European Union News - Social Affairs

The European Parliament has adopted on 9 September a resolution about the situation of Roma people and the free movement within the European Union, urging French authorities and other Member States to cease in mass expulsions of Roma people and to avoid this kind of attitude which violates EU law and promote racist behaviours.

The European Commission report on the application of the Directive on minimum standards on procedures for granting and withdrawing refugee status shows that procedural guarantees still vary considerably across the EU. Moreover, the vagueness of the standards set by the Directive and flaws in the implementation at national level may lead to administrative errors. The Commission adopted on 21 October 2009 a proposal to recast the Directive in order to remedy to these deficiencies.

The European Parliament voted in plenary session on 8 September a report setting its position in favour of coming to an employment rate of 75% by 2020. In the report on policy guidelines for long-term occupation, MEPs stressed that Member States should pay particular attention to vulnerable groups like young and the disabled people.

The European Commission has presented a Proposal of Decision in order to designate 2012 as European Year for Active Ageing. The initiative aims to help create better job opportunities and working conditions for the growing numbers of older people in Europe, help them take an active role in society and encourage healthy ageing.

The cases of mass deportations carried out by France over the past weeks, will be discussed by the European Parliament at its first plenary session after the summer. MEPs have already expressed their concern over these cases, a concern backed by the Commission and also expressed by the Economic and Social Council which called for coordinated action by Member States.

The European Commission approved an application from the Netherlands for assistance from the EU Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF). The application will now be put before the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union for decision. If approved, the 1.809.434 € million requested will help 512 workers made redundant by NXP Semiconductors Netherlands BV back into employment.

Next 2nd and 3rd December in Brussels it was given the award for the 2011 Accessibility Award Access City that promotes improving accessibility for people with disabilities in the European scene.

The European Commission is committed to taking the necessary steps to improve the situation of Roma people and their social and economic integration in society. On 7 April 2010 the Commission adopted a Communication on the social and economic integration of Roma in Europe, the first ever policy document dedicated specifically to Roma.