Brussels, 15/07/2013 In a letter sent to the Presidents of GSEE and ADEDY, Bernadette Ségol, General Secretary of the ETUC, expressed full support for the general strike on 16 July to protest against the lay-off of thousands of public servants in Greece as a consequence of the unilateral measures imposed by the Troika.

Brussels, 27/06/2013 The ETUC demands a stimulus package of investment for jobs. The struggle against the scourge of unemployment, notably that of young people, demands significant investment. The ETUC reminds the European leaders that it is still waiting for the roadmap on the social dimension of the EU, which was announced in Dec 2012. The General Secretary stressed the urgency of calling a halt to failed policies and, one year before the European elections, demands that the Council takes appropriate action against populist movements in Europe.

Brussels, 26/06/2013 At the meeting with the Italian Prime Minister, the ETUC General Secretary will reiterate her call to turn economic policies away from austerity, as well as the need to foster a strong social dimension for the EU. The ETUC urges European leaders to establish a plan to stimulate growth and employment amounting to 1% - 2% of the EU GDP as well as adequate financial resources to support it.

Brussels, 25/06/2013

Brussels, 24/06/2013

Brussels, 20/06/2013 The European Council of December 2012 announced a roadmap that would deal in particular, with the social dimension of economic and monetary union, including the social dialogue. The draft conclusions that have been leaked completely ignore the objective that had been set by the EU 27. The text has a hollow wording and proposes nothing new or concrete. The demand for structural reforms, on the other hand, is back on track as an act of faith.

Brussels, 18/06/2013 The need for a strong social dimension in the EU, the urgency for a European recovery plan and the fight against unemployment - in particular Youth Unemployment - will be the joint message from Patrick Itschert , ETUC Deputy General Secretary and the President of the Free Trade Union Confederation of Latvia (LBAS) to the Latvian Prime Minister.

Brussels, 18/06/2013 The June European Summit is of paramount importance for the future of the European project. In this respect, the ETUC has embarked on a series of meetings with European decision-makers to insist on the urgent need for a European recovery and investment plan geared to job creation and the fight against unemployment, particularly among young people. The meeting with François Hollande, President of the French Republic, is crucial. France can play a key role in bringing about a change in current policies, as the ETUC advocates.

Brussels, 05/06/2013 Key messages The European Council must critically assess the European Semester to determine if the process meets the challenges of creating quality and sustainable jobs. Inadequate policies pursued by the Member States and the European Union need to be corrected. The ETUC calls on the European Union to adopt a REAL change of course and strategy by prioritising growth, jobs and social cohesion. This requires:

Brussels, 12/06/2013 We call upon working people to express their solidarity with ERT employees who were dismissed overnight and protest against the decision outside the ERT premises. Trade unions together with Greek society, which is suffering under the painful and unilateral austerity measures imposed by the Greek government, were caught unaware by the shock announcement. They denounce this unprecedented authoritarian and anti-democratic decision as a “coup d’ état”.

Brussels, 11/06/2013 For 3 years Greece has been subjected to harsh austerity measures leading to among others dramatic cuts in wages, social provisions and pension benefits which are violating its international obligations. It is a clear signal to the Greek authorities and in particular, to the European Commission and the European Central Bank, as well as the International Monetary Fund, that austerity does not work.

Dublin, 05-06/06/2013 Check against delivery It is a great pleasure to welcome this Mid-Term Conference of the ETUC to Dublin. The conference theme ‘High Noon for Social Europe’ is well chosen. The self-defeating impact of austerity on growth, when interest rates are close to zero, must be evident to all but the most irredentist liberal ideologues.

Brussels, 06/06/2013 Bernadette Ségol, General Secretary of the ETUC and the leaders of the Belgian trade unions FGTB, CSC, CGCSB will meet Elio Di Rupo, Prime Minister of Belgium, in the morning. The “Tour” will move to Luxembourg in the afternoon where Bernadette Ségol and the President of OGBL and LCGB will meet Jean-Claude Juncker, Prime Minister of Luxembourg and Jean Asselborn, Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Dublin 05/06/2013 Congress General Secretary David Begg and the General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation, Bernadette Ségol have jointly called for a new European Recovery Programme to focus on job creation and the promotion of the European Social Model, as a priority. The joint call comes ahead of the European Trade Union Confederation’s (ETUC) mid-term conference in Dublin, on June 5-6, under the theme: High Noon for Social Europe.

Brussels, 03/06/2013 This major event, which is open to the press and media representatives, is organised in conjunction with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU). Europe’s trade union leaders will converge to discuss the need for a strong Social Europe for workers, and call for a radical change of course.

Brussels, 23/05/2013 After eight years of discussion, the European leaders have reached an agreement in principle on automatic exchange of tax information. This is one step forward; but concrete measures have not been taken to tackle tax fraud and tax evasion across Europe. Tax competition between companies has not been dealt either.

Rotterdam, 15/05/2013 Check against delivery Dear Friends, Thank you for inviting me to speak to your congress. I am bringing you the warm and fraternal greetings of the European trade union confederation of whom FNV has been a strong, loyal and constructive member since the beginning, that is forty years ago.

Brussels, 15/05/2013

Oslo, 03/05/2013 {{Check against delivery}} President, Dear Roar, Dear Prime Minister Friends, Thank you for inviting me to speak to your congress. I am bringing you the warm and friendly wishes of all trade unions within the European Trade Union Confederation.

02/05/2013

Brussels, 30/04/2013 In many European countries, May 1st will be a day for mobilising against austerity and in favour of employment and social progress. The major problem continues to be mass unemployment which is growing and is accompanied by an increase in precariousness and a widening of the inequality gap. The fight against unemployment must be a priority of the European Union. The trade unions will seize the opportunity of May 1st to denounce the failure of macro-economic policies, which are moreover threatening the European project and democracy.

24/04/2013 The ETUC contributed to these proceedings by submitting joint observations in all five cases also asking the ECSR to conclude non-conformity with the requirements of the European Social Charter's. (2)

Brussels, 23/04/2013

Alexandroupoli, 22/03/2013 Check against delivery Chair, Dear Friends, Thank you for giving me the opportunity to address your congress on behalf of the European trade union confederation. Your country, Greek citizens, Greek workers in recent years and recent months have been going through an extraordinary painful process. Cuts in wages, cuts in pensions, cuts in social provisions, attacks on industrial relations, on collective bargaining, selling of public assets, political uncertainty,

Brussels, 19/03/2013 The ETUC protests against this unfair decision which is bound to have adverse consequences – not least a loss of confidence in Cypriot banks which will freeze credit for the real economy (investments, exports). Such a decision risks destroying economic activity and jobs in the long term.