Congress press release

The legislative proposals and public comments of European Commissioner, Mr. Fritz Bolkestein provoked “outrage” at the opening of the European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU) Congress in Stockholm, leading to a call for a “legislative standstill” in relation to the increasingly notorious Bolkestein directive. This was seen as essential to protecting and promoting public services.

The outrage against recent comments from the Bolkestein camp in the European Commission was expressed by John Monks, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC). Mr. Monks was angered by suggestions that trade union resistance to the draft directive on services in the internal market was akin to that of racists and extreme nationalists. He called for an unequivocal apology by Commissioner Bolkestein and on behalf of the European Commission as a whole.

Covering issues arising from enlargement, the European Parliament elections and possible agreement on the draft European Constitution, the focus of Mr. Monks’ speech was reserved for the Bolkestein directive. In so doing, the ETUC Secretary General captured the mood of the EPSU gathering, as the proposed legislation is regarded as an unprecedented threat to vibrant public services throughout the enlarged Europe.

It was made clear that the ETUC supported an EU single market in services: “But not at the expense of European and national social standards, labour law, services of general interest, health and safety and collective agreements. We are demanding a legislative standstill until a framework Directive on Services of general interest is delivered. Protect public services first is our call, our campaign,” Mr. Monks stated.

The European trade union leader admitted that “Unions are worried by the way Europe is going”, saying that “some see liberalisation as a cure-all for our problems”. The Bolkestein directive epitomised this trend, Mr. Monks said.

There was a stern warning against trends relating to the European Constitution and the extremely low turn out in the European Parliament elections. Mr. Monks referred to attempts by some countries to undermine the Fundamental Charter of Rights in the constitution and its’ underpinning of social Europe and workers’ rights. “We warn against these salami tactics. They are not acceptable. Such rights as the right to strike are fundamental,” he said.

A call was made for next week’s summit of the Irish Presidency of the European Council of Ministers to heed ETUC and EPSU views and recognize the absolute importance of a strong social dimension in any potential constitutional settlement. The ETUC head said this was the way to counter the terrible apathy seen in the European Parliament elections. “People will only give support to a strong social model - a people’s Europe, not a big-business Europe,” he insisted.

The apathy referred to and the “tide of nationalism” on the horizon meant that the perception that Europe had become a “peaceful garden could not be taken for granted”, as the “factious tribes could grow again in Europe”, Mr. Monks’ said.

The ETUC leader also commented on how public service unions had become the central and by-and-large only expanding sector of the trade union movement, and because their employers were governments and other public authorities, they had a uniquely political dimension. The growing role and responsibilities of public sector unions and their intense interest in the outcome of the European Parliament elections, EU enlargement and agreement on the European constitution were echoed by EPSU President, Anna Salfi, who attacked what she called the “Frankenstein directive”. She said: “We will adopt an emergency resolution that will send out a loud and clear message about helping citizens and not harming them.”

President of Swedish public service union, Kommunal, Ylva Thorn, expressed deep concern about the low turn out in the European parliament elections, which she saw as “a negative trend”, and which she believed, highlighted the need for European cooperation and that trade unions must express the importance of Europe to counter what she saw as the “conservative winds that are blowing”.

Congress press releases and a Congress bulletin will appear daily on the EPSU website: www.epsu.org

SE-107 26 Stockholm, Sweden

Telephone: +46 8 506 166 00

For further information contact Brian Synnott, EPSU

Press enquiries during the Congress period can also be made to: Bernard Conlon, Tel: +46 8 50616809, Mobile +44 (0)7837891233

Notes for Editors:

About EPSU: http://www.epsu.org/a/6

The European Federation of Public Services Unions is the largest Federation of the ETUC and represents 8 million workers, providing services to the public in health and social care, local, regional and central government, and utilities in energy, water and waste.

EPSU Secretariat, Rue Royale 45, box 1, 1000 Brussels, Belgium Tel: +32 2 250 10 80