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.

London, 14/11/2006 Those of you who knew Aneurin Bevan can probably guess his likely reaction to my choice of the title tonight.

Moscow, 14-16/11/2006 To be checked against delivery President, Delegates, Friends. I am glad and honoured to bring you greetings on behalf of the European Trade Union Confederation. Your Congress comes at a time of momentous change in the world trade union Movement. Earlier this month, in Vienna, we saw the birth of a new, united, democratic, International Trade Union Confederation.

Brussels, 13/11/2006 Key points he will stress in the debate with Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson include:

Brussels, 13/11/2006

Helsinki, 10/11/2006 To be checked against delivery I should like first to thank our Finnish affiliates and BASTUN for organising this important meeting, the first, I think at this level, in the context of EU-Russia trade union relations. The commitment of SAK, STTK and AKAVA to involving trade unions in EU foreign policy development is exemplary. Just a few weeks ago, they did us proud in organising a very successful trade union conference with our colleagues from Asia in relation to the ASEM Summit.

Brussels, 10/11/2006 The Finnish Trade Union Confederations organise on 10 November, together with the ETUC and FNPR, a Trade Union Forum, which will present a statement (enclosed) to Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen for transmission to the EU-Russia Summit to be held on 24 November in Helsinki. The Statement stresses the importance of including labour market issues as part of the growing commercial and political relations between the EU and Russia.

Brussels, 08/11/2006 Commenting on this failure, John Monks, ETUC General Secretary, declared: “We regret that there was no progress in Council, as this is yet another signal of Social Europe being stalled. However, we would not have been able to accept just any agreement as “progress”. We would have welcomed an agreement which would have taken on board trade unions concerns”.

Brussels, 06/11/2006

Brussels, 03/11/2006 ETUC General Secretary John Monks has yesterday written to the Finnish Minister of Labour Mrs Tarja Filatov expressing grave concern about the proposals linked to the revision of the Working Time Directive, going before the Council on Tuesday. The fact that there is an overall reduction in protection without proper safeguards, and in particular that there is no end-date to the opt-out, leads the ETUC to take the view that it cannot give support to the proposals currently on the table.

Vienna, 1-3 November 2006 To be checked against delivery I am honoured to bring the very best wishes of the European TUC to our new International Trade Union Confederation. As many speakers have already pointed out, this is an historic occasion. I am glad and proud that the European trade union Movement has played a part, both as a template and as a midwife - if I may mix the images - in its achievement.

Brussels, 30 October 2006 To be checked against delivery

Brussels, 23/10/2006