Brussels, 15/09/2005 (Agence Europe) - In response to the initiative for deregulation announced by President Barroso and Commissioner Verheugen, the General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), John Monks, said he was “astonished that President Barroso (…) should put at risk the important debate which has been started by the UK Presidency on the future of social Europe. The ETUC will not take this debate seriously if pre-emptive strikes are made against key European regulations. John Monks announced he would write to President Barroso on Wednesday to ask him to provide a list of the measures he plans to scrap, to emphasise the importance of proceeding with a directive on protection for workers against exposure to sun rays (on both these issues, see EUROPE 9027).