Brussels, 17/10/2008 “Civil Society Dialogue: bringing together workers from Turkey and the EU through a shared culture” is the name of the ambitious European project meant to ensure better knowledge and understanding of one another among Turkish and European workers.

Brussels, 17/10/2008 "The financial crisis must not weaken the objectives of the energy and climate change package or postpone its adoption, scheduled for the end of 2008. On the contrary, the crisis reinforces the need for massive investments in energy savings and renewable energy to make our economies less dependent on imports of oil and gas", declared ETUC Confederal Secretary Joël Decaillon.

Brussels, 16/10/2008 The ETUC Executive Committee gave broad support for the outcome of the talks conducted by the General Secretary and Deputy General Secretary with BusinessEurope, and decided on this basis to ask the European Parliament to aim to complete its considerations by the end of the year. Otherwise there is a real risk that the issue could fall through lack of time.

Brussels, 15/10/08

Brussels, 14/10/08 As highlighted by John Monks, ETUC General Secretary: 'Casino capitalism has failed and policy must change track. Europe can no longer allow its members to pursue the typical agenda of the national interest. If ‘beggar-thy-European neighbour’ policies continue, things will get pretty ugly. Instead, Europe needs to bundle resources and mobilize the power of acting together.’ We need a European policy reply in order to:

Brussels, 14/10/08 A day ahead of the European Tripartite Social Summit – at which ETUC participates – and the European Council, representatives of ETUC-affiliated trade unions will discuss the current state of the financial system and the economy. This meeting will provide trade unions the opportunity to send out clear messages to European policymakers regarding the topics on the agenda at the European Council, namely the financial crisis and the energy and climate change package.

Brussels, 09/10/2008 Workers’ rights and economic freedoms – View from ETUC A British trade union lawyer colleague of mine who is here today termed the recent quartet of legal judgments in the European Court of Justice – an accident waiting to happen.

Brussels, 08/10/2008 Joint statement from TUAC, ITUC and ETUC

Brussels, 08/10/2008

Brussels, 06/10/2008 In the context of this World day for decent work, John Monks, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation, will take part in the activities organised by ETUC's Belgian members on the morning of 7 October. “This World Day for Decent Work (WDDW) is essential for the trade union movement. Every confederation will contribute by one way or another. As for us, we will put great emphasis on decent working time. Our key message will be: for decent wages and decent working hours”, declares ETUC General Secretary John Monks.

Brussels, 03/10/2008

Brussels, 02/10/2008 With the economy already in recession and with the financial sector balancing on the edge of a cliff, this is defying logic. With short-term interest rates higher than long-term interest rates, an already cracking financial system is being stressed even further. Says John Monks, General Secretary of ETUC, ‘The ECB is still fighting the inflation of the past. It is time for them to wake up to reality and see the urgency of the situation, even if this means admitting that the June rate hike was a mistake’.