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THE CAMPAIGN FOR the incorporation of a charter of fundamental rights into the European Union treaties is gathering pace. At the beginning of June the convention which was set up in 1999 by the Council of Ministers, met to firm up a draft version of the proposed charter. At the same time the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) and the European Women's Lobby (EWL) issued a joint statement to try to put pressure on them to remedy the perceived deficiencies in the draft. The two organisations considered that they remained 'very sceptical about the new version of the charter as proposed by the (exclusively male) Presidium of the Convention for the meeting of 5-6 June'. Their leaders, Denise Fuchs, President of the EWL and Emilio Gabaglio, ETUC General Secretary stated, 'Neither the former version, nor the new one introduce the concept of gender equality as a basic principle of the Union and this is a great pity. Equality between women and men is still not a reality within the Union, much still remains to be done, not only in terms of legislation, but also in practical terms. If such provisions were included in the Charter, this new compilation of common values for European countries could constitute a crucial tool of progress for the protection and the real implementation of women's rights'.
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Denise Fuchs, President of the EWL, Emilio Gabaglio, ETUC General Secretary and Elena Paciotti, MEP |
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In March the ETUC was involved in a 'round table' conference on fundamental rights together with the platform of European social non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Both groups believe that the EU has not involved its citizens sufficiently because of its focus on the single market.They see the guarantee of basic social, civil, economic, political, cultural and trade union rights, which the charter would provide, as a way of combatting scepticism. A solemn declaration was deemed insufficient to meet the demands of EU citizens, rather the Council of Ministers, other European institutions such as the social partners and the NGOs should decide on a five year plan to implement rights such as the right to work and to social protection. Elena Paciotti, MEP explained how social rights were even more necessary in an era of European integration when free trade was weakening the impact of national legislation. Mr.Gabaglio felt that France, which takes over the presidency of the EU in July, had a social agenda which should reinforce a citizens' Europe by 'the anchoring of social and fundamental rights into the treaties'.
Meanwhile another group of non-governmental organisations, Solidar, which is linked to trade unions and social democratic parties, has called for the legally binding incorporation of the charter of rights into the EU treaties. They also want the anti-discrimination legislation, included in article 13 of the Amsterdam treaty, widened and given direct effect. Other interested parties are not so enthusiastic however. At the Feira EU summit in Portugal the UK government seemed determined that the charter should not introduce any new rights and not be legally enforceable. UNICE, the European employers' federation, issued a pre-summit statement which made a similar point, saying that fundamental rights must be distinguished from social, political and economic aspirations. At the end of the summit the European Union Commission president, Romano Prodi, merely announced that the charter is moving forward and that the next stage of discussions to take place under the French presidency would relate to its legal status.
ETUC to negotiate on temporary work |
EU money changing cartel suspected |
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European employers and unions have agreed to begin negotiations on temporary workers, the third group on so-called 'atypical' contracts whose terms and conditions are to be regulated by EU directive. Negotiations between the social partners resulted in agreements leading to EU directives on part time work (1996) and fixed term employment (1999). The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) have waged a long campaign to get the European Employers' organisation UNICE to start the process. They welcomed the decision stating 'Regulating temporary work is essential to combat precariousness caused by the development of new discriminatory forms of work for the rights and safety of workers and to improve the quality and conditions of employment of the employees concerned'. |
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION has evidence of violation of EU laws in the bureaux de change sector. Commissioner Mario Monti will send statements of objection to 120 banks in 4 countries. Inspections were made after complaints of charge fixing. Meanwhile a survey on bank charges in general has found that it costs €3.3 to change €100 between currencies on average and €3.84 to withdraw €100 from a cash machine not belonging to your bank. Transfers across borders are expensive and inefficient, the average fee for moving €100 is €17.10 and the survey found that in 25% of cases the banks charged both payer and payee which is in breach of EU directives. The Commissioners for the Internal Market and for Consumer Affairs described the survey as 'disturbing'. |
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