Today 24th of February the Russian invasion of the whole of Ukraine enters its fifth year, after four brutal years of combat, population displacement, bombings, death, injuries, war crimes and urban razing and total material destruction. It counts more than 12 years since Russia started the invasion of the Donbass.
The Workers’ Group fully supports the Argentinian workers and trade unions in their fight against the far- right government’s proposed labour reform that introduces new restrictions to the right to strike, hold assemblies and engage in collective bargaining, violating several ILO standards ratified by Argentina. Moreover, the proposed reform brings deregulation on working hours and paid leave, easier dismissals, and defunds the social security system, leaving unemployed workers and pensioners even more vulnerable. The fact that, under the new law, injured or sick workers outside their workplace (even by accident) will lose part of their salaries on sick leave is equally worrying.
A group of American ICE agents is supposed to travel to Italy with the US delegation for the Winter Olympics.
From the Workers’ Group, we join the call of Italian civil society and democratic political forces sending a clear message: ICE has no place in Europe. The agency is clearly out of control and behaves like a paramilitary group without any democratic control or respect for Human Rights, having already killed two US citizens and created a state of fear, kidnapping people in the streets, entering their homes and workplaces with impunity.
The Trump administration has once again floated the idea of exerting control over Greenland, while the people of Greenland have reiterated their commitment to deciding their own future, free from outside pressure or intimidation.
On behalf of the Workers’ Group of the European Economic and Social Committee, I wish to express our deepest condolences after the tragic train accident that occurred yesterday late afternoon in the Andalusian province of Córdoba, which has claimed so many lives and left many people seriously injured.
EU leaders have 'closely monitored' the 'developments' in Venezuela as of late, expressing their worry for the international order, but failed short of anything else save for a few exceptions. While we certainly should not support Nicolas Maduro's corrupt and repressive quasi-dictatorship, this kind of unilateral action that defies what was left of the international order must also be openly rejected: for its form, its motives, and if nothing else, for the additional dangerous precedent it settles, legitimising open anarchy in the international order.
The EESC Workers' Group stands in solidarity with the two Portuguese trade unions CGTP (General Confederation of Portuguese Workers) and UGTP (Union of the General Workers) who have called for a General Strike on 11 December 2025 to protest against the government's proposed labour law reforms.
On behalf of the Workers’ Group at the European Economic and Social Committee, I want to express our full support with the Italian workers and the CGIL, who are organising a general strike for Friday 12th December.
