Commenting on the European Commission’s autumn economic forecast, Veronica Nilsson, Deputy General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) said “Global uncertainty and a weak and unequal recovery, providing too few and precarious jobs, are creating the conditions for a social and political storm that could blow away any modest progress in Europe’s fortunes. “It is a gathering storm which has to be deflected through a determined change in economic course.

Brussels, 2 November 2016 ETUC position on the Capital Markets Union Adopted at the Meeting of the Executive Committee, 26-27 October 2016 Background

The outcome of the Bratislava Summit falls well short of the expectations of the ETUC, and of the joint statement made by trade unions and civil society organisations ‘A new Europe for people, planet and prosperity for all’ https://www.etuc.org/press/new-europe-people-planet-and-prosperity-all#.V9_HZ_B97cs.   The Bratislava Declaration and Roadmap are as notable for what they do not say, as for the few vague things they do say.

The College of Commissioners today presented its recommendations to the Council on the fiscal situations in Spain and Portugal. The European Trade Union Confederation warmly welcomes the decision to cancel fines against the two countries.

Trade union leaders, meeting today in London to discuss the next steps for the EU and the UK after the Brexit referendum, agreed   

Adopted at the Extraordinary Executive Committee, on 13 April 2016 in The Hague   Towards the UK referendum The European Union is facing grave challenges at the moment, and the ETUC would prefer to see the UK involved – together with other Member States – in resolving them, rather than turning towards national isolation.  

The OECD’s latest forecast for 2016, issued today, highlights Europe’s continuing high unemployment, low demand, low inflation and low investment, and acknowledges the need for wage increases and more public investment in surplus countries. Veronica Nilsson, Deputy General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation, commented “Like the ETUC, the OECD understands that more public spending and higher wages are needed to drive demand and economic growth.”

According to the Spring 2016 Economic Forecast issued by the European Commission today, economic growth in Europe will remain "modest" in light of an unfavourable global environment. Furthermore, recovery is proving uneven in the euro area, leaving wide inequalities. The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) is concerned that the Commission's response is to urge further "structural reform efforts" rather than laying emphasis on higher investment and boosting internal demand.

This 2016 edition is intended as one contribution to an assessment of what the EU current policies have achieved, or above all what they have not achieved, and hence as an evaluation of the extent to which the European Union is prepared for the future. All four chapters of this report conclude on a negative note, and each puts forward suggestions for some appropriate policy changes.

“A hypocritical attempt to circumvent international obligations” is how Luca Visentini, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation, described the proposed EU deal with Turkey. “The ETUC is appalled by the lack of European unity and humanity in dealing with refugees seeking shelter from war, and is working with employers to support the integration of refugees and migrants into the labour market.

Resolution adopted at the Executive Committee of 16-17 December 2015  Introduction

The ETUC as well as the ETUFs during the last two decades have been actively involved in the EU level debate on how to improve frameworks conditions for trade unions, employee representatives as well as individual employees in contexts of corporate restructuring – in regard to anticipation and also the handling and management of restructuring operations both at national as well as cross-border level. In various occasions, in trade union run studies and cooperation projects, in bilateral as well as trilateral dialogue structures and events at EU level it has been highlighted and stressed by European unions that there is a need for a substantial strengthening of workers’ rights in order to model and shape a fair handling of corporate restructuring and strengthen the capacity to anticipate change.

ETUC REPORT ON NATIONAL TRADE UNIONS INPUTS FOR THE EARLY-STAGE CONSULTATION ON COUNTRY REPORTS 2016

ETUC assessment of the European Commission Work Programme 2016   ETUC position adopted at the ETUC Executive Commitee on the 16-17 December 2015 Introduction   This paper provides an ETUC assessment of the European Commission’s (EC) Work Programme 2016 (WP) No Time for Business as Usual.  

ETUC position on the Annual Growth Survey 2016 - for a Europe that works for workers and citizens Adopted at the ETUC Executive meeting on 28-29 October 2015 Introduction This document sets out the European trade union movement’s views and priorities for the 2016 Annual Growth Survey and the European Semester. It builds on the comments expressed in the consultation meeting between the European Commission and the European social partners on 23 September 2015.

[Check against delivery]   Delegates, colleagues, friends, First of all I would like to thank you sincerely for the support you have expressed for me, for the President, and for the Secretariat for the next 4 years. We've got a great new team now, and I'm really happy with that. We have succeeded in ensuring full gender equality, and all geographical areas of Europe are represented. We have brought in colleagues who are full of energy and enthusiasm, ready to deliver ETUC policy.

[Check against delivery]   Esteemed authorities, Members of the European Economic and Social Committee, Dear colleagues,   It’s a great pleasure to be here today celebrating with the newly elected President of the Committee, our comrade and friend Georges Dassis, and the Presidents of the three groups Jacek Krawczyk, Luca Jahier and our colleague and friend Gabriele Bischoff.   I warmly congratulate all of you on behalf of the European Trade Union Confederation and the whole trade union movement in Europe.

  The ETUC represents all working people in Europe.  It exists to negotiate, campaign and take action for better living and working conditions.

Adopted by the 13the Congress - Paris 29/9-2/10/2015

According to Eurostat today, employment in Europe and the Euro Area continues to expand with more than 400.000 jobs being added in the second quarter. “New jobs are welcome” said Józef Niemiec, Deputy General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC). “But in many cases, the jobs created are of a questionable quality. In the UK, for example, the number of zero hour contracts has risen by 20% over the last year and the jobs created in Spain are mostly low paid, part time and temporary jobs.”

Speech given by Bernadette Ségol, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation at 'No to Slavery at Work' event 10 September 2015, Vilnius [Check against delivery] Dear colleagues, friends,   I am pleased to be with you here today in Vilnius, and to bring you the support and solidarity of the European Trade Union Confederation and of your brother and sister trade unionists across Europe.

Taking into account that Greece and its working people for five years face a deepening economic, social and political crisis resulting from consecutive rounds of austerity and labour market deregulation which entrapped the country in a vicious circle of recession and unprecedented unemployment against deepening poverty and inequality.

Commenting on this morning’s Eurozone agreement on Greece, Bernadette Ségol, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation said   “The EU has avoided the catastrophe of Grexit. But it comes at an incredibly high and hard price for the Greek people. To condemn Greece to years’ more recession would be a very bad outcome for all. The EU now has to deliver its rescue package without adding further conditions or even more austerity in the negotiations that will follow.

Speech given by Bernadette Ségol, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation 2015 Biennial Delegate Conference (ICTU) 9 July 2015, Ennis [Check against delivery]   President, delegates,   I am honoured to address you once more – for the third and last time as ETUC General Secretary- at your Biennial Delegate Conference.  

Commenting on the Greek referendum and its aftermath, European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) General Secretary Bernadette Ségol said “Greek people have voted against unemployment, poverty and austerity policies that have made its debt unsustainable. People must not be penalised for the way they voted.” " EU leaders have an historic responsibility to find a sensible compromise. The decision should not be a technical one or left to the ECB, it must be a political decision.”