European Union News - Social Affairs

The European Commission launched a consultation on the published staff working document regarding transnational company agreements. Stakeholders can contribute with their views to the discussion on the future of these agreements until the end of the year.

The European Commission published a report which highlights the need to support young people who have borne the brunt of the economic crisis. The Commission also underlines that there are signs of hope because nearly all Member States are implementing the EU Youth Strategy, which aims to create more and better opportunities for young people and to promote active citizenship, social inclusion and solidarity.

According to a recent published Eurobarometer poll, public opinion about the EU has improved markedly. While people are still divided on whether or not their voice counts in the EU, 57% of respondents said voting in the next European Parliament elections is the best way to make their voices heard.

The opinion adopted by the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) shows its concerns on certain aspects of the amended Commission proposal on the establishment of 'EURODAC' for the comparison of the fingerprints of asylum seekers, in particular, with regard to the access to EURODAC data by law enforcement authorities. For instance, if a fingerprint is found at a crime scene, asylum seekers can potentially be identified through EURODAC data while other individuals cannot.

The European Commission urged to member states to recognise skills gained outside school and university by 2015. Furthermore, the proposal aims to increase job opportunities in particular for the young unemployed and those with few formal qualifications such as older and low-skilled workers. It also seeks to increase access to higher education, especially among mature students.

The European Commission has extended the deadline for submissions to the European Year 2012 Awards to 16 of September, with the exception of the “Generations@school Competition” category whose deadline ended in June. The competition will award organisations and individuals that promote active ageing through their activities.

The 2011 annual report of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) showed that the fund paid out a total of €128 million in 2011 to assist these workers in twelve Member States: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, The Netherlands, Poland and Portugal. The support was granted to co-finance active labour market policy measures proposed.

The figures published by Eurostat show that the euro area seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 11.3% in July 2012, stable compared with June. Also it was stable the EU unemployment rate, at 10.4% in July 2012. Among the Member States, the lowest unemployment rates were recorded in Austria, the Netherlands, Germany and Luxembourg, and the highest in Spain and Greece.