European Union News - Social Affairs

The European Commission has presented a new study which examines how gender inequality in education is addressed in European countries. It shows that gender differences persist in both choice of study and outcomes.

According to the EESC's Section for Employment, Social Affairs and Citizenship, the upwards harmonization in working conditions should be a key priority for EU action as health and safety at work are crucial in fostering growth and productivity.

From 9-11 June, stakeholders interested in the ongoing preparations of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region will meet in Constanta, Romania to discuss the strategy's potential priority areas for action.

The Council adopted aswell an action plan for unaccompanied minors arriving illegally in the European Union. The objective is to set common standards for receiving them, legal guardianship, identifying them, tracking down their families and repatriating them.

On the basis of the Ambien Assisted Living joint programme, a high-leve panel established to advise the European Commission has launched a public consultation on the issue.

A "European Youth Guarantee" enabling young people not to be unemployed for over six months, a decent income and good quality traineeships: these were the proposals made by Parliament's Employment and Social Affairs Committee as part of efforts to improve access to the labour market for young people.

A group of business innovators and economists put together by Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, the European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science are looking for a tool that indicates how innovative we are. The right measurement indicator would help track Europe's progress on its quest to become a more innovative economy.

The EESC discussed the social dimension of the crisis and called for a necessary complement to macro-economic policies aimed at getting Europe out of the predicament in the framework of the debates of the Biennial Conference

The European Parliament has given its green light to a proposal from the European Commission which makes it possible to use European regional funding to improve housing for marginalised communities. This measure, previously agreed by the Member States, will be particularly welcomed by the Roma population, estimated to include around 10-12 million people in Europe who often live in extremely deprived and segregated conditions.