Brussels, 20/06/2007 To be checked against delivery Friends, a small group of us have just met the President of the Commission, President Barroso. We told him straight No Charter of Fundamental Rights, No Treaty Sans la charte, pas de traité. We told him too that if in a new Treaty the Summit drops the Charter; or if the Summit does not make the Charter binding on member states, then we say no, on dit non, wij zeggen nee, wir sagen nein, to that treaty.

Madrid, 16/06/2007 To be checked against delivery As a student of Spanish history, and an admirer of the role played by the UGT and the Socialist Party throughout Spain's modern history, it is with great pleasure that I join these celebrations to honour the 80th birthday of Nicolas Redondo and his marvellous contribution to trade unionism.

Brussels, 14/06/2007 The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) respects the ECJ's absolute independence, but believes that this ruling may go against European workers' inalienable right to protection of their health and safety at work. “This ruling could be a sign of encouragement from the European court to states who want to cut back European legislation on workers' rights,” said Walter Cerfeda, ETUC Confederal Secretary, responsible for health and safety at work.

Brussels, 13/06/2007

Brussels, 06/06/2007 However, the assumption on which the ECB bases this policy is seriously flawed: recently concluded collective bargaining agreements in the euro area, with IG-Metall as a prime example, do not pose a threat to inflation by any means. The real danger for the recovery is not that of too high wage outcomes but of excessive interest rates together with a too expensive euro exchange rate. The ETUC urges the ECB to implement a moratorium and stop the policy of hiking interest rates in the coming quarters.

Brussels, 05/06/2007 Last March, the European Union made a firm pledge to reduce its emissions by 20% in 2020 compared to 1990. The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) welcomed this decision as a decisive step in the right direction, which would encourage other industrialised countries, as well as the major polluters, to adopt similar objectives.

Seville, 23/05/2007 "This is good news for unions and for Europe. Union rights to take action to compel a company from another member state to observe collective agreements have been upheld. The Advocates General have also upheld trade union action to dissuade a company from relocating to another country. We will study the details carefully but these are important landmark and positive opinions for all European trade unions and for Europe".

Brussels, 16/05/2007 The ETUC reiterates its support for the Constitution as already ratified by 18 EU Member States, and emphasises that any new proposal must be a step forward for Social Europe as well. Above all, the ETUC opposes removing or weakening Part 2 of the Constitution, the Charter of Fundamental Rights, which represents the most significant advance for European citizens and must be made legally binding at the earliest opportunity.

Brussels, 16/05/2007 The ETUC would like to highlight in particular: the importance of regional integration in the six ACP regions concerned, a pre-requisite for fair trade with Europe; - confirmation of the EU's commitment to partnership agreements that support sustainable development and reduce poverty; - support for the integration of social and environmental provisions in the partnership agreements, with a view to reducing poverty, improving living conditions and promoting sustainable development.

Brussels, 16/05/2007 The four-yearly Congress, which takes place next week in Seville, Spain, is the moment for the entire movement across Europe to unite, to review the political situation, and to agree on its policies and strategies for the coming years.

Sofia, 11/05/2007 To be checked against delivery

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, 09/05/2007 An own-initiative report on health services was reviewed by the European Parliament's Internal Market Committee this week. The vote resulted in a challenge to the compromise on the Services Directive. The report will be forwarded to the European Parliament plenary session and put to the vote on 24 May.