ETUC Position on the Reform of the economic governance (toward an EU pact for employment and investments)
Position adopted at the Executive Committee Meeting of 30-31 March 2023
The reform of the economic governance of the European Union issued on 9 November 2022 should be assessed as insufficient. The European Commission's (EC) proposal appears inconsistent with both the Versailles Declaration of 11 March 2022 and Porto’s Social Summit Conclusions in 2021. Social and sustainability frameworks, such as the EPSR and SDGs, are disregarded.
ETUC proposals for the Revision of the EU’s electricity market design
Adopted at the Executive Committee Meeting of 30-31 March 2023
A reform of the energy market, away from liberalisation dogma, is badly needed
The trade union movement has been critical of the historical decision to liberalise the EU energy market. ETUC believes that important structural features of the Directive and Regulation on the internal market for electricity have contributed to exacerbating the energy price crisis and should be revised.
The ETUC response to the High-Level Group report on the Future of Social Protection and of the Welfare State
Position adopted at the Executive Committee Meeting of 30-31 March 2023
Summary of the Position
a. The Final Report of the High-Level Group of experts on the future of social protection and the welfare state in the EU was launched on 7 February 2023.
The ETUC reiterates its very strong support for the French trade unions united in their mobilisation for social dialogue and against the pension reform in France.
The way in which the French pension reform was adopted, without any dialogue with social partners, is not acceptable.
The European Social model is based on social dialogue. The respect for social dialogue and for the role of social partners is a key component of democracy in Europe and must be promoted, not disregarded.
The European trade union movement, rejects the war and violence, condemns continuous aggression by Russian Federation against Ukraine and expresses full support and solidarity to Ukrainian people in their fight for democracy, sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Wages are not the cause of inflation. Workers are the victims of this crisis, with the value of their wages falling while prices for everyday goods are rising. At the same time, the value of pensions and of income support is decreasing in real terms. This situation is increasing existing inequalities, with low paid workers and vulnerable people hit the hardest.
This crisis is being driven by excess profits – not wages. We are experiencing a profits-price spiral not a wages-price spiral. For example, energy and food companies have doubled their profits in 2022.
Working people always suffer in conflicts and the pursuit of peace is a fundamental trade union value.
On 24 February 2022 Russian military forces invaded Ukraine, bringing destruction to peaceful cities and workplaces. It has been a year of shock and pain, devastating news and images, but also a year of bravery and consolidation of Ukrainian people and their unions and a year of solidarity, unity, and support.
Dear President,
Dear Vice-Presidents,
In light of your forthcoming debate on competitiveness within the College, the ETUC and IndustriAll Europe would like to reiterate its suggestions to improve the Green Deal Industrial Plan.
Dear Commissioners,
Official statistics show 500 people losing lives every year in agriculture and forestry in the EU and another 150,000 suffering accidents. Many more fatalities still go unrecorded in these two top-risk sectors.
While these deaths and injuries continue the EU has taken two steps which ought to impact on health and safety in agriculture:
The European Trade Union Confederation and its affiliates, Federation of Trade Unions of Ukraine and Confederation of Free Trade Unions of Ukraine, fully support Ukraine and its people in the fight for democracy and sovereignty against Russian aggression. That was a year of shock and pain, devastating news and images, but also a year of bravery and consolidation of Ukrainian people and their unions and a year of solidarity, unity and support.
Dear colleagues,
The ETUC stands in solidarity with the French trade unions in their opposition to the extension of the retirement age in France.
The 'reform' of the pension system is an attack on the well-being and aspirations of workers and their families.
This reform is even more unacceptable - and counterproductive - when inequalities are growing and the cost of living crisis is severe.
It will only deepen inequality and increase distrust of a political system that seeks to place a greater burden on working people, particularly the poorest.
Dear President of the European Commission Ms von der Leyen,
Dear High Representative and Vice-President of the European Commission Mr Borrell,
Dear President of the European Parliament Ms Metsola,
Dear President of the European Council Mr Michel,
On 19 December 2022, under the European Partnership for Integration, the Commission and five European Social and Economic Partners - ETUC, BusinessEurope, SGI Europe, SMEUnited and Eurochambres - renewed their commitment to integrate more effectively refugees and other migrants into the EU labour market with a joint statement.
The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) has appointed an independent company with specialist expertise in anti-corruption practices in response to allegations of corruption involving public figures in and around the European Parliament, which resulted in the questioning and release under conditions of the former General Secretary of the ETUC.
The role and involvement of Social Partners in the European Semester and EU economic governance
ETUC document discussed at the Executive Committee Meeting of 27-28 October 2022
The ETUC encourages the European Commission to set up a more structured and binding framework for social partners involvement in the EU Semester having respect of national practices but mandating the national governments to consult social partners according to quality criteria, and report on the effectiveness of their involvement and its results.
ETUC Proposal for a SURE 2.0
ETUC Resolution adopted at the Executive Committee Meeting of 27-28 October 2022
IN A NUTSHELL
The ETUC proposes to refinance and scale up the current SURE instrument in the following manner:
The European economy is growing, but this is mainly due to the economic recovery following the pandemic and boosted by the massive public and private investment coming from NextGenerationEU.
The effects of the war in Ukraine on employment have not yet hit, since companies are still trying to cope with the energy crisis and inflation by reducing working hours instead of cutting jobs.
But in the medium term we can realistically expect that many companies will significantly reduce their operations or even close down completely, negatively impacting on employment.
