UNI Europa took part in the ETUC Mid-Term Conference, held on 20-21 May 2025 in Belgrade, Serbia. Over two days, European unions leaders discussed how the trade union movement must adapt and act in a geopolitically, socially and economically volatile world. The Leaders’ Summit featured two high-level debates: one on “Delivering a fair deal for workers” and another on building “a new economic and social model”. Discussions covered responses to deregulation, digitalisation, precarious work and the need for fiscal and social justice.
The conference brought together trade unionists from across Europe to assess progress since the 2023 Congress in Berlin and strategise for the period ahead. The conference was hosted with the support of Serbian unions Nezavisnost and CATUS.
Oliver Roethig, UNI Europa Regional Secretary, made a case for how public procurement reform, an Amazon Tax and an industrial policy for services could level the playing field for decent companies that respect trade unions and engage in collective bargaining.
The ongoing procurement reform efforts, in particular, showcase the good cooperation between UNI Europa and the ETUC. Roethig said: “For the last 5 years, UNI Europa has been pushing our campaign ‘No Public Contract without Collective Agreement’ . It is part of our common endeavour within the ETUC. We forced a revision of the EU public procurement rules – and we fight every day to make sure it will support collective bargaining”.
The Conference placed a strong focus on defending workers’ rights and union freedoms. Under the slogan Hands Off Our Unions, delegates addressed the increasing repression of trade union activities, including union busting by employers, criminalisation of protest, and intimidation tactics. The debate made clear that such practices are not isolated, but part of a broader trend that must be challenged collectively.
Peter Hellberg, UNI Europa President: “A key step is criminalising wage theft and union busting. Some European countries already have laws that treat these as serious crimes. We need this across the board. This is not just about punishment, but about sending a clear message: when workers are attacked, the state must take their side.”
Delegates also raised strong concerns over the European Commission’s deregulation agenda, which is increasingly targeting workers’ and trade union rights. Trade unions called on the Commission to put an end to this “foul play” and to return to the founding goal enshrined in the EU Treaties: ensuring that the single market serves social progress, not undermines it.
Other debates focused on trade union renewal, social dialogue, and the role of unions in EU enlargement. Several important ETUC initiatives were launched during the conference to support this agenda, such as: the Trade Union Peace Project, the Emilio Gabaglio Award, the Workers’ Watch Observatory and the Trade Union Renewal Centre.
Pilar Rato, former UNI Europa 1st Vice-President: “A just and democratic Europe must have workers’ rights and collective bargaining at its core. Decent jobs and access to quality services are essential for people’s trust in democracy. But that trust is being eroded by social, economic and geopolitical pressures. The rise of the far right won’t be stopped by words alone – it demands the full commitment of the trade union movement.”
The conference also adopted key texts, including a resolution on trade unions’ demands for a successful EU enlargement and the Belgrade Declaration, setting the direction for the ETUC’s work ahead. Immediately following the Conference, the ETUC Executive Committee also adopted a resolution on Gaza.