Commenting on the European Summit which finished in record time last night, Bernadette Ségol, Secretary General of the European Trade Union Confederation said “Adopting the investment plan is a positive move and I urge the member states to boost the funds available as the current proposal is too small. The proposals for Energy Union and digital single market are ambitious and might create additional jobs. I would like to see the same ambition applied to worker, consumer and environmental protection but I am still waiting.”  

Commenting on the appointment of Edmund Stoiber as European Commission Special Advisor on ‘Better Regulation’, Veronica Nilsson, Confederal Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation said “I fear Mr Stoiber will not help with better regulation, but lobby on behalf of business for less regulation. That risks being at the expense of workers, consumers and the environment. It could mean further delays in much needed  health and safety regulations such as on exposure at work to cancer-causing chemicals.

To mark  International Migrants Day, trade unions are calling for continued humanitarian action to save migrants in the Mediterranean Sea. The Italian Government has announced it will end its ‘Mare Nostrum’ search and rescue operation in the absence of support from the EU and other member states. It is being ‘replaced’ by the EU Frontex Agency’s ‘Triton’ programme which is primarily concerned with border control.   ‘Mare Nostrum’ found and saved more than 100.000 migrants at sea.

EU Prime Ministers, Presidents and Chancellors attending this week’s European Summit are being urged to agree, and increase, the European Commission’s €315bn investment package by the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC).

Commenting on the European Commission’s statement on its  work programme, Bernadette Ségol, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation said “The priority given to jobs and the economy is correct.” “There is not a single proposal to improve worker, consumer or environmental protection. This does not seem the best way to restore public confidence in Europe. It is a business agenda, with no sign of Juncker’s commitment to the social market economy: it is all market and no social.”

Dear Readers, We have just published the December 2014 edition of the ETUC Newsletter. To read the document, please click here. Enjoy!

The EU Competitiveness Council is today expected to ask the Commission to propose targets for reducing ‘regulatory burden’. The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC)  is strongly opposed to such targets.

Discussion points by Tom Jenkins, Chief adviser at the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC)   [Check against delivery] The ETUC has three sine qua non conditions on TTIP: No ISDS; a guaranteed protection of public services; and an enforceable labour chapter.  Today’s meeting is dealing with that issue.   Growth and Employment  

The European Trade Union Confederation denounces the decision of the Italian Government and EU institutions to abandon search and rescue operations for migrants in the Mediterranean Sea. More than 100,000 migrants have been found and assisted at sea, while more than 2000 are estimated to have died attempting to reach the EU by boat from North Africa. Desperate people fleeing war and poverty in Africa and the Middle East are making the dangerous crossing, often in overcrowded boats in poor condition, and dependent on ruthless traffickers.

The EU must take action to stop the 100,000 deaths a year caused by occupational cancers.   The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) meeting in Brussels today condemned the European Commission for blocking health and safety improvements* and for putting forward an extremely weak health and safety strategy (‘Framework Strategy 2014-2020’).   The ETUC called today for

Editorial published in the Neues Deutschland by ETUC General Secretary : http://www.neues-deutschland.de/artikel/958450.endlich-mehr-fairness-in-europa.html on 15 January 2015.   Europe  – The political cost of the crisis   Europe’s economy has been a mess since the crisis caused by greedy and reckless financial corporates ‘empowered’ by deregulation.

Investment in energy infrastructure, transport, smart phone technology and nanotechnology will have the biggest impact on economic growth and jobs according to a new study for the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC). The study by Syndex aims to support the ETUC’s work on an ambitious investment plan for Europe to boost sustainable growth and decent jobs, and feed into the European Parliament and Council’s discussions on the limited proposals tabled by Commission President Juncker.

Commenting on the European Semester, Bernadette Ségol, Secretary General of the European Trade Union Confederation said   “I hear a lot of concern about jobs and growth, but I see only the same old failed solutions.” “I do not accept that structural reforms and fiscal responsibility are paying off. Much of what has been done in recent years has increased unemployment, increased precarious work, and killed demand.”