Esther Lynch, ETUC General Secretary, has written to Margrethe Vestager, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission and Thierry Breton, Commissioner for Internal Market calling for an urgent meeting on the upcoming “SME relief package”. The text of the letter: Dear Vice-President Vestager, Dear Commissioner Breton, We are contacting you to ask for an urgent meeting on the upcoming “SME relief package” for small- and medium-sized companies, that we understand will be published next week by the European Commission.

Chère Sophie, La Confédération européenne des syndicats, qui représente plus de 45 millions de travailleurs en Europe, tient à exprimer son soutien et sa solidarité à la CGT et à Sébastien Menesplier, Secrétaire général de la Fédération nationale des mines et de l'énergie CGT. Nous sommes choqués que Sébastien Menesplier ait été convoqué par la gendarmerie de Montmorency pour les actions menées par les électriciens et gaziers pour protester contre la réforme néfaste du système de retraite français.

Madame la Première Ministre de France, Madame Borne, La Confédération européenne des syndicats représente plus de 90 organisations syndicales nationales - ainsi que dix fédérations syndicales européennes - regroupant plus de 45 millions de travailleurs à travers l'Europe. Je vous contacte pour vous faire part de l'inquiétude de la Confédération européenne des syndicats face aux développements en France qui vont manifestement pénaliser l'action syndicale en général.

Dear Commissioner Vestager,           We are writing to you to express our deep concern regarding comments made by Pierre Régibeau, the outgoing Chief Competition Economist DG Competition, with regard to European industry and to seek clarification regarding the Commission’s commitment to the future of European foundation industries and their highly-skilled workforce.            

It is with sorrow that we learnt about the passing away of MEP Véronique Trillet-Lenoir earlier this month. Her remarkable dedication to the health and safety of workers will be remembered.   As a public servant dedicated to achieving health and safety at work, MEP Trillet-Lenoir demonstrated a solid commitment to improving the lives of workers throughout the EU. Her recent involvement in the revision of the Directive on asbestos at work demonstrated her dedication and commitment to making workplaces safer for all.  

ETUC and TUCA, representing 45 million workers in Europe and 55 million workers in the Americas respectively, welcome a closer partnership between our continents. Today, more than ever, we claim that this renewed partnership must be founded on shared objectives, including the pursuit of peace, the defense of democracy and human rights, and the redistribution of wealth and equality.

RATIFICATION OF AFFILIATIONS ADOPTED BY THE ETUC 15TH STATUTORY CONGRESS  (BERLIN, 23-26 MAY 2023)

Letter of the European Trade Union Confederation in view of the European Council meeting on 29-30 June 2023 sent to Heads of State and Government

Dear Marylise and Laurent, On behalf of the whole European Trade Union Confederation and all its members, I would also like to congratulate Marylise on her election as new General Secretary of the CFDT. I want to give you all our best wishes for success in leading the CFDT in the years ahead.    I know that, with your substantial experience in social dialogue, expertise on the environment and record of fighting for women’s rights, you will make a huge contribution to the progress of the labour movement in France and Europe.

Letter sent to: Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission Urgent open letter concerning the European Union and Tunisia partnership package Dear President of the European Commission Ms Ursula von der Leyen,

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS ADOPTED BY THE ETUC 15TH STATUTORY CONGRESS  (BERLIN, 23-26 MAY 2023)

ETUC CHARTER OF VALUES ADOPTED BY THE ETUC 15TH STATUTORY CONGRESS  (BERLIN, 23-26 MAY 2023)

ETUC ACTION PROGRAMME  2023-2027 ADOPTED BY THE ETUC 15TH STATUTORY CONGRESS  (BERLIN, 23-26 MAY 2023)

BERLIN MANIFESTO ADOPTED BY THE ETUC 15TH STATUTORY CONGRESS  (BERLIN, 23-26 MAY 2023)

U.S.-EU Tripartite Trade and Labor Dialogue (TALD) Social Partner Joint Statement on Transatlantic Forced Labor Trade Strategy (see PDF file)  

ETUC reply to the first phase of the Social Partner Consultation on a possible revision of the European Works Council Directive (2009/38/EC) Adopted by written procedure on 22 May 2023 The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) welcomes the European Commission’s intention to address the shortcomings of the European Works Council Directive (Directive 2009/38/EC) through a legally binding initiative.

Dear colleagues,                                                                The ETUC and the ETUCE stand in solidarity with the Free Trade Union Confederation of Latvia (LBAS) and the Latvian Trade Union of Education and Science Employees (LIZDA) in their mobilisation, protest and strike to ask the government to take responsibility and fulfil the agreement reached in September 2022 for salary adjustment and balancing of the workload of all education personnel at national level, by adopting amendments to the relevant normative acts.

ETUC Position on the Reform of the economic governance (toward an EU pact for employment and investments) Position adopted at the Executive Committee Meeting of 30-31 March 2023 The reform of the economic governance of the European Union issued on 9 November 2022 should be assessed as insufficient. The European Commission's (EC) proposal appears inconsistent with both the Versailles Declaration of 11 March 2022 and Porto’s Social Summit Conclusions in 2021. Social and sustainability frameworks, such as the EPSR and SDGs, are disregarded.

ETUC proposals for the Revision of the EU’s electricity market design Adopted at the Executive Committee Meeting of 30-31 March 2023 A reform of the energy market, away from liberalisation dogma, is badly needed The trade union movement has been critical of the historical decision to liberalise the EU energy market. ETUC believes that important structural features of the Directive and Regulation on the internal market for electricity have contributed to exacerbating the energy price crisis and should be revised.

ETUC Resolution on Quality Traineeships Adopted at the Executive Committee Meeting of 30-31 March 2023 Background

The ETUC response to the High-Level Group report on the Future of Social Protection and of the Welfare State Position adopted at the Executive Committee Meeting of 30-31 March 2023 Summary of the Position a.  The Final Report of the High-Level Group of experts on the future of social protection and the welfare state in the EU was launched on 7 February 2023.

The ETUC reiterates its very strong support for the French trade unions united in their mobilisation for social dialogue and against the pension reform in France. The way in which the French pension reform was adopted, without any dialogue with social partners, is not acceptable. The European Social model is based on social dialogue.  The respect for social dialogue and for the role of social partners is a key component of democracy in Europe and must be promoted, not disregarded.

The European trade union movement, rejects the war and violence, condemns continuous aggression by Russian Federation against Ukraine and expresses full support and solidarity to Ukrainian people in their fight for democracy, sovereignty and territorial integrity.