Brussels, 07/07/2006 To be checked against delivery Hardly a day goes by without European workers being reminded of China's competitive strengths, by employers, governments - and, dare I say it, by the European Commissioner for Trade. China is presented as the inescapable face of globalisation. But, in this debate, globalisation sometimes becomes an argument that social Europe is no longer affordable and is a barrier to necessary reforms and to competitiveness.

Brussels, 06/07/2006 The first informal Council under the new Finnish EU Presidency has a wide ranging agenda covering changes in working life and Europe's response to globalisation. The ETUC will meet ministers from Finland, Germany and Portugal (the troika of current and future EU Presidencies). Responding to proposals for reform of the European Social Model, the ETUC will be pointing out that European workers are among the most productive in the world, thanks largely to strong social welfare policies.

Brussels, 05/07/2006 The unions will urge the Russian Head of State to introduce labour rights and jobs into the G8 talks as “transversal issues” in the summit discussions on energy, education and health. They will also be raising major rights abuses such as those in Russia's neighbouring country Belarus, and will press President Putin, as G8 leader, to use his influence to achieve respect for workers' fundamental rights.

04/07/2006

04/07/2006 - Official version (English) - Translations ensured with the support of the Commission - Translations jointly or separately elaborated by the national social partners

04/07/2006

04/07/2006 - EDDSZ, Hungary - Roland Gauthy, ETUI-REHS

04/07/2006 - Participants' presentation

04/07/2006 - Report Seminar Riga - Report Seminar Budapest - Report Seminar Brussels - Final Conference Prague

20/02/2007

Brussels, 15/05/2006 - Agreement (Different language versions available) - ETUC Interpretation Guide - Implementation reports - Regional and closing seminars For more information, please contact : ETUC Advisor: Stefan Clauwaert Tel: +32 2 2240504

Brussels, 28/06/2006

Rome, 28/06/2006 To be checked against delivery President, delegates, fellow guests, thank you for this invitation to tell you about the ETUC's ambitions for a stronger Europe and for a strong ETUC. For us, Europe is essential to our collective futures. An ambitious, powerful ETUC must be a central ingredient.