Speech given by Bernadette Ségol, General Secretary of the ETUC Paris, 10/04/2014   Check against delivery   Thank you for inviting me to this conference on an important and increasingly political subject. I must say that when I was asked to address the question “what is the lowdown on the negotiating positions?"  I wondered whether you shouldn’t be asking the successors to the Washington Post’s Woodstein dream-team. 

One of the items broached at the seventh EU-Brazil summit, held today, 24 February 2014, in Brussels, and attended by President Dilma Rousseff, concerns the revival of the negotiations for an association agreement by and between the EU and Mercosur. The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) has accordingly reiterated the positions stated jointly with the trade union movements of Latin America.

The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) today warned European decision makers that international trade negotiations must be open, promote European social, environmental and technical standards, and prioritise decent jobs. Addressing the European Parliament international trade committee ETUC General Secretary, Bernadette Ségol, warned that voters in the forthcoming European elections would be scrutinising EU trade arrangements, in particular the current negotiations with the United States, and "would not overlook" any deals that did not put European jobs and standards first.

Speech given by Bernadette Ségol, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) Committee on International Trade - EU Trade Policy To be checked against delivery   President, I would like to thank the Committee for your invitation to discuss EU trade policy, on behalf of the European Trade Union Confederation to which are affiliated national trade union confederations in the EU, and more widely in Europe, as well as European federations covering all industrial sectors.

The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) welcomes the decision of the European Parliament to introduce in the consideration of anti-dumping cases references to the observance of international labour and environmental standards set down in Conventions of the International Labour Organisation and in Multilateral Environmental Agreements, as well as the possibility for trade unions and other stakeholders to submit complaints.

Brussels, 18/12/2013

Brussels, 25/11/2013 This “next generation” free trade agreement will include a controversial and unnecessary investor-to-state dispute settlement process (ISDS). In spite of the 18 October EU-Canada deal, negotiations on investment protection and ISDS continue.

Stockholm, 15/11/2013 Check against delivery President, Friends, Thank you for giving me the floor. I bring you the greetings of the European Trade Union Confederation. I would like to take this opportunity to talk to you about our main concerns, our main issues, our main priorities. You will not be surprised if I start by a few words about the crisis we have and are still going through.

Bruxelles, 09/09/2013

Brussels, 25/04/2013 On 12 March 2013, the European Commission adopted a draft negotiating mandate for a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership with the USA. This represents a significant step-change in transatlantic relations, which collectively account for half of global GDP in terms of value. EU Member States have been given a remarkably tight timeframe to agree this mandate, which the Commission aims to conclude in time to allow negotiations to start before the summer recess this year.

Brussels, 29/04/2013 The “ride”, which will cover France, Switzerland, Italy, Slovenia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Moldavia, Ukraine, Russia and Azerbaijan, aims at promoting Decent Work throughout Europe and at raising attention on the issues that are of vital importance to all citizens and workers.

Brussels, 27/03/2013 “The conclusions of the High Level Working Group on Jobs and Growth in February, set out proposals on regulatory compatibility and liberalisation, which will have enormous consequences for workers on both sides of the Atlantic”, stated Bernadette Ségol, ETUC General Secretary, “and yet the public is not privy to how the Commission or our governments will define the EU’s mandate. This is a huge challenge to democracy, and will not help engender public support for these negotiations.”

Johannesburg, 12-13/02/2013 Check against delivery I am pleased and honoured to be invited to participate in bilateral discussions with South African unions and political actors on the important topic of Just Transition, Green and Decent Jobs. Your country and your trade union movement have for ever marked history. You continue to fight for equality, decent work and decent wages. You support campaigns to eliminate HIV here in South Africa but also in solidarity with neighbouring countries.

Brussels, 24/01/2013 Negotiators have claimed that their work will be finalised in the coming days and weeks, but unions on both sides of the Atlantic have made it clear that any agreement is only acceptable if based on a high standard, setting a benchmark for future agreements worldwide, and certainly not undermining existing conditions in relation to labour rights, public policy space and the provision of public services.

Brussels, 27/11/2012 In Colombia, one of the most dangerous countries in the world for trade unionists, CUT-CGT-CTC have not been invited to discuss the proposal. Participation has also been lacking in Peru. The text refers to a “National Agreement” (Acuerdo Nacional) in which many trade unions like CUT and CATP and civil society organisations were not involved, while it also mentions the existence of an ECOSOC that has never been set up. In general, the two roadmaps do not address essential concerns and concrete and binding measures regarding :

Brussels, 24/10/2012

Hanoi, 24/10/2012 (Check against delivery) Plenary Session III (General debate) Madam Minister, Dear friends, I have followed with great attention and great pleasure the debates of the day. I would like to pay tribute to our hosts who made us feel comfortable and made sure that the discussion could develop in a positive and friendly atmosphere. We are indeed very grateful that they gave the right and recognised place to our ASEM social partners' forum.

ETUC - Infopoint Conference on European Works Councils {{After the Recast –first lessons and future potential}} More than a year after the expiry of the transposition period of EWC Directive 2009/38/EC into national legislations, the main focus of the European Conference on European Works Councils will be on the concrete impact of the recast on EWC agreements and EWC functioning.

Brussels, 09/10/2012 “The international trade union movement is united in this call for a vote against the FTA. To do otherwise would disregard the appalling human rights record in Colombia and continued labour violations in Peru and would damage the EU’s reputation as a leading force in the promotion of human rights and basic freedoms”, states a joint letter sent to MEPs ahead of the EP’s decision on the FTA. The EP is set to vote on the ratification of the FTA before Christmas.

Brussels, 26/06/2012 In Colombia, union leaders and labour activists continue to be assassinated, threatened, and intimidated, and the perpetrators enjoy almost complete impunity. The appalling levels of violence negate in reality any promises for the free exercise of fundamental labour rights, including freedom of association. Tangible positive outcomes that allow unions to carry out their normal activities are needed so that the EU can conduct trade in line with its treaty obligations in respect of human rights.

Paris, 02/11/2011 Mr President, We hope that Europe will assert itself fully in the G20. However, synchronised austerity is not a good example to set the world. I am in constant contact with the Greek unions; they have asked me to reiterate that the regime being imposed upon Greece has led to recession and chaos.We have to learn the lessons from this. There is a price to be paid for a programme such as that being imposed on Greece.

Brussels, 2011 This publication is made of six fact sheets on working time in the following areas: • Trade • Health • Metal working industry • Fundamental Rights • Trends in working time • Gender equality and reconciling work and family life

Brussels, 04/07/2011