A social agenda for the European Union

After presenting its proposals to promote economic growth and employment (see Euclide 621), the European Commission has now announced its priorities in the social field. By publishing, in the same week, not only its new Social Agenda - which is aimed at modernising the European social model - but also two other communications, one on sustainable development and the other on climate change, the Commission wishes to emphasise that it is not neglecting the social and environmental dimensions of the Lisbon strategy.

The new European Social Agenda, which covers the 2005-2010 period, aims to give European citizens confidence in their ability to manage the challenges facing society as a result of globalisation, technological development and ageing populations. The Social Agenda has two key priorities: 1) employment and the creation of a genuinely European labour market, and 2) fighting poverty and promoting equal opportunities.

To promote employment, the Commission will base its action on the priorities set for the European employment strategy and the resources provided by the European Social Fund and the future programme PROGRESS. The planned initiatives include ensuring the cross-border transferability of pensions and the compatibility of social protection systems throughout Europe, as well as organising, in 2006, a "European Year of Workers' Mobility". The Commission also wishes to trigger a new dynamics for industrial relations, and has announced the publication of a Green Paper on the development of labour law and the creation of an optional European framework for wage bargaining.

As far as combating poverty and social exclusion is concerned, the Agenda proposes maintaining the Open Method of Coordination (OMC) to modernise the social protection and pensions systems and extending this method to healthcare, including long-term care. The Commission is also planning a Community initiative on minimum income schemes and the integration of people excluded from the labour market and will begin consultations in the course of 2005 on the reasons why the existing schemes "are not effective enough". Furthermore, the Commission intends to designate the year 2010 as "European Year of combating exclusion and poverty". Lastly, in 2005 the Commission will publish a communication to clarify the framework within which social services of general interest operate and can be modernised.

As regards non-discrimination measures, in 2005 the Commission will develop a strategic approach which will also address the question of minorities, especially Roma. The Commission has also announced the creation of a European Gender Institute and is planning to organise a "European Year on Equal Opportunities" in 2007.

Finally, the Commission intends to promote a new intergenerational approach; it has announced the launch of a "European Initiative for Youth", and in 2005 will publish a Green Paper analysing the changes brought about by demographic trends in Europe and their wider impact. In order to promote cooperation between public authorities, the social partners and civil society, the Commission will propose holding an annual forum which will bring together all stakeholders to evaluate the implementation of the Agenda. The text of the Agenda and relevant press release are available on: http://europa.eu.int/comm/employment_social/social_policy_agenda/social_pol_ag_en.html.

 

News from the institutions

Green Week 2005

Within the framework of the annual Green Week conference and exhibition, which will take place from 31 May to 3 June 2005 in Brussels, the Commission's Directorate-General for the Environment has organised a schools competition on the theme of climate change. More specifically, the Commission invites all children in the enlarged EU and candidate countries, aged between 6 and 10 years, to create drawings and paintings illustrating their views about climate change, while older pupils (aged 11-16) are invited to submit a short digital video on the same subject. The three best entrants in each category of the competition will win a trip to Brussels in the company of a parent or guardian. They will receive a prize and also get an opportunity to meet the European Commissioner for the Environment, Mr. Stavros Dima. The best 20 entrants in each category (drawing/paintings and digital video) will have their works presented at the Green Week Exhibition. Entries may only be submitted with the support of a school. Entries must be scanned, or created digitally, and sent to the Environment Directorate-General (deadline 15 March 2005) via the entry forms on the "Green Weeks Schools Competition" website, available in 20 languages at the following address: http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/youth/index_en.html. Teachers are encouraged to make the competition part of a class activity, using as a basis, if they so wish, the ideas and support offered on the website. A panel of teachers and environmental experts from all over Europe will help the European Commission to judge the works. For further information, contact: Chris Coakley, E-mail: chris.coakley@eun.org.

Women and the elderly are crossing the digital divide

According to a new Commission report on "e-inclusion" (i.e. the efforts to combat social exclusion in the information society), women have overtaken men in the past three years in their pace of Internet take-up. The over 55s are also increasingly gaining computer skills, and this trend is set to continue. However, the poorly educated and poorly paid are not catching up as quickly. The prohibitive cost of personal computers and a lack of even basic Internet connections in remote and rural areas of the EU are key obstacles to reducing the digital divide. However, the report concludes that access to the Internet and computer skills can help people escape from, and avoid, poverty. But more information, particularly from national sources, is needed so that policies to help people access the information society can be better targeted. Without action, Europe may become even more polarised than at present between the "e-included" and the "e-excluded". To read the report, visit: http://europa.eu.int/comm/employment_social/news/2005/feb/einclusion_en.html.

17 new Masters courses selected under Erasmus Mundus

The Erasmus Mundus programme is a co-operation and mobility programme in the field of higher education and aims to promote the European Union as a centre of excellence in learning around the world. It supports European top-quality Masters courses and enhances the visibility and attractiveness of European higher education in third countries. It also provides EU-funded scholarships for third-country nationals participating in these Masters courses, as well as scholarships for EU nationals studying in third countries. The European Commission has now selected 17 new Masters courses under the programme, involving partnerships with an additional 69 European Universities. Thanks to the 19 Masters courses selected under the first call for proposals and the 17 new courses to be added following this second call, a total of 36 courses will be available next autumn, covering a wide range of subject areas. The first generation of Erasmus Mundus Masters currently includes 140 students and 42 scholars selected by their respective universities, while the second generation will include some 1,000 beneficiaries (900 students and 100 scholars). It is hoped that future Erasmus Mundus partnerships will gradually enable thousands of students and academics from all over the world to follow Masters courses in Europe for periods of up to two years. For further information, visit: http://europa.eu.int/comm/education/programmes/mundus/index_en.html.

 

News from the networks

Twenty European "GMO-free" regions sign charter to preserve conventional and organic farming on their territory

Meeting in Florence, twenty European regions and local representatives that are strongly opposed to the growing of genetically modified crops on their territory have signed a charter laying the foundations for an action plan to defend the ability of EU farmers freely to choose between conventional, organic or transgenic farming. This charter on the coexistence of GMOs and conventional and organic crops is the outcome of a two-day debate organised by the Region of Tuscany and aims to serve as a political tool to influence the positions of the European institutions. The twenty signatories undertake to provide protection from possible genetic contamination for agricultural areas where production meets certified quality standards as well as for areas subject to specific protection and obligations to safeguard biodiversity under existing Community, national or regional legislation. The signatories of the Charter also undertake to ask the European Commission to propose a system of sanctions (whereby the costs and responsibilities for direct and indirect damage would be borne by the operators causing it) and to promote the conclusion of international agreements intended to guarantee supplies of high-quality raw materials certified as "GMO free". Fort more information, read the Charter on: http://www.zs-l.de/conference/Downloads/agence_europe_on_florence_en.pdf.

Funding opportunities

Communication services in the UK

The UK Office of the European Parliament has published a call for expressions of interest (valid from 2005 to 2008) in order to draw up a list of potential service providers for future contracts in the area of communication. Contact: UK Office of the European Parliament, F.A.O. Mr Daniel Ractliffe, 2 Queen Anne's Gate, London SW1H 9AA . Tel. +44 (020) 7227 4300, Fax: +44 (020) 7227 4302, E-mail: dractliffe@europarl.eu.int. Website: http://www.europarl.org.uk. Application forms can be downloaded from: www.europarl.org.uk/procurement. Call No. 2005/S 32-030480, OJ S32 of 15.02.2005.

 

Forthcoming events

25 February 2005, Brussels (BE)

To launch the activities of its academic network on European criminal law, the Institute of European Studies (IEE) of the "Université Libre de Bruxelles" is organising a conference on the theme "The Hague programme and the European criminal-law area: stagnation or new departure?". The conference will be attended by representatives of the EU Council, the Luxembourg Presidency, the European Commission and IEE. Venue: IEE, 39, Avenue F. Roosevelt, 1050 Brussels. For further information and/or to register, contact: Ms Jeanne De Ligne, Tel. +32 2 650 30 93, Fax: +32 2 650 30 69, E-mail : jdeligne@admin.ulb.ac.be.

7-11 March 2005, Brussels (BE)

A "Social Economy Week" will take place in Brussels from 7 to 11 March 2005. Five key topics will be addressed: corporate social responsibility, cooperative enterprises, ICTs (with special emphasis on bridging the digital divide, diversity, and North-South relations. Every year, five outstanding projects in each of the five areas selected for debate are awarded the title of "Ambassador of the social economy". The Week will end on a festive note with a concert by the Belgium National Orchestra at the Palais des Beaux-Arts. Participation is free of charge, with the possibility of obtaining reimbursement for travel expenses. To register, contact: de.week@vanweert.fgov.be For more information, contact: Isabel Haest, Tel. +32 2 227 51 27, Website: http://www.socialeconomy.fgov.be.

10-11 March 2005, Paris (FR)

The Cicero Foundation is organising on 10-11 March 2005 an International Seminar for Experts as part of its "Great Debates" series. This event, which will take place in Paris, will deal with the following subjects: "The European Employment Strategy and the National Employment Action Plans: An Assessment"; "Implementing Lisbon: Towards a Knowledge-Based Job Growth"; "What Role for Employers Organizations and Trade Unions?"; "What Can Other Countries Learn from the British Labour Market Strategy?"; "The Danish Model of 'Flexicurity'- An Active Labour Market Strategy for Older Workers"; "Micro-Finance as a Means to Stimulate Entrepreneurship"; "Can Private Firms Be Hired to Find Jobs for the Unemployed? The Example of the Dutch Firm MAATWERK"; "Why is the EU Lagging Behind the USA in Creating New Jobs?"; "How Can National Employment Rates Be Improved?"; "Relocation of Work to Cheap Labour Countries: What is the Answer?", etc. The conference fee is EUR 1199. The deadline for registration is Tuesday 22 February 2005 (included). For more information: info@cicerofoundation.org, T: +33 1 45 62 05 90, F: +33 1 45 62 05 30, site web: http://www.cicerofoundation.org/seminars/programme_march05.html

Publications

Key Data on Teaching Languages at School in Europe (2005 edition)

The Eurydice network has just published a report entitled "Key Data on Teaching Languages at School in Europe". Produced with the financial support of the European Commission and supplemented by data from Eurostat, the report indicates that the percentage of pupils in primary education who are learning at least one foreign language has risen almost everywhere in recent years: At present half of all pupils at this level learn at least one foreign language, as recommended by the Barcelona Council in March 2002. The report - the current edition of which is based on 37 indicators and covers 30 European countries - will be updated by Eurydice every two years. It can be downloaded from the following address: http://www.eurydice.org/Doc_intermediaires/indicators/en/frameset_key_data.html.

New report published: "Cohesive Thinking Towards a Sustainable Future"

Funded under the Innovative Actions programme of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the Sustainable European Regions Network has recently published a report on good practices and other lessons that can be drawn from two years of cooperation between 12 regions. The report is based on a review of good practices to promote sustainable development in Wales, Emilia Romagna, Sardinia, Västra Götaland, Östra-Mellansverige, Central Macedonia, Limbourg and Asturias, as well as on the work of experts and the results of various seminars and exchange visits. It is available (in English only) at the following address: http://www.sustainable-euregions.net/documentbank/sd_regions_synthesis-e.pdf.

EQUAL initiative on line

Since the beginning of 2005, the EQUAL Community initiative has been publicising its activities on an updated and restyled website. Available in 3 languages (EN/FR/DE), the site includes five main sections: "Activities & results", "How does EQUAL work?", "EQUAL in the EU", "News" and "Useful links". Users can also perform searches on specific topics and consult a database on all the projects supported by EQUAL in Europe. Visit: http://europa.eu.int/comm/employment_social/equal/index_en.cfm.

 

 

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Responsible at Law: William Van Dingenen - Editor in Chief: Isabelle Mirambet - Editors: Monique Braem, Stephen Gardner, Wendy Jones, Eirini Nikolaïdou.