About Katja Lehto-Komulainen

Katja Lehto-Komulainen is Deputy General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation. She was previously head of international affairs at the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK).

A European Treasury – One Answer To The EU’s Economic Woes

by Katja Lehto-Komulainen on 11 April 2017

In Rome, EU leaders pledged to build a “prosperous and sustainable Europe” where “economies converge”. Fine words – but empty ones without more investment, especially in Member States with weaker economies. That is why the European Trade Union Confederation is urging the setting up of a European Treasury for public investment. The ETUC has been […]

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How To Deal With Poland And Hungary

Grzegorz Ekiert argues that “Hungary and Poland can no longer be considered liberal democracies. In both countries, the authoritarian institutional system has been established, giving largely unrestricted political power to the ruling party. While they are still not dictatorships, the potential for authoritarian rule increases considerably with every new legislation expanding the power of the government.” But what could the EU and its member states do in response? This paper provides answers.

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Rough Waters: European Trade Unions In A Time Of Crises

This book analyses the development of trade unions in eleven countries (Austria, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden and the UK) since the early 2000s. The individual chapters focus on unions’ structural, organisational, institutional and discursive power resources. One feature in particular emerges from the turbulent European trade union landscape, namely the challenge of becoming politically more autonomous while long-standing institutional power resources are at increasing risk of being dismanteled or of losing their effectiveness. The book also includes a chapter on the changes and challenges of European trade union federations in times of crisis.

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Occupational Change And Wage Inequality: European Jobs Monitor 2017

Employment in the EU has returned to the same level as before the global financial crisis: the recovery that began in 2013 has resulted in the net creation of eight million new jobs, with most of this new employment being created in services, as well as a significant increase in the manufacturing sector. This new report documents the rebound in employment in Europe between 2013 and 2016 and analyses the role that occupations play in structuring European wage inequality.

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The Role Of Nominal Wages In Trade And Current Account Surpluses

A macroeconomically oriented wage policy in Germany in the years 2001 to 2015 would have led to a reduced growth of real net exports but would not have significantly reduced Germany’s trade and current account surpluses.A combination of macroeconomic wage policy and a support by fiscal policy making use of the financial leeway created by higher wages would have decreased the nominal trade and current account balance to a greater degree than wage policy alone. Surpluses would mainly have been reduced through an increase in imports due to an improved domestic economic development. However, for the current account balance to be in line with EU rules, much stronger financial impulses would be needed.

About Katja Lehto-Komulainen

A European Treasury – One Answer To The EU’s Economic Woes

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