European Union News - Social Affairs

The European Commission presented guidelines aimed at clarifying the existing EU rules on passenger rights for disabled people and people with reduced mobility travelling by air (EC Regulation 1107/2006). Many disabled and reduced mobility air travellers still face problems of unjustified refusals, and other unfair demands when attempting to travel, according to the Commission.

A report approved in plenary session by the European Parliament calls for high-level EU human rights envoy with strong mandate and tasked with raising the EU's human rights profile worldwide. For her part, Catherine Ashton, the High Representative of the European Union stressed that she is looking for somebody with an established track record and international experience in human rights, as well a strong understanding of EU policy.

The European Parliament approved a resolution to recognise the skills and knowledge gained by volunteers to help them find jobs or be recognised as part of their training. MEPs also support the creation of a "skills passport" to validate this experience and call for more funding for voluntary activities.

According to the figures published by Eurostat, the euro area seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 11.0% in April 2012, stable compared with March. With regard to the EU unemployment rate was 10.3% in April (in March reached the 10.2%).

The European Economic and Social Committee approved three opinions which focus on how to give new impetus to the social sector and corporate responsibility. According to the EESC, social Europe can be translated into business opportunities and the much-needed creation of jobs.

The European Parliament approved a resolution which gathers proposals to tackle youth unemployment. Among such proposals, MEPs suggest devising a "European Investment Plan" to create new jobs, reallocating EU structural funds to projects to create them for young people, and introducing a "European Youth Guarantee".

The European Commission presented the Your First EURES job pilot project with the aim at improving cross-border mobility for 5,000 people, and thus, at helping young people find jobs. It will also serve as a testing ground for transforming EURES - the network of Member States' employment services – towards a pan-European employment service.

Researchers at the JRC's Centre for Research on Lifelong Learning (CRELL) have worked on the development of conceptual and methodological frameworks defining new European benchmark on the employability of young graduates since 2010. Now, it has been adopted by the Council of the European Union on 11 May.