COUNCIL PRESIDENCY : ETUC ASKS MADRID TO CONCENTRATE ON JOBS AND CLIMATE CHANGE.

• Position: European Trade Union Confederation - Brief article

The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) believes that the fight against the rising tide of unemployment and the "development of a precarious labour market" are the first challenges of the Spanish EU Presidency. An ETUC delegation will convey this message to Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Zapatero during its visit to Madrid, on 21 January (see separate article).

According to ETUC General Secretary John Monks, "We need a real strategy to help us out of the employment crisis and of mass unemployment. The Spanish Presidency must steer Europe on the path of sustainable growth, of more and better jobs". Monk added that special attention should be paid to youth employment.

The trade unions are of the opinion that financial regulations must be put in place to prevent a return of financial market speculation and to steer Europe out of the crisis. "The question now is how to eradicate this short-termism, which is ruling economies," adds the...