News
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08/08/2006
Commission is opposed to discrimination against smokers
It is a misinterpretation to say that the EU “gives green light to refuse smokers a job”, thinks “discrimination of smokers is ok” or “allows discrimination against smokers” as was invoked by some media.
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21/07/2006
The European Commission welcomes Italy's decision to lift all restrictions on the free movement of workers
Italy decided today to lift restrictions on workers from eight "new Member States". José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission commented” 'I warmly congratulate Italy on its decision to drop restrictions’.
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18/07/2006
'Jobs and Growth' in action: first European-wide job fair to take place in September
More than 250 European towns and cities will take part in the first-ever European-wide job fair on 29 and 30 September. The event, part of the EU's European Year of Workers' Mobility (EYWM), will include a range of activities and opportunities for people to learn about working in other European countries and professions. Jobs fairs will take place in all 25 EU countries, as well as Iceland, Norway, Bulgaria, Romania and Switzerland. Vladimír Špidla, European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, will be revealing more details on the fair today, when he will also announce the 2006 worker mobility award.
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13/07/2006
Commission adopts key proposals to help European regions make the most of new Cohesion policy
Today in Brussels, Regional policy Commissioner Danuta Hübner and Vladimír Špidla, Commissioner for Employment Social Affairs and Equal opportunities set out a strategic vision for the new generation of European programmes for the period 2007-2013. The first of two documents, a draft proposal for a Council decision on Community Strategic Guidelines for Cohesion policy, establishes the priorities for investment under the new programmes in accordance with the European Union's growth and jobs agenda agreed by the Member States in 2005. The second document presented is a Communication on the specific contribution of cities to growth and jobs. In this communication, the Commission offers tools for an integrated urban policy, on the basis of the needs of cities, urban areas and regions.
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07/07/2006
Conference on Long-Term Care to take place September 13th 2006, with a cross Atlantic exchange, to further support the work on challenges and solutions in this field within the Open Method of Coordination on Social Protection
Brussels 07-07-2006.As part of the work with long-term care within the Open Method of Coordination on Social Inclusion and Social Protection, DG Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities is organising this conference in Brussels to further support mutual exchange and learning. The conference builds on earlier and ongoing work within the OMC, and the results from the conference will feed into the follow-up of the 2006 National Reports on Strategies for Social Protection and Social Inclusion in the autumn. This conference is organised together with AARP, a membership organization for the over 50s, in order to broaden horizons and promote a cross-Atlantic exchange of ideas and experiences in long term care. The conference, which precedes a meeting of the Social Protection Committee (SPC) on the following day, will gather high level representatives and senior officials to highlight common challenges and opportunities, and aim to further develop exchange and dialogue, policy analysis and recommendations.
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04/07/2006
The European Commission welcomes adoption by European Parliament of the legislative package for new Cohesion policy
Regional policy Commissioner Danuta Hübner and Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, Vladimír Špidla welcomed, today in Strasbourg, the adoption of the legal basis for the new ambitious Cohesion policy 2007-2013. The Commissioners called the decision of the European Parliament to adopt the new regulations, a "most satisfying development to the benefit of all European regions; even more so as it is the outcome of hard work through a democratic, inclusive and transparent procedure". The legislation adopted today consists in one general and four specific regulations: the former lays out the common rules in programming, managing, controlling and evaluating the new Cohesion policy; the other four regulations outline specific rules on the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the European Social Fund (ESF), the Cohesion Fund (CF) and the European grouping of territorial co-operation (EGTC), respectively.
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22/06/2006
The Commission welcomes the launch of the steel industry's new sectoral social dialogue committee
The steel industry's social partners - the European Metal Workers Federation (EMF) and the European Confederation of Iron and Steel Industries (EUROFER) - have launched the 32nd sectoral social dialogue committee with the full backing of the European Commission. This new committee will monitor the social, economic and employment consequences of EU policies on the steel sector. It will also examine how structural changes within the steel industry in Europe and worldwide affect employment.
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01/06/2006
2007 starts today: 'European Year of Equal Opportunities for all' gets green light
The European Commission today welcomed the decision by the Council and Parliament to designate 2007 as 'European Year of Equal Opportunities for All'. The year will aim to make Europeans aware of their right not to be discriminated against, to promote equal opportunities in areas from work to healthcare, and to show how diversity makes the EU stronger. The year will have four themes: rights, representation, recognition and respect, with a total budget of €15million for the 12 months' activities.
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01/06/2006
As Europeans gear up for their summer holidays, the European Commission has launched a revamped European Health Insurance Card website
The site provides clear explanations and details on the availability and use of European Health Insurance Card.
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23/05/2006
Commission promotes 'decent work inthe world' to fight poverty and promote fair globalisation
A major push for more action, more coherent policies and better implementation of 'decent work' was launched today by the European Commission. Decent work, meaning more and better jobs with welfare protection, equal opportunities and social dialogue, can help developing countries fight poverty. But it can also help developed countries, improve working and living conditions and pursue appropriate policies as globalisation, technological advances and population trends all change. Today's Commission Communication, entitled ' Promoting decent work in the world', aims to strengthen EU policies and programmes in helping spread decent work both inside and outside the EU.