News
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13/02/2006
Expert group to promote inclusion of ethnic minorities in the EU
The first meeting of a high-level group of experts analysing the social inclusion of ethnic minorities in the EU takes place today. The group, established by the European Commission under its strategy for tackling discrimination, comprises 10 eminent personalities from business, local politics, civil society, the academic world and the media, headed by former President of the German Parliament, Rita Süssmuth. This inaugural meeting will be opened by Vladimir Spidla, EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities.
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09/02/2006
Commissioner Spidla hosts Ministerial Meeting aimed at strengthening the capacity of public administrations and public services
EU Ministers with responsibility for Public Administration and Structural Funds' implementation are meeting today in Brussels to discuss how to avail of European Social Fund (ESF) money to reform and strengthen the institutional capacity of their public administrations and services. The draft ESF Regulation for the period 2007-2013 introduces a new priority which will enable ESF support to be channelled towards improving the efficiency of public administrations and public services.
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08/02/2006
Free movement of workers since the 2004 enlargement had a positive impact
A European Commission report published today shows that workers' mobility from the EU Member States in Central and Eastern Europe to EU15 has had mostly positive effects and has been in most countries quantitatively less important than foreseen. Workers from EU10 helped to relieve labour market shortages and contributed to better economic performance in Europe. Countries that have not applied restrictions after May 2004 (UK, Ireland and Sweden) have experienced high economic growth, a drop of unemployment and a rise of employment. As to the 12 EU countries using transitional arrangements, where workers managed to obtain access legally, this has contributed to a smooth integration into the labour market. However, evidence suggests that some of these countries may also have faced undesirable side-effects, such as higher levels of undeclared work and bogus self-employed work. For the EU as a whole, flows of workers have been rather limited.
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07/02/2006
Proposal on new implementing provisions in social security coordination
On 31 January 2006 the Commission adopted a proposal for a Regulation which implements the provisions of Regulation 883/2004, the modernised and simplified Regulation on the coordination of social security schemes. As Regulation 883/2004 will only be applicable once a Regulation implementing it has entered into force, this proposal is one further step towards completing the modernisation and simplification of current EU rules on coordination of social security schemes, effectively improving citizens' rights.
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04/02/2006
In Prague, on Mobility of Labour
The free movement of labour was the main topic of the Visegrad Group Summit held in Prague over the weekend.
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03/02/2006
Mission to Bratislava
The European Social Fund has high potential to contribute significantly to ongoing reform of the national labour market. However, Slovakia needs to pay appropriate attention to this financial instrument to get the best of allocated money.
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01/02/2006
Commission's White Paper on European Communication Policy. Debating Europe - involving citizens
The European Commission today adopted a White Paper on a European Communication Policy. Vice-President of the Commission, Margot Wallstrom, said: "Communication is first and foremost a matter of democracy. People have a right to know what the EU does and what it stands for. And they have a right to fully participate in the European project. Communicating Europe is not just a Brussels affair. EU institutions and Member States must now work on it together. The European Union has grown up as a political project but has not found a place in people's hearts and minds. The White Paper is the Commission's proposal to respond to this challenge and to lay the foundation of a European Union Communication Policy".
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31/01/2006
Mission to Warsaw
The new Polish government faces a real challenge with regard to the social agenda. Major effort is needed to improve the situation on the national labour market.
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24/01/2006
Mission to Budapest
Hungary made good progress as far as the European Social Fund concerns. However, more effective coordination of the use of EU funds would help to make the best of allocated money.
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23/01/2006
Informal Council - Employment and Social affairs Villach (19-21 January 2006)
The key role of flexicurity (promoting both labour market flexibility and job security with social protection) in future EU competitiveness and labour relations was highlighted at the Informal Council on Employment and Social Affairs in Villach, Austria on 19-21 January.