Brussels, 10/01/2008 John Monks will emphasise the importance of Europe’s single market respecting worker and trade union rights. The effect of the recent decisions of the European Court of Justice, particularly the Laval case has been to subordinate workers’ fundamental rights to bargain and to strike to the unimpeded free movement of labour.

Brussels, 09/01/2008 The European Central Bank continues to use the argument that oil price hikes will trigger a wage-price spiral. However, this view is wrong for two reasons: - With hourly wages growing at only 2.6% and with the share of wages in total income continuing to fall, stronger growth in wage earnings does not represent an inflationary danger.

Brussels, 18/12/07 The decision contains positive features such as upholding in community law the right to strike as a fundamental right and a union’s right to take industrial action against social dumping. On these points it confirms and strengthens last week’s ECJ decision in the Viking case.

Brussels, 18/12/2007 However, it regrets the fact that participants missed the opportunity to agree on binding commitments or targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions of the developed countries in the immediate future, as called for by the European Union negotiators and the ETUC. The ETUC emphasises the urgency of united action and calls on all the parties to respect the commitment to conclude negotiations by the 2009 deadline.

Brussels, 14/12/2007 To be checked against delivery To excuse the absence of John Monks, ETUC General Secretary – he is taking part in an important meeting of the International trade union movement in Washington. To congratulate the Presidency on the achievements and especially on the Reform Treaty. It is high time for Europe to concentrate its energies on the core issues that concern citizens and workers.

Brussels, 14/12/2007 The ETUC urged the European Council to follow the example of employment ministers, the European Parliament and the European social partners and take a balanced approach to common principles for flexicurity.

Brussels, 13/12/2007

Brussels, 11/12/2007

Brussels, 10/12/2007 With three month inter-bank interest rates shooting up to 4.86%, the financial crisis is intensifying. Higher finance costs, together with tightening credit standards and an overvalued euro exchange rate, are working to produce a significant slowdown in growth. To avoid a new slump in growth, interest rates should be cut, not raised.

Bruxelles, 07/12/2007 ETUC Deputy General Secretary Maria-Helena André will address the Africa-EU Summit, and will present the declaration adopted at the Africa-EU Trade Union Summit. The ETUC will be focusing on the following priorities:

Brussels, 06/12/2007 According to the ETUC, the increased cross-border mobility of workers, companies and agencies, signalling a Europeanisation of labour markets, demands minimum rules to ensure fair competition and protection of workers. However, the UK is leading a diminishing group of Member States in opposition, claiming that the proposals by the Portuguese presidency would harm the flexibility of its labour markets and cost jobs.

Ljubljana, 07/12/2007 To be checked against delivery

Brussels, 05/12/2007 European trade union leaders will examine the state of play regarding EU legislation on temporary agency workers, working time, European Works Councils and public services. They will also take a view on European Commission proposals on legal and 'illegal' migration, and on climate change, as well as on the recent turbulence in financial markets. The EU Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs, Joaquín Almunia, will attend the Executive Committee meeting this afternoon (5 December).