(1 February 2012) The macro-economic dialogue at technical level considered the economic situation in the European Union and had an exchange of views on the Annual Growth Survey 2012. Regarding the current economic situation the European Central Bank’s most recent forecast as published in its Monthly bulletin of January 2012 underlines the slowdown of the Euro-area economy and the continued downward risks which could result in a further slowing down. The European Commission has been more (...)

(27 January 2012) The Treaty being negotiated between Member States of the European Union is meeting increasing opposition. The ETUC came out against the Treaty and called for a European day of action. Also the workers’ group of the European Economic and Social Committee argues against the Treaty. Action should be taken to:
the introduce euro bonds and taxation on financial transactions,
assign a wider role to the European Central Bank to promote growth and employment,
sign a (...)

(25 January 2012) The ETUC has considerable concerns about the new Austerity Treaty that is being negotiated in haste and without much participation of Europe’s citizens, social partners and others. The European Council of 9 December 2011 agreed to conclude a Fiscal Compact, the main measure of which is the balanced budget rule that all countries have to approve in legislation or constitutions. Together with the set of measures already adopted (the six pack) and further measures for the (...)

EPSU Press communication
(24 January 2012) The European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU) is supporting and participating in the press conference that the European Trade Union Confederation is organizing on 25 January. EPSU has been at the forefront of the mobilisation against austerity and for public services, like our European mobilisitation of November 30th shows.
We call to put an end to the social damage and to stop austerity measures that eat away at the purchasing power of (...)

(24 January 2012) The European Education Committee (ETUCE) organized a special event on the impact of the austerity measures on the education sector and the alternatives the unions proposed. Education is very much part of the solution say the education unions. The right to education should be part of the campaigns it was argued. A fair taxation policy is needed to ensure funding for public services including education. Unions also sought an active approach with radical suggestions being (...)

(18 January 2012) The Brussels region of the Mouvement Ouvrier Chrétien (MOC) addressed the Belgian government austerity measures and their implications. Speakers of ACV-CSC (the union confederation), the women’s and the youth movement, the mutualités (sicknessfunds) and the Belgian tax justice network underlined different aspects. The trade unions announced the general strike for 30 January 2012. All Belgian confederations will participate and mobilize. The perception of the participants was (...)

Eighteen participants from 14 countries came together at the end of November to debate the latest economic policies emerging from the European institutions and to report on their national situation.
The meeting was chaired by Ivan Kokalov of FHS-CITUB who explained the situation in Bulgaria with trade unions having organised a nationwide protest against the decision to start increasing retirement ages from 2012. This goes against an agreement on pension reform negotiated with trade unions (...)

(15 December 2011) The unprecedented wave of protests and those which participate: the protestors have been honored by Time Magazine with the cover of the Person of the Year 2011. Time Magazine devoted a long article to the various protests movements 2011 has seen:
The people driving out dictators in Tunisia and Egypt
The young people and many others that opposed government policies and called themselves Indignados in Spain
The mobilizations with people demanding change in Greece
The (...)

(6 December 2011) The ETUC General Secretary and President sent a letter of all EU government leaders expressing their concerns about the ongoing crisis and the problems in the Eurozone.
The possibility of recession is immediate and Europe needs investment for sustainable growth. Measures to realize this are: action by the European Central Bank, mutual support in the form of Eurobonds, a financial transaction tax, fair taxation, concerted action on tax evasion and tax fraud, together with (...)

(29 November 2011) Trade union Actions across EU for a change in EU and national level Economic policies to protect jobs, public services, social rights and pensions Justice
We, the Members of the Socialist and Democrat Group in the European Parliament, send all our support and solidarity for the trade union Actions taking place across Europe on and around the 30 November. More than twenty British unions and over two million public service workers take industrial action in defence of their (...)