUC Resolution adopted at the Executive Committee Meeting of 22-23 June 2022
Summary of the Resolution
a. The Resolution summarises the ETUC’s main messages delivered in the social partner’s dedicated hearings on welfare and social protection policy, organised by the European Commission. - The topics ranged from the future of the welfare state in the EU to the initiatives to be undertaken in the provision of essential services.
ETUC recommendations in light of the Energy price Crisis
Resolution adopted at the Executive Committee meeting of 22-23 June 2022
Summary of key messages
Brussels, 16 June 2022
Dear Ambassador,
I am contacting you in relation to the Women on Boards Directive following the meeting of the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council on 16 June 2022.
The ETUC welcomes the progress made on the Women On Boards Directive, after ten years of non-action and blockage.
The adoption of the agreement will hopefully clear the path for many women into key decision-making positions throughout the European Union.
In reaction to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and its consequences on energy markets, the European Commission adopted today its REPower EU Plan.
ETUC welcomes the overall objectives of this proposal and strongly supports the willingness of the Commission to reduce EU’s energy dependency towards Russia. Reducing our energy imports is of primary importance if we want to increase pressure on Putin’s autocratic regime to put an end to its illegal war.
A renewed transatlantic cooperation on trade has to deliver for working people. This concept paper outlines key features we would want to form the framework of the EU-US Trade and Technology Council (TTC). The Biden-Harris Administration put on high priority a worker-centred trade policy in the US and the ETUC believes this is now also an opportunity to change the trade paradigm in Europe.
9 years after the Rana Plaza disaster, workers in Europe and in the world cannot wait any longer: the ETUC calls for zero tolerance for doing business in breach of human rights
Why? Because labour is not a commodity: workers’ life and security should not be negotiated nor put at risk by business models!
ETUC calls on MEPs to vote in favour of the European Parliament’s mandate to enter into inter-institutional negotiations on the Gender Pay Transparency Directive
Brussels, 1 April 2022
To: Members of the European Parliament
Dear Member of the European Parliament,
I am contacting you to urge you to vote in favour of the European Parliament’s mandate to enter into trilogue negotiations.
