The European Economic and Social Committee starts its new term (2015-20) with the election of a new President, the long-serving European trade unionist Georges Dassis. Dassis has been involved in the trade union movement from a young age, starting with activism against the colonels in Greece, then as an official of FGTB Belgium, and then in different roles representing trade unions at the ILO, for Italian trade union CISL, and at the ETUC.

[Check against delivery]   Esteemed authorities, Members of the European Economic and Social Committee, Dear colleagues,   It’s a great pleasure to be here today celebrating with the newly elected President of the Committee, our comrade and friend Georges Dassis, and the Presidents of the three groups Jacek Krawczyk, Luca Jahier and our colleague and friend Gabriele Bischoff.   I warmly congratulate all of you on behalf of the European Trade Union Confederation and the whole trade union movement in Europe.

Leaders of Europe’s national trade unions today elected Luca Visentini as new General Secretary, and Rudy de Leeuw as new President, of the European Trade Union Confederation.  They also adopted a new Manifesto and Action Programme 2015-19 ‘for quality jobs, workers’ rights and a fair society’. 

Today national trade union leaders from all over Europe showed their support for an ambitious climate deal at the UN Climate Change Conference and called for the deal to include a ‘Just Transition’ for workers.  For photos of today’s climate action see https://www.flickr.com/photos/etuc-ces/sets/72157658916317060 For video of the climate action see https://youtu.be/VndM8pyFSso

Tomorrow the European Trade Union Confederation Congress kicks off in Paris with the leaders of trade union organisations all over Europe, representing millions of workers from Lisbon to Helsinki, under one roof for the first time in four years. Media are welcome at Congress, and are particularly invited to