European Union News - Social Affairs

Pancretan Cooperative Bank Ltd (PCB) is joining the group of microcredit providers under Progress Microfinance. PCB will therefore be able to offer up to €6 millions of microloans to Greek micro-entrepreneurs. This is the first time there is a Greek microcredit provider under Progress Microfinance.

2012 is the European Year of Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations. The 2012 year's theme is, according to the European Commission, an occasion to reflect on how Europeans are living longer and staying healthier than ever before, and to realise the opportunities that represents. 2011 was the European Year of Volunteering.

‘Operation Icarus’ has helped to identify 269 suspects and arrest 112 suspects, spread across 22 involved countries thanks to a major crackdown against online child sex abuse file-sharing networks carried out by law enforcement agencies from 26 European countries, supported and coordinated by Europol.

The European Economic and Social Committee welcomed the political agreement reached within the Council that guarantees the continuation of the food aid programme in 2012 and 2013. However, it deeply deplores the uncertainty about the scheme's continuation after 2013 and encourages the Commission to use its right of initiative to draw up a new proposal.

The European Commission adopted a revised package of EU state aid rules for the assessment of public compensation for services of general economic interest (SGEI). With this new package, the Commission intends to clarify key state aid principles and introduces a diversified and proportionate approach with simpler rules for SGEIs. The responsible for the Committee of the Regions considers that on the overall approach to public services, much work remains to be done.

The European Commission adopted the 'Youth Opportunities Initiative' in which it asks to the Member States to work for tackling the youth unemployment by helping youngsters develop skills relevant to the labour market or helping young people find a first good job. The Commission has therefore presented concrete measures in order to achieve this goal.

The European Commission adopted a Quality Framework for Services of General Interest in the EU that, according to the European institution, will provide an essential safety net for citizens in areas such as health care, care for the elderly, child care, assistance to disabled persons and social housing. In addition, the framework intends to help Member States to ensure that the regulatory environment at EU level continues to reinforce the social dimension of the single market.

MEPs approved that crime victims will get similar protection from their aggressors in all EU Member States thanks to the European Protection Order. This new rule aims to protect victims of, for instance, gender violence, harassment, abduction, stalking or attempted murder in all Europe. Now, Member States will have three years to transpose this directive into national law.

The Commission has launched a public consultation which seeks to prepare the future proposal for a European Accessibility Act. In particular, the consultation is aimed at gathering views from businesses, people with disabilities and the general public and will remain open until 29 February 2012. Additionally, it is fully accessible.