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ETUC: Visentini, Europe can be a force for social progress

Congress in Vienna 21-24 May with over 600 voting delegates

21 May, 16:48
(ANSA) - UDINE, MAY 21 - Jean-Claude Juncker term as European Commission President has "shown that Europe can be a force for social progress" and "rescued social Europe when it almost died following the crisis, during the wasted years of austerity, and at the hands of the neo-liberal Barroso Commission".

ETUC General Secretary Luca Visentini told this in his opening remarks at 14th ETUC Congress - the largest European gathering of national trade union leaders - that opens today in Vienna. Visentini added that this was thanks to the Juncker Commission's initiative, but it would have been impossible without the commitment and support of the trade union movement.

"All democratic parties must increase their efforts to build a fairer and more socially just Europe" in the next mandate of the European Parliament and Commission, Visentini also told.

Visentini will also discuss with Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa the need for a renewed social contract for Europe.

In a document to be debated at its Congress, ETUC proposes a renewed social contract for Europe that would include full implementation of the Social Pillar alongside other measures such as strong collective bargaining in all EU member states, increased public and private investment, renewed efforts to tackle the gender and east-west pay gap, more urgent climate action, and new initiatives for gender equality and against discrimination. ETUC Congress is taking place in Vienna from today to 24 May with over 600 voting delegates and is the first ETUC Congress made up 50/50 of women and men delegates. (ANSA).

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