European elections

The next European Parliamentary elections take place in June 2024. They will shape the EUs political direction over the next five years. It constitutes a decisive moment for the ETUC and its affiliates.

Decisions taken at EU level shape the everyday realities of millions of working people. It is crucial for the success of the European project that their interests have a strong representation within the EU decision-making process.

The foundations of the new balance of power and its priorities are set in the build up to the elections. The commitments and positions that parties and candidates adopt now will shape their approach for the coming 5 years.

17.09.2024 Press release

Mistake to scrap jobs commissioner amid jobs crisis

The European Commission has announced plans to downgrade the importance of its Jobs and Social Rights portfolio - less than 24 hours after workers marched to the European institutions to demand action to protect jobs.Every European Commission since the 1970s has included a Commissioner for Employment and Social Affairs (or Jobs and Social Rights as it has been called since 2019).But the post would be eliminated in the plans for the new Commission published today, instead being made part of a ‘People, Skills and Preparedness’ portfolio.
18.07.2024 Press release

Social promises must be turned into directives

Trade unions are challenging Ursula von der Leyen to commit to quickly turning her promises to working people into directives with the necessary funding to make them a reality. The political guidelines published by Ursula von der Leyen include the following positive pledges:  
28.06.2024 Press release

EUCO: Every job in Europe should be a top job

Commenting on the outcome of the European Council, ETUC General Secretary Esther Lynch said: “It is good news that the far-right have been frozen out of the decision on the EU’s top jobs. Cooperation with far-right forces in the European Parliament must also be rejected. “However, the best defence against the far-right is to ensure that every job in Europe is a top job: quality jobs with fair pay and conditions and collective bargaining in every sector and every region.
09.06.2024 Press release

Election shows need to tackle economic and social insecurity

Commenting on the European election exit poll, ETUC General Secretary Esther Lynch said:“While waiting for the full results, it is already clear that there will still be a democratic majority in the European Parliament, which means there is no need, or excuse, for backroom deals with any part of the anti-worker far-right. “But these preliminary results also make clear that business as usual cannot continue. Europe needs to urgently resolve the economic and social insecurity that lies behind growing anger and fear in our society.
28.05.2024 News

Get out the vote

It is through our struggles at the workplace, in the streets and at the ballot box that we have won the freedom of the weekend, of a paid holiday, the freedom to take a stand for what is right.It’s time to get out to vote to protect our freedoms.As we enter the decisive last few days ahead of the EU elections, here are some ways you can help get out the vote for a fair deal for workers.Share this video: 
23.05.2024 Press release

Eurovision debate gives workers a clear choice

Commenting on the Eurovision debate, ETUC General Secretary Esther Lynch said: “European citizens have said clearly that their top priorities for this election campaign are the fight against poverty, strong public services and the economy and jobs. “It is clearer than ever after today’s debate that some politicians are standing for a fair deal for workers over the next five years by delivering fair pay, increased investment not more austerity and a just transition to a green economy.
23.05.2024 Document

Voting for Europe: Securing a bright future, together

At time of geopolitical crisis, it is even more important to support and strengthen European democracy. This is why the European social partners – ETUC, BusinessEurope, SGI Europe and SMEunited – are calling on those who are eligible to vote in the upcoming European elections to make their voices heard.  As representatives of trade unions and employers across Europe, we are united in our belief that participation in these elections is not just about electing policymakers; it is about securing a bright future for all and addressing the key challenges of our time. 
21.05.2024 News

Far-right bosses take aim at social justice

The bosses of far-right parties across Europe and the world made clear their intention to attack the public services essential for working communities to thrive. While working people face a cost-of-living crisis and businesses continue to hand out historically high dividends, far-right speakers at a Madrid event over the weekend defended free-market neoliberalism and railed against the welfare state while down-playing income inequality.
30.04.2024 News

Winning a workers’ Europe

This International Workers’ Day, all eyes are on Europe. As we celebrate the bonds of friendship between workers and the collective power we have through our trade unions we also look ahead to the EU elections.
17.04.2024 Press release

Fight against poverty is election priority, poll shows

Poverty, public services and jobs are the issues that citizens want to see prioritised during the European election campaign, the new Eurobarometer shows. The European Parliament’s poll of 26,000 citizens asked: “Which of the following topics should be discussed as a matter of priority during the electoral campaign for the next European Parliament elections?” The top three responses were: - The fight against poverty and social exclusion – 33%- Public health – 32%
06.12.2023 Press release

Eurobarometer: Austerity would stop EU acting on citizens’ priorities

Plans to reintroduce austerity would stop action to address the top priorities of EU citizens, trade unions are warning in response to the European Parliament’s pre-election polling. The results of the special Eurobarometer published today show that, six months from the European elections, the priorities of citizens are:
15.11.2023 Press release

Real wages falling despite inflation-busting profits

The pay of European workers is still falling in real terms despite corporations making above-inflation profits, new research by the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) has found. Across the European Union, the value of wages has fallen this year when inflation is taken into account. By contrast, company profits have increased by nearly 2 per cent in real terms.
13.11.2023 Publication

Get the ETUC Manifesto for the European Elections 2024 in your language!
25.11.2021 Press release

Democracy & elections package: small significant steps to strengthen democracy

Commenting on today’s Commission proposals for new EU laws on electoral integrity and democratic participation, Liina Carr, ETUC Confederal Secretary said “Democracy is coming under increasing threat in Europe . Today’s European Commission proposals on political advertising, electoral rights and party funding represent small but significant steps towards strengthening our democracy.  
03.12.2020 Press release

EU Democracy Action Plan: Zuckerberg will sleep tonight

Facebook’s founder and CEO will still sleep soundly tonight after the European Commission took only tentative steps towards stronger regulation of social media platforms in its Democracy Action Plan published today. The dominant market position of the digital giants, and business models that benefit from spreading content regardless of its veracity, seem to be disturbed only a little by the Plan. Instead, the Commission commits to
16.07.2019 Press release

ETUC asks new Commission President to build democratic alliance in Parliament and involve social partners in drafting work programme

“Considering the tiny majority Ursula von der Leyen got in Parliament", said Luca Visentini, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation, “we urge the new President of the Commission to build an alliance with the democratic parties only, and to reconfirm the cordon sanitaire against the far right. If she wants to deliver as Commission President, she needs to rebuild the trust that was jeopardised by the Council’s decisions. She needs to work for a more democratic European Union.”
03.07.2019 Press release

ETUC on EU Top Jobs

ETUC General Secretary Luca Visentini today called on the European Parliament, in its discussions and votes in the oncoming weeks, to support democracy and a more just and sustainable Europe. "I congratulate David Sassoli on his election as President of the European Parliament. The ETUC is ready to work with him and the Parliament to defend and deliver on the needs of Europe's working people and citizens for a more social, sustainable and fair Europe"  said Luca Visentini.
20.06.2019 Press release

Summit agrees 'strategic agenda' for EU 2019-24

Commenting on EU Prime Ministers agreeing today a six page ‘Strategic Agenda’ 2019-2024, Luca Visentini, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) said “I am encouraged that the Prime Ministers agreed a text on ‘Building a climate-neutral, green, fair and social Europe’ which specifically mentions implementing the European Pillar of Social Rights.  If this is done over the next four years Europe will be a much better place.
28.05.2019 Press release

New democratic coalition must come together for a fairer Europe

Democratic political parties forming a new coalition in the European Parliament to exclude the far-right “must put a renewed Social Contract for Europe at the heart of their programme including for the appointment of the new European Commission President and Commissioners” said Luca Visentini, re-elected General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC).
23.05.2019 Press release

Unions urge vote in Euro elections – for fairer Europe, democracy and social justice

Trade unions are today – on the opening day of the European Parliamentary elections (voting opens in the Netherlands and the UK) – reminding all citizens that they should vote, and vote for candidates and parties that will work for a fairer Europe (not less Europe), democracy and social justice. Trade union leaders are launching their call at the Congress of the European Trade Union Confederation, meeting today in Vienna and bringing together some 1,000 trade unionists from all over the European Union, the European Economic Area and EU candidate countries.
10.05.2019 Page

Italian unions and employers set out vision for Europe

Social partners in Italy signed a joint ‘Call for Europe’ (Appello per l’Europa) in advance of the EU elections, calling for further integration and stronger social dialogue. The three Italian trade union federations, CGIL, CISL and UIL, joined with the employers’ organisation Confindustria to reconfirm the country’s commitment to the EU and set out a vision for the future. It called on Europeans to cast their vote in favour of democracy, sustainable economic growth and social justice.
26.04.2019 Press release

8,000 march for ‘A Fairer Europe for workers’

Over 8,000 trade unionists took part in a march and rally today in Brussels calling for ‘A fairer Europe for workers’ organised by the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC). The march gathered outside the European Parliament in Place Luxembourg and finished with a rally near the European Council and Commission in Avenue Auderghem, by Rond Point Schuman.
24.04.2019 Press release

Trade union march for ‘A Fairer Europe for workers’ 26 April

There will be a march and rally on Friday 26 April in Brussels for ‘A fairer Europe for workers’ called by the European Trade Union Confederation. The march gathers outside the European Parliament in Place Luxembourg at 10.30 and concludes with a rally near the European Council and Commission in Avenue Auderghem (by Rond Point Schuman). The march is to draw attention to the European elections, to call for a better and more social Europe, not less Europe – and for social progress, better pay and better working and living conditions.  
08.04.2019 Event

March for A Fairer Europe for Workers

#FairerEUdemo The European elections May 23-26 are the most important for decades. We need a better and more social Europe, not less Europe, a Europe with democratic values. The far-right, anti-Europeans and nationalists are on the rise in many countries. The European Parliament to be elected in May can either join a race to the bottom with tax and wage competition, and social dumping or it can make the EU a better place to live and work.
18.03.2019 Document

European Parliament elections 2019 - Statement of the European Social Partners

The European Union has given long-lasting peace across our continent and has brought European people together around the fundamental values of democracy, human rights, freedom and equality. Democracy needs to be lived in order to remain alive. We therefore urge citizens across Europe to go out and vote in the European elections from 23-26 May 2019 in order to have a say on the future and to defend democracy, sustainable economic growth and social justice.