The EMF contributes to it by representing the economic and social interests of workers in the metal industry at European level.

At the same time it supports Europe's political and economic integration, whilst bearing in mind the unions' traditions and roots in the culture of their own respective nation-states.

Through the Social Dialogue the EMF seeks to develop common solutions to meet the challenges of global competition and industrial change affecting the metalworking sector across Europe.

The statutes of the European Metalworkers' Federation were adopted by the second EMF Congress that took place on 13–14 June 2003 in Prague.

The Work Programme contains the following headlines: Introduction Collective Bargaining Industrial Policy Automobile Aerospace Steel Information and Communication Technologies Shipbuilding Defence Lifts Training and Education Equal Opportunities Company Policy Social Dialogue Enlargement Infrastructure Needs Training Needs The congress is the highest EMF statutory body and meets every four years.

Congress takes decisions regarding elections, affiliations, financial issues, the Statutes, the basic policy guidelines and the work programme of the EMF.

High-tech performance and quality, environmental aspects and future oriented examples of flexibility lay the ground for a high level of employment.

The ICT sector in Europe is facing a number of challenges, including mass redundancies in developed countries, skill shortages, outsourcing and off-shoring, structural mutation from hardware production towards software and services, and increasing pressure on salary levels and benefits.

A trade union strategy has to address these challenges and seek to create conditions which allow a combination of competitiveness, flexibility and social cohesion for Europe.

Driven by globalisation, swift technological and process changes, global sourcing and stock market fluctuation, the ICT sector is constantly restructuring.

We will have to focus on the effectiveness and the quality of change management in order to achieve higher competitiveness and better employment in Europe.

The situation within the non-ferrous metals sector clearly indicates that steps have to be taken to protect this industry, its locations and employees in Europe and provide it with real prospects for sustainability and further development.