Trade unions are today – on the opening day of the European Parliamentary elections (voting opens in the Netherlands and the UK) – reminding all citizens that they should vote, and vote for candidates and parties that will work for a fairer Europe (not less Europe), democracy and social justice. Trade union leaders are launching their call at the Congress of the European Trade Union Confederation, meeting today in Vienna and bringing together some 1,000 trade unionists from all over the European Union, the European Economic Area and EU candidate countries.

ETUC Emergency Motion in support of Social Partner Agreement on Information and Consultation Rights for Workers in Central Government 

#ETUC19 Congress - Opening speech by Luca Visentini, ETUC General Secretary CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY Dear comrades and friends, Dear delegates and colleagues, Esteemed authorities, It’s a great pleasure to welcome all of you to the 14th Congress of the European Trade Union Confederation!

Today, the opening day of ETUC Congress – the largest European gathering of national trade union leaders for four years – ETUC General Secretary Luca Visentini will thank outgoing European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker for rescuing ‘social Europe’, and discuss with Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa the need for a renewed social contract for Europe.

The 14th Congress of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) will take place from Tuesday 21 to Friday 24 May 2019 at Wien Messe in Vienna, Austria.

Composition of the ETUC Statutory Bodies Election of the Vice-Presidents Adopted at the ETUC Executive Committee on 28-29 October 2015   1.    MEMBERS OF THE ETUC STEERING COMMITTEE Elected on the Executive Committee 2 October 2015 MEMBERS OF THE ETUC STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBRES DU COMITE DE DIRECTION October 2015 – May 2019  

Resolution on the Role of the ETUC 2015/2019 – follow up: ETUC reorganisation Adopted at the ETUC Executive Committee on 28-29 October 2015   Document on the role of the ETUC for the next mandate 2015-2019 The ETUC Congress in Paris endorsed a Document meant to set priorities and proposals for action, in order to renew and strengthen the role of the ETUC. The Executive Committee is called to adopt any necessary resolutions for its implementation.

ETUC and EESC Workers’ Group Cooperation Agreement Adopted at the Executive Committee Meeting of 17-18 December 2019 European trade unions are fighting for strong solidarity and more social justice, for a European Union that acts in the interests of workers and defends our social model, a unique example to others around the world.

[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.

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

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

At its Congress in Paris, the European Trade Union movement will elect a new leadership team for the next four years, including a new President and General Secretary, two Deputy General Secretaries and four Confederal Secretaries. The candidates are Name Country  Candidate for post of Rudy De Leeuw Belgium President Luca Visentini Italy

At its Congress in Paris, in September, the European Trade Union movement will adopt new policies and demands for economic recovery and quality jobs a fairer society and Stronger EU economic policy coordination, especially within the Eurozone  

Document on the role of the ETUC for the next mandate 2015-2019 Adopted at the ETUC 13th Congress on 2 October 2015   Foreword This paper is meant to set priorities and proposals for action, in order to renew and strengthen the role of the ETUC. It will be discussed in the last panel of the Congress on ‘the ETUC of the future’. At the end of the panel, the document will be submitted to the Congress for endorsement.

Emergency motion on fundamental rights in Spain  Five years ago, on September 29, both major Spanish unions, CC.OO and UGT organised a general strike against the neoliberal reforms that the Spanish government was launching in Spain. On Tuesday, as the ETUC Congress opened, Spanish workers continued to suffer the impact of the economic crisis, the labour reforms and a trade union witch-hunt, with 300 trade unionists penalised for exercising their right to strike.

Paris, 2 October 2015 Emergency Motion – Trade in Services Agreement (TiSA) Adopted at the ETUC 13th Congress on 2 October 2015

Emergency motion on health and safety at work  Adopted at the ETUC 13th Congress on 2 October 2015 To work in a healthy and safe environment is a fundamental human right. Work should not put the lives or health of workers at risk. The ETUC Congress condemns the attempts to put into question the existing framework of health and safety protection and to classify much needed health and safety standards as needless red tape or "the most burdensome if EU legislative acts".

Emergency motion - Solidarity with Turkish and Kurdish journalists suffering repression Adopted at the ETUC 13th Congress on 2 October 2015 For freedom of speech.

Emergency motion - UK referendum renegotiation strategy Adopted at the ETUC 13th Congress on 2 October 2015 Congress notes that there will be a referendum on Britain’s continued membership of the European Union at some time in the next two years. The British government is currently seeking to renegotiate the relationship between the EU and the UK, and the British Prime Minister will be raising the issue at the European Council in October.

Emergency motion on Northern Ireland Adopted at the ETUC 13th Congress on 2 October 2015 The Irish Congress of Trade Unions as a matter of urgency requests this Congress to intervene in demanding the political parties in Northern Ireland with the assistance of the British Irish and U.S Governments to resolve the political impasse in Northern Ireland.

Congress Resolution presented by Executive Committee on Improving gender balance in ETUC Having regard to the statutory amendments submitted by the TUC, aiming at improving women’s representation in ETUC statutory bodies and largely inspired by the principles of the Road Map adopted at the Executive Committee in June 2014;

ETUC Resolutions 2011-2015

Adopted at the ETUC Executive Committee on 28-29 October 2015 Communicating effectively – Taking ETUC, European and national affiliate cooperation to a new level    Communications plays a central role in achieving ETUC objectives. The ETUC must communicate with EU institutions and ‘actors’ that influence EU policy, including the media and should be able to better spread its messages and actions among the affiliates.