The Council is forcing the European Parliament to accept a Directive on intra-corporate transfers from third-countries without a full equal treatment provision in favour of third country nationals working in a Member State. This will result in workers being employed in a Member State under working conditions and labour protections which are set in the legislation of the origin countries! « The European Labour market will become a jungle », the European trade Union confederation (ETUC) warns.

Joint text by Bernadette Ségol, ETUC General Secretary, Martin Schulz, President of the European Parliament    The upcoming European elections in May will be different this time, and Europe's policies must change too in favour of a stronger economy and more focussed investment geared to social progress, argue Martin Schulz and Bernadette Ségol. We must improve social justice and workers' rights, the democratic accountability of the EU and combat youth unemployment.

On Thursday 29 January 2014, the European Committee for Social Rights (ECSR), the main supervisory body for the Council of Europe’s Social Charter, presented within the framework of its annual reporting system, its so-called Conclusions 2013. The ECSR found no less than 180 cases of violations of the Charter concerning health, social security and social protection. In particular Greece, Poland and Romania received a high number of negative conclusions.

Today, at a hearing of the European Parliament, the ETUC presented the results of its own investigations into the activities of the Troika in Cyprus, Greece, Ireland and Portugal. The report shows that those countries where the Troika has implemented its policies have paid a high economic and social price. The ETUC demands substantial amendments to the existing programmes and mechanisms to ensure that the Troika’s policy of austerity and deregulation cannot be repeated in the future.

On 22 January 2014, the European Commission launched the 2030 framework for EU climate change and energy policies - a new package which sets new climate and energy objectives for 2030. It is positive that greenhouse gas emission reductions and renewable energy targets are binding, giving a longer term perspective to economic and social stakeholders. However, in relation to the ambition of the 2050 roadmap short-term rather than long-term vision prevails.

Brussels, 22/01/2014 Unfortunately, the Commission fails to put forward a proposal on how this potential for growth could be translated into job creation and states that it expects EU unemployment to remain at 11%, an all-time high, for at least two more years.

Brussels, 16/01/2014 “This report underlines the importance of a strong industry to support lasting and quality jobs in Europe,” said Jozef Niemiec, ETUC Deputy General Secretary. “Encouraging the reindustrialisation of Europe through the mobilisation of adequate financial means and through support for innovation is essential for Europe to get out of the crisis”.

Brussels, 15/01/2014 The introduction of a mandatory social clause guaranteeing the respect for labour law and collective agreements in the workplace is an important improvement to the European rules on public procurement. “The revised directive on public procurement will allow public authorities to make sustainable choices and make sure that workers’ rights are upheld”, said Veronica Nilsson, ETUC Confederal Secretary.

Brussels, 14/01/2014 A total of 502 people, mainly trade unionists, were called to trial in Ankara yesterday (13 January) for taking part two years ago in a demonstration against Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdo?an's educational reform.

Brussels, 09/01/2014 New figures show that Europe still faces a massive employment crisis, with an estimated 26,533 million citizens out of work, an increase from the previous year. Unemployment now stands at 12.1% in the euro area. Despite these statistics, some European leaders continue to push for business as usual policies.

Project "Providing welfare through Social Dialogue: A renewed role for Social Partners?" The aim of this 12 month project is to analyse this new reality (of supplementary welfare provision based on collective bargaining and/or unilateral action by the employer called Voluntary Occupational Welfare – VOW or so-called “contract welfare”) by mapping and assessing the increased role of “contract welfare” in eight EU Member States: Austria , Belgium, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, Sweden and the UK.

Brussels, 20/12/2013 The June 2012 growth pact will not relaunch growth and employment. After 18 months in operation, unemployment remains at over 12%, and youth unemployment is rocketing as high as 60% in some member states. The EIB's lending capacity should be multiplied by 4 and invested in European projects for sustainable development, particularly in countries in difficulty. There must be democratic control over the attribution and use of these funds.

Brussels, 19/12/2013 According to a recent report by the European Commission, the pay gap between women and men in the European Union continues to remain. ETUC express its disappointment at the lack of ambition from the commission, and its unwillingness to undertake concrete measures to fight the gender pay gap. The findings of the report are alarming. Despite a slight weak downward trend, in recent years, the gender pay gap exists at various levels in all 28 Member States. For example, on average, women also work 59 days unpaid per year.