Duisburg, 06/06/2011 President, Peter, delegates, friends, I am delighted to be invited to address your Congress today. I bring you the warm and fraternal greetings of the European Trade Union Confederation. I was elected 3 weeks ago – with your support – I thank you for this support. It is of great value and significance to me. Indeed, you are meeting at a very critical time for Europe. Europe is in the midst of daunting financial, monetary, economic and social crises.

Brussels, 08/06/2011 The ETUC takes issue with the following points: - The decision to adjust wage setting mechanisms and how to do so lies with the social partners themselves. It is not up to governments and certainly not up to the Commission to decide on a reform of the wage setting machinery. The autonomy of social partners to bargain extends way beyond the Commission’s call of simply ‘consulting’ social partners.

Tampere, 06/06/2011 President, Friends, I am grateful to be given the opportunity to speak to the SAK congress. It is the first time I address a congress as ETUC General Secretary. Our congress finished two weeks ago. I feel still quite new in the job…although I had a few months to get prepared. I would at first thank you most warmly for nominating me as your candidate and supporting me during the election process.

Brussels, 31/05/2011 The action programme to reduce administrative burdens is controversial as it includes proposals that would undermine the purpose of the legislation. The action programme goes beyond reducing unnecessary administrative burdens as it also includes perceived burdens. Furthermore it fails to look at the benefits of the legislation in question.

Athens, 18/05/2011

Athènes, 19/05/2011 President, Wanja, John. First let me thank delegates for their vote and support to the next team. It is a great honour and a tremendous responsibility to serve the European Trade Union Confederation as its General Secretary. Being the first woman in that position makes it even more significant. It is a great honour and a tremendous responsibility to serve the European Trade Union Confederation as its General Secretary.

Athènes, 16/05/2011

Athenes, 19/05/2011 With the approval of the Athens manifesto the ETUC asserts that wages are not the enemy of the economy but its motor and that the autonomy of social partners in collective bargaining must be respected, denouncing the danger of the “Euro Plus pact”.

Athens, 18/05/2011 On the third day of the ETUC Congress, the delegates of trade unions from 36 countries elected the new team that is going to lead the confederation till 2015. Bernadette Ségol has been elected as the General Secretary, Józef Niemec and Patrick Itschert have been elected as deputy General Secretary, Claudia Menne, Luca Visentini, Veronica Anna-Maria Nilsson, Judith Kirton-Darling have been elected as Confederal Secretary. Ignacio Fernández Toxo has been elected as President of the ETUC.

Athens, 18/05/2011 I have the tricky task of making a speech covering the international challenges facing the ETUC, the future of the Social Dialogue, and the way the ETUC operates – all very important issues for our future. And all in 10 minutes. Abraham Lincoln managed the Gettysburg address in about the same time so it can be done though selectively, not comprehensively.

Athens, 17/05/2011 The European trade union movement sends a message from Athens to Brussels, where the Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN) is taking place. The ETUC highlights that despite the economic measures that the Ministers of finance adopt, inequality, precarious jobs and protection of public services remain fundamental problems for European citizens.

Athens, 16/05/2011