Brussels, 13/05/2005 “Stability and reform are not enough. If we really want to relaunch the Lisbon agenda, then we also need to act on the demand side,” says ETUC General Secretary John Monks. “Europe can do this by using the strength derived from acting together.''

Brussels, 10/05/2005 Although it represents some reduction in workers' potential involvement, the ETUC recognises that the standards achieved by the EU directive on workers' participation in the European company (SE) have been maintained. Negotiations on the degree of workers' board-level representation must be started in every case where different levels under national law are concerned or workers from one of the merging companies enjoyed this right before. Thus, no workers will lose their participation rights in a cross-border European merger.

Brussels, 09/05/2005 This draft directive is based on a European social partner agreement concluded by ETF and CER (employers) signed after nine months of negotiations on 27 January 2004. This agreement defines European minimum standards regarding breaks, daily and weekly rest time and maximum driving time. It also includes aspects relating to the balance between professional and private life for personnel concerned by limiting the number of rests away from home.

Brussels, 21/04/2005

Brussels, 20/04/2005 Ms Gebhardt tries to get it right and excludes, from the outset, labour relations and services of general interest from the scope of the directive. We do not have the whole picture yet, says the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), we are waiting for the second part. But it is clearly a step in the right direction. It is important to make the directive watertight against social dumping, and totally to exclude labour and employment law from the scope of an internal market directive.

Dundee, 18/04/2005 To be checked against delivery I bring there greetings from the European TUC to the Scottish TUC. Very understandably the emphasis here is on the General Election on May 5. Those of us who lived and worked for the Movement through the dark days of the 80s and 90s will know how important this election - any general election - is for the trade unionism.

Brussels, 14/04/2005 (Speech) To be checked against delivery JM/cd History European social dialogue practices have over time become more diversified and broader in scope. At every step of the way, the ETUC has sought to play a positive and pro-active role.

Brussels, 12/04/2005 The ECB's concern about inflation is not justified by the facts. Instead it should be acting to stem the renewed decline in economic growth, says ETUC General-Secretary John Monks, in response to last Thursday's ECB decision to keep rates unchanged, and President Jean-Claude Trichet's press comments.

Brussels, 30/03/2005 After due consideration by its executive committee, the ETUC today called on the European Commission and the European Parliament not to accept the argument of UEFA that there should be a “sports” exception to the principle of EU wide freedom of movement of labour.

Brussels, 23/03/2005 John Monks, General Secretary of the ETUC, strongly welcomed these moves and said: “This is a victory for the ETUC, but a victory in a battle, not a war. The need now is to ensure that any new services directive is based on high standards, and is not designed to lower terms and conditions of employment, and undermine public services.

Nantes, 15-18/03/2005

Brussels,16/03/2005 Following the decision of the Council to postpone the opening of negotiations ETUC General Secretary John Monks said: “I am sorry that Croatia has not met the requirement of full and unrestricted co-operation with the the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY)and hope that this will be remedied soon. The fact that the proceedings on the negotiating framework have been concluded successfully shows that Croatia is in other respects ready to engage in the negotiations.

Brussels, 08/03/2005 - Wages have done more than their share in assuring price stability and improving profitability in the euro area. Recent collective bargaining agreements for 2005 resulted in extremely moderate wage increases (between 1 and 2%). There is absolutely no inflationary danger whatsoever!