Tag Archives: European union activities

Employment and Social Policy

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Employment and Social Policy

Outline of the Community (European Union) legislation about Employment and social policy

Topics

These categories group together and put in context the legislative and non-legislative initiatives which deal with the same topic.

Employment and social policy

Employment and social policy

European society is changing, influenced by different factors such as technological progress, the globalisation of trade and an ageing population. European employment, social affairs and equal opportunities policies contribute to improving people’s living conditions with a view to sustainable growth and greater social cohesion. The European Union (EU) plays the role of a trigger in social change. It has introduced a protective legal framework for European citizens. It fosters the cooperation of Member States, the coordination and harmonisation of national policies, and the participation of local authorities, unions, employers’ organisations and other stakeholders involved.

The priority aims of this policy are to increase employment and worker mobility, to improve the quality of jobs and, working conditions, to inform and consult workers, to combat poverty and social exclusion, to promote equality between men and women, and to modernise social protection systems.

Employment and social policy Contents

  • European Strategy for Growth: Europe 2020 Strategy, Intelligent growth, Sustainable growth, Inclusive growth
  • Priorities and objectives: the social agenda:Social agenda
  • Community employment policies: Partnership for growth and employment, Legal instruments for Community employment policies, Skills and mobility, Quality of employment
  • Social and employment situation in europe: Reports, Statistics
  • Job creation measures: General job creation measures, Promoting employment at a local level, Sectoral job creation promotion
  • Employment rights and work organisation: Protection of employee’s rights, Organisation of working time, Corporate social responsibility
  • Social dialogue and employee participation: Cross-industry social dialogue, Sectoral social dialogue, Information, consultation and participation of employees
  • Health, hygiene and safety at work: Equipment, signs and loads, Protection of specific groups of workers, The workplace, Chemical, physical and biological agents
  • Social protection: Coordination of social security regimes, Supplementary pension schemes, Modernising social protection
  • Equality between men and women: Gender mainstreaming, Female employment and entrepreneurship, Combating sexual harassment and violence against women
  • Social measures for target groups: disability and old age: Equal opportunities, Rights and dignity of handicapped persons, Pensions and healthcare for the elderly, Demographic changes
  • Social inclusion and the fight against poverty: Combating social exclusion, Social protection and the fight against poverty
  • Anti-discrimination and relations with civil society: Combating discrimination, Fundemental social rights, Relations with civil society
  • Employment and social policy: international dimension and enlargement: Social development, Measures aimed at target groups, Enlargement

Priorities and objectives: the social agenda

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Priorities and objectives: the social agenda

Outline of the Community (European Union) legislation about Priorities and objectives: the social agenda

Topics

These categories group together and put in context the legislative and non-legislative initiatives which deal with the same topic.

Employment and social policy > Priorities and objectives: the social agenda

Priorities and objectives: the social agenda

The aim of the European Unions social policy is to promote employment, the improvement of living and working conditions, an appropriate level of social protection, dialogue with the social partners, development of human resources so as to ensure a high and sustainable employment level, and measures to combat exclusion. The new Social Agenda for the period 2006 2010 is set in the context of the relaunching of the Lisbon Strategy for Growth and Jobs. It responds to the European objectives of solidarity and prosperity through fundamental priorities: employment, and action to tackle poverty and promote equal opportunities.

THE SOCIAL AGENDA

  • The renewed social agenda
  • The Social Policy Agenda (2006-2010)
  • Agenda for social policy (2000-2005)
  • Mid-term review of the Social Policy Agenda
  • Scoreboard on implementing the 2004 social policy agenda

PRIORITIES AND OBJECTIVES

  • Towards a new social vision for 21st century Europe
  • European Globalisation Adjustment Fund
  • European values in a globalised world

Social dialogue and employee participation

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Social dialogue and employee participation

Outline of the Community (European Union) legislation about Social dialogue and employee participation

Topics

These categories group together and put in context the legislative and non-legislative initiatives which deal with the same topic.

Employment and social policy > Social dialogue and employee participation

Social dialogue and employee participation

Dialogue with the social partners constitutes one of the pillars of the European social model. Firmly anchored in the Treaty establishing the European Community, it embraces discussions, consultations, negotiations and joint actions involving the representative social partner organisations. The European social dialogue, which can be bipartite or tripartite, supplements the national social dialogue arrangements which exist in most Member States. Based on the principles of solidarity, responsibility and participation, it constitutes the main channel through which the social partners contribute to the establishing of European social standards and play a vital role in the governance of the Union.

EUROPEAN SOCIAL DIALOGUE

  • Enhancing the contribution of European social dialogue in an enlarged Europe
  • European social dialogue: a force for innovation and change
  • 2010 Report on industrial relations in Europe
  • 2008 Report on Industrial Relations in Europe
  • 2006 Report on Industrial Relations in Europe

CROSS-INDUSTRY SOCIAL DIALOGUE

  • European cross-industry social dialogue

Framework agreements

  • Parental leave
  • Parental leave and leave for family reasons
  • Part-time working
  • Fixed-term work
  • Equal treatment of temporary workers
  • Teleworking

SECTORAL SOCIAL DIALOGUE

  • European Sectoral Dialogue
  • Reassessing the regulatory social framework for more and better seafaring jobs in the EU
  • Organisation of seafarers’ working time
  • Organisation of working time of mobile workers in civil aviation
  • Working conditions of mobile workers engaged in interoperable cross-border services in the railway sector

FORUM FOR SOCIAL DIALOGUE

  • Tripartite Social Summit for Growth and Employment
  • Employment Committee

INFORMATION, CONSULTATION AND PARTICIPATION OF EMPLOYEES

  • European Works Council (from 2011)
  • European Works Council
  • General framework for informing and consulting employees
  • Framework for promoting employee financial participation
  • Statute for a European Company
  • A European Private Company Statute
  • Statute for a European Cooperative Society

Research in support of other policies

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Research in support of other policies

Outline of the Community (European Union) legislation about Research in support of other policies

Topics

These categories group together and put in context the legislative and non-legislative initiatives which deal with the same topic.

Research and innovation > Research in support of other policies

Research in support of other policies

Intelligent vehicles to save lives, fusion energy to counter energy dependence, gene therapy to cure serious diseases, biotechnology to safeguard our quality of life while respecting the environment: these are just some of the many applications offered by research in response to the questions and challenges facing society. The activities of the European Union are geared towards combining the forces of all public and private stakeholders across the board.

TRANSVERSAL MEASURES

  • European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT)
  • Admission and residence of researchers from third countries
  • The integration of women in research

FIELDS OF RESEARCH

Energy

  • SET-Plan for the development of low carbon technologies
  • Joint Undertaking for ITER and the Development of Fusion Energy
  • Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET Plan)

Enterprises

  • Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP) (2007-2013)
  • Standardization as a catalyst for innovation
  • A single market for 21st century Europe
  • Implementation of the partnership for growth and jobs (first report)
  • Promoting corporate social responsibility

Environment, health and safety

  • A European strategy for marine and maritime research
  • European Security Research and Innovation Agenda
  • Security Research
  • European Earth monitoring programme (GMES)
  • Clean Sky
  • IMI Joint Undertaking
  • Résistance aux antimicrobiens : plan d’action
    (FR)

Space and transport

  • A European space policy
  • European space policy

New technologies

  • A strategy for research on future and emerging technologies in Europe
  • ENIAC
  • A European strategy for nanotechnology
  • European strategy for the development of key enabling technologies

Information society

  • Internet of Things
  • ARTEMIS
  • Ageing well in the information society: The Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) Programme

Middle east

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Middle east

Outline of the Community (European Union) legislation about Middle east

Topics

These categories group together and put in context the legislative and non-legislative initiatives which deal with the same topic.

External relations > Relations with third countries > Middle east

Middle east

BILATERAL RELATIONS

Gulf States

  • Cooperation Agreement between the EEC and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)
  • Improving relations between the EU and the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council

Iraq

  • Renewed engagement with Iraq
  • A Framework for EU-Iraq Engagement
  • Strategy for Iraq 2011-2013

Iran

  • EU relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran

Yemen

  • Cooperation Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Yemen

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

  • Financing instrument for development cooperation – DCI (2007-2013)
  • Financing instrument for cooperation with industrialised and other high-income countries and territories (2007-2013)

GENERAL FRAMEWORK

  • Cooperation with Non-EU Member Countries on nuclear safety

Maritime affairs

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Maritime affairs

Outline of the Community (European Union) legislation about Maritime affairs

Topics

These categories group together and put in context the legislative and non-legislative initiatives which deal with the same topic.

Maritime Affairs And Fisheries > Maritime affairs

Maritime affairs

On account of the growing competition for the exploitation of maritime areas and the cumulative effect of human activities on marine ecosystems, an integrated maritime policy is a must. This is an overall policy which brings together several maritime activities, such as shipping, fisheries, energy, surveillance and monitoring of the seas, tourism, the environment, research, etc. The action plan, presented in October 2007 by the Commission, defines its framework and principal objectives. The integrated maritime policy aims to maximise sustainable exploitation of the seas and oceans, whilst at the same time allowing growth of the maritime economy and the coastal regions.

  • Action plan for an integrated maritime policy
  • Guidelines for developing national maritime policies
  • Strategy to strengthen global governance of seas and oceans
  • Strategy to improve maritime governance in the Mediterranean
  • Towards integrated maritime surveillance
  • Development and integrated management of coastal zones
  • Maritime Policy Green Paper

Living and working in the internal market

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Living and working in the internal market

Outline of the Community (European Union) legislation about Living and working in the internal market

Topics

These categories group together and put in context the legislative and non-legislative initiatives which deal with the same topic.

Internal market > Living and working in the internal market

Living and working in the internal market

The free movement of persons is one of the fundamental principles guaranteed by the European Union (EU). Any EU resident has the right to travel, live, study, work, become established or provide a service in another Member State without being subject to nationality-based discrimination. The EU works towards making freedom of movement effective and simple within its borders, in particular concerning social security schemes.
The counterpart of the free movement of persons is an external border policy which is designed to guarantee an area of freedom, security and justice and covers the entry and stay of non-Europeans.

Free movement of workers

  • Free movement of workers: taking stock of their rights
  • Free movement of workers: general provisions
  • Right of Union citizens and their family members to move and reside freely within the territory of the Member States
  • Achieving the full benefits and potential of free movement of workers

Skills and mobility

  • System for the recognition of professional qualifications
  • Lawyers: freedom of establishment
  • European Qualifications Framework
  • EUROPASS – Serving citizen mobility
  • EURES: the European Employment and Job Mobility Network
  • European Job Mobility Action Plan (2007-2010)
  • Action plan for skills and mobility
  • European Year of Workers’ Mobility (2006)

Social Protection

  • Coordination of social security systems
  • European health insurance card
  • Combating social security fraud and undeclared work (Code of conduct)
  • Tackling tax obstacles to the cross-border provision of occupational pensions
  • Workers’ mobility: facilitating the acquisition and preservation of supplementary pension rights
  • Safeguarding supplementary pension rights

Nationals of non-EU member countries

  • Entry and residence of highly qualified workers (EU Blue Card)
  • Admission and residence of researchers from third countries
  • Conditions of admission of third-country nationals for the purposes of studies, pupil exchange, unremunerated training or voluntary service
  • Sanctions against the employment of illegally staying non-EU nationals
  • Policy plan on legal migration
  • Limitations on the admission of third-country nationals for employment
  • Limitations on the admission of third-country nationals for the purpose of pursuing activities as self-employed persons
  • Agreement with the Swiss Federation: free movement of persons
  • Agreement on the European Economic Area

Job creation measures

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Job creation measures

Outline of the Community (European Union) legislation about Job creation measures

Topics

These categories group together and put in context the legislative and non-legislative initiatives which deal with the same topic.

Employment and social policy > Job creation measures

Job creation measures

Employment has been made an absolute priority under the revised Lisbon Strategy. This is reflected in the programming of the Community financial instruments for the period 2007-2013 (the Community Programme for Employment and Social Solidarity, the European Social Fund and the European Regional Development Fund). At the same time, the Commission is supporting the fight against unemployment and undeclared work through the modernisation of public employment services and the promotion of flexibility among employers and employees. It is encouraging differing policy approaches according to the key economic sectors, such as services, and categories of employees who could be better integrated into the labour market (e.g. women and older people). The Commission allows the Member States to use State aid and VAT reductions as instruments to foster employment.

JOB CREATION MEASURES

Positive actions

  • New skills for new jobs
  • Towards common principles of flexicurity
  • Promoting solidarity between the generations
  • The Community Lisbon Programme
  • Community programme for employment and solidarity – PROGRESS (2007-2013)
  • European Progress Microfinance Facility (EPMF)
  • Programme for mutual learning in employment
  • Cohesion Policy in support of growth and jobs – Community Strategic Guidelines, 2007-13
  • The European Social Fund (2007-2013)
  • European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) (2007-2013)
  • ESF: European Social Fund.
  • ERDF: European Regional Development Fund

Tackling unemployment and undeclared work

  • Undeclared work
  • Modernising public employment services
  • Undeclared work
  • A comprehensive approach contributing to making work pay
  • Restructuring and employment: the role of the European Union in anticipating and accompanying restructuring in order to develop employment

SECTORAL JOB CREATION PROMOTION

Job creation through enterprise policy

  • Access to financing for businesses
  • Fostering structural change: an industrial policy for an enlarged Europe

Services

  • ‘Services’ Directive

Information society and research

  • Research and innovation serving growth and employment
  • i2010: Information Society and the media working towards growth and jobs

Environnement

  • Strategy for sustainable development

Agriculture

  • Employment in rural areas: closing the jobs gap

FINANCIAL DIMENSION OF JOB CREATION

  • State aid for employment
  • Risk Capital Action Plan (RCAP)
  • VAT: labour-intensive services

Research and innovation: international dimension and enlargement

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Research and innovation: international dimension and enlargement

Outline of the Community (European Union) legislation about Research and innovation: international dimension and enlargement

Topics

These categories group together and put in context the legislative and non-legislative initiatives which deal with the same topic.

Research and innovation > Research and innovation: international dimension and enlargement

Research and innovation: international dimension and enlargement

The major changes that are now taking place, whether environmental, demographic or other, constitute global challenges and require an appropriate response. Europe has a key role to play so that international cooperation, like science, forms an area without borders. For this reason research is a completely separate theme in the European Union’s foreign and enlargement policies.

INTERNATIONAL DIMENSION

  • Scientific and technological cooperation with Jordan
  • Scientific and technological cooperation with New Zealand
  • Scientific and technological cooperation with the United States
  • Scientific and technological cooperation with Egypt
  • Scientific and technologic cooperation with Switzerland
  • Scientific and technologic cooperation with Israel
  • ITER: Euratom/Japan agreement on nuclear fusion

ENLARGEMENT

Ongoing enlargement

  • The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia – Research and new technologies
  • Croatia – Research and new technologies
  • Turkey – Research and new technologies
  • Iceland – Research and new technologies

Enlargement of January 2007

  • Bulgaria
  • Romania

Enlargement of May 2004

  • Cyprus
  • Estonia
  • Hungary
  • Latvia
  • Lithuania
  • Malta
  • Poland
  • The Czech Republic
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia

Internal market: general framework

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Internal market: general framework

Outline of the Community (European Union) legislation about Internal market: general framework

Topics

These categories group together and put in context the legislative and non-legislative initiatives which deal with the same topic.

Internal market > Internal market: general framework

Internal market: general framework

The internal market is one of the pillars of the European Union. Completed in 1992, the single market is an area without internal frontiers in which persons, goods, services and capital can move freely, in accordance with the Treaty establishing the European Community. The internal market is essential for prosperity, growth and employment in the EU, contributing to the achievement of its objectives under the Lisbon strategy. As an integrated, open and competitive area, it in fact promotes mobility, competitiveness and innovation, interacting in particular with the EU sectoral policies. To ensure that everyone, citizen or business, can make the most of the advantages of the single market, the EU concentrates on dismantling barriers still impeding its operation. It seeks to harmonise legislation in order to improve its response to the challenges of globalisation and to adapt to advances, such as the new technologies.

Internal Market strategy

  • Single Market Act: improving our work, business and exchanges with one another
  • Single market: improving its functioning
  • Driving European recovery
  • A single market for 21st century Europe
  • Interim report on the single market in the 21st century
  • Monitoring consumer outcomes in the single market
  • The Internal Market Information System (IMI)
  • Internal market Strategy – Priorities 2003-2006
  • Strategy for the internal market

Mutual recognition

  • The mutual recognition principle in the single market

Conflict resolution

  • Internal Market Problem Solving System (SOLVIT network)

Transposal into national law

  • Transposition into national law of directives relating to the internal market