Brussels, 14/10/08 As highlighted by John Monks, ETUC General Secretary: 'Casino capitalism has failed and policy must change track. Europe can no longer allow its members to pursue the typical agenda of the national interest. If ‘beggar-thy-European neighbour’ policies continue, things will get pretty ugly. Instead, Europe needs to bundle resources and mobilize the power of acting together.’ We need a European policy reply in order to:

Brussels, 14/10/08 A day ahead of the European Tripartite Social Summit – at which ETUC participates – and the European Council, representatives of ETUC-affiliated trade unions will discuss the current state of the financial system and the economy. This meeting will provide trade unions the opportunity to send out clear messages to European policymakers regarding the topics on the agenda at the European Council, namely the financial crisis and the energy and climate change package.

Brussels, 09/10/2008 Workers’ rights and economic freedoms – View from ETUC A British trade union lawyer colleague of mine who is here today termed the recent quartet of legal judgments in the European Court of Justice – an accident waiting to happen.

Brussels, 08/10/2008 Joint statement from TUAC, ITUC and ETUC

Brussels, 08/10/2008

Brussels, 06/10/2008 In the context of this World day for decent work, John Monks, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation, will take part in the activities organised by ETUC's Belgian members on the morning of 7 October. “This World Day for Decent Work (WDDW) is essential for the trade union movement. Every confederation will contribute by one way or another. As for us, we will put great emphasis on decent working time. Our key message will be: for decent wages and decent working hours”, declares ETUC General Secretary John Monks.

Brussels, 03/10/2008

Brussels, 02/10/2008 With the economy already in recession and with the financial sector balancing on the edge of a cliff, this is defying logic. With short-term interest rates higher than long-term interest rates, an already cracking financial system is being stressed even further. Says John Monks, General Secretary of ETUC, ‘The ECB is still fighting the inflation of the past. It is time for them to wake up to reality and see the urgency of the situation, even if this means admitting that the June rate hike was a mistake’.

Brussels, 01/10/2008

Brussels, 29 September 2008 With their ‘London Declaration’, European trade union leaders analyse the financial crisis and call for justice and tough action.

Brussels, 26 September 2008 The EPAs are a new trade arrangement between Europe and the ACP countries which aim at putting their trade relationships in conformity with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules. However, there is concern that EPAs could require ACP countries to open their economies unsustainably beyond their world-level commitments.

Brussels, 25 September 2008 Professor Brian Bercusson passed away at the age of 60 years suddenly but peacefully on 17 August 2008 at his home in Tuscany. He was born in 1947 in Montreal, Canada, and came to the United Kingdom to study law at the London School of Economics in 1967. Professor Bercusson obtained his PhD from the University of Cambridge and was appointed as a Research Fellow at Christ’s College in 1974.