The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) and the Pan-European Regional Council (PERC) are following closely and with great concern the current situation in Belarus, after recent presidential elections. The ETUC and PERC demand the immediate release of trade unionists detained for having taken part in peaceful protests against falsified elections, notably Nikolai Zimin, former chairman of the Belarusian Independent Trade Union and Maxim Sereda, chairman of the UMTO the Independent Trade Union of Miners. The ETUC and PERC denounce:

This guide has several objectives: first of all, it provides a clear definition of the concept of adaptation to climate change. Second, it aims to give the reader a clear idea of how climate change consequences will affect the different European regions and sectors. Third, it aims to explain what effects climate change will have on health and safety of workers. Finally, it details a set of recommendations and looks at existing practices to allow trade unions to take action on adaptation at the various levels.

The ETUC congratulates its Austrian affiliate ÖGB for reaching a new tripartite agreement on short-time work. Thanks to the strength of Austria’s trade unions, it was one of the first countries in Europe to secure workers’ incomes during the crisis and it is now leading the way in extending support. This comes at a time where around 340.000 applications for short-time work have been filed in the country.

Brussels, 30 July 2020 To the Executive Committee Dear all,  Please find below the final version of the statement on the Conference on the Future of Europe after the discussion and amendments of July Executive Committee meeting. The statement has already been sent to the European Parliament, Commission and Council to influence the negotiations for a joint declaration of the 3 institutions to launch the Conference on the Future of Europe. 

Adopted at the Executive Committee Meeting of 2-3 July 2020 Negotiations on the future relationship between the EU and UK resumed on 29 June after the UK declared its intention not to extend the transition period. Both the EU and the UK are entering a global recession due to the COVID-19 pandemic, potentially leaving millions of people in long-term unemployment. This will be exacerbated if there is no deal. If the negotiations fail and a deal is not reached and ratified before the end of 2020, the UK will be trading with the EU under WTO rules.

Letters sent to President Sassoli and Leaders of the political groups in the European Parliament   The European Trade Union Confederation welcomes the adoption by the Council of the €750bn EU Recovery Plan, which we believe is particularly good news for the 60 million people in the EU who depend on the recovery funds for their jobs. It represents a very welcome change from the disastrous austerity-led response to the last crisis, from which Europe had not yet fully recovered when COVID-19 struck.