Brussels, 26/11/2010

Brussels, 13/04/2010 Commissioner De Gucht remarked "Free trade agreements can open new avenues to secure improvements in the protection of human rights, including labour rights. Trade policy can help, not hinder, legitimate social concerns. With our new agreements with Korea and Colombia, we will be doing just that."

Brussels, 26/05/2009 I am glad this meeting is being held in the International Trade Union House (ITUH), home of ETUC and ITUC. I’m glad also that the Commission is seeking to involve civil society in dialogue over trade. This isn’t a subject that can or should be ghettoised to trade experts. International trade is high on the trade union agenda. And the EU’s exclusive competence on trade issues makes this a European subject par excellence. Hence the key interest of the European Trade Union Confederation.

Brussels, 12/12/2008 ‘The list of beneficiaries of the EU’s GSP plus system over 2009 to 2011 includes some of the world’s worst violators including Colombia, Guatemala and Georgia', said ITUC General Secretary Guy Ryder. 'Colombia should only have received benefits in exchange for guaranteed progress in terms of its compliance with internationally-recognised core labour standards.’

Brussels, 06/10/2008 In the context of this World day for decent work, John Monks, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation, will take part in the activities organised by ETUC's Belgian members on the morning of 7 October. “This World Day for Decent Work (WDDW) is essential for the trade union movement. Every confederation will contribute by one way or another. As for us, we will put great emphasis on decent working time. Our key message will be: for decent wages and decent working hours”, declares ETUC General Secretary John Monks.

Brussels, 01/10/2008

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.

Bruxelles, 16/04/2008

2008

Brussels, 06/02/2008 Trade unions welcome the UN Commission's decision to focus on 'full and productive employment and decent work' as its 2007-2008 priority. Alarming trends in unemployment in the wake of the current global market turmoil and the threat of recession - revealed in the International Labour Organisation's (ILO) new Global Employment Report 2008 - mean urgent action is needed.

Brussels, 16/01/2008 At that conference, the ETUC and its industrial federations stated that trade defence instruments (TDI) needed to be strengthened rather than weakened, because they protect not only growth and jobs, but also social progress worldwide. The Commission's proposals – apart from the fact that they did not sufficiently take account of the results of the public consultation – were in danger of accentuating social and environmental dumping by weakening procedures.

Brussels, 05-06/12/2007 1. INTRODUCTION In accordance with Treaty Article 159, every three years the Commission evaluates the status of cohesion policy and the contribution of other Community policies. On 30 May 2007, the Commission adopted the Fourth Report on Cohesion that presents an update on the progress made towards achieving economic, social and territorial cohesion and on the manner in which Member State and Community policies have contributed to it.

Brussels, 08/11/2007 He drew attention to trade union concerns about the European Commission's proposals for reform of the TDIs, outlined last year in a Green Paper. And he warned of the danger of environmental and social dumping if standards are lowered, in the absence of a global competition law.

Brussels, 08/11/2007 It is an honour for me to present the concluding remarks of this seminar on the European Union's Trade Defence Instruments.

London, 23/10/2007 Chairman, ladies and gentleman, few words can cause so much alarm in the hearts and minds of many trade unionists as 'globalisation'. It conveys a range of meanings, mostly negative. The first meaning is of jobs emigrating to cheap locations.

Brussels, 23/10/2007 “Few words can cause so much alarm in the hearts and minds of many trade unionists as globalisation,” he admitted. Its impacts include relocation of jobs to cheaper locations, large-scale migration of workers, and the rising power of financial capitalism. Together, these contribute to a growing disillusionment with politics – seen as powerless in the face of the global market.

Stockholm, 8/05/2007 To be checked against delivery My first Congress after my election as General Secretary of the ETUC was the TCO Congress in 2003 and four years later, I am pleased to be back. I am pleased too to see the progress made by Swedish trade unionism in the past 4 years but not so pleased to have to share your apprehension about the harmful changes being made by the current Swedish Government.

Brussels, 04/05/2007 The trade union delegation, led by the Trade Union Advisory Committee (TUAC) of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), will urge G8 ministers to prioritise the social dimension of globalisation, focusing in particular on more and better employment, stronger social protection in developing and emerging countries, and the social responsibility of businesses.

Brussels, 19/01/2007 ETUC Confederal Secretary Joël Decaillon and advisers Juan Moreno and Gabrielle Clotuche will make up the confederation's three-strong delegation. The ETUC's contribution will focus on "decent work - decent life", and present trade union strategies in support of poor and unemployed people. The ETUC delegation will also take part in seminars on migration, relations between the European Union and the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries, and multinational companies.

Brussels, 7-8 December 2006 I. Introduction 1. On 4 October 2006, the Commission published a Communication entitled "Global Europe: competing in the world", welcomed by the General Affairs council of 12 November 2006. That text proposes that EU external trade policy be reoriented through a number of initiatives to be given effect late in 2006 and early in 2007. The ETUC wishes to set out in this resolution the position it has already expressed in a press release and at two conferences organised by the Trade Commissioner.

Brussels, 04-05 December 2006 To be checked against delivery The ETUC subscribes to the Decent Work agenda set down by the ILO in 2000, the four strategic objectives of which (including gender mainstreaming throughout) are - Creating jobs - Guaranteeing rights at work - Spreading social protection - Promoting dialogue and conflict prevention.

Brussels, 04/12/2006 The ETUC was alarmed by moves outlined in the European Commission's Communication of October 2006 towards bilateral free trade agreements, which appear to give social and environmental objectives a back seat. In the view of the ETUC, it is through trade negotiations that the EU can best use its weight to promote good jobs, social protection, workers' rights and conflict prevention worldwide. The EU must adopt a coherent strategy that respects all its policies.

London, 14/11/2006 Those of you who knew Aneurin Bevan can probably guess his likely reaction to my choice of the title tonight.

Moscow, 14-16/11/2006 To be checked against delivery President, Delegates, Friends. I am glad and honoured to bring you greetings on behalf of the European Trade Union Confederation. Your Congress comes at a time of momentous change in the world trade union Movement. Earlier this month, in Vienna, we saw the birth of a new, united, democratic, International Trade Union Confederation.