Three million "Europasses" by 2010?

Early in February 2005, the Luxembourg Presidency of the EU in cooperation with the European Commission launched the implementation of "Europass" with a conference that brought together, in the Grand Duchy, 300 representatives of education and training stakeholders from 32 European countries. Established by a decision adopted at the end of 2004 by the European Parliament and the Council, Europass is one of three complementary instruments supporting the mobility of students and workers in the European market within the framework of the European strategy "Education and Training 2010", along with the "Ploteus portal" launched in 2002 and the "European Qualifications Framework" now being developed in line with the agreement reached in December in Maastricht. According to Ján Figel, European Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and Multilingualism, the objective is to ensure that "by 2010 some 3 million citizens will have used Europass to improve their position on the European labour market and to take advantage of the European lifelong learning area".

Designed as a single Community framework to promote transparency in qualifications and competence across the 25 Member States, Europass will consist of a coordinated portfolio of five documents covering the qualifications and competencies of job applicants. In addition to a "Europass CV", Europass will include four other elements focusing respectively on language skills (Europass Portfolio of Languages), mobility experiences for learning purposes (Europass Mobility), qualifications in higher education (Europass Diploma Supplements), and vocational training (Europass Certificate Supplement).

Two initiatives have been developed to publicise the advantages of Europass among European citizens: the Europass portal (http://europass.cedefop.eu.int), currently only available in English and French, but soon to cover all other EU languages; and the Network of National Europass Centres, which will promote the new instrument and coordinate all related activities in each country, in cooperation with the relevant organisations, networks and authorities as well as the social partners. For further information, see documents IP/05/120 and MEMO/05/31, available on RAPID.

 

News from the institutions

Consultation on the future of EU development policy

The European Commission is launching a public consultation on the most important issues that should inform the review of the current European Community development policy in accordance with the provisions of the Treaty and the principles of the Declaration adopted by the Council and the Commission in November 2000. In order to contribute to the review of EU development policy, citizens, NGOs and other development partners, both public and private, are invited to respond by 2 March to a questionnaire available on the Commission's website. The results of the consultation will be published by April this year and incorporated into the new policy guidelines (covering the next five-year period) that Louis Michel, European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, will be presenting during the first half of 2005. To take part in the consultation, go to: http://europa.eu.int/comm/development/body/theme/consultation/index_en.htm. An "Issues Paper" on EU development policy is available (in English, French, German and Spanish) for participants in the consultation and can be downloaded from the following Internet address: http://europa.eu.int/comm/development/body/theme/consultation/doc/Issues_Paper_EN.pdf. For more information, contact: DEV-IPM-CONSULTATIONS@cec.eu.int.

Nine new cross-border and neighbourhood programmes

The European Commission has just announced the launch of nine new cross-border and neighbourhood programmes between regions in several of the new Member States, accession countries and third countries. The total available funding from EU sources for the period 2004-2006 amounts to €260 million, the bulk of which (€215 million) will come from the INTERREG initiative and the rest from financial instruments for accession and third countries (Tacis, Phare and CARDS). The Union's resources will be combined with another €76 million from national and regional sources. Finally, 23 existing cross-border cooperation programmes will receive an additional €220 million. Overall, the regions concerned and their 57 million citizens may benefit from up to €480 million in funding. The targeted cross-border regions are the following: Poland-Belarus-Ukraine; Lithuania-Poland-Kaliningrad Region; Czech Republic-Poland; Poland-Slovakia; Slovakia-Czech Republic; Hungary-Slovakia-Ukraine; Hungary-Romania-Serbia & Montenegro; Slovenia-Hungary-Croatia; and Italy-Malta. The details of the programmes are available on line at: http://europa.eu.int/comm/regional_policy/country/prordn/index_en.cfm.

Largest ever list of protected areas in the EU

The European Commission has taken another major step towards establishing NATURA 2000, the network of protected nature sites in the EU. It has decided to include more than 7,000 nature sites in the Atlantic and Continental regions of the EU in the network. The Commission believes that the protection of the 197 animal species, 89 plant species and 205 habitats covered by the scheme must be enhanced to preserve valuable biodiversity in Europe. The lists of protected areas - encompassing most of the EU's territory (12 Member States) - include a large number of endangered animal and plant species and habitats such as, for example, the wolf, the otter, the salmon, coastal lagoons, heaths and grasslands, bogs, several types of forests and various river systems. More specifically, the entire territory of Luxembourg and large parts of Germany, France, Belgium, Italy and Sweden are included in the "Continental" list of sites, whereas the Netherlands, the UK, Ireland, the Western part of France, as well as parts of Belgium (mainly Flanders), Germany, Portugal and Denmark are included in the "Atlantic" list of protected sites. For further information, see Press Release IP/04/1449 and MEMO/04/291, available on RAPID.

EU-Japan Year of People-to-People exchanges

In accordance with Council Regulation 382/2001 of 28 February 2001, "concerning the implementation of projects promoting cooperation and commercial relations between the European Union and the industrialised countries of North America, the Far East and Australasia", in January 2005 the European Commission launched the "EU-Japan Year of People-to-People exchanges", as agreed at the EU-Japan summit held in 2002. The aim of this campaign is to promote better mutual awareness and understanding between the cultures and societies of Europe and Japan, as well as to encourage face-to-face exchanges and contacts between people. In this context, several projects and initiatives (cultural events, conferences, information projects, exhibitions, etc.) will take place in the course of 2005, such as, for example, a Japan Festival in Sicily next March, an exhibition on Samurai culture in Malmö (Sweden) in April, a number of inter-university exchanges organised between Luxembourg and Japan, etc. Furthermore, in 2004 the Commission published two calls for proposals aimed at financing other intercultural projects, with a total allocation of €1.6 million. For further information, visit: http://europa.eu.int/grants/grants/eujapan_2005/eujapan_2005_en.htm.

 

News from the networks

The Social Platform issues tests to evaluate each EU Presidency

The Social Platform regularly issues tests to evaluate the social commitments of each EU Presidency. At the beginning of the Dutch Presidency, it issued "12 Tests" to evaluate its performance, A few days after the conclusion of its term, the Social Platform issued a negative evaluation, according to which the Dutch Presidency failed to anchor issues such as the fight against poverty, non-discrimination and social inclusion to a clear human rights agenda, although it had launched a slogan "Social Europe: Let's deliver".

Now the Social Platform has devised nine "tests" to evaluate the record of the Luxembourg government, which took over the Presidency of the European Council from the Dutch on January 1st 2005 and will remain at the EU's helm for the 6-month period up to June. The Social Platform therefore set out what issues Luxembourg should pay particular attention to in its agenda, what initiatives it could usefully take in different areas, and crucially, what kind of approach it should take regarding Europe's future. The Social Platform calls on the Presidency to take the necessary measures to ensure that social NGOs will give it a positive judgement on civil dialogue issues at the end of its term, when the evaluation will be done. For more information: http://www.socialplatform.org/.

 

Funding opportunities

Industrial relations and social dialogue

Four sub-programmes have been defined under Budget Heading 04.03.03.01, namely: Support for European social dialogue; Promoting the financial participation of workers; Improving expertise in the field of industrial relations; and Corporate social responsibility (CSR). Eligible applicants include European social partner organisations as well as organisations linked to industrial relations, public authorities and civil society organisations. Budget €11,925,000. Closing dates: 15 March 2005 and 1st September 2005. Call for proposals VP/2005/002. For more information, see: http://forum.europa.eu.int/Public/irc/empl/vp_2005_002/library.

Information and training measures for workers' organisations

The EU budget for 2005 includes, under Heading 04 03 03 02, a commitment appropriation intended to cover expenditure on "Information and training measures for workers' organisations". Eligible applicants are social partner organisations representing workers at European, national, regional or local level. Budget: €2,120,000. Closing dates: 15 April 2005 and 15 September 2005. Call for proposals VP/2005/003. For more information, see: http://forum.europa.eu.int/Public/irc/empl/vp_2005_003/library.

Information, consultation and participation of representatives of undertakings

Budget Heading 04.03.03.03 aims to strengthen transnational co-operation between worker and employer representatives in respect of information, consultation and participation within undertakings. Eligible applicants are social partner organisations at all levels, including the management of undertakings, European Works Councils and, exceptionally, bodies expressly mandated by the social partners. Budget: €7,600,000. Closing dates: 22 April 2005 and 9 September 2005. Call for proposals: VP/2005/001. For more information, see: http://forum.europa.eu.int/Public/irc/empl/european_works_council/library.

Coming events

9-11 March 2005, Maastricht (NL)

The European Institute of Public Administration (EIPA) is organising a combination of two seminars on the Internal Market, entitled « The Internal Market and the Free Movement of Goods » and « The Internal Market and the Free Movement of Professionals and Services and the Protection of Consumers of Services ».

The aim of these activities, which will take place in Maastricht from 9 to 11 March 2005 is to brief the participants on the basic principles and rules governing the internal market so as to prevent them from committing inadvertent breaches of the law. These events are therefore aimed at all government or private officials who have the power to refuse licences or permits in relation to goods, persons or services, or who can order goods to be withdrawn from the market.

The seminars, whose participation fee is EUR 650, will be held in English. For more information, contact: Eveline Hermens, T: +31 43 32 96 222, F: +31 43 32 96 296, e-mail : e.hermens@eipa-nl.com, website: http://www.eipa.nl.

21-22 March 2005, Madeira (P)

The Regional Development Agencies Association (EURADA) comprises some 150 development agencies in 25 countries of the European Union and Central and Eastern Europe. In order to increase the awareness of all stakeholders concerned with competitiveness (including regional and local companies) about the production and utilisation of knowledge, entrepreneurship and the power of networks, EURADA is organising the First World Forum on Regional Economic Development, which will be held in Madeira on 21-22 March 2005. The Forum is expected to provide participants with a unique opportunity to exchange European ideas and experiences relating to competitiveness and to gather information on experiments being conducted in other parts of the world. To find out more about this event, contact: EURADA, Avenue des Arts 12 Bte 7, B-1210 Brussels, Tel. +32 2 218 43 13, Fax: 32 2 218 45 83, E-mail: info@eurada.org.

"Brussels in a Day": several sessions organised in 2005

The European Training Institute (ETI) is organising a series of one-day seminars intended for professional associations, NGOs, companies, local and regional authority officials, students, and members of civil society wishing to get acquainted with the EU Institutions and their working system. The seminars will include a practical presentation of the European Institutions (the "Community method" in practice, the EU decision-making process, etc.); a visit to the EU Parliament (the co-decision procedure, the powers of Parliament and how to work with it, etc.); the "toolbox of a lobbyist" (how to identify the key players and the best sources of information, how to manage legislative monitoring, how to write a position paper, etc.). Several sessions will be offered, both in English (16 March, 19 May, 15 September and 17 November) and in French (17 February, 11 April, 9 June, 20 October, 15 December). Registration fee: €495. To download the programme and enrolment form, go to: http://www.eis-training-centre.be/index.asp?linkid=http://www.eis-training-centre.be/welcome.htm.

Publications

Why Europe matters to local government

Most local authorities believe that their involvement in European issues will rise in the coming years, and yet the functioning of the European Union remains a mystery to many. In producing a guide on this subject, the Local Government International Bureau (LGIB) aims to explain how the EU works, focusing in particular on what it means for the regions and local authorities of the UK. As well as providing an overview, in lay terms, of how decisions are taken in the EU, the guide also gives some examples of how the EU has had an impact on the work of a number of local authorities. "Close to the EU: why Europe matters to local government", International Report No. 9, 2004, 24 pages. Contact: LGIB, Smith Square, London SW P 3HZ. Tel. +44 (0) 20 7664 3100, Fax: +44 (0) 20 7664 3128, E-mail: enquiries@lgib.gov.uk, website: http://www.lgib.gov.uk.

The European Union and its eGovernment development policy

Professor Antonio Alabau, Jean Monnet Chair of Telecommunications and Information Society Policy at the Universidad Politecnica de Valencia in Spain, has published a book entitled "The European Union and its eGovernment development policy" analysing EU e-government policy in the context of the Lisbon Process - the EU's over-arching development plan that aims to make the Union into the world's most competitive knowledge based economy by 2010. After noting that the only definition of e-government given by the EU is 'the use of information and communication technologies in public administrations combined with organisational change and new skills in order to improve public services and democratic processes and strengthen support to public policies', Professor Alabau poses the essential question: does the EU have a policy for development of e-government. To download this 254-page book (free of charge, in English only): http://www.upv.es/~lguijar/socinfo/publicaciones.htm.

Daphne toolkit

A comprehensive toolkit is now available for organisations wishing to submit a Daphne project or to find out more about existing projects implemented under this EU programme aimed at combating violence against children, young people and women. The "Daphne Toolkit website" provides a wide range of resources, including ideas, materials and lessons from more than 300 projects financed by the programme between 1997 and 2003. The project files are in English but users can follow links to documents, contacts and ideas that are often in other languages too. A CD-Rom and DVD complete the toolkit. Discover the new Daphne website at: http://www.daphne-toolkit.org.

 

Announcements

PRAXIS Network: Project Manager

The Essex Development and Regeneration Agency (ExDRA) has secured funding for three years from the INTERREG IIIC Community Initiative Programme and is recruiting a Project Manager to develop the PRAXIS Network and co-ordinate the work of fifteen regional partners working on a project to stimulate rural entrepreneurship.

The successful candidate will support the activities of the PRAXIS Component Leaders, including organising project partner meetings, conferences and other appropriate events. He/She must have the skills to manage robust systems that enable the Lead Partner to produce monthly reports, detailing progress against planned activities and budgets against planned spend, as well as excellent presentational skills. A Graduate degree or equivalent level of qualification, and experience of working sensitively across cultural and organisational boundaries in a European environment are also required. The post will be based in Chelmsford, Essex and will involve travel outside the UK. For information and an application form, contact: Sharon Collier at the Essex Development and Regeneration Agency, T: +44 (0)1245 702471 or email: recruitment@exdra.co.uk (quoting ref: Ex51). Closing date for applications: Friday 11th February 2005.