ETF and Europêche sent a joint letter to Commissioner Michael McGrath expressing concern over the European Commission’s decision to postpone the delegated act on the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS). The decision would delay reporting obligations for non-EU companies for at least two years, and potentially remove the legal basis for such obligations altogether.

The European Social Partners in Fisheries express their deep concern and strong opposition to the European Commission’s proposal for Mediterranean fishing opportunities for 2026. The measures, representing some of the most severe cuts ever imposed, risk dismantling an entire sector already pushed to its limits, putting at stake thousands of jobs, family livelihoods and the socio-economic fabric of coastal communities across the region.

Recent enforcement actions in Sweden and France have exposed the continuing failure of many hauliers to respect EU rules on drivers’ rest periods. Operators have been hit with heavy fines for forcing drivers to spend their mandatory weekly rest in truck cabins – a practice strictly banned under the 2020 Mobility Package to protect drivers’ health and quality of life, as well as improve safety on European roads.

Today, union federations EFBWW, EFFAT, and ETF, along with workers and MEPs, gathered outside the European Parliament to show their support ahead of the EMPL Committee vote on the report addressing abusive subcontracting and unregulated labour intermediation. The mobilisation highlighted the urgency of EU action. 

The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), together with Nautilus NL and FNV, has submitted a formal request to the Court of Appeal in the Netherlands to reconsider and correct key preliminary considerations in its recent interim ruling concerning the Non-Seafarers’ Work Clause (NSWC).

The ETF Railways Section just elected its new Chair, Gerhard Tauchner, to replace Giorgio Tuti, who has been elected as ETF President. In a powerful moment, trade union members thanked the previous Chair for his important work and elected new leadership to defend the future of railway workers at the European level. We decided to interview the new Chair to understand his priorities for the following years.

On 17–18 November 2024, the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) hosted the fourth and final seminar of the inland waterways pillar of the EU-funded project Delivering Fair Transport for All. As with the previous seminars, this session focused entirely on the Danube region. The first day featured a productive exchange with the Danube Commission on strengthening the involvement of the ETF and its affiliates in the work of this intergovernmental organisation established by the Belgrade Convention of 1948.

On Monday, ETF took part in a Belgian roadside inspection dedicated to cargo securing and exceptional vehicle cargo. The latter refers to trucks transporting loads that exceed standard weight or dimensions and often involves obtaining necessary exemptions and permits. The inspection took place in Bertem, at a truck stop near the highway. A significant number of trucks on the Belgian roads still transport unsecured or poorly secured cargo, posing serious dangers to both drivers and other road users.