WCT Conference on the EU’s expansion policies (Brussels, 25th May 1999)
The WCT organised a seminar in Ter Nood, near Brussels, on the “Challenges and risks of the expansion policy of the European Union”. The President of the WCT opened the deliberations. Louis Van Beneden explained the dual objective of the day: to analyse the expectations and problems of the Central and Eastern European countries concerned on the one hand, and to stimulate the reactions of invited guests of these same countries to find the source of inspiration for future actions on the other hand. Professor K. Malfliet, of Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (Belgium), spoke on the political and economic context of the transition, as democratic principles are much more difficult to establish than expected in the countries of the East. Matthew Keyes, a member of the “Affiliation Negotiations” Task Force, gave the viewpoint of the European Commission by detailing the expansion process and presenting the institutions involved. Jan Jacob Van Dijk, collaborator for European affairs at the CNV (Netherlands), analysed the trade union response, reviewing the actions of his trade union in the East since 1989. Finally, Mark Heirman, philosopher and publicist (Belgium) assessed the prospects for peace and justice on the Old Continent, making reference to the current conflict in Kosovo and Yugoslavia.
European region Board meeting (Luxembourg, 26th May 1999)
During the Euro Confederal Board meeting, held in Luxembourg on 26th May 1999, the Secretary General of the WCT presented a very consistent report before recalling the structures and activities of the Confederation in Europe. The President then presented the WCT and the European region from the viewpoint of the expansion of the European Union. The Action Programme was the subject of a long debate, centred on the search for a balance between the policy line defined at the Kuala Lumpur Congress and the activities of the ETUCE. Louis Van Beneden commented on the setting up and functioning of RCCs or Regional Consultative Committees, the representatives of countries of the East drawing attention to the need for specific programmes linked to regional realities. The desire not to spread future activities was underlined by the Secretary General. The second part of the day was devoted to elections – by show of hands – for the European region and the ETUCE and the preparation of the ETUCE General Assembly. Helmut Skala and Gaston De La Haye were elected President and Secretary General of the European region respectively. The Board decided to submit the candidatures of Gust Van Dongen and Evert Dejong to represent the WCT on the ETUCE Executive Board.
Training Seminar
The WCT organised a Seminar on “The role of collective bargaining in the development of social justice and democracy” (Brno, Czech Republic, 17th –19th November). This seminar was held with the support of the Trade Union Training Institute of the ETUC which presented the European Social Charter. Different papers presenting some case studies started up the debate on the theme of the seminar.
2000
Contacts
Contacts with all the organisations of Armenia and ZNP of Poland are developing positively, in addition to exchanges undertaken with the International Organisation of the Education and Science Unions (Russia) and the participation of the Secretary General and the President of the Regional Evaluation Conference EFA 2000 in Warsaw.
Zakopane Meeting
For the first time ZNP took the initiative to meet the organisations of the neighbouring countries in Zakopane in order to establish transnational co-ordination.
Meeting of the European region Board
The European region Board met in Kiev (Ukraine), in April 2000. This meeting was preceded by a training seminar on “Democracy, education and citizenship”. During this seminar the ILO representative insisted on the respect of international standards in the development of a democratic society and the development of citizenship. The representative of the Council of Europe presented the work done by the Council of Europe on education regarding citizenship. During this seminar the new programmes or the new arrangements of existing programmes of the European Commission were presented by the Secretary of the European region.
2001
The activities of the European region have different objectives: preparation for the next world congress which according to the tradition of rotation among the regions will be held this time in Europe, preparation for the next European region Board meeting, development of relations with OITES and the CIS and developing countries, consolidation of national contacts and activities within and relations with the ETUCE.
Relations with OITES:
As part of the development of contacts with OITES and organisations of countries of the CIS the WCT participated in the meeting of OITES members in Moscow in September 2001. These contacts and others (among others in Kiev) led to a proposed agreement for development of co-operation which is yet to be signed by the OITES.
Preparation for Board meeting/Congress of the European region:
The preparations and the process of extensive consultations in Central and Eastern Europe led to the decision to hold the 8th World Congress (2002) in Varna in Bulgaria and the Board meeting/Congress of the European region (November 2001) in Warsaw (Poland). The preparation of this decision and the follow-up action necessitated certain missions to the countries concerned.
Working Visit
A working visit for provincial leaders of the STESU (Ukraine) was organised in April 2001 to Brussels on the theme: “Structuring of national and international trade union activity”.
Zakopane Meeting
This second meeting discussed the role of the State in the decentralisation process and gave rise to fruitful exchanges on the experiences in the different countries in this domain.
Development of the European region:
The contacts with the Spanish organisations helped to define the framework of relations between the WCT and the CSI-CSIF and to discuss the prospects of the WCT in the South of Europe.
Training Seminar
A training seminar for organisations of Western Europe on international trade union activities in September 2001 (Belgium, September 2001) strengthened structural and functional links with the WCT and co-operation between the member organisations in this part of the European region.
Missions
The missions to Poland were aimed at the establishment of strong relations with newly affiliated ZNP, as well as the preparation of the European region Board meeting (November 2001).
The missions to Bulgaria were for the preparation for the World Congress of the WCT in Varna (2002) and also for the participation of the merger Congress between the NTU and NTUES.
Seminar on new technologies in Education (Warsaw).
With the participation and collaboration of the European Community, the ILO and UNESCO and financial aid from EZA, the European region of WCT organised a seminar on “NICTs: tools to be introduced in education”. With more than 80 participants, and a presentation by UNESCO, the European Community, ILO, EZA, the Ministry of Education of Poland and various organisations, the seminar stressed the importance of NICTs as tools whose effectiveness must be measured by its relevant educational use.
This seminar was followed directly by the European region Congress of the WCT to prepare for the 8th World Congress of the WCT in 2002 in Bulgaria. To allow more time for consultations, the congress decided to postpone its decision concerning the structures of the European region and elections to July 2002 in Albena.
In Lisbon for the first time decisions in the area of education were taken at supra national level. If during past decades the education policies in Europe were based more on the studies of the OECD (economic approach), today the orientation is more towards the international evaluation of the qualitative aspect (G7/G8 speak the same language). For example: mobility, hence the recognition of diplomas, LLL, NICT, restructuring at university level (Bologna Declaration, Anglo-Saxon structuring). One of the great challenges is the commercialisation of education. At Qatar a document on the commercialisation of education is on the agenda. Trade unionism, at all levels, is more than solidarity, it is structuring based on the specific needs in which solidarity must apply but it is not the driving force.
2002
Mission to Bulgaria (12th – 16th)
Technical mission to Bulgaria, in preparation for the 8th World Congress of the WCT. The aim of the mission being mainly technical, political contacts were limited as much as possible.
Training Seminar: “Violence at school” (Madrid, 28/2 – 2/3)
European training seminar on the theme of violence and indiscipline at school organised jointly by the CSI-CSIF. The seminar based on the different presentations of national situations and on the basis of thematic introductions, among others on the actions undertaken by the Spanish government, stressed the importance of the preparation of teachers and the need to create an education context encouraging interrelational contacts.
Mission to Ukraine
The European region undertook two missions to Ukraine, one as part of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the trade union organisation Vinitsia (Ukraine). It was an occasion to stress the importance of interrelations between international and regional trade unionism, and also an ideal opportunity to take note of the situation of teachers in the schools far away from the capital.
Cracow Meeting
For organisational reasons, the Zakopane meeting has become the Cracow meeting. This meeting made it possible to reflect on the orientations to be adopted at the level of the European region in order to ensure the effective participation of Central and Eastern Europe.
OITES: Signing of a protocol of co-operation
The International Organisation of Education and Science Workers has signed a co-operation agreement with the WCT, by which the two organisations will be able to intensity their co-operation by providing a policy framework.
European Education Trade Union
In 1998, the new methods of operation of the ETUCE were put in place. Namely, the separation of activities concerning the definition of policies and the implementation of policies. The definition of policies is the responsibility of the two international organisations, while the implementation, for the European Union and the countries of the ALEE, is the responsibility of the ETUCE. This method of work requires serious consultation between the three actors. That is why the secretaries-general of the two international bodies will attend the ETUCE Board meetings as observers.
The ETUCE is setting up different consultative panels on violence, higher education, health education, new technologies, vocational education, quality, … and is organising different symposia: quality, health, violence, …
ETUCE General Assembly (Luxembourg, 27th - 28th May 1999)
The biennial General Assembly of the ETUCE was held on 27th and 28th June 1999 in Luxembourg. After the report of the 1997 General Assembly and a statement on the functioning and role of the ETUCE, the Secretary General of ETUCE presented the action programme, which was adopted after a debate. The financial reports for the past two years and the budget for the new period as well as the report of the auditors were also approved by the Assembly. Concerning the elections, the WCT presented two candidates for the WCT positions provided for in the statutes: Evert Dejong and Gust Van Dongen. Helmut Skala was elected as representative of Austria. Doug Mc. Avoy was re-elected as President and Paula Borges, Christoph Heise and Jean-Marie Maillard as Vice-Presidents.
Relations with the ETUCE:
Significant efforts were made with regard to the circulation of information in order to inform and thus involve more actively all WCT organisations, members of the ETUCE, in the functioning of the latter (e.g.: transmission to all the organisations of documents and reports relating to meetings of the Executive Board). The European region pays a lot of attention to the developments within the ETUCE and the possible restructuring expected. Especially the decision in September 2000 of the IE Europe, to include the ETUCE, a decision, which has since been suspended, would have important implications for the place of the European region within the ETUCE and for the functioning of the European region as such.
Conclusions
Since the last congress of the WCT in Kuala Lumpur, the European region has experienced twofold development. On the one hand a consolidation and a continuation of development towards the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. This movement is no doubt strengthened by the draft agreement between the European region and OITES. This movement also extends to the countries of Central Asia which are more oriented towards co-operation with the countries of the European Union.
On the other hand the new modes of functioning within the ETUCE are compelling the European region to rethink its functioning, structures and political strategies.
These two movements are complementary and add up, placing the European region before two important challenges, not only for itself, but also for the whole of the WCT.
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