News
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02/07/2008
Roma exclusion requires joint response, says EC report
Millions of Europeans of Roma origin are subject to persistent discrimination – both at individual and institutional level – and far-reaching social exclusion, says a new European Commission report released on 2 July 2008. But the tools exist to improve the situation if the EU, Member States and civil society join forces to effectively coordinate their efforts. The report comes as a response to the request by EU leaders in December 2007 to examine the policies and instruments available at EU level to improve Roma inclusion.
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01/07/2008
Commission acts on gender equality legislation
The Commission has sent reasoned opinions on the 26th of June to the Czech Republic, Greece and Poland for non-transposition of EU rules prohibiting discrimination in the access to and supply of goods and services (Directive 2004/113/EC). Member States have two months to respond. If they fail to reply or if the response is unsatisfactory, the Commission can decide to bring the case to the European Court of Justice (ECJ).
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30/06/2008
Cost containment in the pharmaceutical sector: Innovative approaches to contracting while ensuring fair access to drugs (Germany)
Pharmaceuticals give rise to conflicting interests. On the one hand, it is important for doctors and their patients to have wide and equitable access to the drugs they need for treatment and, accordingly, for costs to be affordable, while at the same time avoiding over-prescription and wasteful use. On the other, it is equally important that the companies producing pharmaceuticals are able to make sufficient profit to make investment in new drugs worthwhile. Given the social dimension together with the fact that it is public agencies or health insurance funds rather than the final consumers who are effectively the purchasers of pharmaceuticals, the price mechanism, unlike in other markets, cannot be left free to determine the balance between supply and demand.
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30/06/2008
Europeans' social expectations - new Eurobarometer survey
The European Commission has published a new Eurobarometer survey on what Europeans believe their social reality will be in 20 years' time.
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23/06/2008
Europe-wide truck tour brings anti-discrimination message
Commissioner Vladimír Špidla on 21st June launched the 2008 ‘For Diversity. Against Discrimination.’ truck tour as part of the EU's Europe-wide anti-discrimination information campaign.
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23/06/2008
International Labour Organsation declaration on social justice for fair globalisation
The International Labour Conference, the highest tripartite authority of the ILO, adopted on 10 June 2008 a fundamental ILO Declaration on social justice for a fair globalisation.
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12/06/2008
The social economy from the perspective of active inclusion (Belgium)
The potential of the social economy to create jobs and at the same time to provide much needed services has been recognised for some time. In 1999, the European Employment Guidelines highlighted this potential and the importance of realising it (Exploiting new opportunities for job creation, Guideline 12), while in 2001, the Guidelines for the National Action Plans for Employment emphasised the need to develop the social economy under the entrepreneurship pillar. Co-operatives, mutual societies and social enterprises in general have, therefore, come to be regarded as important sources of entrepreneurship and jobs in areas where traditional `investor-driven' enterprise structures may not always be viable. Recent figures indicate that approximately 9 million people are at present employed in the social economy in the EU.
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06/06/2008
Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council, 9-10 June 2008, Luxembourg
The Employment,Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council will meet in Luxembourg on 9 and 10 June. Employment and Social affairs will be discussed on 9 June under the presidency of Ms Marjeta Cotman, Slovenian Minister of Labour, Family and Social Affairs. The European Commission will be represented by Vladimír Špidla, Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities. Two longstanding directives – Working Time and Temporary Agency Workers – are on the agenda for political agreement by Ministers of Employment and Social Affairs. The health points will be taken on 10 June with the Council being chaired by Ms Zofija Mazej Kukovič, Slovenian Minister for Health. The Commission will be represented by Commissioner Vassiliou.
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04/06/2008
Harnessing an Entrepreneurial Spirit for Inclusive Local Employment Development
"The European Commission (DG Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities) held a conference on 25 April 2008 on the theme "Harnessing an Entrepreneurial Spirit for Inclusive Local Employment Development".
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02/06/2008
European network set to boost women in power
Female decision-makers from around Europe will today meet 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 join the network for a discussion over lunch.