Brussels, 14/11/2011

Brussels, 30/06-01/07/2008 {{{CLOSING SESSION: Bali and beyond – strengthening EU-Asia strategic cooperation on global market issues and decent work}}} {{ To be checked against delivery}} I would first like to thank the European Commission, the Indonesian Government, and the two EU Presidencies which have straddled this two-day conference for helping to bring into effect the decisions of the Helsinki Summit concerning the promotion of social dialogue in the ASEM context.

Brussels, 31/01/2008 The meeting takes place at a time of serious concern about the future health of the European economies. In this context, the ETUC will be emphasising its opposition to current excessive wage moderation, and stressing the need to protect workers' spending power and promote good jobs and adequate social protection in efforts to counter recessionary risks. The ETUC will deliver two strong messages in advance of the informal meeting of employment and social affairs ministers taking place on 31 January to 2 February:

Brussels, 14/12/2007 To be checked against delivery To excuse the absence of John Monks, ETUC General Secretary – he is taking part in an important meeting of the International trade union movement in Washington. To congratulate the Presidency on the achievements and especially on the Reform Treaty. It is high time for Europe to concentrate its energies on the core issues that concern citizens and workers.

Ljubljana, 07/12/2007 To be checked against delivery

Brussels, 29/11/2007 The report of the European Parliament adopts key flexicurity principles such as the promotion of stable employment relationships, action against abusive practices in non-standard contracts, action to improve job security for all workers regardless of their employment status, the strengthening of employability, transition security (for workers between jobs), gender equality and work-life balance, social partnership and dialogue and a macroeconomic framework for more and better jobs.

Copenhagen, 29/10/2007 To be checked against delivery President, delegates, fellow guests: It is a pleasure to return to Denmark, the country which has given the world Hans Christian Andersen, Peter Schmeical and flexicurity. All these have played a significant part in my life at one time or other! Last week at a meeting in Lisbon, the ETUC agreed with Europe’s employers a joint analysis of Europe’s labour markets including flexicurity.

Brussels, 13/09/2007 The European Commission and the Council are drawing up common principles for implementing ‘flexicurity’ across the EU. The ETUC stresses that pushing Member States to make structural reforms without at the same time building a strong European framework to guide them will be counter-productive. Member States will only be able to strike a real balance between flexibility and security if European policy ensures:

2007

2007

2004

Brussels, 05/07/2007 "{Already, there was a widespread trade union feeling that “liberal” Europe is receiving too much encouragement, with the current emphasis on de-regulation, on encouraging entrepreneurship and on opposition to new labour standards at EU level. The social dimension of Europe is not keeping pace with the development of the internal market. The way that flexicurity was being promoted by some is confirming that feeling.

Bundoran, 03/07/2007 To be checked against delivery JM/cd President, delegates, fellow guests, thanks for the invitation to again visit the biennal Congress of the ICTU.

Brussels, 27/06/2007 Job protection, far from being jettisoned, underpins this modern reform agenda of a more efficient and inclusive labour market. It supports productivity, innovation and access of workers to training by promoting stable employment relations and protecting workers from unfair dismissal. Notifying workers well in advance of dismissal and change, functions as an ‘early-warning' signal so that measures to prepare for upwards mobility can be taken.

Brussels, 20/04/2007 Flexicurity is supposed to be about combining a flexible workforce with high levels of employment and social protection. The European Commission is due to present proposals to the December 2007 European Council.

Brussels, 20/04/2007 To be checked against delivery Is it a coincidence that the European countries which are most in line with fulfilling the Lisbon targets - and are also currently among the leaders of the world's economies on OECD statistics - are precisely those with the highest proportion of trade union members and the most extensive collective bargaining systems with good pay and working conditions?

2007

Brussels, 18/01/2007 The informal ministerial meeting focuses on improving the quality of work, and on the European Commission's Green Paper on ‘modernising labour law'. The ETUC welcomes the German Presidency's decision to discuss the urgent question of the quality of work in Europe. The ETUC is ready to take part in the debate on ‘flexicurity', but only if good and safe jobs are at the centre of the discussion. Flexicurity has to benefit workers as well as business.

Brussels, 20/10/2006 The European Council of March 2006 invited the European Commission to examine in greater depth the concept of flexicurity. At the tripartite social summit, the ETUC reaffirmed its willingness to take part in a discussion on flexicurity. But the crucial question relates to what exactly this concept covers and how it is applied in practice.

Brussels, 18/07/2006