Brussels, 07/12/2006 The Committee will start to draw up the trade union position for the EU Spring Council 2007, and continue preparations for the ETUC Congress in Seville in May next year. And it will assess progress in the ETUC's petition campaign in support of public services across Europe. General Secretary John Monks will make a statement on how trade unions can respond to the new 'casino' financial capitalism that is undermining jobs and working conditions worldwide.

Brussels, 06/12/2006 Since the European Commission issued its Communication on CSR in April 2006, in which it declared that Europe must become a pole of excellence, and since the start of organisation of the new meeting of the Forum, the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), together with NGOs, has stressed that the Communication betrays the spirit of the Forum, in giving voice to the business side only. Even the proposed 'European Alliance for CSR' appears to be more of a self-congratulatory activity than serious work on CSR.

Brussels, 05/12/2006 “The key message from the ETUC is simple,” says Confederal Secretary Joël Decaillon, “The EU needs to invest more on education and training at national and European level. As there are 72 million non-qualified or low-skilled workers in Europe and new jobs will require higher qualifications than before, investment in education and training is a necessity, not a luxury.”

Brussels, 04-05 December 2006 To be checked against delivery The ETUC subscribes to the Decent Work agenda set down by the ILO in 2000, the four strategic objectives of which (including gender mainstreaming throughout) are - Creating jobs - Guaranteeing rights at work - Spreading social protection - Promoting dialogue and conflict prevention.

Brussels, 04/12/2006 The ETUC was alarmed by moves outlined in the European Commission's Communication of October 2006 towards bilateral free trade agreements, which appear to give social and environmental objectives a back seat. In the view of the ETUC, it is through trade negotiations that the EU can best use its weight to promote good jobs, social protection, workers' rights and conflict prevention worldwide. The EU must adopt a coherent strategy that respects all its policies.

Brussels, 01/12/2006

Brussels, 30/11/2006 In addition, the ETUC and EMF are demanding that the Commission should abandon its approach of “benign neglect” and launch an active and dynamic industrial policy based on strong public and private investment, research and innovation.

Brussels, 28/11/2006

Belgrade, 24/11/2006 To be checked against deliver Delegates, 15 years ¨C this is a long time in a man¡¯s life and a short one in the life of a trade union organisation. But that ¡°Nezavisnost¡± did survive since its founding in 1991 ¨C in the middle of the turbulences of the fall of Yougoslavia ¨C this is a remarkable event in the history of the trade union movement in this country. This is remarkable, mainly because of the following:

Brussels, 22/11/2006 The debacle at Volkswagen's Brussels plant shows that protections for workers are inadequate. Yet in recent years in many member states, labour law reforms have been introduced in the framework of a competitiveness agenda that have promoted two tier labour markets rather than exert more influence on company decisions on employment security. Increasing amounts of workers - often the most vulnerable ones such as women, young workers and migrants - are working under conditions of permanent precarity.

Brussels, 16/11/2006 During a meeting with the representative of the Finnish presidency of the EU, the ETUC and several European trade unions reiterated their desire to have the EU adopt an active position in the post-Kyoto negotiations. At the close of these negotiations, the industrialised countries that ratified the Kyoto Protocol will have to set up new commitments leading to much greater emissions reductions beyond 2012.

Brussels, 15/11/2006

Brussels, 14/11/2006 The ETUC General Secretary first describes this new finance-based capitalism, mainly focused on quick returns, resulting in redundancies and increasing inequalities. The emphasis is put particularly on hedge funds which characterise this new capitalism very well, and present risks for economic stability, traditional industry and jobs.