News
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30/01/2007
First ever European Equality summit
Vladimír Špidla, EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities and Ursula von der Leyen, German Minister for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, today opened the first ever European Equality summit and launched the 2007 European Year for Equal Opportunities in Berlin. Vladimír Špidla spoke at the summit highlighting that "Equality of opportunities is a fundamental right and getting everyone to contribute is essential if Europe is to compete on the world stage". He added "I am confident that today's summit and activities throughout the European Year will spark a lively debate on diversity, giving a new impetus to tackling discrimination effectively."See the photo report
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23/01/2007
European Year for Equal Opportunities for All gears up to fuel the debate on diversity
Today the 2007 European Year for Equal Opportunities for All (EYEO), which will kick off in Berlin on January 30th at the first ever Equality Summit, launched its new website and published the results of an EU survey on anti-discrimination. The survey - carried out in preparation for the European Year - reveals that over half of Europeans (51%) think that not enough is being done to fight discrimination in their country and a large majority of respondents also feel that discrimination is widespread (64%). Overall, the results confirm that Europeans are ready for change, with a broad majority in favour of adopting measures to promote equal opportunities for all in the field of employment.
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13/12/2006
The European Globalisation adjustment Fund (EGF)
The opening of economies to international competition brings new opportunities in terms competitiveness and the creation of high-quality jobs.
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11/12/2006
2006: A boost for workers' mobility, but challenges lie ahead
The European Year of Workers' Mobility concludes today with a major event to sum up the achievements of the past twelve months and chart the challenges that still lie ahead. With 2,000 events across Europe, the campaign has raised peoples' awareness of their rights to work in another EU country and how to exercise them, reinforced tools to help them find a job abroad, and highlighted the remaining obstacles to a genuine European job market. The winners of the 2006 European Mobility Awards – which recognise individuals, businesses or institutions that have contributed to geographic or job-to-job mobility during the European Year – will also be announced. As well as presenting the main findings of the Year, the event will examine how to follow them up in 2007.
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11/12/2006
Winners of the 2006 European Worker’s Mobility Award announced
Today, under the banner of the European Year of Workers' Mobility (EYWM), the winners of the 2006 Mobility Awards have been announced at a prize ceremony as part of the official closing event for the Year. In addition to the three main categories: “Individuals”, “Companies” and “Institutions”, a “Special prize of the Jury” for the ‘most promising’ mobility project has also been announced. The purpose of these awards is to reward individuals, companies, and associations who have significantly contributed to improving workers' mobility in 2006, showing the real benefits and challenges of working abroad or changing job.
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08/12/2006
Cooperation between employers and trade unions has increasing role in European workplace
High quality industrial relations make a significant contribution to economic performance, from company-level to the economy as a whole, says a new European Commission report. The 2006 Industrial Relations in Europe report shows that co-operation between employers and trade unions plays an increasing role in the European workplace and can help to create the right conditions for strong growth.
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05/12/2006
Forum examines how regions can face up to restructuring
Some 400 regional and local leaders, social partners and national representatives have come together in Brussels yesterday and today (4-5 December) to discuss how Europe's regions can make best use of EU funding to adapt to economic change. The third Restructuring Forum – jointly organised by the European Commission and Committee of the Regions – is looking at how dynamic regions can anticipate and embrace change, in particular the crucial role played by the European Social Fund (ESF) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). It comes as the European Commission finalises preparations for the 2007-2013 period of structural funding.
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05/12/2006
New employment and social programme aims for PROGRESS
Today sees the launch of PROGRESS – the EU's new integrated programme for employment and social solidarity. With a budget of over EUR 700 million for 2007-2013, it will support the goals set out in the Social Agenda and contribute to the Union's wider strategy for jobs and growth. The programme will fund studies, mutual learning, campaigns to raise awareness and support for key actors across five broad areas: employment, social inclusion, working conditions, equality between women and men and tackling discrimination. It also aims to streamline EU spending on social and employment policies while improving their visibility and coherence as a whole.
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05/12/2006
http://ec.europa.eu/eulisses ― information on social security for citizens moving around Europe
Maintaining social security rights across European-borders is a central concern of citizens who live and (or) work in a country other than their own. The European Year of Workers’ Mobility 2006 culminates with the launch of the new EUlisses Web portal offering valuable and targeted information on social security pensions. The launch of this new social security portal coincides with the closing conference of the European Year of Workers’ Mobility in Lille on 11–12 December.
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24/11/2006
Redundancies at Volkswagen in Forest/Vorst, Belgium – Meeting of the European Commission's Restructuring Taskforce
The Commission's interservice "Restructuring Taskforce", chaired by the Employment, social affairs and equal opportunities Directorate General, met today to discuss the job losses announced at the Volkswagen plant in Forest/Vorst.