John Monks. I have had enjoyable 8 years as general secretary of the ETUC and I have appreciated the privilege of doing this particular job. We have been in an era when workers have been more on the defensive than on the offensive, particularly since the economic crisis. And we are fighting to maintain decent terms and conditions of work, pensions and so on. It is a very tough battle at the moment. One success was the agency workers directive. We have also succeeded in securing the European works councils directive. And we have stopped some things happening which could have been very bad like the “Bolkestein” directive (the “services” directive ndlr). As for disappointments, I think we have not convinced Europe's leaders that Europe's future should be built on economic success with a strong social dimension. Most European leaders think at the moment that Europe is too social, too expensive, too old and too uncompetitive.
ncy workers directive. We have also succeeded in securing the European works councils directive. And we have stopped some things happening which could have been very bad like the “Bolkestein” directive (the “services” directive ndlr). As for disappointments, I think we have not convinced Europe’s leaders that Europe’s future should be built on economic success with a strong social dimension. Most European leaders think at the moment that Europe is too social, too expensive, too old and too uncompetitive.
- Is it only due to the conservative majorities which prevail at the EU Council and Parliament?
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