Editorial by Klaus Heeger, Secretary General of CESI
Today CESI participated in a hearing with the European Commission on change management in the automotive industry in Europe.
On May 20-21, CESI hosted train driver lobby days in Brussels for its member ALE, the Federation of European Train Drivers' Unions.
The European social partners for the postal sector - PostEurop, CESI and UNI Europa - are looking for a consultancy to support their EU co-funded project 'The postal sector: an inclusive employer for a more inclusive society'.
At its constitutive meeting on May 16, following CESI's Congress in December, CESI's Commissions on Employment and Social Affairs (SOC) and Women's Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM) elected their new leadership.
On May 8th, 2025, CESI marked a landmark moment for healthcare trade union cooperation, gender equality, and Serbia’s EU integration in Belgrade.
In response to an ad-hoc European social partner consultation, CESI has called for new public procurement rules to be socially balanced.
On May 5, CESI published its priorites for the EU's next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF).
CESI SG Klaus Heeger co-signed the updated European guidelines to protect workers from third party violence and harassment.
CESI, Uniunea TESA and CSN Meridian brought together experts from across Europe to strengthen social dialogue and cooperation for fair wages and active labour market policies in the public health sector.
Today, on the occasion of this year's annual World Day for Safety and Health at Work, CESI reaffirms its commitment to promoting occupational safety and health for all workers.
On April 9, 2025, CESI hosted an eQualPro event in the liaison office of the European Parliament in Rome, focusing on gender equality in public administration.
Today, CESI Secretary General Klaus Heeger participated in a high-level kick-off meeting on a new EU Quality Jobs Roadmap with EU Jobs Commissioner Roxana Mînzatu.
At the #ACTIVER event in Salerno, trade unions advanced strategies for skills, inclusion, and fair transitions.
On April 7/8, CESI participated at the SEISMEC project's most recent General Assembly in Cork to present trade union priorities for human-centric ICT in workplaces.
How to secure competitiveness without sacrificing cohesion and build economic strength without undermining social stability (?)
By focusing on past EU achievements, present obstacles, and future risks, CESI aims at helping workers and unions be agents of fairness and change.
Trump’s tariffs risk a trade war that threatens jobs, fuels inflation, and hits workers hardest. CESI urges a united EU response to protect our industries and social model.
CESI welcomes the EU Internal Security Strategy and the Preparedness Union Strategy as important milestones toward safeguarding the Union and its people from an increasingly complex landscape of threats.
CESI SG Klaus Heeger emphasises that social dialogue and public services are Europe's competitive advantage, not obstacles to growth.
As the European Commission moves ahead with a policy agenda of deregulation, CESI has adopted a new resolution to call for a socially sustainable competitiveness agenda for Europe.
Today, together with 20 European civil society and trade union organisations, CESI supports a joint call on the European Commission to give space to ambitions on long-term care. A corresponding letter was transmitted to the European Commissioner for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness, Roxana Mînzatu.
CESI broadly welcomes the new EU White Paper on European Defence, published by the European Commission on March 19. It could lead to a new third major transition after the green and the digital.
In a consultation statement, CESI has called on the European Commission to make social outcomes a priority in revised EU directives on public procurement and concessions.
CESI underscores that the success of the Roadmap will depend on continued collaboration between the European institutions, Member States, social partners and civil society.
CESI Secretary General Klaus Heeger participated in the European Employment and Social Rights Forum 2025, Europe’s largest event on employment and social affairs, which took place on March 5-6 in Brussels.
Ensure synchronised resting time also in times of competitiveness
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen couldn’t have been blunter. In her letter to the special European Council she wrote: “A new era is upon us. Europe faces a clear and present danger on a scale that none of us have seen in our adult lifetime”.
Today, on March 1, Equal Care Day 2025, CESI reaffirms its commitment to building a more balanced and equitable society and labour markets in Europe through a fairer distribution of care responsibilities.
Shortly after the so-called Weimar+ meeting comprising France, Germany, Poland, Spain and the UK, the Munich Security Conference 2025 and NATO’s Defence Ministers gathering in Brussels, CESI's 8th European Defence Round-Table (EDRT) took place.
In a new position on an EU social partner consultation on a Union of Skills, CESI has called on the EU to issue concrete measures to improve professional training, recognition of qualifications and fair transitions for workers in the EU.
During the European Parliament plenary week of February 10, CESI Secretary General Klaus Heeger met with a series of MEPs in Strasbourg to discuss the newly issued work programme of the European Commission for 2025.
As the European Commission consults on a new EU industrial action plan for the automotive sector, CESI and its Italian metal worker member union Fismic-Confsal call to balance environmental objectives and industrial feasibility, to secure the industry's future and jobs in Europe.
Priorities are shifting in EU policymaking. As Bill Clinton’s 1992 campaign famously put it: “It’s the economy, stupid.” Today, this focus has fully resurfaced in Europe, placing competitiveness as a cornerstone of future prosperity.
As part of a social partner consultation, CESI adopted a new position on a forthcoming EU Roadmap for Women's Rights.
At their first meeting of the year on January 30, CESI's Presidium and Programme Commission set CESI's work topics for 2025.
At its first meeting after the recent Congress in December, the Presidium reinstated CESI's horizontal Commissions and sectoral Expert Commissions. It also re-established the Working Group on the Future of Work and put in place a new 'CESI Seniors' platform.
A new position of CESI on the currently negotiated new EU Directive on Quality Traineeships is now available.
A reaction statement by CESI Secretary General Klaus Heeger in response to the Competitiveness Compass that the European Commission published this week.
The chairs of the political groups of the European Parliament established two new Intergroups on Civil Protection and on the Future of Education. CESI, as co-initiator and co-supporter of the two intergroups, strongly welcomes it.
Today, the Polish Prime Minister Tusk presented the priorities of the Polish Council Presidency to the European Parliament.
On December 13, the CESI EU co-funded SynCrisis project reached its culmination with a final conference, marking the conclusion of a two-year initiative focused on the essential role of public services in addressing Europe’s multifaceted and interconnected crises.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, re-elected for a second term, has prioritised defence as a key pillar for completing the European Single Market and establishing a robust European Defence Union.
A mandate for the next five years | Editorial of CESI SG Klaus Heeger Under the theme “Independence, Unity, Progress: Empowering Today’s Workforce for Tomorrow,” the Congress gave us an opportunity to reflect on our achievements while also addressing the challenges ahead.
On December 12, the Congress of CESI adopted an emergency motion calling to secure the Spanish Muface beyond 2024.
Romain Wolff and Klaus Heeger were re-elected President and Secretary General of the European Confederation of Independent Trade Unions (CESI) at its Congress held today in Brussels.
On December 3, CESI's Board voted in favour of a membership application of the Greek firefighter union E.P.A.Y.P.S.
Brussels, December 3 2024 – The European Confederation of Independent Trade Unions (CESI) calls for urgent and coordinated action from EU policymakers to tackle the deepening crisis in the automotive sector and protect workers in the sector amidst transitions.
CESI will hold its 9th Congress on December 12.
December 13th 2024 | hybrid (Brussels & via Zoom) | 9.30 – 15.30
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