European Social Policy articles from November 2008

European Social Policy archives from November 2008

EU SAYS IT IS UNABLE TO WELCOME ALL MIGRANTS.(European Union)
November 12, 2008... The tone is set in the introduction: aware of the benefits of immigration in terms of human exchanges, the economy, and the realisation of personal aspirations, the European Union "nonetheless does not have the means to welcome all migrants who...

INTERVIEW WITH SIMON BUSUTTIL (EPP-ED, MALTA), EP RAPPORTEUR ON A COMMON IMMIGRATION POLICY FOR EUROPE' : FOR THE FIRST TIME, BURDEN-SHARING' IS TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT.(Interview)
November 12, 2008... A port of entry in the southern Europe for illegal immigrants crossing the Mediterranean on makeshift boats, the small island of Malta (316 km2 and 400,000 inhabitants) has, for a long time, been calling for help to share the burden of the...

MARIO SEPI/EESC.(European Economic and Social Committee)(Brief article)
November 12, 2008... Mario Sepi was elected as president of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) for a two-year term until 2010, during the opening session, from 21 to 23 October. Previously, he was president of the Employees' Group (Group 2) and a...

OUTLINE OF DIVERSE OPINIONS ON THE EUROPEAN PACT.
November 12, 2008... MEP Patrick Gaubert (EPP-ED, France) is the president of LICRA, the International League against Racism and Anti-Semitism (re-elected in 2001 and 2004). "The European Union's policy is not a policy of protection. Rather, it is a policy...

PHILIPPE DE BUCK/BUSINESSEUROPE.(Brief article)
November 12, 2008... BusinessEurope has announced that the title of Philippe de Buck has been changed from secretary-general to director-general. Justifying this decision, BusinessEurope's President Ernest-Antoine Seilliere said: "This change takes into account the...

INTERVIEW WITH MARTINE ROURE (PES, FRANCE), MEMBER OF THE EP COMMITTEE ON CIVIL LIBERTIES, JUSTICE AND HOME AFFAIRS : 'THE PACT FOCUSES ON SECURITY'.(Interview)
November 12, 2008... Will this European Pact on Immigration and Asylum lead to greater coordination and harmonisation in the EU? That would be saying a lot. Unfortunately, I think that that is still a long way off. For the immigration aspect, I think we're off...

MULTILINGUALISM : ALDE LEADER WARNS OF 'IMPERIALISM' OF THE ENGLISH-LANGUAGE.(Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe's Graham Watson)(Brief article)
November 12, 2008... Deviating from his prepared speech, Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe leader Graham Watson (UK) warned on 15 October of the dangers of the growing use of English in Europe. "Speaking as a Scot, I am increasingly concerned as to the...

BLUE CARD' READY FOR ADOPTION.(attracting highly qualified immigrant workers)(Brief article)
November 12, 2008... The way is clear for an agreement on the draft directive introducing a European blue card' (to attract highly qualified immigrant workers) at the Justice and Home Affairs Council, on 27-28 November. The Committee of Permanent Representatives...

JUSTICE AND HOME AFFAIRS : COMMISSION TO REVISE EU ACTION AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING.(European Union)
November 12, 2008... A form of modern slavery, the trafficking of human beings in Europe remains highly profitable for those who practise it, and without major criminal risk. And this is going on despite efforts made by EU member states. Based on this pessimistic...

EUROPEAN PRIVATE COMPANY : COUNCIL ASKED NOT TO AMEND SPE PROPOSAL.(BusinessEurope and Eurochambres)(Brief article)
November 12, 2008... "Do not amend" the European Commission's proposal for a European private company' (Latin: Societas Privata Europaea or SPE), BusinessEurope, the biggest EU business lobby, and Eurochambres, the association of European chambers of commerce and...

WORKING TIME DIRECTIVE : EP COMMITTEE WANTS MORE TIME TO NEGOTIATE WITH COUNCIL.(European Parliament)
November 12, 2008... At its extraordinary meeting, on 20 October in Strasbourg, the European Parliament's Committee on Employment and Social Affairs decided to advance its vote on a report on the Organisation of working time directive' to 5 November. The committee...

LIBERAL PROFESSIONS : EP DECLARATION SET TO LAPSE.(European Parliament)(Brief article)
November 12, 2008... A written declaration stressing the importance of liberal professions appears set to lapse if there is no remarkable surge in signatures ahead of a deadline on 23 October. Behind the declaration are fears that "premature" liberalisation may...

WORKING CONDITIONS : EP PLENARY APPROVES THREE NEW REPORTS.(European Parliament)(Brief article)
November 12, 2008... At its plenary session of 22 October in Strasbourg, the European Parliament adopted three reports that all aim to improve the social situation for citizens and workers living in the EU. The proposal for a directive on temporary agency work...

IMMIGRATION : EU ADOPTS INTEGRATION TOOLBOX.(European Union)(Conference news)
November 12, 2008... European officials in charge of integration have adopted a common toolbox meant to improve their national policies, which have "failed on the whole," according to French Immigration Minister Brice Hortefeux. He spoke at the conclusion of a...

UNEMPLOYMENT : EU JOBLESS RATE RISES SLIGHTLY IN AUGUST.(Brief article)
November 12, 2008... Unemployment was stable in the eurozone at 7.5% in September and August (7.3% in September 2007), but rose slightly in the EU as a whole, reaching 7% in September, up from 6.9% in August (7% in September 2007). According to Eurostat,...

IMMIGRATION AND ASYLUM : EU PACT TO SERVE AS FOUNDATION FOR COMMON POLICY.(European Union's Pact on Immigration and Asylum)
November 12, 2008... The European Council officially adopted the Pact on Immigration and Asylum on 16 October in Brussels, thus asserting the commitment of the EU and its member states to implement 'a fair, effective and coherent policy in the face of the...

EUROCOP SLAMS REVISION OF WORKING TIME DIRECTIVE.(European Confederation of Police)(Brief article)
November 12, 2008... EuroCop, the European Confederation of Police, said, on 29 October, that the proposal for a revision of the Working Time Directive is irresponsible. "We urge the European Parliament to take its responsibility to maintain the social character of...

EUROPEAN AND TURKISH UNIONS COOPERATE.(Brief article)
November 12, 2008... On 20 and 21 October, Ankara will host the opening conference of a European project entitled Civil Society Dialogue: Bringing together workers from Turkey and the EU through a shared culture'. Steered by the European Trade Union Confederation...

HOME AFFAIRS COUNCIL : EU SET TO FACILITATE RECOVERY OF MAINTENANCE ALLOWANCES.(European Union)
November 12, 2008... The EU's justice ministers adopted a draft directive that will facilitate the recovery of maintenance allowances from one member state to another, at their Council on 24 October in Luxembourg. "This new legal framework will give all European...

INDUSTRY : EU TO TAKE MEASURES TO SUPPORT ITS INDUSTRY.(European Union)(Brief article)
November 12, 2008... The European Council, gathered on 15 and 16 October, said that it was determined to take "the measures necessary to support growth and employment". A formulation much preferred to "the measures necessary to react to the decline in demand, and...

HEALTH : EU-WIDE SMOKING BAN IS IN THE AIR.
November 12, 2008... The European Commission wants to introduce a comprehensive EU-wide ban on smoking in all workplaces. According to the spokesperson of Vladimir Spidla, the commissioner for employment, social affairs and equal opportunities, "We want to see a...

EXCESSIVE WORKING TIME IN GREECE.(Brief article)
November 12, 2008... The European Commission sent, on 16 October, a letter of formal notice to Greece for failure to comply with the EU Working Time Directive (2003/88/EC) limiting working time to 48 hours per week on average. The Commission has received numerous...

FINANCIAL CRISIS BEGINS TO BITE.(Brief article)
November 12, 2008... "We live in times of tremendous uncertainty. The financial crisis is starting to affect everyone: people, businesses and governments," said Philippe de Buck, director-general of BusinessEurope, the EU's biggest business lobby, commenting on the...

FREE MOVEMENT OF LABOUR : FORUM ADDRESSES CONTROVERSIES REGARDING POSTING OF WORKERS.
November 12, 2008... How to balance economic freedoms with social rights, especially in times of financial crisis? This was the main subject of a forum on workers' rights and economic freedoms, held in Brussels on 9 October. The participating ministers, experts and...

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT : HU JIA WINS SAKHAROV PRIZE, DECISION SENDS STRONG SIGNAL TO CHINA.
November 12, 2008... The European Parliament has sent a strong signal to China by selecting the imprisoned Chinese dissident, Hu Jia, as the winner of the Sakharov Prize 2008 for Freedom of Thought. The Greens said they were satisfied to see that "pressure" from...

SOCIAL INCLUSION : IMPROVEMENT IN JOB MARKET DOES LITTLE TO REDUCE POVERTY.(Brief article)
November 12, 2008... In 2006, 16% of European citizens lived below the poverty threshold (defined as 60% of their country's median income). This is the main finding in the annual report published by the European Commission on 16 October on social trends in EU...

INFORMATION SOCIETY : MEPS ADOPT PROGRAMME TO PROTECT CHILDREN FROM ONLINE THREATS.(Members of the European Parliament)
November 12, 2008... The European Parliament adopted, on 22 October, in a vote of 672 to nine with 19 abstentions, a report by Roberta Angelilli (UEN, Italy) on the creation of a programme to combat child pornography, violence and bullying on the internet. The...

POSTING OF WORKERS DIRECTIVE : MEPS SPLIT ON NEED FOR REVISION.(Members of the European Parliament)
November 12, 2008... Due to procedural delays, the European Parliament's plenary vote on a proposal for the partial revision of Directive 96/71/EC on the posting of workers has been rescheduled from 21 to 22 October. During the plenary debate on Swedish...

EDUCATION : MEPS SUPPORT ERASMUS MUNDUS II.(Members of the European Parliament)(Brief article)
November 12, 2008... On the basis of a compromise negotiated with the Council, the European Parliament approved the new version of the programme for university cooperation and student mobility open to third countries, Erasmus Mundus II, which is to start in 2009....

HEALTH : MEPS WANT MORE EFFECTIVE PREVENTIVE ACTIONS.(Members of the European Parliament)(Brief article)
November 12, 2008... More disease prevention and more vaccination campaigns: this is what MEPs asked for by adopting an own-initiative report by Alojz Peterle (EPP-ED, Slovenia), on 9 October. The report, entitled Together for health: a strategic approach for the...

SOCIAL INCLUSION : MEPS WANT TO ROOT OUT POVERTY FROM THE UNION.(Members of Parliament)(Brief article)
November 12, 2008... Poverty should be eliminated across the whole EU, say MEPs, who on 8 October adopted a report by Gabriele Zimmer (GUE-NGL, Germany) entitled Promoting social inclusion and combating poverty, including child poverty'. The report calls for...

POVERTY : MINISTERS DRAW UP SOCIAL INCLUSION STRATEGY.(Brief article)
November 12, 2008... For the first time, a meeting of EU ministers on poverty and social inclusion has been organised, on 16 October in Marseille. Chaired by Martin Hirsch, High Commissioner for Active Solidarity against Poverty, it aims to mobilise member states...

EDUCATION : NEW WEBSITE PROMOTES EUROPEAN HIGHER EDUCATION.(www.study-in-europe.org)(Brief article)
November 12, 2008... In association with the Erasmus Mundus programme, the new web portal Study in Europe' (www.study-in-europe.org), launched by the European Commission on 17 October, aims to encourage young people from other parts of the world to come and study...

TEMPORARY WORK : PARLIAMENT BRACES FOR SECOND-READING VOTE.(Brief article)
November 12, 2008... During its plenary session on 22 October, the European Parliament is scheduled to hold a second-reading vote on a report by Harlem Desir (PES, France) on the Directive on Temporary Work. "This is a very complicated piece of legislation that...

HOME AFFAIRS : PARLIAMENT SEEKS TO CLARIFY RULES FOR CROSS-BORDER DIVORCE.
November 12, 2008... The European Parliament approved, on 21 October, a proposal for a regulation on cross-border divorces. The report by Evelyne Gebhardt (PES, Germany) leaves greater choice for the jurisdiction and the law applicable to jurists and couples...

PUBLIC SERVICES AND SOCIAL DIALOGUE.(Brief article)
November 12, 2008... How are municipalities reforming their public services to respond to the challenges facing them? And to what extent dialogue between employers and employees can play a role in that process? These are the main questions addressed in a new study...

REIMBURSEMENT OF CROSS-BORDER CARE.(Brief article)
November 12, 2008... The European Commission believes that, by maintaining prior authorisation for the reimbursement of non-hospital care in Portugal and for some non-hospital care in France, these two member states are restricting patient rights recognised by the...

CONSUMER PROTECTION : RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS DANGERS OF A LOUD MP3 PLAYER.
November 12, 2008... The European Commission intends to take up fight against hearing damage caused to people who listen to MP3 players at high volume. The EU executive cites recent scientific research to buttress its point. According to research conducted by...

RESTRICTIONS IN SERVICE PROVISION.(Brief article)
November 12, 2008... The Commission stepped up its fight against restrictions on the freedom to provide services on 16 October. Italy now faces proceedings at the European Court of Justice (ECJ) over regulations that establish compulsory maximum fees for lawyers'...

SOCIAL PROTECTION : ROLE OF PRIVATE PENSION SCHEMES GROWING IN EU, STUDY REVEALS.(European Union)
November 12, 2008... While the share of private pension schemes is increasing in Europe, private funded pension provision is not threatened directly by the current financial crisis. According to the spokesperson of Social Affairs Commissioner Vladimir Spidla, "We...

SALE OF ACOMPLIA TO BE SUSPENDED.(Brief article)
November 12, 2008... The French laboratory Sanofi-Aventis is no longer ruling out a global suspension of its anti-obesity drug Acomplia after its sale was suspended in the EU by the European Medicines Agency (EMEA), on 23 October. Authorised in the EU since June...

ROAD TRANSPORT : SELF-EMPLOYED SET TO FALL OUTSIDE SCOPE OF WORKING TIME DIRECTIVE.
November 12, 2008... It looks like self-employed drivers will stay outside the scope of Directive 2002/15/EC on working time for drivers and will therefore be able to go beyond the 48 hours per week set out in this directive. The European Commission presented, on...

FINANCIAL CRISIS : SOCIAL PARTNERS WANT IMPROVEMENT TO EU MACROECONOMIC FRAMEWORK.(European Union)
November 12, 2008... At a "macroeconomic dialogue at political level," held on 3 November, the social partners expessed concerns about the future of the EU markets and asked for "better frameworks". BusinessEurope, the EU's biggest business lobby, pleaded for wage...

TRIPARTITE SOCIAL SUMMIT : SUMMIT EXPRESSES DETERMINATION TO STICK TO CLIMATE CHANGE PLANS.
November 12, 2008... The issue of how to combine the problematic economic situation with measures to combat climate change topped the agenda of the tripartite social summit on the first morning of the EU Summit on 15 October in Brussels. Despite the financial...

WORKING TIME DIRECTIVE : THE BALL IS IN PARLIAMENT'S COURT.
November 12, 2008... All eyes were focused on the European Parliament concerning the Working Time Directive (2003/88/EC), which is currently under revision. MEPs had until 22 October to table amendments to the report on the proposal to revise the directive. On 5...

HEALTH CARE : VASSILIOU WARNS OF "BIGGEST ECONOMIC PROBLEM" LOOMING FOR UNION.(Androulla Vassiliou)(Brief article)
November 12, 2008... The current financial crisis may well be overshadowed by another major economic problem looming on the horizon, this time related to the health status of the EU's citizens. A warning to this effect was delivered by EU Health Commissioner...