The austerity measures in many countries of Europe faced high level of workers resistance and the next european mobilisation will be on 9 April in Budapest, Hungary, possibly preceded by actions in Belgium on 24 March.

The meeting also discussed the relevance of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum to the union agenda and principles and found out that the current organisation of the Civil Society Forum did not provide proper space and platform for social partners, being a club of grant-funded NGOs. Sandy Boyle, President of the European and Economic Committee External Relations section reported about the EESC dissatisfaction with this situation and the measures it was undertaking to correct it.

Laurent Vogel from the European Trade Union Institute reported about occupational health and safety policy frameworks and ETUI activities and several participants completed the picture by presenting their national situations.

The financial and activity reports from the PERC and its Women’s and Youth were adopted and trade union rights network activities and challenges were presented by Steven Benedict, ITUC HTUR Director. In particular, growing flexibilisation and spreading of the system of fixed term contracts, often short-term contracts (and other arrangements, including agency labour, informal relations etc.), non-respect of TURs (and often national legislation) by the multinational companies, cumbersome legislative provisions for union setting, bargaining and industrial actions and the emerging phenomenon of trafficking for labour exploitation phenomenon were mentioned.

The EC took note of the developments in Belarus, following the elections in December 2010, reported by Aleksandr Jaroshuk, President of the BKDP, as well as the situation at Glodeni factory in Moldova, reported by IUF.

It approved the working plan for the next period and set up the date for the 2nd General Assembly, which will take place on 6 December 2011, in Brussels.

The meeting was chaired by the PERC President Mikhail Shmakov.