Representing over 45 million working people in 41 countries across the continent, the European Trade Union ConÂfederation (ETUC) is the voice of workers in Europe.
Meeting in Belgrade, Serbia, in May 2025, the leaders of trade unions from across Europe discussed the concerns and priorities of workers, their families and their communities.Â
The challenges facing working people and their trade unions in Europe have increased since the ETUC Congress in 2023, including badly managed restructuring processes and threats of job losses in Europe, increased cost-of-living crisis, new global and geopolitical challenges, extra tariffs imposed by the US administration and its attacks against working people, the continuation of the Russian aggression against Ukraine, the rise of the far-right, new attacks against workers and trade union rights by employers and billionaires, increased pushes for deregulation and austerity. Challenges to quality jobs remain, some groups have experienced worsening of job security and conditions while extreme exploitation and wage theft have been on the increase.
In front of these challenges, trade union leaders – affiliates from both within and outside the European Union – stand united to win a fair deal for workers across our continent, to build solidarity with workers in Europe and around the world, and to reinforce our common work in solidarity to withstand any attacks against working people and their rights.
The goals and priorities included in the ETUC Berlin Manifesto are more urgent than ever.Â
Working people and their trade unions insist that our European future, well-being and security depend upon strong democracy, individual and collective rights, equality, and social progress and cohesion, as well as economÂic security that provides quality jobs, fair wages, incomes and pensions capable of sustaining full and happy lives: a fairer, more equal society. The fight against social dumping, job insecurity, and inequality must be strengthened.Â
Strong binding social minimum standards at EU-level, social dialogue and collective bargaining, trade union and workers’ rights, information, consultation and participation, health and safety at work, as well as robust social proÂtections and long term care, universal access to high-quality public services, are key to achieve these objectives.Â
The EU must deliver upon its promise to create upward social convergence. Working people and their trade unions therefore insist for the full implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights, including through new EU legisÂlative measures. Collective bargaining must be reinforced, including through the effective implementation of the Minimum Wage Directive, and making full use of the national action plans to progressively reach 80% collective bargaining coverage, to better protect workers.Â
We will always defend trade union rights and respond to trade union busting and attacks against the right to strike. We will promote democracy and equality at work as a horizontal demand in the public and private sectors. Strengthening information, consultation and participation rights of trade unions and workers’ representatives in all relevant areas and sectors remains a key priority.
We must also protect future generations and give them hope, especially by addressing the causes and effects of climate change, while creating quality jobs, ensuring affordable and adequate housing for all, and reinforcing EuÂropean economic and industrial capability – ensuring just transition and anticipation and management of change.3Â
Recent political developments in Europe and across the globe are warnings that peace, social justice and security are impossible without a fair economy that values wage and wealth equality and redistribution, and which proÂvides good living standards for workers, pensioners, families and communities, without a more integrated Europe that protects the rule of law, and without a strong multilateral system based on international law and human rights.Â
A strong economy, firmly built on quality jobs and our social model, can deliver the foundation for the economic and social success of Europe. That’s why large-scale investment with social conditionalities is urgently needed to boost social, economic and territorial cohesion, industrial policy, infrastructure, public services, a just green and digital transition, and knowledge – from education and vocational training to research and innovation. EU fiscal rules should be immediately suspended to allow rapid investment in these and other crucial areas, permaÂnent common investment tools should be developed, and a fairer taxation system guaranteed, including financial transaction tax and windfall taxes.Â
And there can be no blank cheques to our investments. Europe must get more for our money. Better public proÂcurement rules and social conditionalities are necessary to ensure public money is used to ensure quality j
Meeting in Belgrade, Serbia, in May 2025, the leaders of trade unions from across Europe discussed the concerns and priorities of workers, their families and their communities.Â
The challenges facing working people and their trade unions in Europe have increased since the ETUC Congress in 2023, including badly managed restructuring processes and threats of job losses in Europe, increased cost-of-living crisis, new global and geopolitical challenges, extra tariffs imposed by the US administration and its attacks against working people, the continuation of the Russian aggression against Ukraine, the rise of the far-right, new attacks against workers and trade union rights by employers and billionaires, increased pushes for deregulation and austerity. Challenges to quality jobs remain, some groups have experienced worsening of job security and conditions while extreme exploitation and wage theft have been on the increase.
In front of these challenges, trade union leaders – affiliates from both within and outside the European Union – stand united to win a fair deal for workers across our continent, to build solidarity with workers in Europe and around the world, and to reinforce our common work in solidarity to withstand any attacks against working people and their rights.
The goals and priorities included in the ETUC Berlin Manifesto are more urgent than ever.Â
Working people and their trade unions insist that our European future, well-being and security depend upon strong democracy, individual and collective rights, equality, and social progress and cohesion, as well as economÂic security that provides quality jobs, fair wages, incomes and pensions capable of sustaining full and happy lives: a fairer, more equal society. The fight against social dumping, job insecurity, and inequality must be strengthened.Â
Strong binding social minimum standards at EU-level, social dialogue and collective bargaining, trade union and workers’ rights, information, consultation and participation, health and safety at work, as well as robust social proÂtections and long term care, universal access to high-quality public services, are key to achieve these objectives.Â
The EU must deliver upon its promise to create upward social convergence. Working people and their trade unions therefore insist for the full implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights, including through new EU legisÂlative measures. Collective bargaining must be reinforced, including through the effective implementation of the Minimum Wage Directive, and making full use of the national action plans to progressively reach 80% collective bargaining coverage, to better protect workers.Â
We will always defend trade union rights and respond to trade union busting and attacks against the right to strike. We will promote democracy and equality at work as a horizontal demand in the public and private sectors. Strengthening information, consultation and participation rights of trade unions and workers’ representatives in all relevant areas and sectors remains a key priority.
We must also protect future generations and give them hope, especially by addressing the causes and effects of climate change, while creating quality jobs, ensuring affordable and adequate housing for all, and reinforcing EuÂropean economic and industrial capability – ensuring just transition and anticipation and management of change.3Â
Recent political developments in Europe and across the globe are warnings that peace, social justice and security are impossible without a fair economy that values wage and wealth equality and redistribution, and which proÂvides good living standards for workers, pensioners, families and communities, without a more integrated Europe that protects the rule of law, and without a strong multilateral system based on international law and human rights.Â
A strong economy, firmly built on quality jobs and our social model, can deliver the foundation for the economic and social success of Europe. That’s why large-scale investment with social conditionalities is urgently needed to boost social, economic and territorial cohesion, industrial policy, infrastructure, public services, a just green and digital transition, and knowledge – from education and vocational training to research and innovation. EU fiscal rules should be immediately suspended to allow rapid investment in these and other crucial areas, permaÂnent common investment tools should be developed, and a fairer taxation system guaranteed, including financial transaction tax and windfall taxes.Â
And there can be no blank cheques to our investments. Europe must get more for our money. Better public proÂcurement rules and social conditionalities are necessary to ensure public money is used to ensure quality j