European Social Policy articles from June 2008

European Social Policy archives from June 2008

SOCIAL POLICY : AGREEMENT ON WORKING TIME DRAWS INTENSE REACTIONS.
June 17, 2008... The European Commission has strongly welcomed the agreement reached at the Council of Employment Ministers, on 9 June, on the Directives on working time temporary agency work (see Europolitics 3548). "This is a major step forward for European...

WORKING TIME : A LOOK BACK ON A DELICATE DEAL.
June 17, 2008... The agreement on working time and temporary work reached at the latest Employment Council is a work of art in terms of European negotiation and is also telling in terms of the extent to which European social policy is dependent on national...

SERVICES OF GENERAL INTEREST : COLLECTIF SSIG REMINDS FRENCH PRESIDENCY OF OBLIGATIONS.(Social Services of General Interest)(Brief article)
June 17, 2008... The Collectif SSIG - Social Services of General Interest, which brings together the majority of French social services - has summed up, in a press release, its priorities for the future French Presidency of the EU. It must be "a privileged...

JUSTICE AND HOME AFFAIRS : COMMISSION TO TARGET CHILD PORNOGRAPHY.
June 17, 2008... The European Commission will try to force EU member states to implement harmonised penal sanctions for sexual exploitation of children. Vice-President Jacques Barrot, responsible for the justice portfolio, said, on 26 May, that he will conduct...

JUSTICE AND HOME AFFAIRS : COUNCIL DEAL ON RETURN DIRECTIVE COMES WITH STRINGS ATTACHED.
June 17, 2008... The Slovenian EU Presidency has managed to bring the member states to an agreement on the controversial Return Directive(1). EU ambassadors adopted the draft set of new EU-wide rules on the treatment of illegal migrants at the Coreper meeting,...

NON-DISCRIMINATION : ECJ: VICTIMS ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION NO MATTER THEIR NATIONALITY.(European Union Court of Justice)
June 17, 2008... The French legislation which excludes, in certain specific cases, natives from other member states from benefiting from compensationato make good damage caused by a crime based solely on their nationality is not in compliance with EU law, the...

JUSTICE AND HOME AFFAIRS COUNCIL : MEMBER STATES AGREE TO GIVE FREE LEGAL AID TO ILLEGAL MIGRANTS.
June 17, 2008... The European Union's member states have agreed to provide free legal aid to illegal migrants in case they appeal against their own detention and deportation. However, they gave their final nod only after the European Commission sweetened the...

JUSTICE AND HOME AFFAIRS : MEMBER STATES NEAR DEAL ON RETURN DIRECTIVE.(Brief article)
June 17, 2008... EU member states' ambassadors have overcome most of their differences on a set of new rules on the treatment of illegal migrants. At the Coreper meeting, on 21 May, they reached accord on most articles of the so-called Return Directive (see...

JUSTICE AND HOME AFFAIRS : MEMBER STATES REACH ANOTHER DEAL ON RETURN DIRECTIVE.(Brief article)
June 17, 2008... The Slovenian EU Presidency has brought, once again, EU member states to a deal on the controversial Return Directive. EU ambassadors approved a new version of the compromise at a Coreper meeting, on 4 June, and the new harmonised rules for the...

EDUCATION, YOUTH AND CULTURE COUNCIL : MINISTERS TO FOCUS ON SAFER INTERNET AND UNDERPRIVILEGED YOUTH.
June 17, 2008... The inclusion in society of young people with a less privileged background, general EU approach to the protection of children using the internet, the promotion of innovation through education and the work plan for culture policy in the next two...

JUSTICE AND HOME AFFAIRS COUNCIL : NEW DIVORCE RULES CAN HEAD FOR ENHANCED COOPERATION.
June 17, 2008... The EU's member states have come to realise that they will not, at least in the short term, agree on new rules for divorces of couples of different nationalities. The last-ditch attempt by the Slovenian EU Presidency to achieve unanimity on the...

SOCIAL EUROPE : PRESIDENCY TO PULL HEAVY LEGISLATIVE LOAD.
June 17, 2008... Without being a priority, social Europe and a citizens' Europe could be a key dossier for the French Presidency for two reasons. First, the timing is such that a number of legislative and policy issues have to be settled in the second half of...

JUSTICE AND HOME AFFAIRS : PRESIDENCY TRIO PROGRAMME HIGHLIGHTS MIGRATION.
June 17, 2008... An agenda heavily focused on migration, asylum policy and integration of immigrants is expected by the next trio of EU Presidencies, according to its draft 18-month programme in the area of Justice and Home Affairs (JHA). The programme is a...

PUBLIC HEALTH : SEVERAL DOSSIERS ON MEDICINES AND HEALTH EXPECTED BY YEAR END.
June 17, 2008... A series of initiatives on medicines and public health is expected to arrive on the table of the French EU Presidency during the second half of the year. The degree of progress made will depend on the European Commission's schedule. Of...

AGENCY WORKERS : PIDLA WELCOMES SOCIAL AGREEMENT IN UK.(Vladimir Pidla)(Brief article)
June 17, 2008... The British social partners, the Trades Union Congress (TUC) and the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), reached a compromise, on 20 May, that will allow UK agency workers to receive equal treatment with regular employees, at the latest...

TEMPORARY AGENCY WORK.(Transnational Labour Regulation: A Case Study of Temporary Agency Work)(Brief article)(Book review)
June 17, 2008... Published by Peter Lang and presented on 10 June in Brussels by the European Trade Union Institute, this book traces the process and substance of transnational regulation of labour in a global economy. It analyses the attempts at transnational...

ERASMUS MUNDUS : 2,000 NON-EU STUDENTS SELECTED FOR SCHOLARSHIP.(Brief article)
June 17, 2008... More than 2,000 students and 450 teaching staff from outside Europe have been selected to receive an Erasmus Mundus scholarship for the academic year 2008-2009. A total of 17 new partnerships of Erasmus Mundus Masters Consortia with higher...

RETURN DIRECTIVE - DOSSIER : AaTEST CASE FOR FUTURE DECISION MAKING.(Brief article)
June 17, 2008... The destiny of the Return Directive will also signal the future of the European Union's decision making in the area of Justice and Home Affairs (JHA). The proposal is seen as a test case, as it is the first major piece of legislation in the...

FREE MOVEMENT OF RESEARCHERS : COMMISSION ENVISIONS NEW CULTURAL ERASMUS'.
June 17, 2008... European artists could in the future benefit from an EU-wide scheme that would increase their mobility. The programme, not unlike the well-known European scheme for students and teachers, has been dubbed the "cultural Erasmus" by the European...

WORKING TIME/TEMPORARY WORKERS : COUNCIL AGREEMENT ENDS SIX YEARS OF DEBATE.
June 17, 2008... Fatigue was starting to show on everyone's face in the ministerial meeting room at the Luxembourg exhibition centre. The Council had been focusing on the working time and temporary workers directives for some 12 hours. At around half past...

SOCIAL SECURITY : COUNCIL APPROVES FINANCIAL CHAPTER OF FUTURE REGULATION.(Brief article)
June 17, 2008... The EU's employment ministers reached partial agreement in Council, on 9 June, on another chapter and on the annexes of the future implementing regulation for Regulation EC 883/04 on the coordination of social security systems. The chapter...

HEALTH AND SAFETY OF WORKERS : COURT SLAMS FRENCH DEROGATIONS.(Brief article)
June 17, 2008... The Court of Justice of the European Communities has ruled against France for its incorrect transposition of EU rules on safety and health at work. In spite of the severity of French legislation, the Court held that the duty to achieve a given...

CHILD BENEFITS : ECJ: MIGRANT WORKERS ENTITLED TO MOST FAVOURABLE TREATMENT.(European Union Court of Justice)(Brief article)
June 17, 2008... A migrant worker can receive child benefit in his or her country of residence if the applicable legislation is more favourable than in his or her country of employment, ruled the EU Court of Justice, deciding between two principles: the migrant...

ENLARGEMENT : EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL DIALOGUE ARE PRIORITIES FOR CROATIA.(Brief article)
June 17, 2008... Promoting social dialogue and improving the employment rates for women, older workers and youths are among the priorities of Croatia's employment policy. These priorities are set out in the Joint Assessment of Employment Priorities (JAP),...

TEMPORARY WORK/WORKING TIME : EQUAL TREATMENT FOR TEMPS FROM DAY ONE.(Brief article)
June 17, 2008... There is no denying that the agreement on temporary work reached by British unions and employers, spurred on by the government, has led to progress on this issue. Since Britain was the most fiercely opposed to such a system at EU level, the...

EU EMPLOYMENT UP BY 0.3%.(European Union)(Brief article)
June 17, 2008... The number of persons employed in the eurozone rose by 0.3% (446,000 persons) in the first quarter of 2008 compared with the previous quarter, according to estimates published by Eurostat, on 13 June. In the same period, the number of persons...

UNEMPLOYMENT : EU JOBLESS RATE STABLE AT 6.7%.(European Union)(Brief article)
June 17, 2008... The eurozone's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate stood at 7.1% in April 2008, unchanged compared with March (7.5% in April 2007). In the EU, the unemployment rate was 6.7% in April 2008, also unchanged compared with March. It was 7.2% in...

EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AT 50AN OPEN HOUSE' FOR EUROPEANS.(Organization overview)
June 17, 2008... The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) considers itself to be "the institutional channel for civil society". It consults it, represents it, informs it, and allows it to express itself. Through the committee, all economic, social and...

HEALTH : EUROPEAN PACT' TO IMPROVE MENTAL HEALTH OF CITIZENS.(Brief article)
June 17, 2008... A European pact' to improve the mental health of Europeans, an estimated 11% of whom suffer from mental illness that may lead to suicide, was the challenge taken up by the EU's health ministers, among them Zofija Mazej Kukovic of Slovenia and...

EMPLOYMENT : FLEXICURITY MISSION KICKS OFF IN FRANCE.(Brief article)
June 17, 2008... Three months after the initiative's adoption in the Council of Employment Ministers, the European Mission for Flexicurity made its first country visit', to France, on 19 May. Other than France, four member states volunteered to host the...

FRANCE TO OPEN ITS LABOUR MARKET.(Brief article)
June 17, 2008... France could fully open its doors to workers from the eight Central and Eastern European countries which joined the Union in 2004, French President Nicolas Sarkozy is expected to announce during his visit to Poland, on 28 May. The restrictions...

FRENCH AID SCHEME FOR SHIPOWNERS SIMPLIFIED.(Brief article)
June 17, 2008... The French aid scheme for maritime transport, relating to the social security contributions payable for seamen, has been simplified. The European Commission accepted, on 4 June, the amendment of the initial scheme, which obliged shipowners with...

GLOBALISATION FUND STATUS REPORT.(Brief article)
June 17, 2008... After the payment, on 28 May, of aid to two companies in the Maltese textile industry (VF and Bortex) and another two companies from the Portuguese car industry (Alcoa Fujikura, near Lisbon, and Opel Portugal and Johnson Controls, in Alentejo),...

SOCIAL SECURITY : HEALTH CARE DIRECTIVE COMES OUT OF BLACK HOLE.
June 17, 2008... The draft directive on health services and patients' rights in cross-border care resurfaces after six months in limbo (in December, the proposal had been postponed due to a "full agenda"). Even if formally, the classic interservice procedure...

POSTING OF WORKERS : MEMBER STATES PLEDGE CLOSER COOPERATION.
June 17, 2008... The EU's employment and social affairs ministers welcomed the recommendation, on 9 June during the Luxembourg Council, by the European Commission on "enhanced administrative cooperation" for the posting of workers, published on 3 April. ...

INFORMATION FOR PATIENTS ON MEDICINES : MEMBER STATES URGED TO MAINTAIN STATUS QUO ON LEGISLATION.
June 17, 2008... A new warning against the reform of information on medicines in Europe: while EU health ministers were debating the matter, on 10 June in Luxembourg, some twenty health care and consumer organisations are urging them, in an open letter, to...

PUBLIC HEALTH : MEMBER STATES VOW TO COMBAT CANCER GLOBALLY.
June 17, 2008... The fight against cancer will benefit from a global European strategy, according to the conclusions adopted at the close of the Health Council, on 10 June in Luxembourg. A number of initiatives already exist against this plague, which kills 1.7...

EMPLOYMENT : MEPS WANT TO REVISE GUIDELINES.(Brief article)
June 17, 2008... In a report adopted by a large majority (574 votes for, 72 against and 11 abstentions), on 20 May, the European Parliament asked ministers of the 27 member states and the European Commission to reinforce the social dimension' of the guidelines...

EDUCATION : MORE INNOVATION URGED IN TEACHING.
June 17, 2008... In a drive to promote creativity and innovation in Europe, the European Commission and the Slovenian EU Presidency envision a radical change in schools across the Union. The need for such a change is highlighted in the conclusions on the...

PROTECTION OF YOUNG PEOPLE : MOSQUITO ISSUE' LANDS ON MINISTERS' TABLE.(Brief article)
June 17, 2008... The controversial device called Mosquito, used to disperse young people by emitting an irritating high-pitched sound, has found its way into the Council of the EU. Belgian Youth Minister Marc Tarabella will, during the Education, Youth and...

INFORMATION FOR PATIENTS ON MEDICINES : NATIONAL COMPETENCES AT CORE OF DEBATE.
June 17, 2008... Among the issues debated during the Health Council, on 10 June in Luxembourg, the reform of information for patients on medicines throughout the EU was more sensitive than others. The European Commission's drafts have already unleashed the...

FIGHT AGAINST DISCRIMINATION : PARLIAMENT DEMANDS COMMITMENT FROM COMMISSION.
June 17, 2008... The warning is clear. In an own-initiative report adopted, on 20 May, by a clear majority (362 votes for - left-wing parties, Liberals and democrats, 262 votes against - main from the EPP - and 56 abstentions), the European Parliament asked...

FREE MOVEMENT OF PERSONS : PEOPLE'S EUROPE STILL FACING OBSTACLES.
June 17, 2008... MEP Alain Lamassoure (EPP-ED, France) has finished his report on the People's Europe and the free movement of people, requested by French President Nicolas Sarkozy. Lamassoure should present the report to Sarkozy in the coming days. For the...

FREE MOVEMENT OF RESEARCHERS : POTOCNIK TARGETS BETTER MOBILITY.(Janez Potocnik)
June 17, 2008... Breaking down the barriers faced by researchers who work across Europe, including the opening up of cross-border recruitment, easing the social security and pension requirements and ensuring the portability of grants - these are the aims of the...

EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AT 50 : PRESIDENT DIMITRIADIS: THE EESC NEEDS A NEW VISION.(Dimitris Dimitriadis)(Interview)
June 17, 2008... Dimitris Dimitriadis has been at the head of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) since October 2006 and is a member of the Employers Group. While the Consultative Assembly will, on 28 May, celebrate its fiftieth anniversary in...

SOCIAL SECURITY : PUBLIC HEARING LOOKS AT FUTURE OF SOCIAL SECURITY SCHEMES.
June 17, 2008... In a public hearing, on 3 June, the Employment Committee of the European Parliament debated the sustainability of current social security systems and the different options for financing pensions and health care in the future. Some MEPs and...

RETURN DIRECTIVE - DOSSIER : RAPPORTEUR MEP WEBER: IT IS THIS COMPROMISE OR NOTHING.(Manfred Weber)(Interview)
June 17, 2008... If the EU does not accept this proposal for the Return Directive at first reading, there will be no common rules on treatment of illegal migrants for up to ten years, warns the European Parliament's rapporteur, Manfred Weber (EPP-ED, Germany),...

FREE MOVEMENT OF SPORTSMEN : RED CARD FOR FIFA, GREEN LIGHT FOR UEFA.
June 17, 2008... FIFA's 6+5' rule - which requires six out of 11 football players on the field to possess the nationality of their club's country - is clearly contrary to Community law and EU member states applying it will be subject to an infringement...

REMUNERATION OF DIRECTORS - DOSSIER ECONOMIC POLICY COMMITTEE REOPENS DEBATE.
June 17, 2008... Commissioner Joaquin Almunia did not hide his disappointment during the Ecofin Council regarding the low degree of application by member states of the European Commission's 2004 recommendations. In July 2007, a report had already expressed the...

REMUNERATION OF DIRECTORS - DOSSIERGOLDEN HANDSHAKES MOVING INTO THE LIMELIGHT.
June 17, 2008... Will the vitriolic declarations from Jean-Claude Juncker regarding the remuneration of senior company directors remain without consequence? On 13 May, the Eurogroup president denounced "scandalous" pay rises, and spoke of "extravagant...

REMUNERATION OF DIRECTORS - DOSSIER HANDFUL OF RECOMMENDATIONS ADOPTED IN 2004.
June 17, 2008... With debate resurfacing in Council, it is useful to note that the issue of the payment of company directors has already been addressed in specific and relatively detailed recommendations. In December 2004, the European Commission adopted(1)...

REMUNERATION OF DIRECTORS - DOSSIERNARROW LEGAL PATH FOR EU ACTION.
June 17, 2008... In view of the legal, political and ideological constraints existing in Europe today, it remains a major uphill task to take action on what Jean-Claude Juncker has described as "scandalous" pay packages awarded to company directors. SOCIAL...

REPORT ON MAJOR DISEASES.(Brief article)
June 17, 2008... The European Commission has published a report containing articles by experts on the main diseases affecting Europeans today, including, among others, heart disease, mental health problems, cancer, diabetes, musculoskeletal disorders and...

RETURN DIRECTIVE - DOSSIERDECISION TIME LOOMS FOR EU IMMIGRATION RULES.
June 17, 2008... More than six years after the European Union started working on harmonising rules for the treatment of illegal immigrants, and almost three years after the European Commission unveiled its proposal on their detention and expulsion, the fate of...

RETURN DIRECTIVE - DOSSIER DO NOT MAKE CRIMINALS OUT OF MIGRANTS, WARNaNGOS.(Brief article)
June 17, 2008... Since Diabi Binta left Guinea almost three years ago, she has been seeking the right to stay in Belgium. On 7 May, this illegal immigrant came to the centre of Brussels to protest against the proposed Return Directive. She even brought her...

FRENCH EU PRESIDENCY - DOSSIER : SARKOZY AIMS TO DISCOURAGE MIGRANTS TO EU ELDORADO'.(Nicolas Sarkozy)
June 17, 2008... Few priorities of the French Presidency of the European Union are expected with so much interest as the plan for tougher control over the flow of immigrants into Europe. President Nicolas Sarkozy's controversial proposal could now sow the seeds...

RETURN DIRECTIVE - DOSSIER : SHADOW RAPPORTEUR: THERE ARE NO POSITIVE SIDES TO THIS PROPOSAL.(Interview)
June 17, 2008... If there is no first-reading agreement on the Return Directive, there is chance for a second reading, said the European Parliament's shadow rapporteur on the directive, Martine Roure (PES, France). Voicing her strong disagreement with...

EMPLOYMENT : SOLID GROWTH IN 2007, SLOWDOWN THIS YEAR.
June 17, 2008... According to the European Commission, which undertook an analysis of recent data, the EU labour market still shows "a solid overall performance [...] although the pace of improvement appears to be slowing". In its quarterly report,...

MINORITIES : PIDLA WARNS ITALY AGAINST DISCRIMINATION OF ROMA.(Vladimir Pidla)
June 17, 2008... The European Commission has vehemently condemned violence against the Roma in Italy and asked authorities in all EU member states to guarantee the security of one of the largest and poorest minorities in Europe. "It is the very meaning of the...

PATIENT SAFETY : TAKE ACCOUNT OF WHAT ALREADY EXISTS, NGOS TELL COMMISSION.(Brief article)
June 17, 2008... While the European Commission will make proposals to member states in late 2008 to help them reduce medical errors and to fight against infections linked with health care, three health professionals' organisations encourage it to take account...

WORKING HOURS : A PERFECTLY COMPLIANT AGREEMENT?(Brief article)
June 17, 2008... Is the agreement reached on 9 June in the Council perfectly compliant with the Treaty? There is some doubt. The directive on working hours is founded on article 137 which foresees "the improvement of the workplace to protect the health and...

CITIZENS' EUROPE HAS TO HAPPEN NOW!
June 17, 2008... With the result of the Irish referendum, coming after those in France and the Netherlands, we have to face the facts. Citizens' growing mistrust in Europe and their willingness to believe in pipe dreams requires some political-level...