Brussels, 18/01/2010 The ETUC subscribes to the international movement of solidarity launched by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) calling for an urgent mobilisation in Haiti following the violent earthquake that struck this country on 12 January. The ETUC also expresses its total solidarity with the Haitian people and urges the Development Council meeting for an extraordinary session today to boost its aid measures in support of the victims.

Brussels, 12/01/2010 As an American President once said – forecasting is difficult, especially about the future. I am asked tonight to reflect on the ETUC in the next decade – in effect, an ETUC version of the 2020 exercise launched by the President of the European Commission recently. My first reflection is related to that 2020 exercise. It is an unavoidable fact that the EU’s future will have a big impact on the future of the ETUC and trade unionism at European level.

Paris, 07/01/2010 Have we managed the crisis well? The best that can be said is that we have managed the crisis better than they did in the 1930s. This time governments did not cut spending as tax revenues plummeted. This time, at least in the EU, we have had welfare states to provide social security and some active labour market policies instead of the mass poverty and unemployment of the 1930s.

Brussels, 21/12/2009 ETUC General Secretary John Monks declared: "During the financial crisis, huge amounts of resources were found to save banks and guarantee financial assets. The climate crisis was not entitled to the same treatment, however, which is extremely regrettable. We witnessed negotiations where each party was determined to be the lowest bidder. This is extremely serious for the future of humanity. This failure also brings to light the severe crisis of the United Nations institutions."

Brussels, 15/12/2009 The Copenhagen negotiations are taking place against a very unusual backdrop, as the economic and financial crisis triggers unprecedented unemployment in Europe and demonstrates the dominance of the financial system over the real economy.

Brussels, 02/12/2009

Brussels, 30/11/2009

Brussels, 30/11/2009 All the ETUC member unions will be meeting in its Executive Committee to discuss questions of topical interest to European trade unionism. The European trade unions will be mapping out a forthcoming campaign to put forward some proposals to counter the social and economic crisis which is causing so many problems, in particular in terms of employment. This campaign will be the opportunity to frame some messages aimed at the recently renewed European institutions, under the Lisbon Treaty which is very shortly to come into force.

London, 24/11/2009 Thanks to the European Business School for this invitation, and not least for the chance to renew my duels with John Cridland, sometime partner, sometime adversary, but always well respected in whatever guise he appears, however dastardly.

Brussels, 24/11/2009 For the most part they are members of the Confederation of Public Sector Trade Unions (KESK) and members of its teachers’ union Eğitim-Sen. Many of them hold important posts within their trade union, in particular for women’s affairs.

Brussels, 20/11/2009 John Monks said that the ETUC is looking forward to working with them in their important new jobs and expected them to help forge a new, more influential Europe. “Both are excellent candidates for the highest offices with a record of working well with trade unions. We count on them to take the EU forward.”

Brussels, 17/11/2009 The ETUC is concerned about political announcements predicting that the Copenhagen Conference in December will not result in a legally binding treaty on climate change. Putting off the signature of a treaty under discussion for months would be a bad political signal for the planet and would seriously burden future generations.