Brussels, 06/03/2007 Obviously, our current energy model cannot be sustained in the long run. During a very short period of time, specifically the last two years, we have experienced very concretely the various risks incurred by our energy choices: - first of all, Russia's decision to turn off the gas supplies to Ukraine in December 2005 (and thereby to Western Europe) concentrated the attention of decision-makers on security of energy supply and on the huge potential consequences it may have for individual and industrial consumers.

Brussels, 06/03/2007 To be checked against delivery Ladies and Gentlemen, I am glad to open this conference. I would like to thank the EESC for their support to this event. This conference comes in good time, in view of the Spring Summit which will take place in two days and where heads of states will be asked to take major decisions on the basis of the Commission's proposals contained in the ‘energy and climate change package' recently published by the Commission.

Brussels, 06/03/2007 Services of general interest are acknowledged as one of the pillars of the European Social Model and as such have to be safeguarded and promoted. This is why CEEP and the ETUC have agreed that a European framework on SGEIs is necessary. Accordingly CEEP and the ETUC have proposed the key elements such a framework should include.

Brussels, 05/03/2007 “Airbus is the jewel in the crown of European aviation. This enterprise is the symbol of Europe's capacity to construct itself. It is unacceptable for it to be undergoing such social collapse at this time, and for the workers to be once again paying the price, with 10,000 jobs due to be axed,” declared ETUC General Secretary John Monks.

Brüssel,

Brussels, 27/02/2007 Employment is top of the trade union agenda. Creating more and better jobs is fundamental to the Lisbon Strategy, and must be based on workers' participation and partnership with employers. For this reason the ETUC supports the German Presidency's decision to promote the quality-of-work agenda.

Brussels, 27/02/2007 The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) recalls that accidents at work form only a limited part of the health problems caused by work. So far, the Community strategy has always focused to that enlarged approach. The choice of a reduction in accidents at work as the central objective represents a backwards step compared to that enlarged approach. The ETUC regrets that the communication says nothing about precisely how occupational diseases will be brought down.

Brussels, 22/02/2007

Brussels, 20-21/02/2007 To be checked against delivery Madam Minister, Ladies and Gentlemen You are here to think about the prospects opened up by the low carbon economy and we welcome you to an overheated room we still have some way to go!

Brussels, 20/02/2007 The results of the Fourth European Working Conditions Surveys (2005), conducted by the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, show that poor working conditions have a negative impact on the health of millions of workers in Europe. The upwards harmonisation of working conditions is consequently a key priority for Community action. The European Union's latest enlargement to 27 countries has sharply increased the gaps between Member States.

Brussels, 20/02/2007 This is the first time a systematic study has been made of measures to combat climate change and their impact on employment. It specifically analyses the implications in different sectors of the economy: energy generation, transport, iron and steel, cement, housing and construction, which alone account for over 80% of greenhouse gas emissions.

Paris, 13/02/2007 To be checked against delivery President, Minister, your excellencies, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for the invitation to visit this lovely building in this always beautiful city and addressing a question that is highly relevant to the future of Europe and the future of France.

Brussels, 08/02/2007 The conference aimed to enable both sides to get to know one another better, in order to improve day-to-day business management as well as dealing with the more general challenges posed by the European Union in a global context. Indeed, both organisations - the ETUC youth committee and Yes for Europe - agreed that it was essential to undertake a joint initiative to deepen mutual understanding between the young social partners, and also to discuss topics of mutual interest.