London, 12/05/2008 To be checked against delivery Opening Remarks I welcome this seminar. At times, I have wondered if the UK recognised that there is a social Europe in any way that we in the trade union world could identify with.

05/05/2008

Brussels, 02/05/2008 Once again the Turkish government has failed to recognise and safeguard fundamental rights, and in particular social and trade union rights. The ETUC continues to press the European Commission and the Turkish government to ensure effective respect for trade union freedoms in Turkey.

Brussels, 30/04/2008 ETUC has been calling for a long time for a revision of the EWC directive; this is the reason why it will strongly support the Commission’s plan to strengthen EWCs. ETUC reaffirms the importance of European Works Councils: indeed, they afford millions of workers across the European Union the right to information and consultation on company decisions through their EWC representatives, and that can affect a large number of workers. It's an important message to remember on the occasion of May Day.

Brussels, 28/04/2008 The ETUC report’s basic line is that macroeconomic policy cannot stand by and watch shocks multiply throughout the economy, ultimately giving rise to negative confidence and expectations becoming entrenched.

Brussels, 25/04/2008 According to the police, trade union leader Rosa Altagracia Fuentes was hit by 16 shots, showing that the killing was brutally premeditated. The ETUC has expressed its solidarity to the coordinating body of Central American and Caribbean trade unions (CSACC), to which the CTH is affiliated, and its support for investigations to solve this triple murder.

Brussels, 21/04/2008 A European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) delegation headed by Deputy General Secretary Maria Helena André, and composed of representatives from several national member confederations, took part in the Fourth EU-LAC Trade Union Summit. The trade union declaration calls for strong action to implement the association project between the two regions, launched at the Rio de Janeiro summit in 1999. It also stresses the need for reinforcement of integration projects on both continents.

- Ljubljana 3-4 avril 2008 - Rome 23-24 avril 2008

Harvard, 16/04/2008 The Germans have a word for it 'Schadenfreude', taking pleasure in the misfortunes of others. And there are excuses for schadenfreude around in the trade union movement today as we contemplate the wreckage of the credit crunch and the newfound vulnerability of the financial services sector.

Brussels, 16/04/2008 The ECJ was called upon by the Irish Labour Court to interpret Directive 1999/70 which put into effect the framework agreement on fixed term work concluded in 1999 between ETUC, Businesseurope and CEEP. The framework agreement establishes the principle of equal treatment of fixed term workers with comparable full time workers, and obliges Member States to take measures to prevent abusive use of successive fixed term employment contracts.

Bruxelles, 16/04/2008