News
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27/04/2007
The European Commission welcomes the Netherlands' decision to lift all restrictions on the free movement of workers in force since May 2004
Brussels 27-04-2007. The Netherlands announced today the lifting of restrictions on workers from eight Member States which applied since 1 May 2004.
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26/04/2007
European employers and trade unions commit to tackle violence and harassment at work
Today the European social partners (ETUC, BUSINESSEUROPE, CEEP and UEAPME) signed a framework agreement on harassment and violence at work. The agreement aims to prevent and, where necessary, manage problems of bullying, sexual harassment and physical violence at the workplace. Companies in Europe will have to adopt a policy of zero-tolerance towards such behaviour and draw up procedures to deal with cases of harassment and violence where they occur. Data suggests that one in 20 workers (5%) reports being exposed to bullying and/or harassment each year.
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25/04/2007
European Diversity Truck hitting the road
The European Diversity Truck will hit the road in Strasbourg today and embark on its tour across Europe. Starting from the seat of the European Parliament, the Truck will promote diversity and equal opportunities for all. The journey will take in 19 countries, covering more than 18,000 km. Visiting city centres, universities, job fairs, and public festivals, the mobile information platform will inform people about their rights to equal treatment and promote the 2007 European Year of Equal Opportunities for All.
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24/04/2007
European Year of Equal Opportunities for All: Official partner of the Eurovision Song Contest 2007
The European Year of Equal Opportunities for All 2007 is proud to announce its official partnership with the Eurovision Song Contest 2007. For the first time in almost twenty years, an official European Union initiative will be associated with this international music competition, connecting Europeans from all around the continent. The European Year's main objectives are to celebrate the benefits of diversity and promote equal opportunities for all.
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20/04/2007
European partners join lively debate on flexicurity
Today, over 400 representatives of workers and employers, NGOs and government will meet with the European Commission to debate the "flexicurity" approach. Flexicurity combines active labour market policies, flexible contractual arrangements, lifelong learning and modern social protection systems. It can help confront the challenges of globalisation and demographic ageing by ensuring that workers and employers are better equipped to manage change. The results of today's event will feed into the Commission's preparations for a policy communication on flexicurity at the end of June.
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16/04/2007
Fair Trade public purchasing as a tool for sustainable consumption and production patterns
This is the final conference of the “Fair Procura” project, addressing the issue of Fair Trade considerations into public procurement. Brussels, 19th April 2007.
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02/04/2007
Cohesion policy 2007-2013 already on fast track to deliver growth and jobs
The European Commission announced today that preparations for the new cohesion policy are now at full speed to deliver more growth and quality employment to the European regions. Programmes worth 90% of the total budget of cohesion policy are now being negotiated. Vladimír Špidla, Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, joined Regional policy Commissioner Danuta Hübner in praising all Member States for submitting their strategic plans and priorities for the new programming period in time and asked them to keep up the pace for the remaining operational programmes.
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30/03/2007
EU signs new UN treaty on disability rights
The European Community will today sign a new UN treaty on disability rights on its opening day for signature in New York. This is the first time the Community signs a core UN human rights convention. The Convention, which covers the rights of people with disabilities aims to ensure that people with disabilities enjoy human rights and fundamental freedoms on an equal basis with everyone else. It will provide protection for 50 million EU citizens and 650 million people with disabilities worldwide.
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28/03/2007
Stakeholder Conference on Flexicurity, April 20th, 2007
Flexicurity is a widely discussed topic in the current labour market and social policy debate. It promotes a combination of flexible labour markets and high levels of employment and income security and it is thus seen as a possible answer to Europe's challenge of how to maintain and improve competitiveness whilst preserving the European social model.
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15/03/2007
Consultation on labour law – last two weeks for contributions!
The Commission's public consultation on "Modernising labour law to meet the challenges of the 21st century" – launched with a Green Paper four months ago – is now nearing the deadline for contributions.