Commenting on the European Commission’s winter economic forecasts, Bernadette Ségol, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), said “Commissioner Moscovici is right that recovery is modest, low and slow, and for too many people it is non-existent.” “If anything the modest forecast is optimistic, and underestimates the risk of deflation and its negative impact on the economy.”

A planned strike by Turkish metalworkers’ union Birlesik Metal-Is has been banned by the Turkish Government who claims it is ‘prejudicial to national security’. The strike was planned across 18 companies for February 19. In 2014 the Government banned strikes in the glass and mining industries citing the same reason.

An International Labour Organisation report published today claims that the European Commission’s €315 billion investment plan could create some 1.8 million additional jobs over the next 3 years. An additional 200,000 jobs could be created if the investment was allocated taking into account unemployment levels, and a further 126,000 if €15 billion (of the €315bn) was invested in ‘skill development’, according to the ILO.

The European Central Bank (ECB) buying bonds is necessary, but will not be enough to stimulate growth or create jobs warned the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC). “There is a welcome shift in economic policy” said Veronica Nilsson, Confederal Secretary at the ETUC referring to the expected and long-awaited quantitative easing announcement by the ECB, the recent reinterpretation of fiscal pact rules and investment plan by the European Commission.     

The huge flow of investments by US companies in Europe, and by European companies in the US, show that it is not necessary to introduce new special legal procedures for investors, the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) told EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström in a meeting today. The ETUC congratulated the Commissioner for making the TTIP negotiations more transparent, and urged her to do the same for other trade talks such as with Japan and China. The ETUC also stressed the need for trade agreements, including TTIP, to

The European Trade Union Confederation and European employers’ organisations met national employers and trade unions confederations of three Balkan countries to promote dialogue between employers and employees, and with Governments. ETUC Deputy Secretary Patrick Itschert said “Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia are at different stages of accession to the European Union. Functioning social dialogue is one of the important requirements that will be negotiated”.

Commenting on the European Summit which finished in record time last night, Bernadette Ségol, Secretary General of the European Trade Union Confederation said “Adopting the investment plan is a positive move and I urge the member states to boost the funds available as the current proposal is too small. The proposals for Energy Union and digital single market are ambitious and might create additional jobs. I would like to see the same ambition applied to worker, consumer and environmental protection but I am still waiting.”  

Commenting on the appointment of Edmund Stoiber as European Commission Special Advisor on ‘Better Regulation’, Veronica Nilsson, Confederal Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation said “I fear Mr Stoiber will not help with better regulation, but lobby on behalf of business for less regulation. That risks being at the expense of workers, consumers and the environment. It could mean further delays in much needed  health and safety regulations such as on exposure at work to cancer-causing chemicals.

To mark  International Migrants Day, trade unions are calling for continued humanitarian action to save migrants in the Mediterranean Sea. The Italian Government has announced it will end its ‘Mare Nostrum’ search and rescue operation in the absence of support from the EU and other member states. It is being ‘replaced’ by the EU Frontex Agency’s ‘Triton’ programme which is primarily concerned with border control.   ‘Mare Nostrum’ found and saved more than 100.000 migrants at sea.

EU Prime Ministers, Presidents and Chancellors attending this week’s European Summit are being urged to agree, and increase, the European Commission’s €315bn investment package by the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC).

Commenting on the European Commission’s statement on its  work programme, Bernadette Ségol, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation said “The priority given to jobs and the economy is correct.” “There is not a single proposal to improve worker, consumer or environmental protection. This does not seem the best way to restore public confidence in Europe. It is a business agenda, with no sign of Juncker’s commitment to the social market economy: it is all market and no social.”

Dear Readers, We have just published the December 2014 edition of the ETUC Newsletter. To read the document, please click here. Enjoy!

The EU Competitiveness Council is today expected to ask the Commission to propose targets for reducing ‘regulatory burden’. The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC)  is strongly opposed to such targets.