John Monks, ETUC General Secretary, said: “The European and international trade union movement has long called for the inclusion of social clauses in international trade agreements. The massive majority given by Parliament yesterday to three ground-breaking reports linking EU trade policy to the respect of labour and environmental standards and Corporate Social Responsibility is a great step in the right direction. The powers extended to the Parliament by the Lisbon Treaty will also help it ensure that trade agreements negotiated by the Commission are in line with our objectives. This is a strong message to third countries currently negotiating Free Trade Agreements, notably India, as well as to the Commission, that the respect of International Labour Organisation standards and the inclusion of Decent Work objectives must be at the centre of those agreements”.