Brussels, 13/06/2008

Glasgow, 29/02/2008 To be checked against delivery President, delegates, this is an important conference on an important topic. I don’t just mean the Lisbon Treaty. I mean the place of Britain and Scotland in the European Union because that is the context that must shape the debate on the Treaty.

Brussels, 10/01/2008 John Monks will emphasise the importance of Europe’s single market respecting worker and trade union rights. The effect of the recent decisions of the European Court of Justice, particularly the Laval case has been to subordinate workers’ fundamental rights to bargain and to strike to the unimpeded free movement of labour.

Brussels, 14/12/2007 The ETUC urged the European Council to follow the example of employment ministers, the European Parliament and the European social partners and take a balanced approach to common principles for flexicurity.

Brussels, 13/12/2007

Lisbon, 17-18/10/2007 1. The ETUC regrets the unambitious nature of much of the EU Reform Treaty. There was a real opportunity to revive social Europe by extending qualified majority voting and by extending the competences of the Union to control the dark side of globalisation and rampant financial capitalism. What we have instead is a series of modest adjustments to the EU’s framework of rules, which will have only a limited impact on the process of deepening Europe’s capacity to act decisively in the world.

Brussels, 22/10/2007 The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) continues to be concerned about the process used to conclude the agreement which largely excluded the social partners and many others. We continue too to be concerned about the reduced status of the Charter of Fundamental Rights (compared to the old draft constitutional treaty) and continuing doubts about its degree of legal enforceability on Member States. We also deplore the opt-out by the UK (the new Polish Government appear to be withdrawing its opt-out).

Brussels, 18/10/2007 1. The ETUC regrets the unambitious nature of much of the EU Reform Treaty. There was a real opportunity to revive social Europe by extending qualified majority voting and by extending the competences of the Union to control the dark side of globalisation and rampant financial capitalism. What we have instead is a series of modest adjustments to the EU’s framework of rules, which will have only a limited impact on the process of deepening Europe’s capacity to act decisively in the world.

Brussels, 16/10/2007 "A veto would be an excuse to avoid some awkward domestic politics, a gesture of weakness and not the act of the strong, serious statesman that I believe Gordon Brown to be," warns John Monks. "Sign that modest treaty, and let's get on with building the EU into a vehicle for controlling globalisation and for negotiating toughly with the world superpowers on trade, on environment and - yes - on social rights, in a way European nations, acting individually, simply cannot do."

Brussels, 27/09/2007 Addressing a meeting of MEPs and trade unionists in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, he reiterated the conditions for workers' support for the treaty.

Brussels, 20/09/2007 John Monks said: “{We are concerned about rumoured attempts to obscure the position of the Charter, and to weaken its impact on Member States. Already the Charter has been affected by acceptance of the UK’s red lines. It is imperative that it has a legally binding effect on Member States and is within the scope of jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice. “I am asking for an urgent confirmation of that, and have written accordingly to the President of the European Commission and the President of the Council of Ministers}.”

First half - year

Brussels, 29/06/2007

Brussels, 23/06/2007 We welcome the statement that the Charter of Fundamental Rights will be legally binding. That is the critical test we had set to judge the success or failure of the talks. However the UK's denial of European-based social rights for British workers is to be deplored. We hope that this will be rectified as soon as possible. We also welcome the recognition that the EU is a Social Market Economy aiming at full employment and social progress.

Brussels, 20/06/2007 ETUC General Secretary, John Monks, and other leading European trade unionists, will warn President Barroso that if the new text of a Treaty does not include the Charter of Fundamental Rights in a form binding on member states, then the ETUC will campaign against that new Treaty both at European and national levels. In particular the ETUC will demand that the European Parliament should not endorse any new text which is unsatisfactory regarding the Charter.

Brussels, 16/05/2007 The ETUC reiterates its support for the Constitution as already ratified by 18 EU Member States, and emphasises that any new proposal must be a step forward for Social Europe as well. Above all, the ETUC opposes removing or weakening Part 2 of the Constitution, the Charter of Fundamental Rights, which represents the most significant advance for European citizens and must be made legally binding at the earliest opportunity.

Brussels, 15/03/2007 Inequalities persist and are getting worse in the European Union, even if it remains the area of least inequality compared with other parts of the world, thanks largely to the widespread existence of social protection systems, public services, the social dialogue and trade unions working to guarantee mutual solidarity.

Brussels, 27/02/2007 Employment is top of the trade union agenda. Creating more and better jobs is fundamental to the Lisbon Strategy, and must be based on workers' participation and partnership with employers. For this reason the ETUC supports the German Presidency's decision to promote the quality-of-work agenda.

Brussels, 17/01/2007 The ETUC highlights two major issues likely to occupy the EU in the first half of 2007: energy policy and internal market liberalisation; and a way forward for the EU Constitutional Treaty. The ETUC calls on the Presidency to break the constitutional deadlock, preferably by adding a social protocol to the existing treaty. It strongly opposes 'cherry-picking' aimed at producing a 'mini-treaty', or excluding the vital Charter of Fundamental Rights.

Brussels, 19/10/2006 The ETUC opposes attempts to remove the Charter of Fundamental Rights. For the European trade union movement, it is absolutely essential to have a strong social Europe and to retain the whole Charter as a key element of the Constitution. The ETUC continues to support the Constitution, and in particular the core elements:

Brussels, 06/09/2006

Brussels, 26/06/2006 A 'central theme' of the next six months should be encouraging investment in innovation and technology across Europe - following Finland's example - to boost the supply of high quality jobs, say the unions.

Brussels, 16/06/2006 The ETUC Executive Committee has reiterated its support for the Constitution while stressing the need to strengthen its social dimension, for instance by adding a Social Protocol on social and economic governance.

Brussels, 11/01/2006 The first half of 2006 should mark a new start for the European Union. “The concept of Social Europe must be central to the development of an EU where economic and social progress go hand in hand,” said John Monks. “The European approach must be the promotion of a social market economy with social rights.”