Helsinki, 10/11/2006
To be checked against delivery
I should like first to thank our Finnish affiliates and BASTUN for organising this important meeting, the first, I think at this level, in the context of EU-Russia trade union relations.
The commitment of SAK, STTK and AKAVA to involving trade unions in EU foreign policy development is exemplary. Just a few weeks ago, they did us proud in organising a very successful trade union conference with our colleagues from Asia in relation to the ASEM Summit.
The response of the Finnish Government has also been remarkable, and I would like to thank Prime Minister Vanhanen for giving us some of his precious time.
We will be presenting him our joint statement, the underlying message of which is that the EU-Russia relationship must have a social dimension, and that trade unions need to be involved as part of it.
Industrial restructuring; industrial cooperation; skills and training requirements; energy production, delivery and consumption: on these and many other issues, we have the added value of our experience to bring to the table. I know that I don't need to labour the point in this country, home of social dialogue.
This is not the first time that an EU Presidency has taken an interest in involving trade unions in the EU-Russia process. Back in May 2001, the ETUC and FNPR called on our respective political leaders to promote social and fundamental rights, economic development and its social dimension, social protection and social dialogue in the context of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between Russia and the European Union.
The then Swedish Presidency (you must admire those Nordics) was very receptive to that approach, and the joint statement issued from the Summit specifically recognised that “Modern trade unions and employer organisations are essential for the establishment of a social dialogue in a market economy” (end quote).
We have jointly pursued the issues since with the Commission - with both Presidents Prodi and then Barroso - and with President Putin. The Russian as well as the EU authorities have been generally positive. But the fact is that we are still knocking at a door that has been flung wide open to the employers' organisations.
This must now be rectified. The Finnish Presidency is, I think, our best chance, and we hope that whatever it achieves will not be forgotten by others, later.
As negotiations move towards the completion of a new EU-Russia Agreement next year, we want to play a part. And we want that part to be written into the process.
The suggestions we make in our joint statement are reasonable. They reflect procedures that exist in agreements the EU has with other parts of the world. Indeed they are in line with the conclusions of the ASEM summit that I mentioned earlier.
If we can move towards social dialogue with Asia, we certainly should have it with Russia, a great country with which common values must be the bedrock of our relationship.
Those values are about democracy, sustainable development, and the respect of human and trade human rights. We find them in the Social Charter of the Council of Europe. They are reflected in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. They should be fully implemented by all the parties concerned.
Our continent should be in the lead in promoting those values. The situation in Belarus remains the biggest blot on our Neighbourhood and must be dealt with. There can be no let-offs for this inexcusable regime.
In addition to action for which Governments are responsible, we are developing our own trade union cooperation. Just last week a new International Trade Union Confederation was born. Many of you were in Vienna for that occasion. We have high hopes and expectations for this new tool to advance enhanced solidarity.
As you will also know, we are well on the way to setting up a Pan-European Regional Council of the new international. This will range geographically from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean; from the Arctic Circle to the steppes of Central Asia.
There has never been a trade union structure for Europe like this before. While maintaining its autonomy, the ETUC will play its part in it. Our joint work with the FNPR will be an important component in the activities of the Council, which we hope will be launched during the first quarter of next year.
We hope that it will give us the means of advancing the aims and objectives of the new trade union international in a practical way in our large and very diverse region.
We are facing a new form of capitalism; more greedy; more aggressive; one that knows the price of every thing, and the value of none. How do we use solidarity, the great ideal, and weapon, of our Movement, to combat this? That is our challenge.
So, I look forward to working with Michael and many others to make this experiment work. We will all undertake this task with good-will and an open mind.
Europe is the home of trade unionism. Now let us make it feel at home, for all the working people we represent.