Opening the event, CESI President Romain Wolff set out to stress how the global geo-political context is currently affected by a complex mix of armed conflicts, effects of extreme weather conditions as well as migration and inflation – and how Member States need to step up efforts in their defence policies in the face of this polycrisis, while at the same time not jeopardising climate change mitigation.

The 7th EDRT offered diverse insights and expertise on the subject matter, featuring a lineup of distinguished speakers and experts – from military leaders to policy makers, politicians, academics and representatives of industry and international organisations.

Elena Lazarou, representing the European Parliament Research Service, offered a unique assessment of the so-called climate-security nexus, the need to bring together effective European security and defence cooperation with climate protection measures.

MEP Lukas Mandl evaluated the current grim global geo-political situation and the threats to democracy in Europe, but also identified some positive “new beginnings” or progress in efforts to further build the European Defence Union. He also acknowledged the advancement of new defence efforts at national level in some EU Member States.

Fabian Zuleeg, CEO of the Brussels think tank European Policy Centre (EPC), explained his view of a “progress illusion” when assessing the current state of permacrisis which the EU is facing, and identified climate change as “the biggest threat we are facing.” He raised awareness on the potentially far-reaching negative impacts of upcoming elections in the EU and the USA for the war efforts of Ukraine, should populist forces win them.

Jean Asselborn, former Minister for Foreign Affairs, Luxembourg, navigated the complexities of international politics and global dynamics, with direct reference to the hard decisions that Member States need to take to strengthen EU’s capacity for deterrence.

Thomas Sohst, representing CESI’s member DBwV (the German Armed Forces Association) and acting in his role as President of the CESI’s statutory Expert Commission ‘Defence’, put forward the need for reinforced support for Ukraine: “Supporting Ukraine is needed so that the war is not lost – regardless on what happens on other fronts. With elections in the USA that may cause a halt in US support in Europe, the EU needs to step up investments in its defence capabilities. Financial resources for the armed forces need to be significantly increased. If production facilities for defence equipment and consumables are expanded, European armed forces would save resources in the long term – financially and in terms of personnel. This is important to consider as armed forces in European countries have not only a financial problem but also a problem of new recruitment of staff.”

Emmanuel Jacob, President of EUROMIL, joined to request more solidarity and unity concerning the concept of European Armed Forces and a more strategic approach to joint EU defence.

CESI Secretary General Klaus Heeger concluded the event by highlighting the magnitude of challenges that the EU is facing, and stressed the need for a visionary approach to them: “We might not be able to preserve everything we have at the moment but one thing is for sure: If we do not retain democracy and security, then we will not be able to defend ourselves against other aggressions and the fundamental values of our European societies. We need serious investments in our armies and capabilities to make the European Defence Union a palpable European project.”

Through forthcoming further EDRT events, CESI ensages to encourage stakeholders and decision makers in the area of defence to continue dialogue, implement concrete action plans, and drive forward initiatives to strengthen European security – and its adaptability plans for greening the defence sector too. According to CESI, the EU’s unwavering support for Ukraine, the recent breakthrough in European financial support for the country, and reflections on upcoming US elections underscore the importance of solidarity, cooperation, investments and democracy in Europe, and of keeping a united front against aggressors for the preservation of freedom, values and peace on the continent.

According to the organisers, the summit served to “reflect on the importance of social dialogue in tackling pressing challenges in the world of work” as “the future of Europe will be built with and by our social partners”. The endorsement of a draft Tripartite Declaration for a Thriving European Social Dialogue was supposed give flesh to a “renewed commitment to strengthen social dialogue at EU level.” In particular, albeit mostly vague in its stipulations, the declaration is intended to jumpstart a further process towards a new so-called Pact for European Social Dialogue, which would put forward new proposals by early 2025 to reinforce European Social Dialogue.

CESI Secretary General Klaus Heeger said: “The summit might have been noble in intentions, but you do not build Europe with social partners by holding a closed-door meeting with a handful of people, high-ranking as they may be. You start by reaching out to all players and include representatives of independent trade unions too. A brand new representativeness study from the European Commission’s very own agency Eurofound certifies that CESI represents 15% of the organised workers in Europe – but a request to participate in the summit was plainly ignored. This is not how European social dialogue, and the European integration project at large, should work.”

He added: “After the summits in Gothenburg and Porto, the exclusive Val Duchesse Summit continued the road of a concentration of dialogue of the EU institutions with so-called recognised cross-sector social partners. Why? The success of the European cross-sector social dialogue dates back a long time ago. Recently, it was rather marked by failure – failure above all to agree on future-proof digitalisation rules at work. We do not need social dialogue as for the sake of social dialogue, but to deliver for workers. In the absence of a functioning cross-sector social dialogue despite all the logistical, organisational and financial support it gets, the EU institutions should fix its rules of the game and require it to deliver, and re-consider their strategy and also strengthen support for sectoral social dialogue and independent unions.”

More specifically, the EU election manifesto requests that:

• the EU must take decisive action to ensure that no measures are taken by governments against trade unions and social partners that are not line with the European Social Charter and the EU’s Council Recommendation on strengthening social dialogue.
• The EU should set up a New Social Deal to attain the objectives of the European Pillar of Social Rights, equivalent to the legally binding New Green Deal that the European Commission envisages.
• The EU directives on fixed-term work, part-time work and temporary agenda work should be revised to close loopholes that provide for discrimination vis-à-vis permanent employees.
• The EU directives on public procurement and concessions and the EU regulations on State Aid should be updated to make the application of criteria for decent work in public procurement procedures obligatory.
• The EU needs to develop a directive on the digitalisation of working environments, to complement national level efforts by Member States, with minimum standards on mobile working and home office, a right to disconnect, the use of worker-friendly artificial intelligence on the job, and the protection of privacy from undue digital surveillance.
• The EU should step up its efforts to support Member States, authorities and social partners to end violence against workers.
• The EU should encourage Member States to build, maintain and strengthen an agenda for performing public services through policy tools such as the European Semester and applicable EU funding programmes for capacity building including the NextGenerationEU, and that the EU should highlight, more than before, the urgent need for adequate investments in administrations and public services and their personnel, in order to make them crisis-proof.
• To this end, the European economic governance framework must be adjusted to meet investment needs while safeguarding sustainable public finance.

CESI Secretary General Klaus Heeger said: “During its term from 2024 to 2029, the EU will need to continue crisis management, and it will need to continue to work for rule of law and values of liberal democracy in all its Member States. It will also face further developments in its enlargement of EU accession candidate countries, which would would require first an internal reform of the EU’s institutional and decision-making architecture. The basis for all is a strong EU that can defend its security. Without military security, economic and social security are not possible. In June 2024, we call for a strong pro-European backing from all citizens in the EU.”

The full Manifesto is available here.

Recognising the significant challenges faced by health care professionals across the continent, the parliamentary meeting sought to explore comprehensive strategies to improve the working conditions of health care professionals. The event brought together key stakeholders, policymakers and experts to deliberate on strategies and solutions which could work across Europe.

In his opening statement, CESI Secretary General Klaus Heeger outlined the challenges ahead for personnel in the health care sector – ranging from an ageing workforce to increasing and changing health care needs of ageing populations, from understaffing to deplorable working conditions, from work overload to a lack of recognition and fair pay, from inadequate equipment to the loss of qualified personnel and deficient staff retention. He also underscored the problems linked to an emigrating health care workforce for certain countries and regions.

One of the major challenges that was explored in detail related to understaffing. Laura África Villaseñor Roa, President of the Spanish nurses trade union SATSE, an affiliate of CESI, stressed: “We need nurses and physiotherapists, especially in Spain, where the ratio of nurses per inhabitant is well below the European average, specifically at 6.3 per 1000 inhabitants, whereas the EU average is 9.2. Care services need continue to increase, from the most basic to the most complex, with figures indicating a significant increase in the number of people who will require long-term care in the coming years. To avoid unmet needs in the health care sector we need to improve the working conditions in the sectors to ensure a better retention and attractiveness of healthcare professionals.” Indeed, the event revealed that in the health care sector alone, data from 2021 showcases a shortfall of care workers estimated at 4.1 million by 2030 EU-wide, with the situation expected to become more challenging as the number of people with (long-term) care needs will further increase over time.

Dr. Tomas Zapata, Regional Adviser at World Health Organisation (WHO), also referred to negative staffing trends as a major challenge of the sector, pointing out that an improved retention of health care professionals should be the number one priority for policy makers and authorities. He presented a WHO Framework for action on the health and care workforce in the European region for 2023-2030, emphasising the need to improve on the workload, flexibility and work-life balance, working time, remuneration and valorisation of health care personnel in order to arrive at a better staff retention in the sector.

Along the same lines, Dr. Milena Popović Samardžić, President of the Montenegrin Trade Union of Physicians SDMCG, a member of CESI, confirmed the brain drain phenomenon for health care workers in the Balkans, the poor working conditions in the sector and the need to step up efforts for smart use of health care technologies. She however also provided examples of how, with relatively little investments, a better staff recruitment and retention can be achieved and health care workforce preserved at national level also in these countries, following the example of the success of her union in collective bargaining in Montenegro.

Marco Dons, representing the Dutch National Federation of Christian Trade Unions (CNV Connectief), provided best practices from the Netherlands on flexible working arrangements and early retirement schemes for health care professionals as ways to address the current shortages of staff in the sector.

Paul De Raeve, Secretary General of the European Federation of Nurses Associations (EFN) and a nurse himself, joined to flag the poor working conditions which nurses are faced with: tremendous workloads, violence, a lack of sufficient remuneration, and burnout. He urged the EU politicians and policymakers to take immediate action to focus on developing EU legislation to improve the recruitment and retention of domestically educated nurses, achieve safe staffing levels, and prioritise the welfare of nurses and patients alike.

Elizabeth Kuiper, Associate Director and Head of the Social Europe and Well-being programme at the European Policy Centre (EPC), followed by Ines Prainsack, member of Cabinet for the European Commissioner for Health and Food Safetyand Stella Kyriakides and Vilija Sysaite, Cabinet expert for the Commissioner for Jobs & Social Rights Nicolas Schmit, all highlighted evolving EU policies to further develop the European Health Union – which could provide solutions for certain challenges of the health care workforces in the EU and beyond.

MEP Dolors Montserrat closed the meeting, signaling a commitment to address the multifaceted challenges faced by health care professionals in Europe. By fostering collaboration between various stakeholders, she said, a comprehensive and sustainable framework could be put in place that prioritises the well-being of those dedicated to safeguarding public health. Moreover, a pivotal step of investing in the health care workforce should reflect the EU’s intention to build a resilient and responsive health care system for the benefit of both the personnel and the communities that it serves, she stressed.

CESI’s 7^th European Defence Round Table (EDRT)*

6 February 2024 2:00 – 3:30 PM | online & in Brussels | In English & German languages

The ongoing war in Ukraine has far-reaching implications beyond its immediate geopolitical and humanitarian consequences.

While the EU’s primary objective remains to become climate-neutral by 2050, the war has the potential to impact both the European Union’s climate change goals and the global efforts to combat climate change.

Meanwhile, public support for sanctions against Russia and further military support to Ukraine remains high (Eurobarometer survey).

The 7th European Defence Round Table therefore aims at shedding more light on the climate-security nexus and the impacts of the war on the EU’s and international climate neutrality goals and commitments.

The questions debated shall be as follows:

• Are geopolitical tensions and wars impacting global collaboration and international commitments to climate goals?
• Can energy supply disruptions and shortages potentially affect the EU’s transition to renewable energy sources?
• May continuous military support clash with the replenishment and the modernization of the armed forces of the EU Member States?
• Will, against this background, national armies be able to meet climate objectives?
• Are, against the background of a multitude of challenges and crises, increases of the regular national defence budgets realistic?

With the participation of (in alphabetical order) :

• Jean Asselborn, former Minister for Foreign Affairs, Luxembourg
• Emmanuel Jacob, President of EUROMIL
• Elena Lazarou, Head of the External Policies Unit at the European Parliament Research Service
• MEP Lukas Mandl, Vice-chair of the European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs and substitute in the Subcommittee on Security and Defence
• Thomas Sohst, German Armed Forces Association (DBwV), President of CESI´s Commission ‘Defence’
• Romain Wolff, President of CESI
• Fabian Zuleeg, CEO European Policy Centre

Please register for the CESI’s 7th European Defence Round Table (EDRT) here.

*CESI’s European Defence Round Table (EDRT) aims at including more key players and stakeholders in the processes of the Common Security and Defence Policy.

The Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of last year was a success from a trade union point of view – even if somewhat unexpectedly, with initial fears that the national parliamentary elections in July could paralyze the government on the Brussels stage. From January 1, the Belgian government now holds the EU Council Presidency for the next six months – and national elections are due there as well very soon. Nevertheless, as CESI we put high hopes in the team of Prime Minister De Croo.

An agreement with the European Parliament on a directive for new guidelines for national equality bodies on December 12, for fair working conditions in the platform economy on December 13, and for corporate sustainability due diligence (CSDD) obligations on December 14. In addition, an agreement on a reformed asylum and migration package on 20 December and a new directive on residence and work permits for third-country nationals on December 14. There is no doubt that the Spanish Presidency has delivered, and important new social and employment legislation has been introduced. Even if not every detail was solved optimally from a union’s point of view, the bottom line is that from the EU social and employment legislation perspective, the last six months have been good for workers in Europe overall.

The bar is therefore set high for the new Belgian Presidency. And the stakes are high too; agreements have yet to be reached on further important social and employment policy projects. An agreement must be reached with the European Parliament on new rules for European fiscal and economic governance. In addition, negotiations are still underway on a new net-zero industry regulation, which is intended to launch measures to expand the production capacities of climate-neutral technologies in the EU – hopefully in a socially acceptable way. In addition, new proposals from the European Commission are expected in the near future to improve the quality of traineeships and, as soon as next week, to strengthen the role of European Works Councils. A proposal to advance the coordination of national social security systems in the EU is stuck in the Council, but will be further negotiated – at least this is the hope among stakeholders and in the European Parliament.

The Belgian Presidency of the Council has made an ambitious start to the Presidency and wants to negotiate as much as possible as quickly as possible – for various reasons.

First, EU elections are due across Europe in June, and by spring at the latest, many of the current negotiating partners in the European Parliament -the MEPs- will have left the election campaign in their constituencies. If a negotiated result is to be adopted by the European Parliament still before the elections, it must be passed by the plenary in February at the latest, if possible. Until then, there is only a window of opportunity of a few weeks.

Second, it may become more difficult to launch new policies from the summer onwards. Above all, the fear is that the newly elected European Parliament could become more eurosceptic and populist during the next five years. Any file that has not been fully negotiated and decided before the elections could then be up for question again. Moreover, Hungary will take over the presidency of the Council in July. Under the leadership of President Viktor Orbán’s eurosceptic Fidesz government, it seems unlikely that there will be any form of progress on European policy. MEPs from the moderate groups, who currently have a clear majority in Parliament, share these concerns.

Finally, Belgium will also elect a new parliament on June 9. According to the latest polls, the outcome is rather uncertain – it is even possible that the Flemish separatist Vlaams Belang could win the election. The government under Prime Minister De Croo is therefore working hard to achieve as much as possible under its influence in Europe before the elections and to make a name for itself at home.

These are positive preconditions for the Council and Parliament to reach agreements even on difficult issues during the coming weeks. As European independent trade unions, as CESI, we put high hopes in the coming months.

On December 14, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) delivered a judgement of major importance for civil servants in Germany.

In the case of Humpert and Others v. Germany, the ECHR ruled that a prohibition on strikes by civil servants does not violate their freedom of assembly and association when there are institutional safeguards that allow for effective defence of professional interests.

The Court was called upon to examine possible violations of articles 11 (freedom of assembly and association) and 14 (prohibition of discrimination) of the European Convention on Human Rights.

According to the applicants, German teachers with civil servant status, the disciplinary measures taken against them for participating in a strike during working hours, along with the general prohibition on strikes for civil servants, do not have a legal justification and are disproportionate and discriminatory.

The Grand Chamber of the ECHR held that the measures against the teachers had been proportional to the legitimate aims pursued by the German state, in particular to ensure effective public administration and to protect other rights, such as the right to education.

According to the judgement, the statutory right of civil service trade unions to participate in the formulation of regulations and the constitutional right of civil servants to “adequate maintenance” are sufficient for the protection of their interests.

The judgement was welcomed by CESI’s biggest member organisation, the German “dbb“, according to which “the civil service ban on strikes is closely linked to the constitutional foundations of the German civil services” and that “a right to strike would trigger a chain reaction with regard to the structure of the civil service relationship as a whole”.

On December 13, the European Parliament and the Council agreed on a new directive to enhance working conditions for individuals involved in the platform economy, potentially granting millions of them access to employment rights.

Pending formal adoption procedures, the directive will introduce two main enhancements: it will streamline the correct classification of people working for platforms and it will establish transparency rules for algorithm systems used by the platforms.

The first improvement involves facilitating the proper classification of such individuals by establishing a legal presumption of employment relationship. Based on this, a platform will be considered an employer, if it meets at least two out of the following five indicators:

-Maximum caps on employees’ earnings
-Monitoring of their work performance, including through electronic methods
-Authority over task distribution and allocation
-Influence on working conditions and limitations on selecting working hours
Constraints on their autonomy to organise work and rules on their appearance or behaviour

Member states will be able to also introduce additional indicators.

The second improvement focuses on the use of automated systems in monitoring and decision-making on digital labour platforms (‘algorithmic management’). To address the current lack of transparency, the upcoming directive foresees a right to information by the workers regarding the use of such systems, as well as restrictions in the processing of certain personal data, and enhanced human oversight for significant decisions.

The provisional agreement by the two Institutions now awaits formal adoption.

CESI Secretary General Klaus Heeger said: “Today’s political agreement marks a significant step for the protection of platform workers. Currently, at least 5.5 million persons working for platforms may be wrongly classified as self-employed. Hopefully, the new directive will limit bogus self-employment in the gig economy and will grant these people significant labour and social protection rights. Having participated in both social partners’ consultation on the upcoming directive, CESI can be proud of contributing to more decent work across Europe. Once the official text of the agreement is published, we will gain a deeper understanding, allowing us to better assess the details.”

Dear members, partners and friends,

In times of war, multi-and perma-crises and ongoing challenges of our current world order, the European postwar project is needed more than ever.

It reflects a belief that puts compromise over brute force or intimidation. It stands for respect, not for the tyranny of the strongest. And it embodies a rule-based international order.

Yet as we all know, it is facing unprecedented defiance.

For us as independent trade unions, social and economic progress must remain at the core of European integration – and of CESI´s mission. No challenge of our time can be met if citizens and workers are left behind.

Over the past year, we have made significant advancements on various fronts. We went through one crisis after another. Not untouched but standing firmly.

For this, we are immensely grateful to our members, friends, and partners who have shaped and supported our endeavours.

On behalf of CESI, allow me to express my deep gratitude for your unwavering support and dedication.

I wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy, more peaceful New Year!

The position, which was developed against the background of the currently negotiated reform of the EU economic governance framework, stresses in particular that:

• deficits to no more than 3% of the national GDP and public debt levels to below 60% of national GDP should remain the target for all Member States in the European economic governance.
• at the same time, EU economic governance should be revised to better enable Member States to engage in expenditures when they – as investments – are likely to yield higher returns in the future. This is especially true for the public sector. Public services ensure a continuous, impartial and objective functioning of the state – beyond party politics and elections. EU economic governance should feature a Golden Rule to exempt from deficit calculations certain investments in public services that are required for their crisis resilience and continued performance. Those expenditures in public services are not merely costs, they are investments in the future.
• EU economic governance rules should take a more flexible and a stronger anticyclical approach than in the past. Under a reformed economic governance system, budgetary consolidation should above all be pursued during times of economic booms, and investments should be implemented especially in times of recession.
• when it comes to financing investments without engaging in additional debts, the narrative of the economic governance system should not neglect the role of taxation policy. With every major crisis that Europe has seen during the last two decades, profits tended to be privatised in the hands of a few while deficits were socialised at the expense of public budgets. Therefore, new financial revenue opportunities should be tapped to finance increased public spending. This necessitates the joint closure of loopholes for unethical tax avoidance and illicit tax fraud at the EU level and the recruitment of more tax administration staff in the Member States. The latter should be more highlighted in instruments of the EU economic governance such as the European Semester – along with the need to step up capital taxation (especially compared to labour taxation). In sum, correctly pursued, taxation policy offers ample additional public revenue – coupled with socio-economic fairness for societies.
• independent trade unions and sectoral social partners should be more structurally involved in the roll-out of the European economic governance. This pertains especially to its monitoring and recommendation tool, the European Semester.

CESI Secretary General Klaus Heeger said: “According to the European Commission, the legislative proposals to revise the EU economic governance aim to strengthen public debt sustainability, taking into account the need to reduce much-increased public debt levels, and enhance sustainable and inclusive growth through investment and reforms. As CESI, we support this overarching objective. However, the devil is in the detail. Above all, it is important that we learn from the past crises and realise that we need more enabling conditions for Member States to invest in the resilience of public services – in their facilities, equipment and personnel. It is an investment that will more than pay off in the future. EU economic governance should be sensitive to this.”

The full position is available here.

The event, moderated by CESI’s Secretary General Klaus Heeger, served to analyse and take stock of achievements of EU employment and social policy during the closing EU legislative term between 2019 and 2023 – and to sketch remaining challenges and issues that need to be addressed during the next term after the upcoming EU elections in June 2024.

Joost Korte recalled in particular the challenging political context that the EU was operating in during the last years. He stressed that after the last EU elections in 2019 nobody could foresee the acute challenges that we would face during the next years – a Covid pandemic, a war in Ukraine, surging inflation – but that EU could deliver important initiatives for workers despite resources constantly being diverted to crisis management. He named new EU directives on minimum wages, pay transparency and women on boards as examples.

Taking this further, Dragos Pislaru emphasised the importance of the investment-based approach to the social and economic consequences of the Covid pandemic. He stressed the role of the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) to mitigate adverse consequences in the Member States and to enable them to achieve a sustainable and socially inclusive economic re-bounce. He also noted the central role that the EU’s SURE instrument (the EU’s temporary Support to mitigate Unemployment Risks in an Emergency) played to enable struggling companies to keep workers in employment during the Covid pandemic lockdowns. Without the instrument, many more workers would have been laid off into unemployment and would have needed to be re-hired and lengthely retrained after the jobs, he stressed. SURE, he concluded, enabled a relatively swift economic recovery following the worst times of the pandemic.

Javier Jordán de Urries, Vice-President of CESI and affiliate of CESI’s Spanish member union CSIF, stressed three priorities for the EU to go forward in employment and social affairs during the next years: First, the EU would need to further encourage trade union pluralism and inclusive social dialogue at the EU level and in the Member states. Second, he said, the EU would need to further advance a strong public service agenda. The vital role that public services play for many citizens, workers and businesses does not match with the year-long underinvestment that compromised on the service delivery of many parts of the public sector in Europe, he noted. More investments would be required in many parts of the public sector in many Member States – in facilities, equipment and the personnel. Third, he emphasised the need for the EU to further develop its social Acquis – ranging from a revision of EU directives on fixed-term work, part-time work and temporary agency work to a revision of exisiting EU rules on public procurement, with a view to anchoring clear criteria for decent work in tender award procedures.

All participants agreed on the need to highlight a constructive perception of the added value of the EU ahead of the EU elections in June also – and especially – in the area of employment and social affairs.

Better working conditions for healthcare professionals in the EU

January 23rd 2024 | (Brussels – European Parliament and Webex)| 11:00 – 13:00 |
Interpretation from/to ES/EN & potentially other languages will be provided

Register here

The healthcare sector in the European Union (EU) plays a critical role in ensuring the well-being of its citizens. From doctors and nurses to support staff and administrators, the healthcare workforce is the backbone of the EU’s healthcare system.

Investments at national and EU level are called upon to ensure that the need for healthcare services is meeting the demand. This event in the European Parliament aims to bring awareness and sensibility towards the tough working conditions of the healthcare professionals in the EU and to assess possible venues to improve them.

Provisional agenda

#InvestInPublicServices #SocialEurope #EU2030

10:30 Welcome & access to the European Parliament

11:00 Welcome address & introduction

Dolors Montserrat, member of the European Parliament
Klaus Heeger, Secretary General, CESI

11.15 Insights by national experts

Laura África Villaseñor Roa, SATSE
Milena Popović Samardžić, SDMCG
Marco Dons, CNV Connectief Dutch National Federation of Christian Trade Unions ‘Connectief’
Elizabeth Kuiper, Associate Director at EPC European Policy Centre

11:45 Insights by EU experts

Olga Riklikiene, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences | LSMU · Nursing Department PhD in Nursing Science
Tomas Zapata, World Health Organization WHO European Regional Office · Health Workforce and Service Delivery Unit
Paul De Raeve, European Federation of Nurses Association (EFN)

12:10 EU responses

Ines Prainsack, Member of Cabinet for Stella Kyriakides, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, European Commission
Vilija Sysaite, Cabinet expert for Nicolas Schmit, Commissioner for Jobs & Social Rights
Danko Relic, Member of the European Economic and Social Committee (rapporteur on this opinion)

12.40 Open discussion with participants

12.50 Closing Remarks

Dolors Montserrat, member of the European Parliament
Klaus Heeger, Secretary General, CESI

13.00 End

**Background documents:
https://www.eurofound.europa.eu/sites/default/files/ef_publication/field_ef_document/ef20019en.pdf
https://www.eurofound.europa.eu/sites/default/files/ef_publication/field_ef_document/ef20020en.pdf

On November 30, 2023, CESI successfully concluded its last board meeting for the year. The meeting marked a significant moment for the organisation as it addressed key issues and set the direction for the upcoming year.

The members of CESI’s Board exchanged on a series of timely issues including the review of the year 2023 and the outlook for 2024, needs and demands of workers in the Member States, social dialogue developments, and the new positions of CESI.

Reports from the Chairs of CESI’s commissions and expert commissions added depth to the discussions, highlighting the multifaceted work carried out by CESI.

CESI Youth, an integral part of the organisation, presented its activity report and outlook for 2024, underscoring the commitment to representing the interests of younger members.

Overall, the success of the board meeting reflects CESI’s dedication to trade union pluralism, non-partisanship, and the advancement of workers’ rights across Europe. CESI remains steadfast in its commitment to a European social model based on solidarity and subsidiarity, advocating for the principles of freedom, democracy, and social justice.

On the governance of the European Year, the members of the Presidium emphasise that:

• in the future, the European Commission should run a consultation procedure well in advance of a decision to designate a particular topic to an upcoming European Year.
• the European Commission also needs to communicate awareness-raising and participation opportunities for stakeholders in future European Years earlier and more systematically.

In terms of policy issues to be further addressed in the context of the European Year of Skills, the members of the Presidium stress that:

• further awareness-raising and policy measures on reskilling and upskilling including in public services should be duly pursued in the context of the European Year of Skills.
• the European Year of Skills should further strive to highlight the importance of training opportunities for staff being fostered and encouraged by employers and policy makers.
• the principle of free movement in the Single Market and the mutual recognition of qualifications in the EU should be further improved as part of the European Year of Skills.
• EU cohesion policy and the EU’s structural and investment funds as well as the EU’s neighbourhood policy should be further tailored to mitigate causes and consequences of emigration brain drain (skills drain).
• in education specifically, the European Year of Skills should further emphasise the necessary adaption in teaching and learning to labour-market relevant digital and skills relevant to the green transition. However, it should not miss to stress that general primary and secondary education curricula must not be emptied of subjects that help young people become responsible citizens of tomorrow.
• the European Year of Skills should stress that adaptations in education programmes require sufficient investments in necessary adjusted learning and teaching material, equipment and facilities, and training for educators and teachers.
• the European Year of Skills should serve to highlight that addressing low pay, high strain and stress levels, deficient occupational health and safety, and a low recognition of the value of work in sectors with labour shortages is a precondition for workers to be willing to upskill in a sector or to re-skill into a sector.
• the European Year of Skills should emphasise that to counter teacher and trainer shortages, their employment and working conditions must improve in many Member States in order to attract, recruit and retain more talented young persons into this occupational field.

CESI Secretary General Klaus Heeger said: “The European Year of Skills aims to address skills gaps, mismatches and imbalances in and among the Member States, to put this on the political agenda of policy makers and social partners, and thus to help reskill people to become more productive in their jobs or retrain to transfer from declining sectors of employment to developing and expanding ones, in particular in the area of industrial digitalisation and greening. As CESI, we welcome this. But we also stress that an improved governance is necessary for the European Year. This pertains in particular to the need to better involve trade unions already in advance of the start of the European Year. We unions are key interlocutors for a successful awareness-raising that the European Year aims to achieve.”

The full position is available here.

CESI@noon
The new directive on fair work in platforms
26 January 2024 | 12:00-13:00 CET
Online on Zoom | In English

Register

After prolonged negotiations, the European Parliament and the Council reached a provisional agreement on the 13^th of December 2023 on a new directive to improve working conditions in platform work.

The political agreement was based on a proposal by the European Commission in 2021 and, subsequently, a report by the European Parliament and a position of the Council in 2023.

With the upcoming directive, the EU attempts to regulate the evolving landscape of platform work, aiming to strengthen the rights and enhance the protection of individuals in the gig economy. The directive is expected to bring forth two key enhancements for platform workers: It aims at determining the real employment status of people working for digital platforms with the use of a presumption of employment and 5 specific indicators; and it seeks establishing the first EU rules on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) at work.

Having participated in both stages of social partners’ consultation on the proposed directive (1^st stage, 2^nd stage), the European Confederation of Independent Trade Unions (CESI) organises an online event on the topic to shed light on questions such as:

– How does the forthcoming directive address the employment status of platform workers and what indicators have been chosen?
– How will it handle challenges related to algorithmic management and how will its provisions be complemented by the forthcoming AI Act?
– What will be the impacts of the directive on the social security of people involved in platform work?
– How could those persons that are economically active in platforms but who would not be recognised as employees under the directive be protected against abuse? How could the Guidelines of the Commission on collective agreements of the solo self-employed serve them?
– Beyond the directive, what is the role of social partners and trade unions in the platform economy and new forms of work? What are the challenges for collective representation and how to overcome them?

With the participation of:

-Klaus Heeger, Secretary General of CESI
-Ana Carla Pereira, Cabinet Expert and Employment & Social Policy Advisor to the European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights
-Leila Chaibi, Vice-Chair of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs at the European Parliament
-NN, Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union

Today, November 25 marks the annual International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

Despite significant progress in various aspects of society, a harsh reality persists — violence against women continues to plague communities around the world. Shockingly, 736 million women, equivalent to one in three, endure the devastating effects of physical or sexual violence.

The spectrum of this phenomenon is broad and deeply disturbing, ranging from domestic abuse, sexual exploitation and rapes to trafficking and femicides.

The issue infiltrates workplaces as well, manifested in derogatory comments, offensive jokes, unwanted physical contact, discrimination, bullying, and relentless harassment.

Amidst this terrifying reality, statistics reveal a stark truth: a mere 5% of global government assistance is allocated towards addressing this pervasive issue, with less than 0.2% dedicated to preventive measures.

The European Union has taken important steps in combating violence against women, notably evidenced by its recent accession to the Istanbul Convention. Without a doubt, this development underscores the EU’s commitment to fostering a safer environment for women across its member states.

However, the EU only adopted the Convention’s provisions that fall within the limits of its competences. The responsibility for implementation of the rest lies with individual Member States, which is deeply problematic since not all of them have ratified it. This situation leaves a critical gap in the comprehensive enforcement of measures designed to protect women from violence.

Hence, while the EU’s accession to the Istanbul Convention is a positive stride, continued efforts are essential to ensure uniform commitment and implementation across all member states.

On March 8 2022, the European Commission proposed a new directive on combatting violence against women and domestic violence, aiming to ensure a minimum level of protection against gender-based violence. The proposed directive is expected to work complementarily with the Istanbul Convention, reinforcing the EU’s commitment to addressing and preventing violence against women.

Today, on the annual International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the European independent trade unions are amplifying their voices to articulate three crucial demands aimed at combatting this deplorable phenomenon.

Invest:

The urgent need to allocate funds for education, outreach, and support services takes centre stage in the fight against violence directed at women. By investing in preventative measures, societies can create a robust framework that mitigates the risk of violence and supports survivors on their path to healing.

Legislate:

Enacting and enforcing laws that explicitly define and penalise various forms of violence is a pivotal step towards legal protection for victims. Strengthening the legal apparatus will serve as a deterrent and send a clear message that society will not tolerate any form of violence against women.

Protect:

Establishing and fortifying support systems and programmes is paramount to ensuring the safety and well-being of women who have experienced violence. By creating networks of resources and assistance, survivors can find refuge and support on their journey towards reclaiming their lives.

The time for change is now. The call to stand together against violence is not exclusive to women alone; it resonates with men and women alike, advocating for a fairer and safer world.

The Autumn Package, published on Tuesday, kickstars the 2024 European Semester cycle on economic policy coordination and comprises most notably its annual Annual Sustainable Growth Survey (ASGS) and the Council’s and European Commission’s draft Joint Employment Report. The two documents argue that:

• that the EU economy remains resilient despite a slowdown and that risks related to high debt and price divergences remain relevant. It emphasises that with the general escape clause under the Stability and Growth Pact expiring at the end of 2023, fiscal policy needs to support monetary policy in reducing inflation and safeguard fiscal sustainability, while providing sufficient space for additional investments and supporting long-term growth. “Besides the need to maintain a prudent fiscal strategy, public investment needs to be maintained and, where needed increased, to support long-term growth and the green transition. To that end, governments should sustain a high level of public investment to support the green and digital transition, strengthen productivity and resilience. This will require improvements in the quality and composition of public finances on both the revenue and expenditure side, for instance by optimising the tax mix”, the reports read.
• fiscal emergency measures taken to respond to the energy price shock should be wound down as soon as possible. They underline that “protracted non-targeted fiscal support to households and firms is not the right tool in the current situation, as it increases inflationary pressures and contributes to prolonged tight monetary policy.” Instead, support to vulnerable households should be provided in a targeted manner through established social protection systems and social safety nets.
• the EU labour market “continues to perform strongly overall despite slower economic growth, even though regional disparities persist, with some population groups benefiting less.” The reports put forward that the EU employment rate reached “a record level of 75.4% in Q2-2023, while the unemployment rate fell to 6.0%, which is the lowest rate ever recorded for the EU.”

The reports conclude that policy actions at the appropriate levels should be geared towards increasing labour market participation to improve employment and social outcomes. This, according to the reports, includes reinforced active labour market policies, access to quality and affordable early childhood education and care, as well as long-term care, tax and benefit systems that support working (including by shifting taxation from labour to environmental and climate objectives), adequate working conditions and possibilities for managed legal migration, while ensuring labour and social protection rights.

The repors also conclude that despite marked wage increases in the EU in 2022 and the beginning of 2023, these remained below the high inflation rates and resulted in reduced purchasing power, affecting lower incomes the most. They find that real wages in the EU decreased by 3.7% in 2022, increasing the risk of in-work poverty. In future, “wage developments will need to strike a balance between recouping the lost purchasing power of workers, avoiding second-round effects on inflation and safeguarding the EU’s competitiveness”, the reports sum-up.

CESI Secretary General Klaus Heeger said: “As CESI, we welcome the four priorities of promoting environmental sustainability, productivity, fairness, and macroeconomic stability. We contrinue to stress that fairness for citizens and workers and their families is, however, not possible without adequate investments in public services and public administrations, including in their personnel. From education to healthcare and employment services, public services are the backbone of societies and economies too. I look forward to an adjusted macroeconomic governance framework that will keep clear budgetary deficit rules but will at the same time enable Member States to invest in the resilience of their public sector, especially also in anti-cyclical ways.”

He added: “We welcome in particular the suggestion to increasingly shift taxation from labour to environmental and climate objectives, and more generally to effectuate improvements in the public finances on the revenue side, for instance by optimising the tax mix. If fiscal support for social fairness, in particular energy subsidies for citizens, will be phased out, it will be important that taxes are allocated, collected and redistributed in a fairer manner than before. Strong corporate shoulders that have been benefitting during the recent crises should contribute more to fight poverty in societies.”

The event on November 17, 2023, served as a pivotal platform for addressing Europe’s persistent crisis and its repercussions on Lithuania. Spearheaded by CESI, the event convened stakeholders, experts, and members to delve into pressing issues under the SYNCRISIS project.

Through informative presentations and engaging discussions, participants gained valuable insights into the significance of public services and the imperative for enhanced working conditions across sectors, particularly pertinent to Lithuania’s economic landscape.

Throughout the event, speakers tackled diverse topics ranging from labour laws to sector-specific challenges, providing attendees with practical knowledge and strategic insights. The event facilitated dialogues on collective agreements, reforms in salary legislation, and measures to prevent psychological violence in the workplace.

With 116 individuals attending in person and 57 participating remotely via Zoom, the event fostered a robust exchange of ideas and perspectives, reflecting a collective commitment to advancing worker welfare and social partnership initiatives in Lithuania.

Feedback following the summit underscored its success, with attendees expressing appreciation for the informative sessions and signaling interest in future gatherings. The event not only highlighted the importance of collective action in addressing Europe’s perma-crisis but also showcased CESI’s dedication to promoting equitable working conditions and fostering a resilient workforce.

The project conference, co-financed by the European Commission, served to highlight the role that trade unions can play in the integration of refugees as a valuable workforce in understaffed labour markets.

Klaus Heeger, CESI Secretary-General, opened the conference, highlighting the importance of trade unions to secure refugees a safe and active life in their host country. He declared: “Trade unions EU-wide must be supportive in receiving and integrating refugees, especially currently also those fleeing the war in Ukraine. They must engage to help them uphold their access to fundamental rights and human dignity in their host country. As unionists, we need to do our best to ensure a level playing field or rights and services for these newcomers in our societies. Trade unions are essential in this regard.”

CESI members and affiliates discussed with experts from the European Commission and the EU agency Eurofound about EU responses to migration challenges following the Russian aggression against Ukraine. Different policy recommendations were debated, such as one-stop shops, increased funding for integration services, and an improved access to more long-term protection. A representative of the German Federal Employment Agency (BA) showcased showcased a best practice from Germany of public employment services can better contribute to a successful refugee integration into the labour market.

CESI Youth Representative Matthäus Fandrejewski (dbb Jugend) emphasised that refugees can make a significant positive impact in the understaffed labour markets. Many host countries are facing demographic challenges, with aging populations and declining birth rates, and refugees can inject fresh energy into the labour market, helping to balance the demographic shift by supporting economic growth and contributing to social welfare programs, he stressed.

It was found that host countries could address labour shortages while fostering diversity and economic growth if they tapped better the potential and skills of refugees. It was underlined that the diverse skill sets of refugees, their motivation and their ultimate contribution as a workforce can make them an invaluable asset for economic growth. In sum, participants agreed that more inclusive, vibrant, and thriving labour markets that benefit both refugees and the host community are possible if refugees’ potential is adequately recognised and harnessed.

A collection of video clips from the conference are available on CESI’s Youtube channel.

In its mandate to enter trilogue negotiations with the Council, the European Parliament plenary on Tuesday specified that in public procurement tender procedures related to the currently negotiated Net Zero Industry Act, there should be an “environmental and social sustainability contribution” which should be based on criteria including “decent wages and working conditions”. The criteria should be weighted as 30% in tender application evaluations, according to the text adopted by the European Parliament.

CESI Secretary General Klaus Heeger said: “We welcome the vote of the European Parliament on its position on the European Commission’s proposal for a Net Zero Industry Act. This wording would make sure that tender applicants could not totally ignore working conditions and make lowest offers only based on social dumping and abusive working conditions. Vast amounts of public money will be spent in the framework of the Net Zero Industry Act through public procurement, so the impact that social criteria in the Act can make for decent work are significant.”

He added: “We must make sure that public investments in green transitions will go hand in hand with decent work and employment. We cannot afford to achieve CO2 neutrality on the back of workers. The social and the environmental must go together. Everything else is unsustainable and will bring social and economic losses and adverse consequences in the future. We support the European Parliament’s report in the upcoming trilogue negotiations with the Council.”

Organised by CESI on November 17 and 18, the event focused on the urgent need for resilient public services amidst multiple crises. Held over two days in Budapest, the event gathered key decision-makers and public service workers to address pressing issues.

The first day commenced with Péterné Boros’s opening remarks, stressing the importance of well-equipped public services. Sessions tackled topics such as the impact of inflation on municipal governments, the requisites of resilient societies, and the lingering effects of COVID-19 on the cultural sector and environmental protection administration.

The day concluded with the MKKSZ Youth national meeting, where Róbert Szokolai discussed the effects of inflation on Hungarian youth.

The second day centered on poverty alleviation strategies, with Tamás Boros presenting insights into the interconnected impact of COVID-19, inflation, and war on domestic poverty levels.

The conference underscored the imperative of equipping public service workers with adequate resources and support to ensure societal resilience. Insights gleaned are poised to inform policy decisions aimed at enhancing the efficacy of public services in Hungary and beyond.

After two successful events in Budapest and Iași, CESI completed the first round of ‘WeEP24’ events for this year with hybrid national events in Paris, Berlin, Luxembourg, Krakow, and Madrid.

The WeEP24 project, which is co-funded by the European Parliament, aims to uphold political pluralism and foster citizen and worker participation in the upcoming European elections 2024.

The backdrop of economic crises, the global Covid-19 pandemic, and the conflict in Ukraine underscored the need for a robust European Union and emphasised the role of public services within a stronger European dimension.

In this frame, the WeEP24 project wants to raise awareness of the EU’s role and democratic values by engaging workers in selected countries, fostering debates on democratic participation in the coming elections.

The series of hybrid training events organised by the CESI Project Team and local change-makers served as a cornerstone in achieving the project’s objectives. The events, conducted in both English and the respective national languages, brought together CESI member organisations and their affiliates.

The overarching goal of the events was to highlight the significance and impact of European legislation at the national level, address specific issues outlined in the Eurobarometer for each hosting country, promote the together.eu platform, share tools developed by the European Parliament DG Comm, and mobilise participants and their networks for the upcoming elections.

The events provided a platform for fruitful discussions on democratic participation, allowing participants to delve into the intricacies of European legislation and its implications at the national level. The focus on country-specific issues, as highlighted by the Eurobarometer, ensured that the discussions were not only relevant but also tailored to the concerns of each participating nation.

Moreover, the promotion of the together.eu platform and the sharing of tools developed by the European Parliament DG Comm added a practical dimension to the events. Participants gained valuable insights into resources that could aid them in effectively communicating the importance of European elections to their networks.

The collaborative efforts of CESI, change-makers, and participants laid a solid foundation for a more informed and engaged electorate as we move closer to this crucial democratic exercise.

Photo galleries:

Paris, 9 October 2023:

Berlin, 20 October 2023:

Luxembourg, 26 October 2023:

Krakow, 27 October 2023:

Madrid, 7 November 2023:

In an era of geopolitical upheavals around the world, the importance of a robust Europe that stays united cannot be overstated.

As the international community tries to find solutions against the armed conflicts in Ukraine, the Middle East, the Sahel Zone, in Nagorno-Karabakh, in Kosovo/Serbia and many other places, the narrative of a strong Europe as a beacon of stability must emerge.

With its commitment to dialogue and cooperation, the European Union (EU) can and must play a pivotal role in mediating conflicts, promoting peace, and upholding the principles of international law.

Despite certain institutional weaknesses, the EU has a 70 year-long tradition of choosing dialogue over confrontation. It might sound self-evident, but it cannot be taken for granted in today’s world.

Compared to other regions of the world, the EU has managed to maintain economic strength in the face of repeated crises, showcasing relative resilience and robustness. So far, and despite the negative impacts of the inflation on workers and citizens, the EU has demonstrated a capacity to weather economic storms and sustained stability better than other regions.

And its emphasis on human rights and democracy stands for our global liberal order – under threat in unforeseen manners.

Yet the legitimate questions of citizens and workers will always remain: “What is the EU good for? What is in for me?”

Through a series of national events, CESI – with the support of its national members – has been organising a multitude of conferences in a different Member States, from Romania to Spain, from Germany over Luxemburg to France, from Italy to Hungary. And more countries are yet to be covered.

The focus of the events ranges from the necessity of well-performing public services in times of crises to the reception and integration of refugees; from the needs of workers in green-digital transitions to the promotion of young trade unionists within CESI´s network; from the importance of the EU in times of multi- and permacrises to the importance of a participation in the 2024 EU elections.

Some may ask why. “What is in for us? Why is this the role of trade unions?”

My answer to this is simple. The overarching objectives of these events of CESI are similar to the ones of the EU in the current world (dis)order. In times of crises nothing matters more than solidarity and cooperation.

We wish you a peaceful and serene Advent season.

Dear members, friends and partners,

On November 21st 2023 you are warmly invited to join us at a hybrid event (in Vienna and online via Zoom) for the conference of CESI’s EU-co-funded project on:

Refugee Reception and Integration

Building welcoming communities through resilient and performing public administrations and services

November 21st 2023 | Wien 1010, Schenkenstraße 4 und via Zoom| 14:00 – 17:00
Interpretation from/to DE/EN

Register here

Recent years in Europe have been marked by a state of perma-crisis during which public administrations and service and their staff have been put under enormous pressure to perform well and more – in situations that have been extremely difficult for them.

This has been most recently and dramatically exhibited by the Covid crisis but was equally evident in other previously challenging times such as the 2008 financial and economic crisis, the fight against terrorism, and the 2015 migration crisis.

Based on the experience made in the aftermath of the latter, and confronted with the migration consequences of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, public services and administrations in Europe are play a fundamental role in the reception and integration of displaced people, including refugees, asylum seekers, and internally displaced persons (IDPs) – among them millions of refugees from Ukraine who are falling under EU Temporary Protection.

As the quality of the public services performed – in particular by local and regional governments – is essential for the smooth reception and integration of refugees, this conference aims to shed light on the respective challenges and needs, and on different possible strategies to provide a welcoming environment, among them access to basic services (such as healthcare, education and housing), labour market integration, language courses, and skilling opportunities.

Agenda

#InvestInPublicServices #ACTIVER #SocialEurope #EU2030

14:00 Welcome & registration

14:30 Welcome address & introduction

Norbert Schnedl, CESI Vice-President and President of European Federation of Public Services Employees (EUROFEDOP), GÖD

Klaus Heeger, Secretary General, CESI

Tommaso Grossi, moderator of the conference

14.40 Keynote address

Alberto Horst-Neidhart, Senior Policy Analyst and Head of the European Diversity and Migration programme, European Policy Center (EPC)

Catherine Woollard, Director of the European Council on Refugees and Exiles (ECRE), (tbc)

15:10 Insights by experts: EU responses to migration

Katerina Dimitrakopoulou, Head of Sector – Integration, Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs (DG HOME), European Commission

Klara Fóti, Senior Policy Manager, Eurofound

Otto Aiglsperger, President of the CESI Expert Commission ‘Public Administrations’, GÖD/Eurofedop

Heather Roy, Board Member, Social Services Europe, (video message)

15.30 Coffee break

16.00 Insights by experts: Strong public services

Daniel Terzenbach, Member of the Executive Board of the German Federal Employment Agency, responsible for regions
(video message)

Javier Jordan de Urries Sagarna, Vice-President of CESI, Spanish Central Independent for Public Employees’ Trade Union (CSIF)

Matthäus Fandrejewski, dbb jugend and CESI Youth Representative

Elisabeth Schmidt-Hieber, Advisor Advocacs for SOS Children’s Villages Austria

16.30 Closing Remarks

Lukas Mandl, Member of the European Parliament

Klaus Heeger, Secretary General, CESI

Tommaso Grossi, moderator of the conference

17.00 End of the conference

CESI’s member CSIF, the Spanish Central Independent and Public Employees’ Trade Union, issued a press release on November 13th, 2023, emphasising its commitment to defending the equality of citizens before the law, judicial independence, and equal access to public services across Spain. The union expresses concerns about recent investiture agreements, warning of potential economic imbalances between regions and the compromise of public service quality.

CSIF outlines its firm opposition to various measures, including political interference in judicial independence, breaches of constitutional principles like equality and solidarity among territories, and ‘à la carte’ modifications to the Workers’ Statute. The union condemns actions that could lead to fragmentation in the health sector and the transfer of exclusive competencies, such as Social Security management, to specific territories.

The press release underscores CSIF’s dedication to preventing the erosion of the rule of law, economic imbalances, and inequality among citizens. CSIF pledges to demand economic justice for all territories, advocate for structural reforms to strengthen public services, and resist any attempts to relinquish the state’s exclusive competences in labour legislation, public administration, university qualifications, and social security regulations. The union also announces plans to intensify actions at various levels, including engagement with Spanish institutions, regional parliaments, and the European Union through CESI.

CSIF emphasises its commitment to ensuring high-quality public services for all citizens and safeguarding the independence and legal certainty of public employees.

Read the full press release here in English and here in Spanish.

In the consultation statement, CESI broadly supports the European Commission’s consideration of an EU measure (1) to support the prevention, detection and combating of the problematic use of traineeships and to support trainees in accessing the rights to which they are entitled, (2) to improve the quality of traineeships by supporting fair working conditions, including remuneration and access to social protection, and an adequate learning and training component; and (3) to foster the inclusiveness of traineeships and equal access to traineeship opportunities in the EU.

CESI specifies in its contribution that:

• a possible list of elements pointing at the misuse of a traineeship should be non-exhaustive and binding provided that this does not compromise on aspects of legal certainty.
• the existing recommendation of a maximum duration of a traineeship of no more than 6 months should be made binding, with exceptions only allowed if specified objectives reasons exist.
• an initiative of the EU should require Member States to ensure that their responsible national authorities carry out dedicated checks and inspections to detect and enforce the compliance of traineeships with EU law, national law or collective agreements.
• supporting measures to ensure that trainees can gain effective access to existing labour rights to which they are entitled should imperatively include an explicit reference to the role of trade unions and trade unionism in this regard.
• with a view to the Fixed-Term Work and Part-Time Work Directives, an initiative of the EU should specify at least for trainees who are classified as workers that being a trainee does not constitute an objective ground justifying less favourable treatment by reference to the employment conditions of a comparable permanent or full time worker.
• concerning pay/remuneration, the policy objective of an EU measure should remain that curricular internships should always need to include an allowance to cover the costs of living (transport, accommodation, food). CESI considers this an important aspect to achieve non-discrimination: The presence or absence of a financial capacity of the family of a young person should not condition his/her prospect and opportunities to take on traineeships to optimise career starts in labour markets. CESI notes that for all other traineeships that are not required by educational degree curricula, the minimum wage or alternatively an applicable collective bargaining agreement in place should be taken as guideline or reference for pay/remuneration.
• a binding access to adequate social protection remains imperative for trainees. At least all persons in traineeships that are not required by educational degree curricula should be covered by statutory social protection. CESI considers that the inclusion of trainees in statutory social protection systems would not alter the financial equilibrium thereof. A requirement for unanimous voting in the Council should not preclude a legislative proposal of the European Commission for this aspect.
• a new initiative of the EU should turn the 2014 Quality Framework for Traineeships (QFT) principles on the conclusion of a written traineeship agreement, including information on educational objectives and working conditions, into a legal obligation applicable at least to trainees who are workers. CESI also considers that The EU initiative should strengthen the provision of information on mentoring, supervision and evaluation.

CESI Secretary General Klaus Heeger said: “As CESI, we consider that – wherever the Treaties provide for this – a binding EU measure is the appropriate way to improve the quality of traineeships in Europe. Where unanimity in the Council is required for the adoption of a binding measures, the European Commission not take this reason to not issue a proposal for a binding measure in the first place.”

CESI’s full second-phase consultation contribution is available here.

According to EU-OSHA, addressing the impact of technologies like robots or artificial intelligence (AI) and new forms of work such as digital platform work and remote work, its newest Healthy Workplaces Campaign, which runs from 2023 to 2025, aims to promote collaboration, enhance awareness, and encourage a safe and productive use of digital technologies across diverse sectors and workplaces.

CESI Secretary General Klaus Heeger said: “As a European social partner and an interest group of workers from across Europe, helping to shape the evolving digitalisation of work in a constructive, proactive way is essential for CESI. Digitalisation is a fact and reality, and it is up to all involved stakeholders to manage it in a sustainable manner and to the benefit for all concerned actors.”

He added: “The 2023-25 ‘Safe and healthy work in the digital age’ campaign of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) is a key instrument for CESI to further explore challenges that digitalisation can mean for work environments, to assess how digital work can be deployed in safe ways, and to increase awareness, knowledge and expertise among its members on ways in which digital technologies can actually improve occupational health and safety. To this end, the campaign will be an important platform for CESI engage in exchanges of best practices with companies, unions, and further stakeholders from across Europe.”

More information about CESI partnership in and contribution to the campaign is available on EU-OSHA’s website.

Their discussion focused on the possibilities to reinforce the European Youth Guarantee in Germany and enhance its effectiveness. The European Youth Guarantee aims to ensure that unemployed people under 30 years of age are offered either a job, an internship or further training within a period of four months.

The dbb Jugend has been a strong advocate for the European Youth Guarantee programme, which has shown first very promising results in reducing youth unemployment and improving young people’s career opportunities.

Omid Nouripour, a member of the German Bundestag and advocate for youth rights, expressed his support for the European Youth Guarantee initiative and outlined potential legislative actions to bolster its impact in Germany.

Matthäus Fandrejewski stressed that despite one of the lowest rates for youth unemployment, the situation of many young people on the German labour market still appears grim. Investing in a reinforced Youth Guarantee schemes could be an important element to alleviate their situation, he stressed, and added a skilled and empowered youth is a key for the prospects of young people in evolving labour markets – and for Germany’s economic competitiveness. He emphasised that major investments and commitments are needed to improve young people’s skills and to create future-proof reskilling and upskilling opportunities. He also noted that refugee integration and further support of young people in the country must go hand in hand in order to effectively and efficiently address labour shortages in the employment market.

On October 10, CESI Expert Commission on “Education” was hosted by its French teachers’ union SPELC in Paris.

Under the aegis of CESI’s SYNCRISIS project, the members continued the discussion on the consequences brought by the post-Covid era, by the war in Ukraine and inflation, which, together with other challenges, have been having a major impact on the teacher profession.

A so-called ‘crisis of vocation’ in the teaching profession is namely causing worrisome teachers’ shortages across all Europe. The education sector has long faced issues of understaffing, which has been exacerbated by the recent crises, leading to work overload, burnout, and a decline in the wellbeing in schools.
Many educational institutions lack the necessary infrastructure and modern equipment to provide a conducive learning environment. This issue has become more pronounced with the shift to online and hybrid learning models during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ensuring that schools are well-equipped with the latest technology and resources is crucial for the continuity and effectiveness of education.

Corinne Heckmann from the OECD in Paris held a presentation on teachers’ shortages, exacerbated in recent years by factors like unsatisfactory salaries, high stress due to administrative workloads and an ageing workforce. The TALIS survey, which covers teachers’ opinions across 48 education systems, reveals significant dissatisfaction related to the recognition and valuation of the teaching profession, pointing to a need for systemic changes to improve teacher retention and job satisfaction. To address these challenges, the report recommends improving salaries, reducing administrative tasks, enhancing professional development, investing in school infrastructure, and promoting the societal value of teaching. Supporting young teachers with mentorship programs is also crucial to retain talent in the profession.

All participants agreed that on the one hand there are always higher expectations on teachers, while on the other hand the respect towards the profession is lower, from the society in general.

Luc Viehé, former President of the French SPELC union and Vice-president of the EDUC expert Commission recalled CESI’ s advocacy work to better value the teaching profession through its Manifesto, declaring “In the framework of the European Education Area, if we focus our efforts on the needs and challenges faced by teachers, we can build a more resilient and effective education system capable of supporting students through current and future crises. Teachers are at the forefront of shaping future generations, and their well-being and professional support are crucial to the success of this endeavor”.

In the field of employment and social affairs, the most important new announced initiative – even if already long-awaited – should strengthen European Works Councils and update of the EU’s quality framework for traineeships. Moreover, the work programme announces that “together with the Belgian Presidency, the Commission will convene a Social Partner Summit in Val Duchesse to discuss the challenges facing our labour markets, workers and businesses, including from skills and labour shortages, and artificial intelligence”. In the work programme, the European Commission also sets out plans for “a series of … clean transition dialogues with industry and social partners” to ensure socially fair green and digital transitions.

Beyond this, the work programme sums up a positive conclusion of the European Commission’s employment and social policy agenda during the last years: “Significant progress has been made in implementing the European Pillar of Social Rights through its action plan and 2030 headline targets”, citing numerous examples. An emphasis is placed on the adoption of pending proposals including those on strengthened equality bodies and fair working conditions in platforms.

CESI Secretary General Klaus Heeger said: “During its term, the European Commission has pursued important initiatives also in the area of employment and social affairs, under difficult and often unforeseeable circumstances. We must not forget that the Covid pandemic and the outbreak of a war in Ukraine meant that it had to divert a lot resources to acute crisis management. Despite this, we have seen very important proposals on minimum wages or pay transparency.”

He added: “But we see an urgent need for further initiatives by the next college of European Commissioners in the area of employment and social affairs. Above all, we need a revision of EU rules on fixed-term work, part-time work and temporary agency work because the current frameworks leave leeway for precarious work and discrimination vis-à-vis ‘regular’ employees. We are also asking for a revision of the EU directives and regulations on public procurement, concessions and state aid in order to root social conditionalities in them. Governments should only allocate public money to businesses that pay decent wages, respect collective bargaining and unionism and guarantee safe and healthy work environments. This would bring decent work to a high number of employees across the continent.”

Klaus Heeger concluded: “A new adjusted economic governance framework for the EU must enable sufficient public investments in resilient public services – based on clear rules and criteria. If we have learnt anything from the poly- and permacrisis that we are currently living in, is that we need functioning and performing public services across the board – and that is cheaper than trying to correct errors when a crisis has already started. For this, new potential public revenues may be needed – revenues that are currently lost because of illicit tax evasion and unethical tax avoidance by large multinationals.”

Poverty remains a serious concern worldwide, affecting millions of people across all continents. Over the past few decades, significant progress has been made in the EU in the fight against poverty, thanks to collective efforts by governments, organizations, and communities.

However, this fight has gradually lost its momentum with the recent global events and rising costs of living/ inflation. The United Nations Special Rapporteur on poverty and human rights, Olivier de Schutter already warned about this situation when he declared:

‘Whether in Europe, where inflation has hit a record high of 10 per cent, or sub-Saharan Africa where food prices have risen by nearly 24 per cent, household budgets across the world are being stretched beyond breaking point, meaning even more people in poverty. (…) As with the COVID-19 pandemic, it is once again the most vulnerable that are paying the price of world events. The combined crises are expected to throw an additional 75 to 95 million people into extreme poverty this year alone.’

European countries are experiencing a rise of in-work-poverty, with 1 in 10 EU workers in such conditions. In today’s article: ‘Workers will remain trapped in poverty until governments respect trade union rights’, in reference to the need of governments ensuring living wages for all workers, he pleades in favour of ensuring living wages for all workers.

A living wage is the income necessary for a worker to meet their basic needs, including food, shelter, and healthcare, without relying on government assistance or additional employment.

Klaus Heeger, CESI Secretary General said: ‘Europe needs living wages and more trade union representation to combat the working poor phenomenon. We need to ensure that our growth is reflected in extending social safety net programs, to those in need, offering a lifeline and access to basic services to vulnerable groups. On the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, it is crucial to reaffirm our commitment to the goal of ending poverty in all its forms. Trade unions, social dialogue, and collective bargaining are crucial tools for negotiating fair wages. Encouraging workers to join unions and engage in collective bargaining can help secure living wages.’

The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty serves as a reminder for the goal of eradicating poverty and creating a world where every individual can enjoy a life of dignity and opportunity.

Gravely shocked by the horrible attack on Israel launched by the terrorist organization Hamas and its supporters,

Appalled by the brutality and inconceivable contempt for human lives and dignity – even beyond death – of the aggression which cannot be justified by any means,

We, the members of the Presidium of the European Confederation of Independent Trade Unions (CESI),

• strongly and firmly condemn the despicable attacks of the terrorist organization Hamas against Israeli citizens and the Israelian armed forces,
• express our deepest compassion with all victims and affected people and our condolences towards their families and friends,
• stand with Israel and its undisputed right to self-defence, and united against the despicable evil displayed during the attack,
• insist that those who planned and executed the attacks on Israel must be brought to justice and held accountable for their crimes,
• demand that all hostages are returned immediately, without being further hurt and misused as human shields,
• urge all sides to act with moderation, to respect International Humanitarian Law, and to avoid civilian casualties.

Full resolution as PDF

In discussion with counterparts from the European Commission, the participants emphasised: The health care workforce is the backbone of our health care systems, tirelessly working to provide essential care to patients. While they are dedicated to healing others, it is crucial to recognise that health care professionals themselves are not immune to the pressures and challenges of their profession. Health care professionals often face intense stress and emotional burdens as part of their daily work. Long hours, high patient demands, and the ever-present spectrum of life-and-death decisions can take a toll on their mental health. The COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated these challenges, as health care workers were on the front lines, witnessing the devastating effects of the virus.

Klaus Heeger, CESI Secretary General, stressed the specific need for awareness raising about mental health issues in the work place: “Encouraging open discussions about mental health can reduce the stigma surrounding it and make it easier for health care workers to seek help when needed.”

Esther Reyes and Paloma Repila from the Spanish health SATSE underlined: “Health care institutions but also trade unions should provide confidential counseling and support services to their employees. Offering resilience training can help health care workers build emotional and psychological resilience to cope with stress. Health care organisations should better promote work-life balance by implementing reasonable working hours and ensuring adequate time off.”

Dolores Martínez from the Spanish health union SAE emphasised the importance of access for health care staff to dedicated mental health services: “Health care institutions should make it easy for their employees to access mental health services, such as therapy and counseling. It is time to prioritise the mental health of those who dedicate their lives to healing others.”

Interventions from all participants have showcased the need for long-term investments to address health care professionals understaffing.

Issues that were raised towards the European Commission were compiled in a position paper with policy demands, available here.

On October 2 2023, firefighter unions affiliated to CESI convened to launch a call for action to increase investments in the firefighting sector and better equip Member States in their fight against extreme forest fires.

The meeting took place against the background of this season’s heavy wildfires in particular in Southern Europe – especially that in Alexandroupolis, Northern Greece, which raged for many days, consuming hectares of forested areas, residential neighbourhoods and farmland amounting to the size of Paris and Berlin cities combined.

Firefighter unions affiliated in CESI are concerned that wildfires are becoming a growing regional and global concern, affecting entire ecosystems, communities, and economies – while firefighting services are under-resourced and overburdened. In recent years, the frequency and intensity of wildfires in the EU have risen significantly, posing a grave threat to people, property, and the environment. According to EFFIS (the European Forest Fire System) the worrisome 2023 figures for EU wildfires and drought reflect more than 182,569 burnt hectares with more than 40% above the average recorded over the period from 2003 to 2022 (128,225 hectares). Despite this undeniable reality, firefighting capacities in the EU are shrinking, with substantial understaffing capacities in most Member States, leaving a vacuum which cannot be compensated by any other public service.

The call for action was attended by the European Commission’s Civil Protection Mechanism team and the EU Agency of the Space Programme (EUSPA), which showcased resources such as the EU Space Programme and the European Forest Fire System (EFFIS) – tools which could be made available also for firefighters to improve or streamline their capacities.

Hans Das, Director for Emergency Management and rescEU at he European Commission, was very clear: “More investments are needed to counteract the increasing incidence of extreme weather events, together with more EU cooperation in the field of civil protection and humanitarian aid”, he stressed.

Klaus Heeger, Secretary General of CESI, called on EU Member States to make the necessary investments in the vital services performed by firefighters. “It is imperative that we take proactive measures to mitigate the climate-related risks of wildfires and floods, enhance preparedness, and respond effectively when disasters strike. For this we need sufficient and well paid firefighting teams made available all across Europe”, he emphasised.

Antonis Koukouzas, President of the Greek firefighters’ union ‘Epayps’ noted: “By learning from the tragic event of Alexandroupolis we should already start implementing the lessons learnt and not lose time to prepare for the 2024 wildfire season. There is no better way to fight fires than through fire prevention strategies, including stricter regulations on campfires, public awareness campaigns, and controlled burns.”

Alain Laratta, Secretary General of the firefighters’ union ‘Avenir Secours’ highlighted that one of the greatest strengths of Europe is its ability to foster cooperation among its Member States. He noted that the European Union’s Civil Protection Mechanism enables countries to pool resources, expertise, and equipment when wildfires rage across national borders. This cooperative approach ensures a rapid and coordinated response to fire emergencies, he stressed and added: “France is one of the biggest contributors in the Mechanism. More should be done for EU countries to combat the fire blazes. An EU Strategy to combat forest fires would help streamline the assistance given; a European minimum standard of practices in the form of a European Firefighter’s Statute would also create a better minimum level playing field for the firefighters, for instance in terms of personal protective equipment and insurance coverages.”

Vasileios Kalogirou from the EU Agency of the Space Programme (EUSPA) showcased how satellite technology from EGNOS, Galileo, Copernicus, GOVSATCOM & IRIS and Space Situational Awareness can serve the firefighters’ operations. He said: “Europe is at the forefront of technological innovation and scientific research through state-of-the-art equipment and access to advanced fire-monitoring systems such as EFFIS. Satellites and drones equipped with infrared sensors can detect wildfires at an early stage, enabling a swift response.” He mentioned that the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) works tirelessly to improve the understanding of wildfire behaviour and mitigation techniques.

CESI’s call for action made clear: In light of this year’s wildfire season and the challenges it posed, the firefighting profession in the EU needs to be lifted to the importance and life-saving role it has. More investments in this profession are needed to mitigate inadequate workloads, work-induced stress, heat stress and injuries, smoke inhalation, dehydration, fatigue and underpay. Europe’s added value in fighting wildfires lies in its spirit of cooperation, technological advancements, skilled personnel, and dedication to prevention and preparedness – but it should also bring forward a cohesive EU approach to combatting fires based on mutual learning, sharing of best practices and minimum standards of safety and work ethics.

As in previous years, workers still find ourselves squeezed in a permacrisis, which has become a veritable a perma-poly-crisis with far-reaching consequences for workers. Inflation continues to eat purchasing power, and central bankers’ efforts to bring it down increasingly risks to choke off economies and bring higher unemployment.

Unions and social partners are much needed to help employers, policy makers and fiscal partners to achieve an ambitious but careful balance combing higher wages, fiscal support measures and monetary policy to ensure a growing economy and decent jobs with adequate wages.

https://www.cesi.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/VID-20231009-WA0004.mp4

Dear members, partners, and friends,

In Brussels, as in national capitals around Europe, summer recess is over and politics is again in full swing again. Welcome back to the crisis mode of before the summer – and of the last years.

The European Commission’s summer economic forecast, issued on September 11, found that the growth of the EU economy slows down more than expected, projecting a sluggish increase of just 0.8% in 2023.

Clearly, the EU economy is starting to pay tribute for the late (and perhaps too late) efforts of the European Central Bank (ECB) to bring down inflation in the Euro zone, which still stands at 6.5%. In September, the ECB’s Governing Council raised the Euro zone interest rates for the 10^th time in 60 weeks. While intended as a monetary policy to bring down inflation, risks to choke off the economy are mounting.

No good news for workers and their jobs and purchasing power. What is particularly worrying: Energy prices have decreased, but costs of other essential goods and services – in particular food and nutrition – have been resurging. What if, on top, a cold winter will drive up gas and electricity prices once again?

Clearly, policy makers must be on duty for workers during the next months. They need to work to bring down prices and safeguard jobs in a thriving economy.

As the political summer recess ends, CESI is also back on duty for workers. Based on our position on impacts of surging inflation on workers, we want to play a constructive role in a balanced response to the inflation and cost-of living crisis – involving policy makers and fiscal policy, central bankers and monetary policy, and social partners and collective bargaining.

With a recession looming, we also need good news for workers’ jobs and support on all fronts. Also here, CESI is back on duty.

Through our new EU co-funded project on active labour market policies (‘Activer’) we want to make sure that workers will be well-equipped and supported to work in greening and digitalising jobs. Nobody should be left behind in the profound transformations that jobs and labour markets are currently experiencing.

And through our continuing project ‘Syncrisis’, equally co-funded by the EU, we want to establish how public services and their personnel can be rendered more resilient to face the perma- und polycrisis that we are living in, to the benefit of workers and citizens.

It could not be timelier: In the area of environment, firefighters have been busy fighting dramatic forest fires across the continent. In the area of defence, supporting military support to Ukraine and further developing the EU’s military strength remains paramount. In the area of health, Covid may see a return to light, with a new and still relatively unknown variant, BA.2.86 or `Pirola’, developing and spreading. And in the area of education, social affairs and employment, the reception and inclusion of refugees, among them the many from Ukraine and African countries, remains a real challenge.

Are we all – workers, unions, public services – ready for this? Stay tuned to find out at one of our next conferences in Berlin on October 29, in Madrid on November 8 and in Vienna on November 21!

In the consultation contribution, CESI calls for a new, binding and ambitious EU measure to improve the quality of traineeships – unless the European cross-sector social partners can agree on a comparable, effective alternative social partner agreement.

CESI Secretary General Klaus Heeger said: “Young people in the EU are far too often victims of low-quality, unpaid or abusive work conditions during their traineeships. 1 in 3 youngsters report working for free during their internships. With youth unemployment still high, the cost of living on the rise and the effects of the pandemic on youth still being felt, many young people are at risk of poverty.”

He added: “Additional protective measures are urgently needed to ensure that young people have access to quality traineeship experiences in which they gain the practical experience needed to later access the labour market and find stable quality jobs. These measures must specifically ensure that these opportunities provide meaningful learning experiences and contribute to the development of employability skills, while providing access to fair and decent pay, social protection and healthcare.”

In view of this, CESI’s consultation contribution calls for an EU-level measure which should in particular:

• set up clear standards and guidelines for traineeships across Europe, promoting access to social protection, healthcare, insurances and pension with clear references and indicators for quality, transparency, and fairness.
• specify the significance of appropriate guidance and supervision for trainees and put in place a mechanism to monitor learning outcomes.
• set the frame for an adequate recognition and validation of traineeships as valuable experiences on participants’ educational and professional journeys.
• encourage Members States and their labour inspectorates to monitor improvements in the overall quality of traineeships.
• clarify that trainees have access to trade union and workers’ representation rights.

The full consultation contribution, which was developed in close cooperation with CESI Youth, is available here.

September 13, 2023

In the wake of the State of the European Union (SOTEU) speech delivered by the European Commission President, CESI reflects on the key issues addressed.

The speech outlined the significant challenges faced by the European Union in recent years and its ambitious plans for the future, particularly in the domains of crisis management, employment, social affairs, gender equality, and public services.

Perma- and Polycrisis Management:

The EC President acknowledged the relentless onslaught of crises, from the Covid-19 pandemic to the war in Ukraine, surging inflation, and the pressing climate emergency. While admitting that mistakes were made, it was noted that the EU managed these crises reasonably well, particularly in terms of joint procurement of vaccines and the utilization of the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) and SURE instrument.

CESI acknowledges the commendable efforts of the EU in crisis management but emphasises the need for improved measures to address social inequalities, such as measures for energy companies benefiting disproportionately from the energy crisis.

Green-Digital Transitions:

Despite the crises, the EU’s commitment to the green-digital twin transition remains steadfast. Initiatives like the Digital Decade and the European Green Deal reflect the EU’s determination to become a global digital frontrunner and achieve climate neutrality.

CESI highlights the importance of supporting citizens and workers adversely affected by these transitions through mechanisms like the Just Transition Funds.

Employment/Social Affairs/Gender Equality – European Pillar of Social Rights:

The EC’s leadership has led to significant legislative and policy initiatives in the areas of minimum wages, platform economy, access to social protection, European Works Council (EWC) directive, and gender equality.

CESI lauds these steps toward social justice and convergence across Member States, but stresses that social and employment challenges remain and numerous and substantial. Continuing to make the European Pillar of Social Rights a reality requires a sustained and joint commitment and endeavour by the EU institutions, Member States, local authorities, social partners, and civil society. The Pillar is, first and foremost, a political pledge. Delivering on it is a shared political commitment and responsibility towards future generations.

Public Services:

Investments in public services and personnel are vital for creating resilient and fair societies. The EU’s investment-based response to the Covid pandemic was an important help in maintaining employment and fostering economic growth.

CESI urges continued investments in public services to meet the principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights.

CESI’s Expectations for the Next Term:

CESI outlines key expectations for the next term:

-A clear and ambitious agenda for performing public services, with sufficient investments in its facilities, resources, equipment and staff.

-A clear commitment to foster trade union pluralism and inclusive social dialogue at the EU level and in the Member States.

-A clear focus in all EU legislative and non-legislative initiatives and measures on sustainability; sustainability which reflects at level playing field not only the needs of the economy/business, citizens/consumers and the environment/climate but also those of workers.

-The pursuit of fair digital and green transitions for and with workers, based on (1) strengthened information, consultation and co-decision, (2) decent employment and working conditions, (3) access to training and skills, and (4) adequate social protection.

-A revision of the EU public procurement and EU state aid legislation to include binding sustainability conditionalities for beneficiaries.

-A functioning regulation of telework, implemented to the mutual benefits of workers and business and not unilaterally imposed by employers.

-A framework directive for decent work. Sectoral and issue-specific legislation can bring improvements for specific sectors or groups of workers, but labour markets and employment models develop so quickly that policy making risks lagging continuously behind its regulation.

-A revision of the directives on temporary agency work, fixed-term work contracts and part-time work contracts, to close discriminatory loopholes.

CESI calls for continued commitment to social justice, sustainability, and fair transitions and looks forward to the announced Val Duchesse Social Partner summit in 2024.

Drought, intense heat, and strong winds have caused unprecedented wildfires in Greece, Spain and many other parts of the world, with devastating consequences for humans, the environment, houses and infrastructure.

It goes without saying that effective firefighting plays a pivotal role in mitigating the destruction caused by these fires – and in protecting lives, property, and natural resources.

Last month, two Greek air force pilots lost their lives when their firefighting plane crashed. And yesterday, eighteen bodies were found in a forested area of Northern Greece.

Thousands have been displaced from their homes, seeking refuge in temporary shelters. The loss of lives, both civilian and among brave firefighters battling the blazes, has left communities grieving and nations in mourning.

The scale of the wildfires has therefore turned this natural disaster into a humanitarian crisis; and as can be witnessed through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, addressing these challenge does not only require robust firefighting capabilities, but also more and more concerted and coordinated European and international fire prevention tools and policies.

In the face of such a crisis, EU cooperation has played a crucial role in increasing firefighting efforts. Several European countries have joined hands to provide mutual aid and support, exemplifying solidarity in times of need. Firefighters from neighbouring countries, as well as those from further afield, have travelled long distances to offer their expertise and manpower.

So far, in the face of this unprecedented crisis, EU Member States have therefore demonstrated solidarity with the most severely affected countries. Yet, as the World Meteorological Organisation called July 2023 the hottest month worldwide, it is clear that now and in the future much more efforts are needed.

CESI General Secretary Klaus Heeger makes a call for a more integrated European approach to combatting forest fires: ‘We need to find better ways to cooperate at EU level for combatting forest fires. We need improved resource and expertise sharing, and common EU procedures and strategies to streamline our efforts in saving lives and our habitat. Recognising the crucial importance of firefighters’ work should also mean improving their working conditions, training, access to aircraft, up to date equipment, and not least pay. In other words: massive investments will be needed.’

In the resolution, the Presidium of CESI, on behalf CESI’s members across Europe and in support of CESI’s Hungarian member MKKSz, demands that the Hungarian government no longer pursues the intended measure in a way that will effectively weaken trade unions in the country.

It further urges the European Commission and the Council of Europe to take decisive action to ensure that no measures are taken that will backlash on the implementation of the European Social Charter and the EU’s Council Recommendation on strengthening social dialogue and the binding new EU directive on adequate minimum wages.

Specifically, it expects from the Hungarian government:

• not to undermine trade union life.
• to uphold mechanisms which allow effective collective bargaining between trade unions and employers.
• to guarantee de jure and de facto the respect for both European legislation and International Labour Organization (ILO) covenants in the field of labour law and workers’ representation.
• to abstain from breaching the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) Collective Bargaining Convention (No. 154), which expressly states that in order to facilitate collective negotiations, measures must be taken so that the continuation of collective negotiations will not be hindered by the absence of applicable procedural rules, or their insufficient or inappropriateness – which the measures intended by the Hungarian government would clearly bring.

The Presidium of CESI expects expressively from the Council of Europe:

• to ensure that the Hungarian government respects the European Social Charter which, in its version of 1996, affirms in Art. 5 that national governments should “undertake that national law shall not be such as to impair, nor shall it be so applied as to impair” the freedom of workers and employers to form organisations for the protection of their economic and social interests and to join those organisations.

• to verify that the Hungarian government acts in line with the Hungarian act ratifying the European Social Charter, which stipulates that all parties should undertake that no national laws – neither by themselves nor through their application – curtail the employees’ freedom of association.

It expects from the EU institutions:

• to ensure that the Hungarian government respects the Treaty of the European Union (TEU), which states in its preamble that all Member States have “confirmed” their attachment to “fundamental social rights as defined in the European Social Charter”.

• to ensure that the Hungarian government properly implements EU secondary legislation that aims to strengthen (and not weaken) the right of association, trade unionism, social dialogue and collective bargaining, based on policy objectives set out in Art 151 and 153 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU). This concerns above all the recently adopted Council Recommendation on strengthening social dialogue in the EU and the recently adopted EU directive 2022/2041 on adequate minimum wages in the EU, which is binding for all Member States and which requires that Member States “promote the building and strengthening of the capacity of the social partners.”

The full resolution is available here.

Background

On August 7 2023 the Cabinet Office of the Hungarian Prime Minister headed by Antal Rogán submitted for public consultation a legal proposal to change the current system of trade union membership fees from employers to trade unions.

The measure would allow public employers to exempt themselves from the obligation to deduct membership fees pay membership fees back to the trade unions.

In practice, the change would result in trade unions having additional administration and operational burdens. The change would therefore have an opposite effect to the ‘freedom of bureaucracy’ principle – which it is supposed to address.

Trade unions representing civil servants, defence personnel, public healthcare workforces, and public education employees would be concerned.

CESI is proud to announce that the independent trade unions will be a valuable partner in the “SEISMEC” project, which is led by Erasmus University Rotterdam, as part of the Horizon Europe Programme.

Last month, the European Commission decided to award 10 million euros to the ambitious pan-European project “SEISMEC- Supporting European Industry Success Maximization through Empowerment Centred development”, which aims at reshaping workplaces by integrating human-centric technology and practices to create sustainable work environments.

The interdisciplinary project involves a consortium of partners from the fields of research, industry, and civil society. Unlike traditional tech-focused approaches, the project will focus on human needs and experiences, and it will try to empower workers across various industries.

“SEISMEC” will conduct pilots across different sectors to address biases and contribute to the creation of inclusive work environments for all. By integrating social sciences, industry, and technology, the project aims to prioritise people in various work settings and foster innovation at the workplace.

Jason Pridmore, coordinator of the SEISMEC project, said: “We are honoured to lead this great consortium of partners that demonstrate a diversity of organisational sizes, geographic locations, and industrial ecosystems. As coordinators, this project will demonstrate the diversity of perspectives and expertise Erasmus University Rotterdam has as an organisation and how we can help lead Europe towards more and more human centric approaches to work and our workplaces.”

Klaus Heeger, Secretary General of CESI, said: “We are delighted to consistently represent the voices of millions of workers in significant developments and involve them in initiatives that can impact their lives. Over the next 4 years, CESI will play a vital role as a partner in this ambitious project, which we hope will provide valuable insights into the future of work and guide us towards enhancing work conditions in the years to come!”

According to the resolution, CESI:

• broadly welcomes the European Commission’s legislative complementary parallel proposals of December 7 2022 on reinforced standards for equality bodies in the Member States.
• supports in particular recitals 34/35 which seek to ensure that “the provisions on the equality bodies’ right to act in court proceedings do not alter the rights of victims and of associations, organisations or other legal entities that enforce the rights of victims”, i.e. trade unions.
• calls to explicitly list trade unions as key interlocutors for equality bodies in all aspects related to discrimination at the workplace.
• backs considerations to further promote cooperation between equality bodies and trade unions in employment-related cases of discrimination.

CESI Secretary General Klaus Heeger said: “National equality bodies and trade unions are no competitors but can be strong partners, complementing their supporting roles when workers become victims of discrimination. Enhanced cooperation between trade unions and equality bodies is in the interest of workers.”

The full resolution is available here.

Tand the world seem to have entered a sustained period of instability and insecurity. A state of ‘permacrisis’ has become a new normal for European citizens, with one crisis seamlessly followed by the next or with crises even overlapping each other and accumulating.

More than two years after the outbreak of the Covid pandemic, the impacts on public health systems will be felt for years to come, even if vaccination may help to partially keep the disease under control. Similarly, the socio-economic damages caused by the responses to the pandemic have created long-term challenges for governments and citizens for the coming years or even decades.

At the same time, effects of climate change become increasingly tangible: Previously exceptional torrential rains, flooding, extreme heatwaves, and wildfires, are becoming more and more common and are undisputedly connected to an advancing climate change. The EU and its Member States are struggling both to treat the roots of climate change – in other words, to become greenhouse gas-neutral – and to be better prepared to face its punctually unpredictable symptoms – natural disasters in particular – and limit damages to people’s lives and well-being, property, the economy and not least nature itself.

While the EU and its Member States have been setting a green agenda and moving towards post-Covid recovery, inflation kicked in. Prices started rising across many commodities and have outpaced wage increases in many Member States. As a result, citizens and workers, especially the low and middle-income households, increasingly face threats to their wealth and social standards, which exposes them to poverty risks. So far, policymakers and central bankers in the EU and the Member States have not succeeded in developing a fiscal and monetary balance between keeping inflation at bay, investing heavily in climate neutrality, and not endangering the post-Covid economic recovery.

The fallout of the war in Ukraine adds to this triple crisis. Peace and security can no longer be taken for granted. New investment may be required in the EU’s own military deterrence. The heavy dependence of many Member States and industries on Russian oil, gas and raw materials means additional economic and financial uncertainties and threats to companies as well as to workers, citizens and households. As the war drags on, millions of Ukrainian refugees arriving in the EU need to be sheltered and integrated with the Member States’ education and health systems, societies, and labour markets.

The Covid pandemic, climate change, inflation and the war in Ukraine –crises management requires, resilient, performing and well-functioning public services and administrations. Public services and administrations which are well-equipped and resourced to care, protect and deliver in times of sustained uncertainty. They protect the most vulnerable, reduce social inequalities, ensure citizens’ prosperity and well-being, and allow business to function. In sum, public services are a key to the realisation and implementation of the EU’s social objectives as summed up in the European Pillar of Social Rights.

Whether public services can deliver their tasks, crucially depends on the workforce, on those that carry out and provide services. Where their employment and working conditions are not adequate, where facilities and their work equipment are not up to speed, and where there is no sufficient staff at all, quality services cannot be delivered.

Unfortunately, though, in many public services and administrations favourable framework conditions are still lacking: understaffing, work overload, lack of adequate infrastructure and equipment, exposure to health and safety risks and insufficient training are widespread in the working life of public sector employees, especially for those who are in the frontline of emergency management.

The described crises are not limited to local, regional or national levels and do not stop at borders. They are European challenges that the Member States and citizens across the EU share. As such, the EU-level policy making and social dialogue need to be involved in the formulation of responses, in conjunction with local, regional and national actors.

As a European confederation of more than 40 national and European trade union organisations with a total of more than 5 million individual members (most of which are employed in the different fields and levels of local, regional, national and European public services and administrations), this project of CESI aims to sketch comparative solutions of how performing public services and their personnel can help the EU and its Member States to face the multiple and new emerging crises in the future.

In the context of the above background and rationale, the project foresees:

• European online round tables (8) for CESI members to give them the opportunity to systematically take stock of the challenges that they face. Given that different sectors (health, education, administrations, …) may experience different problems, the round tables are intended to be held on a sector-specific basis.
• European hybrid national seminars (6) with CESI members in the different EU Member States to identify, discuss and compare national cross-sector experiences of public services on the ground.
• National hybrid seminars (7) for the representatives and multipliers of CESI member trade unions (divided by sector) to identify EU initiatives to help mitigate the various crises and raise awareness about them in their employment structures, unions, sectors and the Member States.
• A European hybrid conference to discuss and bring together the conclusions of the online round tables and hybrid seminars and to develop written guidelines on how public services and their personnel can best be rendered resilient and help the EU and the Member States face the various current and future crises and on how trade and social partners can constructively contribute to and be involved in the process
• A digital communication campaign to accompany the project in public and to raise awareness about the needs and demands of public service personnel and its representatives.

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CESI’s 7^th European Defence Round Table (EDRT)*

26 September 2023 11:00 – 12:30 PM | online & in Brussels | In English & German languages

The ongoing war in Ukraine has far-reaching implications beyond its immediate geopolitical and humanitarian consequences.

While the EU’s primary objective remains to become climate-neutral by 2050, the war has the potential to impact both the European Union’s climate change goals and the global efforts to combat climate change.

Meanwhile, public support for sanctions against Russia and further military support to Ukraine remains high (Eurobarometer survey).

The 7th European Defence Round Table therefore aims at shedding more light on the climate-security nexus and the impacts of the war on the EU’s and international climate neutrality goals and commitments.

The questions debated shall be as follows:

• Are geopolitical tensions and wars impacting global collaboration and international commitments to climate goals?
• Can energy supply disruptions and shortages potentially affect the EU’s transition to renewable energy sources?
• May continuous military support clash with the replenishment and the modernization of the armed forces of the EU Member States?
• Will, against this background, national armies be able to meet climate objectives?
• Are, against the background of a multitude of challenges and crises, increases of the regular national defence budgets realistic?

With the participation of:

· Klaus Heeger, Secretary General, CESI

· Mary Kaldor, Professor of Global Governance at the London School of Economics

· Jordan Koop, Policy Officer, Emerging Security Challenges at NATO (tbc)

· Elena Lazarou, Head of the External Policies Unit at the European Parliament Research Service

· MEP Lukas Mandl, Vice-chair of the European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs and substitute in the Subcommittee on Security and Defence

· Thomas Sohst, German Armed Forces Association (DBwV), President of CESI´s Commission ‘Defence’

Please register for the CESI’s 7th European Defence Round Table (EDRT) here.

*CESI’s European Defence Round Table (EDRT) aims at including more key players and stakeholders in the processes of the Common Security and Defence Policy.

In recent years, European labour markets have undergone unprecedented structural changes. The significant demographic transition and ageing of European societies, the liberalisation and globalization of markets and flexibilisation of employment, digitalisation and automation of work and the shift to a greener economy have reshaped the way work is performed and labour markets are organised.

In an already volatile environment for the labour markets of the Member States, the Covid pandemic has administered a further blow. The slowdown in business activity -especially during the first year of the pandemic- had a dramatic impact on the European labour markets. The employment fallout of Covid-19 has been visible in three fields: the number of jobs, the quality of jobs and the specific adverse effects on vulnerable groups. The pandemic increased unemployment and underemployment rates, reduced wages and limited access to social security protection and amplified social exclusion and working poverty.

Although the Covid crisis-affected labour markets in their entirety, employment in some sectors were hit particularly hard, especially in the services sector. Similarly, certain groups of vulnerable workers have been disproportionally affected: workers with underlying health conditions, young and old workers, women, atypical workers, and migrants.

And, amid the difficult recovery of European economies from the Covid pandemic, the recent outbreak of a war in Ukraine brought about new obstacles and challenges for the European labour markets that are now called upon to integrate an influx of the Ukrainian refugees. The support of millions of vulnerable people and their inclusion in Europe’s labour markets seem to be an immense challenge, but constitute an inevitable need (and, if managed well, opportunity) that governments and policymakers must face.

In an effort to rebuild labour markets and prepare them for these numerous challenges, EU Member States must invest in active labour market policies. Performing active employment policies remain a vital tool for the protection of the most vulnerable and the preservation of social cohesion and welfare and can help labour markets build up resilience. Against the background of fast evolutions in the world of work, measures are needed that will increase employment opportunities and improve the matching between supply and demand of skills in the job market.

Following the “Employment Guidelines” included in the “Europe 2020 Strategy”, which were aligned to integrate the consequences of the pandemic, the green/digital transition, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, Member States are called upon to work towards:

• Boosting the demand for labour
• Enhancing labour supply and improving access to employment, skills and competences
• Enhancing the functioning of labour markets and the effectiveness of social dialogue
• Promoting equal opportunities for all, fostering social inclusion and fighting poverty

In the first place, this translates into further needed support for the employment services. Through information, placement and active support services, public employment services (PES) can enhance employment. At local, national and EU levels, public employment services can provide assistance for job placements and thus help in the improvement of working and living conditions. Moreover, active labour market policies include measures for forward-looking education, training and re-/up-skilling schemes to adapt the skills of workers to evolving labour market requirements, as well as a variety of employment subsidies to support and stimulate job creation and allow the unemployed to re-enter labour markets and gain work experience. Active labour market policies have also included measures to reinforce work incentives for social benefit recipients.

Albeit generally intended to safeguard employment, active labour market policies may bring unnecessary adverse effects for workers or not reach their full potential for them. Indeed, active labour market policies can only succeed if workers and their representatives are involved in their design and implementation. Policies need to consider the real needs and interests of the world of work, and this can only happen through the effective participation of workers as well as the trade unions and social partners representing them. In its Recommendation 2021/402 of 4 March 2021 on effective active support to employment following the COVID-19 crisis (EASE), the European Commission recognizes the vital role of social partners in this regard and asks for their active involvement.

As a confederation of more than 40 national trade union organisations with a total of more than 5 million individual members, this project aims to build capacity and raise awareness about the role of workers, unions and social partners in the design and delivery of effective active labour market policies.

The project foresees:

• Six (6) hybrid national seminars hosted by members of CESI in several EU countries to discuss their needs and their role in the design and implementation of active labour market policies in their countries.
• A hybrid comparative European conference on the role of workers, trade unions and social partners in the delivery of performing active labour market policies in Europe and the tools, instruments and support provided by the European Union in this regard.
• Four (4) hybrid European seminars to provide CESI’s members with training on how to contribute more effectively and meaningfully to a successful design and delivery of active labour market services in the Member States, including by making increased use of tools and support provided for by the EU (as established in the European Conference) and by drawing lessons learned from each other in the course of the project (and the 6 hybrid national seminars in particular).

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Founded in 2021, the SHSP organises workers in the Kosovo postal services sector and is the biggest union of employees in the Posta e Kosovës, the company responsible for postal service in Kosovo.

CESI Secretary General Klaus Heeger said: “I am glad that the SHSP will anchor its pro-European commitment and trade union engagement within CESI. Their membership as observer will come to the mutual benefit of both CESI and SHSP. CESI benefits from further expertise in postal sector unionism and presence in the Balkan region. For the SHSP, access to CESI and its large network of likeminded unions across Europe, in particular in the different fields and layers of the public services, will help SHSP approach existing challenges of workers in Kosovo for its members. We look forward to our future collaboration.”

More information about this SHSP is available here.

The position stresses that a number of shortcomings in the rules under the EU’s EWC directive 2009/38/EC mean that EWCs face deficiencies and obstacles in their set-up procedure and effective and meaningful operation, and that it should therefore be revised. The position paper argues in particular that in the directive:

1. The definition of ‘transnational matter’ must be sharpened:
   An obstacle that EWCs encounter frequently is that management abuses the vagueness of the definition of a ‘transnational matter’ and does not consider an issue as such and does not consult and EWC, even if it should. The directive should be revused ti set out a clearer definition of ‘transnational matters’ so that companies can no longer circumvent a consultation of an EWC in a relevant matter because of a blurry interpretation of what constitutes a ‘transnational matter’.
2. The definition of ‘consultation’ must be made more stringent:
   In practice a recurrent problem that numerous EWCs face is that consultations only take place pro-forma. It also occurs that decisions have even already been taken by management before consultations take place. A further problem relates to the absence of an obligation for management to take opinions of EWCs into consideration. The directive should be revised to strengthen the definition of ‘consultation’ to specifically require that (1) consultations must take place timely so that opinions of EWCs can still have an impact on decisions by management, that (2) consultations cannot simply be a formality after management has already made decisions, and that (3) opinions must necessarily be taken into account by management, and this in a meaningful way.
3. The scope and nature of ‘confidentiality restrictions’ must be clarified:
   Currently, the directive specifies that management is not obliged to transmit information to EWCs in situations “when its nature is such that, according to objective criteria, it would seriously harm the functioning of the undertakings concerned or would be prejudicial to them.” Further details are left for regulation (or not) by the Member States. The result is a plethora of national rules, and many of them are not strong enough to prevent situations of misuse where management refuses to share information in order to pre-empt a (legitimate) involvement of EWCs. This leads to an (illicit) obstruction of the involvement, work and functioning of EWCs. The directive should be revised to set a clear definition of what confidentiality restrictions apply and in which situations it is legitimate for management to withhold information. This will avoid companies uses confidentiality restrictions in an abusive way and as a pretext to circumvent a consultation of EWCs.
4. The process and the conditions to set-up new EWCs must be simplified to allow a swifter establishment:
   The directive should be revised to simplify the initiation process and set up of EWCs. In particular, the maximum duration of set up negotiations of three years between workers’ representatives and management representatives should be shortened. Practical experience has shown that long before the lapse periods of three years it is usually clear if management has a genuine interest to set up an EWC or not.
5. The provisions on sanctions for non-compliance with the directive must be reinforced: The directive is so far not always effective in ensuring in all Member States effective, deterring sanction and penalties for non-compliance, due to insufficient provisions in the directive. The directive should be revised to spell out a concrete framework with minimum sanctions for Member States to respect.
6. An adequate financial, material and legal support for EWCs should be ensured: Numerous EWCs lack the necessary financial, material and/or legal support to fulfill their work and purpose because of a failure or unwillingness of management to provide this. This appears as a practical and very concrete obstacle which obstructs the effective operation of many EWCs. The directive should be revised to stipulate more clearly that the central management is responsible to provide the necessary and adequate financial (e.g. travel and meeting costs, external judicial advice) and material (e.g. meeting facilities and equipment) resources to ensure that EWCs can effectively, timely and meaningfully pursue their mission.
7. Exemptions from the scope of the directive must be reduced: Currently, EWCs are diverse in their operational organisation not only because each EWC has its own rules and modalities as negotiated between management and workers based on general content-related categories set out in Article 6 of the EWC directive. They are also diverse because EWCs (established before the first EWC directive, after the first directive in 1996, and following the latest revision in 2011 respectively) all operate under their original directives. New rules established by the revisions of the EWC directive did not apply to EWCs that were already in place. This three-tier constellation is causing a plethora of confusing settings. Above all, it also means that improvements achieved in revisions of the EWCs following 1996 and 2011 do not apply to previously established EWCs. The directive should be revised to provide that it does only apply to new EWCs that will be established in the future. Indeed, a central objective of a revision should be a harmonisation of existing EWCs to ensure that all EWCs agreements fall under the latest consolidated version of the directive.

The full position is available here.

According to the position, CESI welcomes the Recommendation as a step further to encourage Member States to ensure national minimum income schemes that effectively combat poverty. In particular, CESI:

1. welcomes the broad definition of poverty and the combination of this with a recommendation that Member States should set ‘adequate’ income support at a height of at least the relative national-at-risk-of poverty threshold – notes however that a careful balance needs to be struck between adequate minimum incomes and adequate minimum wages through the recent EU minimum wage directive 2022/2041. While minimum income schemes (including further potential social benefits) must prevent a risk of poverty as a basic right of all citizens, minimum wages must ensure a standard of living beyond this.
2. welcomes the Recommendation as a tool to encourage Member States to ensure a better take-up of available minimum income schemes including through step-by-step guidance for those who need it, using digital and non-digital tools – notes however that citizens in need always require a physical person in public administrations to rely on. Digital tools should not replace staff that provides assistance at place.
3. welcomes a foreseen individualised service provision for citizens on minimum income schemes to help them overcome social exclusion and access employment, and also welcomes the importance placed on the need of further access to enabling essential services that will help citizens in need, beyond material assistance through minimum income – notes however that Member States need to commit to considerable investments in their public services and administrations to implement the Recommendation in this regard.
4. welcomes the Recommendation’s encompassing character to approach poverty in a holistic manner – notes however that the Recommendation is not legally binding and that a central role will pertain to trade unions and social partners to maintain political pressure on national governments to implement it.

CESI Secretary General Klaus Heeger said: “Acting on minimum incomes is a key area of responsibility for the EU to deliver on the objective stated in the Treaties to combat social exclusion. Adequate minimum income schemes are above all about human dignity, social fairness, inclusion and societal cohesion.”

He added: “Minimum income schemes also represent economic investments that will pay off for public budgets – and from an internal market point of view, adequate minimum income schemes in Europe can also contribute to a more balanced intra-EU migration.”

The full position is available here.

On July 19th, CESI member organisations representing firefighters met with Member of the European Parliament Elżbieta Rafalska, co-responsible for the Parliament´s initiative to improve working conditions of firefighters, to discuss how to advance on the Parliament file.

This Summer of 2023 will yet again be a very challenging season for firefighters in Europe. With soaring temperatures and prolonged droughts, wildfires sweep across countless regions in Europe, and men and women are working day and night to protect lives, wildlife, infrastructure, and property.

The intensity and scale of the blazes have posed a significant challenge to firefighting forces, stretching their resources to the limit. Hot and dry conditions have exacerbated fire risks, leading to rapidly spreading flames that engulf vast areas of forest, grassland, and residential zones.

In the face of this crisis, international cooperation has played a crucial role. Several European countries have joined hands to provide mutual aid and support, exemplifying solidarity in times of need. Firefighters from neighbouring countries, as well as those from further afield, have travelled long distances to offer their expertise and manpower.

CESI General Secretary Klaus Heeger said: ‘The public’s support and gratitude for firefighters have been overwhelming and should be monetised. The working conditions of firefighters must reflect their importance: adequate pay levels, reasonable working hours, up to date protection and decontamination equipment and highest safety standards must render their work safer – and more efficient. Once the crises are over, firefighters cannot be forgotten!

CESI´s key demands are reflected in CESI position attached.

Dear members, partners, and friends,

In a dynamic and ever-changing landscape, trade unions have the responsibility to stay alert, adaptable and responsive, ensuring that the representation of our workers remains effective.

At European level, promoting better working standards means understanding the high diversity among various national contexts and sectors and looking for solutions applying to different environments.

To do this, we are in continuous exchange and cooperation with our members to be aware of their needs and demands and be ready to support them in their national level interest representation.

At the same time, we strive to uphold our strong position at the European level within the so-called “EU bubble” to ensure that European workers remain a valuable part of the EU policy-making. For this, the support we get from our members is of paramount importance.

In a continuous flurry of activities and rapid developments in the EU, we have managed to make CESI a central player in the promotion of working rights in Europe, something which was also confirmed by the active participation of high-level EU stakeholders in ‘Summer Days’, two weeks ago.

For this event, CESI gathered in Brussels more than 150 representatives from EU Institutions, think tanks, trade unions and companies, highlighting the importance of social policies for the (green) future of Europe and giving to its members the opportunity to be heard by decision-makers at the European level.

Another key feature of our lobbying for workers are regular missions to European Parliament plenary sessions in Strasbourg. Last week, we exchanged with a good dozen of MEPs about current policy issues including social public procurement in the forthcoming Net Zero Industry Act, a revision of the European Work Councils (EWC) Directive, priorities for a new Directive on a European framework for quality (paid) traineeships, and the functioning of the European social dialogue.

This summer break will now give us some time to reflect and to prepare for a new autumn filled with activities. Through a multitude of events in a series of European countries – including Germany, Austria, Spain, Estonia, Italy and Luxembourg-, we will try to capitalise on the valuable lessons from the past months and share them with our members at national level.

The coming months will be busy but most certainly rewarding, too. And we look forward to seeing you then.

I wish you a nice summer!