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

Brussels, 24/10/2006 As a result, IMCO has not fully respected the agreement made in the European Parliament at the first reading. The European People's Party (EPP) and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) members rejected, among others, amendments for clearer exclusion of labour law and social services, and clearer respect for fundamental rights.

Brussels, 23/10/2006 Now is the time for the European Union (EU) to set long-term objectives for its climate change policy, in order to guarantee investment in new technologies and low-carbon energy sources and to make a significant impact on individual behaviour. The ETUC calls on the European Commission and the Member States to agree binding targets for the reduction of emissions in the EU, of around 25% by 2020 and 75% by 2050, compared with 1990 levels, without waiting for the outcome of international negotiations on the follow-up to Kyoto.

Brussels, 20/10/2006 The European Council of March 2006 invited the European Commission to examine in greater depth the concept of flexicurity. At the tripartite social summit, the ETUC reaffirmed its willingness to take part in a discussion on flexicurity. But the crucial question relates to what exactly this concept covers and how it is applied in practice.

Brussels, 19/10/2006 The ETUC opposes attempts to remove the Charter of Fundamental Rights. For the European trade union movement, it is absolutely essential to have a strong social Europe and to retain the whole Charter as a key element of the Constitution. The ETUC continues to support the Constitution, and in particular the core elements:

Brussels, 17/10/2006 Trade union leaders will examine, among other items, proposals for safeguarding vital public services in Europe, following the European Parliament's call in September for a legal framework for services of general (economic) interest (SGIs and SGEIs).