Change of personnel in FinUnions. An interesting EU autumn lies ahead.
NewsThe FinUnions’ two-person Brussels office is back in business from September. A busy autumn lies ahead in the European Union, as Ursula von de Leyen presents the priorities for the new EU year on on 15 September.
Katja Lehto-Komulainen is the Director of FinUnions and Marie Sandberg-Chibani is in charge of communications. Sandberg-Chibani joined the Brussels office as a new employee at the beginning of September. She joined FinUnions from one of SAK’s largest trade union affiliates, Service Union United PAM, where she worked in communication and especially with Nordic and international communication.
“Luckily we can start off this autumn with a full team. I am particularly pleased that our last adding to the team is a communications professional, who has an insight into the reality of the service industries and Finnish working life. This also gives us a good opportunity to act as spokeperson on behalf of SAK and STTK and reach out to member unions,” says Katja Lehto-Komulainen, Director of FinUnions.
An interesting EU autumn lies ahead
Autumn is already in full swing. The plenary sessions of the European Parliament have begun. This week, the political groups are also preparing for the next year’s guidelines.
FinUnions is keen on following the German federal elections, which are just around the corner on 26 September.
“It remains to be seen who will be the next Chancellor and what will happen with the minimum wage directive on the agenda of EU ministers during the autumn,” Lehto-Komulainen says.
Germany, which is one of the founding countries of the eurozone, has always been a counter-force to France, which, after this year, will take on the EU Presidency after Slovenia.
Other matters of FinUnion’s interest include the views and statements of MEPs on working life issues, the European Health Union and the EU recovery package. MEPs are involved in committees, which deal with the legislative proposals through the adoption of reports with amendments.
“The European Parliament’s plenary sessions are open to everyone and you can follow the sessions live on webcasts. Interpretation is also available in Finnish,” Lehto-Komulainen points out.
Launch of a new EU year
Things are evolving also on the legal front. The autumn agenda includes climate goals (Fit for 55 climate package), questions regarding digitalisation as well as national implementation of the recovery package in post-COVID-19 age. The aim is a greener, more digital and more resilient Europe.
Every year in September, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, delivers the State of the Union address before the European Parliament, taking stock of the past year and presenting priorities for the year ahead. The President’s speech is scheduled on 15 September 2021. Read more and join here.
FinUnions – Finnish trade union representation to the EU in Brussels since 1995.