Brussels, 06/06/2006 The Committee, on which all ETUC-affiliated organisations in 36 European countries are represented, will assess the latest developments on issues such as the Services Directive, the period of reflection surrounding the EU Constitution, and working time legislation. EU monetary policy will be high on the agenda. The ETUC has repeatedly urged the European Central Bank and euro-zone Member States to change their approach in order to sustain an emerging economic recovery.

Helsinki, 05/06/2006 To be checked against delivery President, delegates, fellow guests. As Lauri knows, my Finnish is excellent but my English is better. If you believe all that, you will believe anything! So with some regret, I proceed in my mother tongue of English and must leave the language of Sami Hyypia to you. I have long admired this trade union federation and its affiliates. The Nordic model, and its Finnish variant, is the most successful trade union model anywhere in the world.

Berlin, 24/05/2006 To be checked against delivery Liebe Kolleginnen und Kollegen, Mein Deutsch ist sehr gut. Mein Englisch aber ist etwas besser. Deshalb bitte ich Euch um Nachsicht, wenn ich in meiner Muttersprache zu Euch spreche. Delegates, Allow me to go straight forward to some key issues that are of great importance for all of us.

Warsaw, 19-21 May 2006 To be checked against delivery I am pleased to convey the greetings of the ETUC to the Congress of our newest ETUC affiliate, the OPZZ.

Brussels, 25/04/2006 “The way the French trade unions achieved their objective makes the ETUC optimistic,” John Monks will tell delegates. “Working in unity, together with young people and students' organisations, the movement shows how much influence it can have. I was glad to offer the ETUC's support.”

Lille, 25/04/2006

Brussels, 11/04/2006 From the outset, the ETUC has maintained its support for the French trade unions in their battle to block the CPE. This strong action also demonstrates the ETUC's determination to oppose the job insecurity that is affecting young people throughout Europe.

Prague, 07-08/04/2006 To be checked against delivery It is with pleasure that I bring the greetings of the ETUC to the Congress of CMKOS. CMKOS will always have a special place in my affections as I was elected as ETUC General Secretary in Prague in 2003 - a Congress which you hosted impressively.

Brussels, 03/04/2006 The two trade union organisations have written to Bosnian Prime Minister Mr Adnan Terzic, calling on him to take all necessary steps to protect the lives and safety of Mr Biber and his family, and to ensure that he can continue to carry out his trade union activities. Mr Biber has already been the victim of threats and attacks in 2003. Recently, he has been active in pressing for the new law on the 'revision of privatisation', designed to protect workers' employment and contract rights.

Brussels, 20/03/2006 The introduction of insecure employment and the attack on existing workers' rights, in this case in France but also taking place in a number of other European countries, is not the right way to relaunch growth, boost European competitiveness and create jobs. On the contrary, these kinds of measures create a situation of social dumping in the EU, which will damage the future of Europe.

Brussels, 14/03/2006 The Committee, on which all ETUC-affiliated organisations are represented, will assess the outcome of the European Parliament vote on the Services Directive, and the likely content of the European Commission's forthcoming revised proposal, due to be published in April. The meeting will also draw up a resolution to go to the EU Spring Summit, in response to the Commission's Annual Progress Report on growth and jobs.

Rimini, 01/03/2006 To be checked against delivery Secretary General, friends and comrades. It is with pride and pleasure that I represent the ETUC at the CGIL Congress in Rimini. Special pride because the ETUC has had a big success recently in its campaign against the Bolkestein Directive. Pleasure because I am learning all the time about the special contribution that the CGIL and our other Italian affiliates - CISL and UIL - make to trade unionism in Italy, Europe and the world.

London, 25/02/2006 To be checked against delivery I am glad of the opportunity to share with you today a few thoughts about European trade unions' relations with Latin America, the Caribbean and notably Cuba. The ETUC's links with trade union organisations in the region has intensified over time. The historic ties of our Spanish and Portuguese members in particular have been a great asset on which to build the relationship for the European trade union Movement as a whole.

Brussels, 06/02/2006 “We are certainly not against a Services Directive. But we are against one based on the country of origin principle. Open access, yes. Non-discrimination, yes. But we cannot tolerate outside companies undermining the conditions (labour, environmental, consumer protection) which apply to established companies, observing only those that are applicable in their country of origin. Fundamental change, not tinkering, is required,” declared John Monks.

Brussels, 01/02/2006 Christos Polyzogopoulos, President of the Greek national trade union centre (GSEE) and member of the ETUC Executive Committee, was seriously injured yesterday, following a violent attack by members of anarchist and far left groups. Mr Polyzogopoulos had to be hospitalized. The ETUC deplores this life threatening act against a union leader and expresses its concerns at such extremist activities observed recently in Greece.

2006

Palermo, 18/01/2006 To be checked against delivery I am grateful to the CGIL for the opportunity to visit Palermo and Sicily, to come to one of Europe's great crossroads, and to address you today on taking Europe's forward. 2005 was a bad year for Europe. A few years ago, the Queen of England reflecting on the bedroom antics of her children, said that the year in question had been an “annus horribilis”. Well 2005 was such an “annus horribilis” for the European Union. There were several reasons:

Bordeaux, 16/11/2005

2005

Barcelona, 6-7/11/2005

Madrid, 01/06/2005 To be checked against delivery President, It is a special pleasure for me to be present with you at the Congress of the UGT, and to be with my friend and colleague, the President of the ETUC, Candido Mendez. In the two years, we have been working together, I have developed tremendous respect and affection for Candido - feelings which, by the way, are general within the European trade union world. He is a credit to the ETUC and to the UGT and to Spain.

Brussels, 26/05/2005 ETUC hopes this aid will be allocated to priority social objectives: education, health, social rights, decent work, social protection, social dialogue, particularly as part of Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs).

London, 09/05/2005 To be checked against delivery It's almost 20 years since I first became associated with the IPA. For me the partnership journey was a response to the wreckage of the miners' strike of 1984/85 and the loss and diminution of large swathes of UK manufacturing (and trade union membership). There was little doubt in my mind that the adversarial model of industrial relations was playing a major part - not the only part, not in most cases the biggest part - but a major part nevertheless in the UK's industrial decline.