European Union News - Social Affairs

On the 11th June 2008, the European Commission published a directive 2008/50/EC of the European Parliment and of the Council from 21 May 2008 on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe. 'Ambient air' shall mean outdoor air in the troposphere, excluding workplaces.

ENISA, the EU Agency for European Network and Information Security, launches its report on “Secure Printing’ with recommendations to business on secure printing and copying of confidential data. Printing/copying devices can be penetrated and hijacked for fraud so that sensitive data or identity is easily stolen. But 350 surveyed European organisations have little awareness of the costs and risks of uncontrolled printing, the Agency report shows.

The 3rd World Forum on Human Rights took place at the International Convention Center of Nantes Métropole between the 30th of June and the 3rd of July 2008. It was organised by the permanent international Secretariat Human Rights and Local Governments, association by French Law (Law 1901).

It is widely recognised that enterprise spirit is a strong driving force for any economy, yet Europeans are still reluctant to embrace the entrepreneurial culture. Recent EU-funded studies have looked at the potential role of the audiovisual media, especially television, in promoting a more positive attitude to entrepreneurship in Europe.

The Commission strongly welcomes the agreement that Member States reached in the early hours of this morning (10 June) on the longstanding issues of the Working Time Directive and the Temporary Agency Work Directive at the Employment and Social Affairs Council in Luxembourg.

On the occasion of the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) is pleased to invite you to its second literary summer, a series of lunch time meetings with European authors who will introduce us to their latest novel.

The Lisbon Strategy's implications for education, training and social inclusion were the focus of a seminar organised by the Committee of the Regions' Commission for Economic and Social Policy (ECOS), in Logroño, Spain, today, 6 June. The event, held at the invitation of Pedro Sanz Alonso, President of the Autonomous Community of La Rioja, highlighted the importance of providing young people with the skills needed for an increasingly competitive labour market.

This year’s EU-US Summit will take place in Brdo, Slovenia on Tuesday 10 June. The Summit will cover the full gamut of global and regional issues where the EU and the US seek to act in partnership. Issues for discussion will include assisting the development of Kosovo, following up on the Middle East peace initiative launched last year at Annapolis, shaping a comprehensive and binding post-2012 global agreement on tackling climate change, and working together to promote energy efficiency as well as energy security through the diversification of supply sources and the development of sustainable new forms of energy. Strengthening of the economic and regulatory cooperation and the deburdening of enterprises on both sides of the Atlantic will also be discussed, following the cooperation in this field in the framework of the Transatlantic Economic Council (TEC). The EU will also be asking the US for an update on progress towards its commitment to bring further EU Member States into the US Visa Waiver Programme.

The Employment,Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council will meet in Luxembourg on 9 and 10 June. Employment and Social affairs will be discussed on 9 June under the presidency of Ms Marjeta Cotman, Slovenian Minister of Labour, Family and Social Affairs. The European Commission will be represented by Vladimír Špidla, Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities. Two longstanding directives – Working Time and Temporary Agency Workers – are on the agenda for political agreement by Ministers of Employment and Social Affairs. The health points will be taken on 10 June with the Council being chaired by Ms Zofija Mazej Kukovič, Slovenian Minister for Health. The Commission will be represented by Commissioner Vassiliou.

This Directive is the result of the reform of the system of recognition of professional qualifications undertaken by the Commission in order to promote flexibility on the labour markets, further liberalise the provision of services, make the recognition of qualifications more automatic and simplify administrative procedures.