European Union News - Social Affairs

The European Qualifications Framework was recently adopted formally by the European Parliament and the Council as a Recommendation. Now, stakeholders from across the EU are set to discuss how to best implement this new scheme, which aims to enhance mobility by facilitating the transparency of qualifications across the EU. The first EQF implementation conference will gather some 230 representatives of national authorities, social partners, industry sectors and stakeholders' organisations in Brussels on 3-4 June 2008.

The European Ombudsman, P. Nikiforos Diamandouros, has called on the European Parliament (EP) to defend the European Union’s commitment to transparency and the citizens’ right of access to EU documents. This follows the European Commission’s recent proposals to revise the law on public access to documents.

Female decision-makers from around Europe are meeting on the 2nd of June 2008 for the launch of a new EU-level network of women in power. The group aims to promote women in decision-making positions in politics and the economy across Europe. The inaugural meeting will be opened by Equal Opportunities Commissioner Vladimír Špidla and by Zita Gurmai, Vice-Chairwoman of the European Parliament's Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality. Commission Vice-President Margot Wallström and Budget Commissioner Dalia Grybauskaité will also be present at the discussion.

The European Commission today launched a public consultation on information provided to consumers about the fuel consumption and CO2 emissions of new cars. Stakeholders and the general public are invited to submit their views on how such information can be made clearer and more consistent. Studies have shown that the CO2 labelling directive in force is not working as well as it could and needs to be amended.

The European Commission welcomes the adoption in Dublin on Wednesday 28 May of a multilateral convention to ban all cluster munitions within eight years. Benita Ferrero-Waldner, Commissioner for External Relations and Neighbourhood Policy, commented: “The convention banning cluster munitions is an important step towards enhancing the security of victims of conflicts in many regions across the world. I hope that many countries will sign and ratify it. When entering into force, it will be an important contribution to the “Human Security Agenda”. The European Commission stands ready to assist in implementing the Convention."

On the seventh of June 2008. from 10AM until 6PM, an Open Day will mark the fiftith anniversary of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and highlight the role which the Committee has played since 1958 as a bridge between the European institutions and organised civil society.

On the 30th of May 2008 the Commission launches the Justice Forum. The objective of the Forum is to promote a dialogue between the Commission and stakeholders in the justice systems of the Member States. Representatives of all professions involved in the justice systems (judges, lawyers, prosecutors, academics, legal translators and interpreters), and delegates from NGOs, the Council of Europe, the Fundamental Rights Agency and others have been invited to take part in the Justice Forum's meetings. The Justice Forum will cover both civil and criminal justice issues, and this is reflected in its membership.

Less than three years after its entry into force the EU advertising ban has proven its effectiveness. This is the conclusion of the Commission report on the performance of the Tobacco Advertising Directive. Directive. On the 30th May 2008, all Member States have transposed the Directive and tobacco brand advertising in the press aimed at the general public has virtually disappeared. Direct tobacco sponsorship of cross-border sports and other events within the EU has also ceased. The key challenge in the tobacco advertising ban has shifted to the internet which is difficult to control. The Commission is working with the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control to strengthen advertising bans at global level, to ensure that the EU ban is not undermined from the outside.

On 28th May 2008, 50 years after the creation of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), current EU leaders, former EESC presidents and young Europeans from different European countries gathered in Brussels for a commemorative plenary session to celebrate its birthday. This special plenary session included a discussion of young Europeans and EESC members on the challenges facing the European Union and the EESC.

The European Union has published, on the 30th May 2008, advert for a job vacancy as Administrative Director to Eurojust with a five year basic contract which shall be renewable.

The European Commission, on the 29th May 2008, made payments totalling €3.1 million to the Portuguese and Maltese authorities from the European Globalisation adjustment Fund (EGF). This is made up of € 2.4 million to help 1,549 Portuguese auto workers get back into work as quickly as possible and a further €681,000 for 675 dismissed Maltese textile workers. The payments follow approval by the Budgetary Authority (the European Parliament and the Council) on 10 April 2008.