Brussels, 04/10/2000 (Agence Europe) - Reacting to the proclamation of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, the General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), Emilio Gabaglio stressed, in a declaration, that, "given the limited brief provided by the Council of Cologne to the Convention and in view of the strong opposition of certain governmental representatives, social rights, while appearing in the Charter, do so with wording that is unclear and which limits their scope". This is why ETUC is more specifically calling for "clarification regarding trade union rights to collective negotiation and action (including strikes), which, given the reality of the single market and economic integration, should logically also be able to be exercised in the European dimension". While considering that "this Charter represents an important step in the construction of a social and citizens' Europe," Emilio Gabaglio states that ETUC will continue to push EU institutions for it to be "binding, and thus integrated in the Treaty. The current IGC should be referred the issue immediately", the General Secretary concluded.