Ljubljana, 07/12/2007 To be checked against delivery

Brussels, 05/12/2007 European trade union leaders will examine the state of play regarding EU legislation on temporary agency workers, working time, European Works Councils and public services. They will also take a view on European Commission proposals on legal and 'illegal' migration, and on climate change, as well as on the recent turbulence in financial markets. The EU Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs, Joaquín Almunia, will attend the Executive Committee meeting this afternoon (5 December).

Brussels, 05/11/2007 Media quality is under threat because of a failure of investment and resources. Urgent action is needed to improve staffing levels, workloads, resources and budgets, to enable journalists and all who work with them to continue producing high quality output. The Stand up for Journalism campaign highlights a social and professional crisis in modern journalism.

2007 Conciliation entre vie professionnelle, privée et familiale : un objectif clé du mouvement syndical européen

Budva, 30/10/2007 To be checked against delivery Thank you for the opportunity to express a trade union perspective on all this. Let me start by expressing the appreciation of the ETUC to those who have made all this possible. To the Belgian and Swiss Governments whose commitment and far sighted support has been crucial; and to our hosts, the Republic of Montenegro.

Copenhagen, 29/10/2007 To be checked against delivery President, delegates, fellow guests: It is a pleasure to return to Denmark, the country which has given the world Hans Christian Andersen, Peter Schmeical and flexicurity. All these have played a significant part in my life at one time or other! Last week at a meeting in Lisbon, the ETUC agreed with Europe’s employers a joint analysis of Europe’s labour markets including flexicurity.

2007

Brussels, 16/10/2007 The exclusion of oil and gas from the scope of the new sanctions means that the major source of foreign finance for the junta will remain basically intact. The previous EU bans have been extended to include a ban on European exports to Burma of equipment for the metal, timber, minerals and gemstone sectors, as well as import and investment prohibitions covering these sectors.

Brussels, 16/10/2007 European trade union leaders will debate issues that feature also on the Social Summit agenda, such as flexicurity in the European labour market, and the reform treaty. The Executive will also discuss a policy statement on the recent turmoil in world financial markets.

Brussels, 08/10/2007 Europe currently has some sanctions in place, but these fall well short of the kind of pressure needed to convince the military that they must allow democracy to be realised. Top of the sanctions list should be the oil and gas sector, which is the main source of international income for the junta. Any sanctions regime which does not include oil and gas would lack effectiveness and credibility according to the ITUC and ETUC.

Brussels, 26/09/2007 ETUC General Secretary John Monks said: “The EU must now apply effective concerted sanctions against the regime and seek to persuade all those with influence on it to make clear their total rejection of its inhuman actions. It is in particular inconceivable that trade talks with the ASEAN group (Association of South East Asian Nations), which includes Burma, can continue unaffected by this situation.”

Brighton, 12/09/2007

Brighton, 12/09/2007 Check against delivery President, Congress and honoured guests, it’s with great pleasure that I address the annual Congress of the TUC. It is also a pleasure to see another woman President. I would like to thank you for the invitation. Let me take this opportunity to wish you every success in your debates and discussions.

Bundoran, 03/07/2007

Bundoran, 03/07/2007 To be checked against delivery JM/cd President, delegates, fellow guests, thanks for the invitation to again visit the biennal Congress of the ICTU.

Brussels, 26/06/2007 The Committee will assess the outcome of the Congress and launch activities to implement the wide-ranging Strategy and Action Plan agreed by delegates, for the next four years. Also on the agenda will be a joint report from the social partners (trade unions and employers) on the Key Challenges facing European Labour Markets. The Executive will also elect its vice-presidents, on a rotational basis, to hold office until the next Congress in four years.

Madrid, 16/06/2007 To be checked against delivery As a student of Spanish history, and an admirer of the role played by the UGT and the Socialist Party throughout Spain's modern history, it is with great pleasure that I join these celebrations to honour the 80th birthday of Nicolas Redondo and his marvellous contribution to trade unionism.

2007

2007

Brussels, 16/05/2007 The four-yearly Congress, which takes place next week in Seville, Spain, is the moment for the entire movement across Europe to unite, to review the political situation, and to agree on its policies and strategies for the coming years.

Sofia, 11/05/2007 To be checked against delivery

Stockholm, 8/05/2007 To be checked against delivery My first Congress after my election as General Secretary of the ETUC was the TCO Congress in 2003 and four years later, I am pleased to be back. I am pleased too to see the progress made by Swedish trade unionism in the past 4 years but not so pleased to have to share your apprehension about the harmful changes being made by the current Swedish Government.

Brussels, 09/05/2007 At the Congress, the European trade union movement will be going 'On the Offensive' in support of Social Europe, Solidarity and Sustainable Development. The Executive Committee's main task will be to approve a proposal for a 'Seville Manifesto': a summary of the ETUC's Strategy and Action Plan, setting out the main areas for trade union action from now until 2011. The manifesto, to be debated at Congress, will outline key political, economic, environmental and social objectives.

Brussels, 03/05/2007 To be checked against delivery I bring the greetings of the ETUC to the Congress of FERPA. I bring the thanks of the ETUC to Luigina de Santis who finishes as your secretary at this Congress. Luigina has been a friendly and effective force for good in the ETUC family. We will miss her and we wish her well in her return to her native country of Italy. I bring the congratulations of the ETUC to your new secretary Bruno COSTANTINI.