Over half a million people around the globe have demanded a strong EU law to hold corporations accountable for their impact on human rights, including trade union and workers’ rights, and the environment. These demands were made as part of the public consultation launched by the European Commission to get the input of citizens and organisations on the new EU legislation on corporate accountability that is due to be published in June 2021.

This week, the European Commission organizes a series of virtual events for EU Industry Days 2021. ETUC takes this opportunity to remind policy makers about the crucial importance of EU industry for European prosperity and highlight its key recommendations ahead of the publication of the revised New Industrial Strategy for Europe, expected in  mid-March.  

Stand Up for Social Pillar Alliance calls for an ambitious Action Plan implementing the European Pillar of Social Rights

Adopted at the Executive Committee Meeting of 9th February 2021

The ETUC is deeply worried about the deterioration of the relationship between Russia and the EU and firmly condemns the expulsion by the Moscow authorities of three EU diplomats from Germany, Poland and Sweden, after they expressed concerns for the state of human rights in the country. The ETUC doesn't interfere in internal political affairs of foreign countries, but shall not refrain from denouncing any situation of violation of human and democratic rights, wherever it happens.

ETUC statement on Myanmar’s coup endorsed by the Extraordinary Executive Committee at the meeting of 9 February 2021

Trade unions from across Europe (including the European Trade Union Confederation and unions in Ukraine) are urging the European Union to implement the commitments to social justice made under the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, when the Association Council meets in Brussels today (Thursday). The meeting will focus on several areas including  political reforms, rule of law and security, economic cooperation and trade, as well as the EU immediate assistance to the country in view of the COVID19 challenge.

ETUC remembers and honours the victims of the Holocaust. We reaffirm our opposition to antisemitism, racism and all forms of intolerance that can lead to targeting people with violence. We reaffirm our total opposition to Nazism and Fascism. We recall that among its first victims were many trade unionists. We remember that the first Nazi concentration camps were built to imprison political opponents. We reiterate our opposition to misogyny and homophobia.

Letters sent to Bulgarian, Croatian, German, Hungarian and Italian Ministers of Labour and Finance  Call to extend emergency measures to non-standard workers (including self-employed)   Dear Ministers, 

Statement adopted at the Executive Committee meeting on 09-10 December 2020 ETUC Revised Statement on the second Covid-19 wave: Emergency measures and Recovery Strategy

To mark International Migrants Day on 18 December, ETUC honours and thanks all workers, migrant and local, who continue to risk their lives to provide essential services and keep vital sections of the economy going through the COVID19 pandemic. 13% of key workers in essential jobs in the EU are migrants. Up to 1/3 domestic and care workers, & labourers in construction & mining, all key workers, are foreign born.

At the occasion of the World Day for Human Rights and the SOLIDAR Silver Rose Award ceremony, the ITUC, the ETUC and SOLIDAR, reiterate their support and solidarity with the struggle of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) to promote social justice, human rights and workers’ rights in the country.  

ETUC Statement adopted at Executive Committee in their meeting 9th December 2020 in support of the FGTB/ABVV trade union leaders and activists condemned for exercising their rights to collective action ETUC is gravely concerned by the recent condemnations of FGTB/ABVV leaders and activists by the criminal courts in Belgium for exercising their fundamental right to take collective action in defense of the rights and interests of the workers they represent.

ETUC Letter to EU Chief Brexit Negotiator Michel Barnier  Level playing field guarantees in the EU-UK deal Dear Michel, We understand negotiations are reaching their limits in terms of timing and of what is feasible or acceptable for the EU on the remaining critical issues of fisheries, governance and the level playing field.

Adopted by the Women’s Committee  The ETUC Women’s Committee stands beside women from across Europe who are fighting to fulfil their human rights, and namely their reproductive rights and their right to safe, legal and fully comprehensive healthcare in any circumstance[1].

Introduction As part of their autonomous work programme 2019-2021, on 17 September the European Social Partners organised a meeting on childcare provisions in the EU. This was part of a series of meetings bringing together EU and national social partners and experts to discuss how to improve the performance of labour markets and social systems. As a result, we have published the following statement: General remarks

ETUC Statement on the New Pact on Migration and Asylum Adopted at at the extraordinary virtual Executive Committee meeting on 9 February 2021

On 25 November, the European Commission has tabled a legal proposal for  a regulation of the European Data Governance. The ETUC welcomes this legal proposal aiming at setting up the rules for a fair transfer of data among major actors in the digital economy, including governments and companies. The EC puts forward a “European way of processing data” among data intermediaries, built upon European legislation with a strong focus on not creating anti-trust practices among providers of data sharing services, to avoid monopolies.

Ahead of the video conference of the members of the European Council on 19 November 2020, the European social partners urge member states to endorse the agreement found on the European recovery fund and Multiannual Financial Framework for 2021-2027. The agreement found as a result of the trilogue on the recovery fund and the so-called MFF (the EU's long-term budget) is essential to help the EU economy recover from the damage the COVID crisis continues to inflict.

GENERAL OVERVIEW The European Parliament and European Council have fulfilled their political responsibility in agreeing on a long-term budget for the EU and the temporary recovery instrument ‘Next Generation EU’.  It is an increased budget which comes alongside a substantial Recovery Plan and represents a much better response than the one to the previous crisis.