Update on the ETUC positions on the completion of EMU considering the most recent Commission proposals Adopted at the Executive Committee of 18 – 19 December 2018 Introduction

Letter to Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the Commission Marianne Thyssen, Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility Johannes Hahn, European Neighbourhood Policy & Enlargement Negotiations Dear Vice-President, Dear Commissioners, The next EU-Egypt Association Council meeting, scheduled for 20 December, will primarily focus on implementing the 2017-2020 Partnership Priorities adopted on 16 June 2017.

As the EU Japan FTA comes before the European Parliament the ETUC calls on MEPs to raise the threats it poses to workers’ rights, public services and social welfare.  We are concerned that the deal contains no enforceable provisions on workers’ rights. The sustainable development chapter of the agreement contains no independent enforcement court or sanctions when violations of labour rights occur which is essential to ensure commitments to labour standards are upheld as the ETUC has outlined in our progressive trade agenda.

EU Employment Ministers meeting in the Employment Council yesterday agreed to recommend that all member states should guarantee adequate and effective social protection - such as sickness, unemployment, maternity and paternity benefits and pensions - to all working people including the self-employed. Unfortunately the Ministers did NOT agree to recommend that mandatory social protection should include the self-employed – who now make up more than 15% of the Europe’s workforce - somewhat undermining the principle of equal social protection for all.

EU Employment Ministers today agreed a ‘general approach’ on the Regulation establishing a European Labour Authority (ELA). This now means the final regulation to set up the Authority will be negotiated in trialogue discussions between national government officials, MEPs and the European Commission.

Trade unions this week succeeded in getting Just Transition accepted as an integral part of the UN framework of climate action. At the opening of COP24 in Katowice the Polish Presidency presented its ‘Solidarity and Just Transition Silesia Declaration’ with the full support of the European Union. The declaration

Our democracies are under attack. The rise of hate, divisive, and socially and environmentally destructive political forces– including in many EU countries – are putting our democracies at risk.

ETUC position on the proposal of Pan European Personal Pensions (PEPP) Adopted at the Executive Committee of 23-24 October 2018 Key messages 1. The regulation of a Pan-European Personal Pension product, currently under the Trialogue process, should acknowledge the high social relevance of pension savings. Despite its nature within the financial market dimension, PEPPs should remain restricted to the market of private products, freely but with high safety guarantees available to individuals.

ETUC Resolution ahead of the Katowice Climate Conference Adopted at Executive Meeting of 23-24 October 2018 Introduction

Joint ETUC-ETUCE Reflection to Proposal on the Erasmus Programme 2021-27:  October, 2018                                                                   Background On 30 May 2018, the European Commission published its Proposal for establishing 'Erasmus': the Union programme for education, training, youth and sport and repealing Regulation (EU) No 1288/2013.

A new free online course which aims to explain the complex world of standards in clear and simple terms has been launched. It is designed to be used by everyone, regardless of their level of knowledge or their background.

The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) is aware of pressure from the European Commission on Switzerland to use the current negotiations on a new framework agreement with the EU as an attempt to dismantle “accompanying measures”, introduced to protect posted workers and Swiss workers from social dumping and undercutting of wages.

ETUC – CLC joint statement on the Sustainable Development Chapter in CETA Trade unions in the EU and Canada are united in our call for progressive trade deals that promote decent jobs, protect and enhance labour rights, protect public services and lead to fair distribution of wealth. We worked together throughout the negotiations on CETA to call for the deal to respect these objectives.

Letter sent to Saulius Skvernelis, Prime Minister of the Republic of Lithuania  Subject: Lithuania needs a significant increase of the minimum monthly wage The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) supports the position of the Lithuanian Trade Union Confederation (LTUC/LPSK), which is its affiliate, and favours its aim to raise the minimum monthly wage in Lithuania by 50 instead of 20 euros.

  ETUC Position on a United Nations Treaty on Transnational Corporations Adopted at the Executive Committee on 25 – 26 June 2018

Considering that the 20th EU-Ukraine Summit is held in Brussels on the 9th of July 2018, and that the meeting of the Council of the EU-Ukraine Association is planned in December, the European and Ukrainian trade unions believe that urgent measures should be taken, with the support of the European Commission, to improve the social and economic situation in the country, and to increase the effectiveness of social dialogue and adherence to the fundamental ILO Conventions.

  ETUC position on the EU Commission Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the protection of persons reporting on breaches of Union law – Whistleblowing Adopted at the executive committee meeting of 25-26 June Sofia Introduction

The negotiations of the EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) were finalised in December last year. The signature of the EPA is foreseen on 11 July 2018. Separate negotiations on investment protection continue in parallel. The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) and the Japanese Trade Union Confederation (JTUC-RENGO) recognize the importance of creating frameworks for economic cooperation between EU and Japan, which are major mutual trading partners, in guiding both economies onto a stable and sustainable growth trajectory, and establishing sustainable employment.

Letter sent to Ms Federica Mogherini,  High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and to Ms Marianne Thyssen, Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility   Dear High Representative Mogherini, dear Commissioner Thyssen,

Brussels 27 July 2018  Stress is a serious workplace issue

ETUC POSITION ON THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION PROPOSAL FOR THE EU BUDGET 2021-2027 Adopted at the Executive Committee Meeting of 25-26 June 2018 INTRODUCTION On 2nd May 2018, the European Commission issued a Communication on its proposals for the Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027 followed by the publication of the proposed Regulations on 29 - 31 May and 1stJune 2018[1]

ETUC Resolution on Strategy for long-term EU greenhouse gas emissions reduction: ETUC views Adopted at the Executive Committee on 25-26 June 2018 Background

Brussels, 28 June 2018  ETUC position paper The new company law package 2018: A missed opportunity for more democracy at work Adopted at the Executive Committee on 25-26 June 2018