CESI@noon on affordable housing
As rents and real estate prices continue to skyrock, CESI Youth held a CESI@noon lunchtime debate on possible EU measures for more affordable housing.
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New Commission proposals to manage the refugee crisis: Public sector and local administration workers need EU support
Today, the European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker held a much-awaited speech in the European Parliament on the state of the union and announced new plans to manage the EU's ongoing refugee and migration challenge more successfully. He proposed both an emergency and a permanent common crisis relocation mechanism for refugees. As a trade union confederation representing numerous public sector workers who are working with and receiving refugees on a regular basis, CESI recalls that the public services in Europe's regions, towns and municipalities need (more) help to be able to take in refugees with dignity - including from the EU.
For youth employment and a better prevention of radicalisation: Commission proposes to adjust ET2020 priorities
Last week, the European Commission issued its draft 2015 joint Commission-Council report on the implementation of the Strategic framework for European cooperation in education and training (ET2020). The document, which still needs approval by the Council, includes readjustment proposals for ET2020 to two of the EU's major challenges: the need to further bring down youth unemployment and the necessity to better prevent radicalisation. The CESI Youth and CESI's Trade Council 'Education, Training and Research' attach great importance to the report.
Mass migration: Europe’s biggest challenge
To provide for humane and integrative immigration into Europe has always been a tremendous challenge for the EU member states in the past decades. But with the spread of crisis in the Middle-East and Northern Africa over the last years, and with immigration reaching unprecedented and unimaginable heights, these challenges have become almost insurmountable.
CESI concerned about Greek privatisation measures
One month after the euro summit and the political agreement reached on 13 July, a new financial assistance agreement mobilising up to €86 billion for Greece has been reached on 14 August. Yesterday, the European Commission also signed with Greece a new agreement for a new stability support programme. All these agreements include measures, including labour market and privatisation reforms that Greece needs to fulfil under the control of the European institutions.
After the withdrawal of the maternity leave proposal: Commission publishes roadmap on work-life balance for those with dependants
Last month, after continued blockades by the Council, the European Commission withdrew its proposal on a revised maternity leave directive from 2008. Today, it presented a roadmap on a new follow-up initiative. The roadmap, themed 'A new start to address the challenges of work-life balance faced by working families', sets out possible ways forward not specifically for maternity leave but more generally for a better work-life balance faced by working families and women and men with dependants. The possible options to move ahead, as set out in the roadmap, include both legislative and non-legislative options. Kirsten Lühmann, President of CESI's Women's Rights and Gender Equality Commission, stresses that concrete proposals that will flow from this roadmap must be ambitious and not lack teeth.
TTIP, occupational pensions & the Juncker Plan: CESI speaks to MEP Thomas Mann
Just in time before the Brussels summer recess, CESI spoke to MEP Thomas Mann about recent developments in EU employment and social affairs - most notably in relation to the current revision of occupational pension rules in the EU, the TTIP's likely social impacts and the potential of the Juncker investment plan to create jobs. This interview continues the 'CESI speaks to ...'-series on insights into EU employment and social affairs hot topics. Thomas Mann is one of the most experienced EU politicians in the field of employment and social affairs. As a German EPP affiliate, he has been a member of the European Parliament and its Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) since 1994. Between 2004 and 2014, he was also Vice-chair of the EMPL Committee and has been a substitute member in the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) since the late 1990s.
European Commission opens consultation on EU social security coordination
Last week, the European Commission opened a public consultation on the EU's social security coordination legislation. CESI is currently running an internal consultation among its members with a view to submitting a joint CESI response.
Commission consultation: CESI joins calls for a renewed & ambitious EU gender equality strategy
Today is the last day to submit an answer to the European Commission's public consultation on the future of equality between women and men in the EU. CESI has sent its response already, highlighting the need for a strong and ambitious successor to the 2010-2015 EU gender equality strategy.
Greece after the euro summit: Uncertainty ahead for Greece’s public services and workers
At a euro summit yesterday, the heads of state or government of the eurozone member states decided on a set of measures that Greece needs to fulfill in order to potentially qualify for an ESM support programme and thus stay in the eurozone. The measures mean uncertainty with regards to the future of the Greek public services as well as labour rights and working conditions of private and public sector employees.
CESI participates in the Commission’s advisory Platform for tax good governance
Today, the European Commission's advisory Platform for tax good governance held its 7th meeting. As a member of the platform, CESI participated in this meeting, which featured in particular debate with Heinz Zourek (chief of the Commission's DG TAXUD and chair of the platform) on the Commission's recently issued Tax Transparency Package and its Action Plan on Corporate Taxation published last month.
Good news: European Parliament calls to exclude public services from TTIP
Today, the European Parliament plenary adopted its long-awaited report on recommendations to the Commission on the TTIP negotiations. The final report explicitly calls to exclude public services from an agreement with the USA. CESI, which represents numerous national trade unions from different fields of the public sector, very much welcomes the report: It marks a further step in CESI's successful campaign to keep the public services out of TTIP and thereby ensure that quality services of general interest can be provided in Europe in the absence of TTIP-induced harmful liberalisation and privatisation pressures.
‘CESI Youth’-Representative Matthäus Fandrejewski honoured by the German Federal President
In June, Matthäus Fandrejewski - the lead representative of CESI's youth organisation, the CESI Youth - was honoured by the German Federal President Joachim Gauck for his outstanding voluntary work for the CESI Youth and other organisations and institutions. CESI says: "Congratulations, Matthäus, you deserve this recognition!"
July 2015: Time to make economic & monetary governance fair & socially just in Greece and beyond
Commentary by CESI Secretary General Klaus Heeger. In the context of the Greek crisis showdown and recent broader political developments in Europe, Klaus Heeger recalls that time has come to finally make monetary policy and economic governance fair and socially just. Not only with regards to Greece, but Europe at large.
Withdrawal of Maternity leave proposal: Disappointing for women & families, tragic for social Europe
Today, the European Commission withdrew its legislative proposal for a revised maternity leave directive. For CESI, which during the past months fought hard against a withdrawal, this is not only a disappointing sign for all young and prospective mothers. It is also a huge missed opportunity for the EU to show that it is also about making actual improvements to the life of its citizens. CESI now eagerly awaits a new initiative by the Commission.
CESI responds to consultation on workers’ information & consultation rights: How to give public administration staff full rights
Today, CESI submitted its response to the European Commission’s first-phase social partner consultation on a consolidation of the EU directives on information and consultation of workers. As a European umbrella organisation representing numerous national public administration trade unions, this consultation is of particular importance to CESI.
CESI Europe Academy 2015: Action needed to improve workers’ rights in public administrations!
On June 25-26, more than 150 participants from CESI's various member organisations gathered in Dublin for the 2015 edition of CESI's Europe Academy, this time themed 'Better anticipate changes and restructuring in public administrations in Europe: the role played by the information and consultation of workers'. During the two-day symposium, expert speakers of various backgrounds discussed why and how restructuring processes in public administrations need to take better account of the employees' perspectives. The conference took place timely against the backdrop of current work both in the European Commission and CESI at EU social partner level to create an EU-wide right to information & consultation of central administration workers, especially in restructuring processes.
International Public Services Day: Time to recall the valuable role public servants play in making improvements in society
Today, June 23, is International Public Services Day. This year, in Europe, the day takes place - once again - in a time of austerity and continued and widespread cuts in public administrations' budgets and public servants. In this context, CESI, as a European trade union federation representing several million public sector workers, believes that it is time to recall the valuable role public sector workers play in making improvements in society.
EU 2020 Strategy is further off-track to deliver inclusive, sustainable, equal and social EU, writes EU Semester Alliance to EU Council
The EU Alliance for a democratic, social and sustainable European Semester -also called ‘Semester Alliance-’ addressed a letter yesterday to Heads of States and top EU officials ahead of the EU Council next 25 & 26 June on the endorsement of the 2015 Country-Specific Recommendations (CSRs). The Semester Alliance highlights that the EU has failed to deliver an inclusive recovery strategy and that immediate action is needed to bring Europe 2020 back on track with all its initial goals.
EMI blog on the European Year for Development (EYD) 2015: CESI contribution on fair taxation for development available
In the context of its membership at the European Movement International (EMI), CESI has contributed to the EMI blog on the European Year for Development (EYD) 2015 with an article on fair taxation for development, a topic very close to its heart.
European Commission Corporate Taxation Action Plan: Long-awaited but disappointing for tax collectors and the citizen-taxpayers
Today, the European Commission published its long-awaited roadmap for fairer corporate taxation in Europe. Unfortunately, CESI's hopes that the Commission would publish an action plan that is worthy of its name was to a large extent disappointed. Less procrastination is required with regards to the introduction of a common corporate consolidated tax base (CCCTB) and concrete proposals for an encompassing country-by-country reporting system are needed to enable tax administrations to effectively collect all due corporate taxes. Otherwise, multinationals will continue to make profits at the expense of the citizen-taxpayers; tax injustice would remain.
Board meeting: CESI continues to grow – Welcome, SPELC and CNV-Connectief!
Today, the CESI Board unanimously endorsed applications for membership by CNV-Connectief, a major Dutch trade union representing teachers, civil servants and healthcare personnel and SPELC, a French teachers' trade union. This extends CESI’s representativeness by almost 150,000 individual members. Welcome, CNV-Connectief and SPELC!
European Parliament joins CESI’s and social stakeholders’ calls for a renewed EU gender equality strategy
On Tuesday this week, the European Parliament adopted a resolution that calls for an ambitious action plan to succeed the EU gender equality strategy 2010-2015. Along with other social stakeholders, CESI welcomes this resolution, which, even if non-binding, further increases the pressure on the European Commission to come forward with a powerful communication on a renewed EU gender equality strategy after the summer.
College orientation debate on employment challenges: Good words welcome, but what counts is action
Yesterday [June 9], the European Commission's college of commissioners held an orientation debate to establish how the EU can best address existing employment challenges in Europe. CESI's welcomes this orientation debate whole-heatedly, believing that a fundamental debate to kick-start major EU action on quality employment has been overdue in crisis-ridden Europe. At the same time, CESI highlights the importance of having this debate followed by concrete and substantial policy proposals that are worked out together with the social partners and boost quality employment as much as the EU competences in the field of employment and social affairs allow.
Lühmann: Don’t give up on maternity leave reform
In the context of the announcement by the European Commission that it will withdraw its maternity leave directive proposal if no progress is made on the file in negotiations between the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers by this summer, the President of CESI's Women’s Rights and Gender Equality Commission (FEMM), Kirsten Lühmann, today called on the EU Member State governments to stop their blockade of the file in the Council of Ministers and finally start negotiating with the European Parliament.
CESI’s Trade Council ‘Central administration and finances’ calls to invest in national tax administrations
Yesterday, the 2015 meeting of CESI’s Trade Council ‘Central administration and finances’ (ACF) took place in Brussels. Addressing questions about the functioning of the EU sectoral social dialogue committee ‘Central government administrations’ and the growing problem of violence in public services, it also adopted a resolution with recommendations on how to move forward the fight against tax fraud and tax evasion in Europe.
Commission conference ‘A social agenda for transport’: Yes, we need adequate EU institutional support for sectoral social dialogue!
Today, the European Commissions hosted a long-awaited high-level conference on 'A social agenda for transport'. During a panel discussion dealing specifically with the role of sectoral social dialogue in the transport sector, sectoral social dialogue committee representatives welcomed the Commission's stated intention for a 'new start' for (sectoral) social dialogue in the EU but stressed that adequate support by the EU institutions is necessary for this. CESI agrees and adds that this is not only true for the field of transport policy but for social dialogue in other sectors, too.
EU agency report on the exploitation of migrant workers shows CESI’s work on fair labour mobility is more important than ever
Today, the EU's Vienna-based Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) published a study report which shows just how widespread the exploitation of migrant workers is in the EU. Analysing the report reveals that CESI is setting right priorities with its work on the promotion of fair labour mobility in the EU.
CESI & EUROMIL on June European Council on security and defence challenges: Do not make the EU’s defence a victim of austerity!
On June 25-26, the European Council will convene to discuss the EU's future security and defence priorities - especially in relation to continuing terrorist threats and uncertain future political, economic and military relations with Russia. On this occasion, CESI's Trade Council 'Defence'* and EUROMIL** call on EU leaders to give impetus to new investments in military equipment and joint human resources - and not to shortsightedly trade the EU's security and defence against further budget cuts and austerity:
Social Platform and CESI on INTA TTIP vote: Thumbs up for public services protection, but ISDS compromise is far from ideal
Social Platform and CESI, the European Confederation of Independent Trade Unions, welcome yesterday’s [28 May] vote in the European Parliament's International Trade (INTA) committee which recommends excluding public services from the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). However, they note with concern the compromise found for the controversial Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) mechanism.
CESI welcomes recent tax transparency developments as a first step towards effective fair tax systems
Reacting to today's successful adoption of an EU-Swiss agreement on the automatic exchange of financial account information, the progress made in the European Commission on its forthcoming Action plan for fairer tax systems as well as the recent news that Amazon will as of now pay taxes on profits made in Germany no longer in Luxembourg but in Germany, CESI notes that these developments are to be welcome but require further follow-up action if the overall objective to establish smoothly running fair taxation systems in Europe is to be realised.
CESI’s Trade Council ‘Post & Telecoms’ critical of sector liberalisation and working conditions for older workers
On May 22, CESI's Trade Council* 'Post & Telecoms' (P&T) convened in Königswinter (Germany). Critical position papers were adopted on '20 years after the privatisation of the postal market' and 'Adjusting the P&T sector labour market to demographic ageing'.
CESI deeply concerned by new German wage unity law
During its meeting in Königswinter (Germany), CESI's Post & Telecommunications Trade Council adopted a reaction on behalf of CESI regarding today's adoption by the German Bundestag of a new wage unity law (Tarifeinheitsgesetz).
‘Better’ regulation package: Autonomy for the social dialogue at risk
Earlier this week, the European Commission published its 'Better regulation package'. Reviewing the press and media coverage reveals the widespread concerns about the likely shift from political decision-making to 'expert' influence in European policy making as a result of this package. This criticism stretches from progressive MEPs to basically all social and environmental stakeholders. The only ones really happy are industry and business. While CESI agrees with many of the concerns that were raised in the debate on package, it deplores the lack of attention given to the autonomy for social dialogue that the package puts at risk.
European Semester Alliance: CSRs 2015 – The EU is further off-track to deliver an inclusive, sustainable, social and equal Europe
CESI explains its work on youth employment challenges to Romanian ‘Pro Juvenes’ project delegation
Yesterday, CESI hosted a visit of a delegation of the Romanian ESF-funded project 'Pro Juvenes – Transnational Partnership for an Inclusive Labour Market for Youth'. During the meeting, which aimed to explore best practices in the field of youth employment initiatives, CESI General Secretariat staff explained its work on the challenges that young people face in Europe today.
Visit to the Belgian parliament: EU Trade Commissioner issues further signals to protect public services in TTIP
Yesterday, in a speech to the Belgian national parliament, EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström confirmed past statements of hers that signal a comprehensive protection of public services under TTIP. CESI welcomes such commitments, believing that the quality of public services in Europe must not experience a race to the bottom due to an unnecessary exposure to liberalisation and market forces.
European Semester’s 2015 Country-specific recommendations released: Scrutiny forthcoming
Today, the European Commission issued the European Semester's 2015 country specific recommendations (CSRs). CESI, as part of its work in the European Semester Alliance, will now carefully check whether the Commission's advocacy of a "stronger" and more "streamlined" European Semester carries weight and can be welcomed.
CESI hosts visit to the EU for its member DBwV (German Armed Forces Association)
Last week, CESI together with the Karl-Theodor-Molinari Foundation hosted a two-day visit to the EU for the federal and regional executive boards of one of its members, the DBwV (German Armed Forces Association)*. With discussion rounds with experts at the CESI premises and meetings at the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers, the visit aimed to enhance the strategic capacity of the DBwV to represent its interests -in cooperation with CESI- to the EU.
IG Public services conference: CESI hopes for continued Commission support to protect public services in TiSA
During yesterday's inaugural conference of the European Parliament's Intergroup 'Common goods and public services', the European Commission tried to reassure that the protection of public services in Europe will be dealt with with utmost caution during TiSA negotiations. CESI welcomes this and hopes that previously made statements in this direction by the European Commission will not be reversed or watered down.
CESI@noon: Radicalisation must be prevented through improved social inclusion at all levels, experts say
Today, CESI hosted another edition of its lunchtime event series 'CESI@noon'. This time experts discussed with the audience about how public services in Europe may be enabled to better prevent and counter radicalisation among the citizenry - a topic that CESI's Trade Council 'Security' has worked on in depth in the recent past.* With more than 120 participants registered for the event, the relevance that not only CESI but also policy makers, the organised civil society and citizens attach to addressing the recent spread of radicalisation in European societies was more than obvious.
Eurofound report: Employee participation and social dialogue benefits workers and companies, if properly applied
Eurofound recently published a report on the 3rd European Company Survey. It shows that employee participation and social dialogue is not yet omnipresent even though it makes a positive difference for both employees and employers wherever it is properly applied. As a representative of numerous public sector trade unions, CESI looks forward to future Eurofound reports that will specifically focus on social dialogue and employee participation in the public services.
May 1 is International Workers’ Day!
On the occasion of the International Workers' Day on May 1, CESI recalls the widespread challenges that still need to be overcome if workers are to be adequately protected in the EU.
Annual CESI Defence Trade Council meeting: Need for more rights of military staff highlighted ahead of EU Defence Summit
At this year’s meeting of CESI's Defence Trade Council, its expert committee on military topics, the importance of common rights for common missions was underscored - especially in the context of the upcoming EU Defence Summit.
World Day for Safety and Health at Work: CESI works hard for employee health and safety
April 28 is World Day for Safety and Health at Work - Time for CESI to raise (again) the importance of occupational health and safety.
Commission-published report: Mixed picture about the spread of social investments in European countries
Today, the European Commission published a report it had commissioned on 'Social investment in Europe 2015: A study of national policies'. It shows that social investment is not yet a clearly defined and adequately pursued policy concept across all European countries.
CESI and its Spanish member trade union CSI-F meet Andriukaitis cabinet
Today, representatives of CESI and its Spanish member CSI-F met with the Andriukaitis cabinet in order to discuss challenges in the financing of the Spanish civil servants’ health mutuality.
Informal EPSCO Council: CESI reiterates need for a more inclusive social dialogue at the EU-level
During the informal EPSCO Council meeting in Riga this week, Commissioner Dombrovskis reiterated his commitment to a well-functioning social dialogue at the EU-level. CESI believes that a more inclusive approach to engagement with social partners is necessary to achieve this.
Ongoing refugee crisis in the Mediterranean: Change in direction of policies needed to alleviate humanitarian tragedies
CESI is saddened by the escalating refugee crisis in the Mediterranean and calls on European leaders to initiative a change in the direction of Europe's migration policy when they meet for a special EU migration summit in Brussels later this week.
CESI Youth takes part in youth employment summit in Quito
Earlier this month, CESI Youth representative Matthäus Fandrejewski travelled to Quito, Ecuador, in order to take part in the CELAC*-EU Youth Days. The conference ended with the adoption of a declaration on youth empowerment that will be presented at the next EU-CELAC Summit of Heads of State and Government, to take place in Brussels in June this year.
Hearing in EP TAXE Committee: CESI expert speaks on the role of tax administrations in fighting tax avoidance
During yesterday’s stakeholder hearing in the European Parliament’s TAXE Committee on tax rulings and the role of tax administrations in fighting tax avoidance, CESI was represented by François Goris, President of its member organisation UNSP-NUOD. CESI represents several national tax administration trade unions in Brussels.