Brussels, 18/07/2007

Brussels, 08/03/2007 The ETUC position on the first stage of the social partners' consultation on the reconciliation of professional, private and family life calls for a number of measures to be put in place at EU level. In particular, the ETUC asks European leaders to: - take up measures to recognise the right to paid parental leave; - improve the maternity protection directive; - step up actions to enhance the availability, quality, accessibility, affordability of care services, especially child care and care for the elderly;

Brussels, December 2006 On 20 October 2006, the European Commission formally consulted the European social partners on the reconciliation of professional, private and family life. This is the first stage of the consultation process and is one of the follow up measures put forward by the Commission in its recent Communication on Demography, to respond to the demographic challenge which the EU is facing.

Brussels, 20/07/2006

Brussels, June 2006 Introduction As expressed in ‘ETUC's vision of Europe’, adopted by the 10th Congress in Prague 2003, the ETUC is committed to Paragraph h on gender equality and should: - (point 16) Demand the inclusion of gender equality among the fundamental values of the EU and its inclusion in the shared competences of the EU;

Brussels, 01/05/2006 Following EU enlargement in 2004, Member States had until 30 April 2006 to announce whether they would remove restrictions imposed on incoming workers from the new Member States of central and eastern Europe. From 1 May, these citizens have access to labour markets in Finland, Spain and Portugal. Belgium and France have also pledged to ease their rules gradually. Ireland, Sweden and the UK opened their labour markets from 2004 onwards, with recent studies reporting a positive impact on EU economies.

Brussels, 16/03/2006 “We are in favour of a more open approach,” affirmed ETUC General Secretary John Monks, “but it must be based on the principles of equal treatment and upward harmonisation of working conditions and social protection.”

Brussels, 2003

Brussels, 08/02/2006

Brussels, 5-6 December 2005 1) On the occasion of the enlargement of 1 May 2004, 12 of 15 ‘old' Member States have introduced transitional measures. Some new Member States have applied measures on the basis of reciprocity as a response. Before 1 May 2006 the Council will have to review the functioning of the transitional provisions on the basis of a Commission report. This report is expected to be published in January 2006. ETUC wants to contribute to the debate about the next steps with this resolution and the explanatory memorandum in the annex.

Brussels, 14/04/2005 (Speech) To be checked against delivery JM/cd History European social dialogue practices have over time become more diversified and broader in scope. At every step of the way, the ETUC has sought to play a positive and pro-active role.

Brussels, 15-16 March 2005 {{1. Introduction: }}

Brussels, 10/02/2005 The ETUC believes in equal treatment for migrant workers, both in migrants' own interest and to ensure that employers cannot abuse migrants' often vulnerable situation so as to undercut the situation of national workers, in the form of social dumping. Equal treatment must apply, not only in respect of terms and conditions of employment, but also to all areas of human rights, social security, housing and education.

Brussels, 01 December 2004 1. The Resolution approved by the Executive Committee on 18-19 March 2004 underlined the importance of bolstering the coordination of collective bargaining, as indicated in the Prague Congress' Action Programme. This decision now appears even more important in the light of recent action taken in many European countries which could worsen existing contractual and working conditions for workers.

Brussels, 13-14 October 2004 1. The new European Constitution is a clear improvement over the present Treaties which have established the European Union. It is less ambitious and effective than the ETUC proposed and also less than the European Convention put forward in its report. Nonetheless despite these reservations and weaknesses, the new Treaty is a move forward towards an improved European framework and, clearly while not the final step, deserves and requires the support of the ETUC. Background

Brussels, 16/02/2004 The ETUC strongly supports the Commission's draft directive on gender equality in the supply of goods and services which will be discussed by the women's rights committee of the European Parliament this week.

Brussels, 16 October 2003

Brussels, 19-20 November 2002 The ETUC and its affiliated organisations welcome the Council decision to nominate 2003 as the European Year of People with Disabilities. The ETUC will mobilise trade unionists everywhere to make this European Year a success, to make it a year for equal rights and social integration in an ordinary work environment and a launch pad for the future, to develop access to education, employment and the dignity of all persons with disabilities.