Brussels, 10/11/2006
The Finnish Trade Union Confederations organise on 10 November, together with the ETUC and FNPR, a Trade Union Forum, which will present a statement (enclosed) to Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen for transmission to the EU-Russia Summit to be held on 24 November in Helsinki. The Statement stresses the importance of including labour market issues as part of the growing commercial and political relations between the EU and Russia.
Labour market regulations and practices are often very different in the EU and Russia. The ETUC and the FNPR find it important that workers are treated equally regardless of their country of origin. Competition between companies must be fair and based on respect of industrial relations and collective bargaining systems. Respect for International Labour Organisation (ILO) core labour standards is a sound basis on which decent labour markets can be built.
Trade union organisations are particularly concerned about issues such as industrial restructuring, industrial cooperation and skills and training requirements. We want to be involved closely in the development of policy in these areas. Co-operation in energy production, delivery and consumption are areas of vital interest for both the EU and Russia.