European sector social dialogue: Staff working document
The Commission published the Staff Working Document on the functioning and potential of the European sector social dialogue.
This document aims to take stock of the main achievements of the European sectoral social dialogue and to review the functioning of the European sectoral social dialogue committees. It highlights the dynamics, outcomes and social impact of the committees’ work since 1998. It identifies possible improvements with a view to extending the scope and quality of the consultation and negotiation processes. (.../ ...)
This assessment of European sectoral social dialogue over the last 12 years shows the value of its contribution to th...
MEP’s green light ban on illegal timber – Law aims to reduce deforestation
The European Parliament approved on 7 July the agreement reached with the Council on the EU legislation to ban the sale of illegally-harvested timber. The new law is a step towards ensuring that illegally harvested timber and wood products cannot be sold on the EU market.
EMCEF and CEPI, Confederation of European Paper Industry, expressed their common views prior to the vote in the Parliament. The social partners approved a joint position on the draft Regulation “laying down the obligations of operators who place timber and timber products on the EU market”. This position paper is one achievement of the new Social Dialogue in the paper sector.
European Commission and Council of Europe kick off joint talks on EU's accession to the Convention on Human Rights
Official talks started on 7 July on the European Union's accession to the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR). Thorbjørn Jagland, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, and Viviane Reding, Vice-President of the European Commission discussed at a meeting in Strasbourg how to move the process forward so that employees and citizens can swiftly benefit from stronger and more coherent fundamental rights protection in Europe.
The EU’s accession to the ECHR is required under Article 6 of the Lisbon Treaty and foreseen by Article 59 of the ECHR as amended by the Protocol 14.
The Council of Europe and the EU are now putting in place the missing link in Europe's sy...
On 30 June and 1 July, some 130 participants from across Europe gathered in Paris for EMCEF's 8th General Assembly. All participants appreciated the warm welcome offered to them by the French affiliates.
The main topics of discussion during this general assembly were on the creation of a new European Industrial Trade Union Federation and on the motions submitted by the EMCEF statutory committees.
On the issue of the creation of a new European Industrial Trade Union Federation, participants voiced the need to group and focus the efforts of the EMCEF, EMF and ETUF:TCL on European level, in order to enforce a common position on five elements in p...
Social partners’ answers to the EU consultation on Working Time Directive
The ETUC, BusinessEurope and the UEAPME have given their answers to the first stage consultation on working time launched by the European Commission on March. Their positions have hardly moved from the earlier.
The ETUC will only review the 1993 directive if the opt-out is removed. ETUC thinks that the legislation isn't obsolete, even if safeguards, adjusted to new forms of labor, are needed. The ETUC stresses that protection against long and irregular working hours must continue to be the main goal of the WTD. The Employers' organizations, for their part, are calling for more flexibility, precisely because of these new forms of labor. The possibility to opt-out is crucial to compa...
This document aims to take stock of the main achievements of the European sectoral social dialogue and to review the functioning of the European sectoral social dialogue committees. It highlights the dynamics, outcomes and social impact of the committees’ work since 1998. It identifies possible improvements with a view to extending the scope and quality of the consultation and negotiation processes. (.../ ...)
EMCEF and CEPI, Confederation of European Paper Industry, expressed their common views prior to the vote in the Parliament. The social partners approved a joint position on the draft Regulation “laying down the obligations of operators who place timber and timber products on the EU market”. This position paper is one achievement of the new Social Dialogue in the paper sector.
The EU’s accession to the ECHR is required under Article 6 of the Lisbon Treaty and foreseen by Article 59 of the ECHR as amended by the Protocol 14. 
The main topics of discussion during this general assembly were on the creation of a new European Industrial Trade Union Federation and on the motions submitted by the EMCEF statutory committees.
The ETUC will only review the 1993 directive if the opt-out is removed. ETUC thinks that the legislation isn't obsolete, even if safeguards, adjusted to new forms of labor, are needed. The ETUC stresses that protection against long and irregular working hours must continue to be the main goal of the WTD. The Employers' organizations, for their part, are calling for more flexibility, precisely because of these new forms of labor. The possibility to opt-out is crucial to compa...