Edition: June 1999
Congratulations!
Simon is about caring. Caring about what happens. Caring about the way
society is structured. Caring about individuals and what happens to them. Caring on a
person-to-person basis. Caring enough to ask why. Caring enough to campaign for the
elimination of homelessness.
With these words from Dick Shannon, taken from his comment in the
February 1999-edition of Simon Community of Ireland newsletter we want to wish Simon all
the best.
The work undertaken by this organisation is one important contribution
to combat poverty and one of its most disastrous consequences, namely homelessness in
Ireland. And unfortunately this work is today as important as it has been thirty years ago
when Simon began with the work. Perhaps it is today even more important – the Celtic
tiger on its move doesn’t take much care for all people. Some are prospering by its
push forward. However, the tiger is a biting and scratching beast: Caring for speculators
on the property market and kicking the weak.
Good luck to Simon for this birthday year!
(For those interested in the work of SIMON contact: Simon Community of Ireland. St.
Andrew’s House. 28-30 Exchequer Street. Dublin 2. Ph.: +353.(0)1.6711606. Telecopie:
+353.(0)1.6711098. e-mail: simonnat@indigo.ie URL:
htttp://indigo.ie/~simonnat
FORTRESS EUROPE?
- Circular Letter (FECL) offers news, analyses and comments on European developments in
the fields of liberties and human rights, public order and security, policing, justice,
data protection, immigration and asylum. Particular attention is paid to EU Justice and
Home Affairs cooperation and Schengen policies. CL strives to provide a forum for mutual
information and critical debate among experts, activists, scholars and practitioners
throughout Europe. Readers are welcome to send texts and information suitable for
publication in CL to the editor.
- Visit our homepage <http://www.fecl.org>
for more information. The homepage offers free access to the full contents of back issues
of FECL.
FECL No.58 (June 1999), features issues such as the interrelation between EU refugee
policy goals and the NATO war in Yugoslavia, recent developments in the field of EU
Justice an Home Affairs cooperation (Europol, Eurodac, etc), and European an US government
plans for the interception of telecommunications.
Council of Europe’s European Commission against Racism and
Intolerance (ECRI)
ECRI’s website has a new URL, which now reads http://www.ecri.coe.int
Despite this there are some new ECRI-publications available, which are
of some interest: Volume IV (CRI [99] 6; 26.1.1999 – on Denmark, Estonia, Russian
Federation, Spain, United Kingdom) and V (cri [99] 11; 13.3.1999 – on Austria,
Latavia, Romania, Ukraine) of ECRI’s country-by-country approach have to be mentioned
here. The reports are not only interesting to read for those who are specially interested
in one of the countries. Instead they give some insight in more general patterns and their
success or failure respectively. For example, we are made aware of the fact that even
countries with a more or less prosperous and exemplary social (security) system and which
are, moreover, seen as very tolerant face problems of increasing racism – Denmark is
one example in this regard. Another interesting feature is the development in Spain, which
might be seen as example for other countries of the so-called southern periphery. Up to
recently countries, which only new emigration they now have to cope with immigration and
despite their ‘emigrant experience’ the problem of racism and intolerance is too
well known even in these countries. A third important insight is that the United Kingdom
is confronted with increasing problems ‘despite having one of Europe’s most
highly-advanced institutional frameworks for combating racism and discrimination.’
According to a note on the likewise recently published Annual Report on ECRI’s
Activities Covering the Period from 1st January to 31 December 1998 (CRI [99]
28. 23.3.1999) we read – in part contradicting the latter realisation: ‘The most
striking feature … is the "persistence of discrimination at various
levels", such as employment, housing provision of services and acquisition of
citizenship, which is "compounded by a lack of effective antidiscrimination
provisions in most member States". Such daily discrimination is practised by both
public bodies, for example the judicial and law enforcement systems and schools, as well
as by private individuals. It is closely linked to an unsatisfactory implementation of
existing antiracist provisions. And of course, social work has a special role in regard of
this crucial problem of today’s societies.
Another responsibility lies on ‘Specialised bodies, which are
presented in another document: Good practices: specialised bodies to combat racism,
xenophobia, antisemitism and intolerance at nation level (CRI [99] 43. April 1999). Even
if not sufficient they provide important tools to develop progress in the field.
Unfortunately, however, the issue will have to stay on the agenda for
the foreseeable future – the problem cannot be solved in a short period and,
moreover, it is most probable that racism and any other forms of intolerance are on the
increase. Thus, the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination , Xenophobia
and Related Intolerance will be an important step at least as means of symbolical
politics. Two documents present the European preparations: One is concerned with the
meeting of and with NGOs, which took place on January 25th, 1999 (PREP-EUROCONf/NGO
[99] 1). The other document is concerned with the ad-hoc meeting of experts to
exchange views on European preparations for the UN World Conference against Racism, Racial
Discrimination , Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, February 22nd – 24th
, 1999 (PREP-EUROCONF [99] 5 rev.)
Finally, an important development in the area can be seen in the
Agreement for the purpose of establishing close co-operation between the European
Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia and the Council of Europe.
Contact:ECRI Secretariat. Directorate of Human Rights. Council of Europe. F-67075
Strasbourg CEDEX. Pg.: )388412964. Telecopie: 0388413987. E-mail: webmaster.ecri@coe.int. URL: http://www.ecri.coe.int
Internet-Access for people with special needs
Many websites even if developed for people with special needs (disabled
people) are not designed to guarantee accessibility. For some information about this and
to overcome the problem the following website gives some information: http://www.gilbert.org/siteanalyzer/
In this connection further useful information can be
found via the URL http://aware.hwg.org/
Job rotation – a combined effect
Paid Leave and Job rotation in Europe – a model for battling
unemployment and improving service quality
The title quoted above describes in part the multi-layer structure of a
project which takes unemployment and the search to overcome it as starting point. However,
even if unemployment is at core it is only one pillar of the project. The introduction of
job rotation schemes gives a means at hand to kill two (or even more) birds with one
stone:
* Employed people gain time for the education of their children without
loosening job security;
* Unemployed people get at least for a limited period a job on the
first labour market (in the international project different ways of financing are used);
* The unemployed people get the opportunity to refresh and even
increase their skills;
* In some cases it is possible to improve the quality of local social
services.
Besides the Danish Confederation of Municipal Employees – DKK
the Netherlands Institute of Care and Welfare (NIZW) and the Berufsfördungsinstitut
in Vienna (bfi) are carrying out the project.
Contact: Danish Confederation of Municipal Employees – DKK – Project
Manager: Torben Møller, Hanne Sandager. Staunings Plads 1-3-. 4th floor. P.O.
Box 22. DK 1790 Copenhagen. Denmark. Ph.: +45.3311.1600.203 or +45.3311.1600.222.
Telecopie: +45.3311.1633. e-mail: tm@dkk.dk or hs@dkk.dk
EU-employment policy – doubling a European impasse
Even if it is a long way to get a wider European social policy on the
way the development of a co-ordinated strategy gains more and more validity as part of the
so-called Luxembourg process (cf. http://europa.eu.int/comm/dg05/empl&esf/naps99/naps_en.htm
and http://europa.eu.int/comm/dg05/elm/summit/en/papers/home.htm:).
In connection with the recent summit in Cologne (Germany) undoubtedly further progress
could be made with the employment pact (for presidency conclusions and part of this the
employment pact as annex go to: http://ue.eu.int/newsroom/main.cfm?LANG=1).
And of course, all this I sat least one important part of still wider social policy
approach. Nevertheless, even within this approach we find a fundamental, serious
shortcoming. This is not just concerned with the specific orientation in terms of labour
market or economic patterns. Moreover, the problem goes much further:
As we all know the process of European integration is split into 3
pillars, expressed in the 3 pillars of the primary law, i.e. now the Amsterdam Treaty.
Part of it is binding law and compelling for all member states (the Treaty of the European
Union) without any way out. Thus we are at least near to a supranational entity. The other
parts are to be characterised as something added: Even if in strict legal terms and
following judgements of the ECJ compelling as well they are still a matter of permanent
negotiation on the level of an intergovernmental system. Thus, we are concerned with
different levels of responsibility and enforceability in regard of matters of European
integration. Metaphorical: 3 pillars are necessary. One leg (the Union) is not strong
enough to involve what is left in the other pillars. And so the balance can be kept only
by providing different crutches, crutches with different length to find an ever new and
always only temporary balance.
If we have a look at the current structure of the employment policy and
the way the employment pact is embedded we find actually a similar pattern of obligation
and competence on the one hand and fuzziness on the other side. The overall structure
looks as follows:
Macro-economic co-ordination of the policy mix
consisting of money finance and income policy. Point of reference are growth and
employment while stability of prices has to be kept in mind (‘Process of
Cologne’)
Co-ordination of the aims of labour market policies and
respective measurements. For this setting up employment guidelines and the national
employment plans will be continued (‘continuation of the Luxembourg Process’)
Combating obstacles on the markets by reforms of the
economy, emphasising competitiveness in and of the single market (‘continuation of
the Cardiff process’)
Now, to understand the process of European integration
and, furthermore, the role and position of social issues (and, in general: matters subject
to the principle of the subsidiarity) we have to consider that only one pillar of these
three strands can be seen as part of the original European competencies. Namely for what
we have named as Cardiff process (III) the European Institutions have far-reaching
competencies and can develop political decisions in their own right. All other fields are
restricted either by the procedures of decision making or by the requirement of a specific
added European value, while the main responsibility is ongoing a matter of the respective
member states. In other words, in fact we find again a very unstable and unbalanced
structure with different reaches of the particular systems. In consequence, the employment
pact is not just problematic in terms of its own aims and the means used to proceed.
Rather, it is questionable in terms of its location in the contractual structure.
We can summarise: No news for social policy – despite, perhaps, a
moral obligation and a tiny step to keep the social (better: part of the social, i.e.
combating the burden of unemployment) on the political agenda.
Employment Horizon 1995 – 1999. Projects and Products
An excellent documentation of the work under the Community Initiative
Employment Horizon is available for Ireland – and probably many professionals working
with people with special needs (disabled people) in other countries can gain precious
stimulation by this overview. Even more, some may take it as point of departure for
cross-border co-operation.
As the title states, the document presents the work of the projects and
gives a brief overview of the aim and the development. As well, it contains information
about the actors and professional structure and the participants. In general, each
presentation (one page) follows the following outline:
Promoter Name. Project Name. Address. Contact Person. Measure. Theme.
Target Group. Geographical Focus. Sector. Description. Transnational Partners. Specific
Learning. Products.
Products, named in the report, are as various as pottery products,
reports and public information about the experiences and manuals for training courses,
which may be used in other contexts.
A brief overview is given to make the Community initiative known to the
reader.
Contact: Employment Horizon Support Structure. EU Section. NRB. 25 Clyde Road.
Dublin 4. Ireland. Ph.: +353.(0)1.6080400. Telecopie: +353.(0)1.6080421. e-mail: nrbhds@iol.ie. URL: http://www.iol.ie/EMPLOYMENT/horizon
Disability Research
Another excellent tool, provided by the National Rehabilitation Board
(NRB), is a Directory of Disability Research in Ireland 1996 – 1998. It makes
important pieces of work accessible, which are not necessarily known to people even
working in the field in Ireland. Many of the research had been undertaken without aiming
on the (immediate) publication of publicly available literature. So, without the directory
many results would have been produced just for the drawers of any desks of funding
organisations, academic circles, small organisations etc.. However, now the results of the
research projects are widely available. Probably there useful information not only for
national organisations ar activists in the field but as well for those in other European
countries. Moreover, some of the projects already had been undertaken as international
projects, as projects with a comparative orientation.
The information on each project follows mainly the following outline:
Name of the project. Researcher(s). Institute/Address. Abstract.
Research Methods. Keywords. Geographical Area. Starting/Completion Date. Funding Agency.
Publications/Progress Report.
The given information is provided by the researchers themselves and an
index of keywords completes the document.
Contact: NRB Research Department. 25 Clyde Road. Ballsbridge. Dublin
4. Ph.: +353.(0)1.6080400. Telecopie: +353.(0)1.6609935. e-mail: research@nrb.iol.ie URL: http://www.iol.ie/~nrb
Poverty – an ongoing and even increasing problem in the European
Union
Probably in September 1999 EUROSTAT, the Statistical Office of the
European Communities will publish new figures on Poverty. Actually, the data will be
concerned with income distribution and stem from the European Community Houshold Panel
(ECHP) and will be based on data for 1995.
Contact: Eurostat. Directorate E: Social and regional statistics and geographic
information system. L-2920 Luxembourg. Ph.: +352.430135254. Telecopie: +352.430134415
The Social and the Local
Since its development, social work (in a wider sense) is employed by
the debate about the meaning of different levels of social intervention, namely the
individual, the groups on a small-scale level and the society in general respectively.
Approaches in favour of a somewhat holistic perspective still have a difficult standing in
social work – sometimes even increasingly because of the flourishing professional
differentiation and not least in the context of economisation. Nevertheless, the community
approach is of ongoing interest. The persistence of the interest is highly justified
insofar we are not only concerned with an integration of different aggregate levels of
intervention rather than an integration of different ‘fields’ of the social
being: being together informally, economic activities, education, social care etc.
A new handbook will be a useful tool for those working in this field
and it may be chosen as guidance and as stimulation to reflect own approaches:
Chanan, Gabriel: Local Community Involvement. A Handbook for Good
Practice. Dublin: European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working
Conditions, 1999/Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities,
1999
On page 27 we find a comprehensive guide, giving
Ten building blocks for community development (which are quoted from
Voluntary Activity Unit, Northern Ireland Department of Health and Social Services:
Measuring Community Development, 1996)
We divide community development into ten ‘building blocks’.
The first four of these are about community empowerment, whose aim is to encourage
communities to be better able to cope with, challenge or change their situation., The
other six … depend on the policies and decisions of investors and authorities outside
the community itself. Progress on the quality of life thus depends partly on what a
community can do for itself and partly on how far the community can influence the
decisions of investors and policy-makers.
- A learning community …
- A fair and just community …
- An active and organised community …
- An influential community …
- A commonwealth …
- A caring community …
- A green community …
- A safe community …
- A good place to live …
- A lasting community …
Contact: European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions.
Whyattville Road. Loughlinstown. Co. Dublin. Ireland. Ph.: +353.(0)1.12043100. Telecopie:
+353.(0)1.12826456. e-mail: postmaster@eurofound.ie
URL: http://www.eurofound.ie
Stiftung Soziale Qualität in Europa
Soziale Qualität kann als eine Art roter Faden angesehen werden, der
sich auch durch Fragen der Sozialarbeit zieht, so sie mehr sein will als nur ein
Anhängsel einer Beschäftigungsstrategie im Rahmen der Binnenmarktorientierung Ich
möchte die Aufmerksamkeit nochmals auf die Amsterdamer Erklärung zur Sozialen Qualität
richten. Die Erklärung wurde bereits im Rahmen dieses Mitteilungsblattes veröffentlicht
und ist zugänglich unter
http://www.sozialarbeit.de/europa/newslett/a-c-p/acpd02.htm
Bei Interesse hinsichtlich der Arbeit der Stiftung
Soziale Qualität können weitere Informationen gerne angefragt werden.
Kontakt: European Foundation on Social Quality. c/o SISWO. Plantage Muidergracht 4.
1018 TV. Amsterdam. Niederlande. +3120.5270600. Telecopie: +3120.6229430. e-mail: koning@siswo.uva.nl
Social Quality in Europe
As social quality can be seen as a kind of thread running through the
story of social work issues and as it is furthermore a crucial question for a Social
Europe, which goes further than attaching an employment strategy to the main-stream of
setting up a single market I want to draw your attention once again on the Amsterdam
Declaration on social Quality. The Declaration had been publishged already as part of this
newsletter and can be accessed under
http://www.sozialarbeit.de/europa/newslett/a-c-p/acpd02.htm
If you are interested more in detail in the work of the
Foundation please don not hesitate to as for details.
Contact: European Foundation on Social Quality. c/o SISWO. Plantage Muidergracht 4.
1018 TV. Amsterdam. The Netherlends. +3120.5270600. Telecopie: +3120.6229430. e-mail: koning@siswo.uva.nl
Living Europe
The new German government presents in a booklet on about sixty pages
guiding ideas on European matters: Living Europe is the motto under which a
strategy For a social and economically strong Europe (thus the subtitle) is
envisaged. If and in which sense this claims consciously a common tradition and an in fact
existing unity, whgich can be lived already at this stage may be a case of some doubt. At
least we mentioned already several obstacles in this newsletter, which have to be
surmounted before we really can live Europe.
Even if edited in immediate connection with the German presidency the
booklet gives more general information as to the ideas of the current German government,
the changes and not least the continuities in EU-matters.
Contact: Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. Public
Relations Division.. Postfach 500. FRG 53105 Bonn. Ph.: 0180.5151510 or 0180.5656561.
Telecopie: 0180.5151511. e-mail: info@bma.bund.de
URL: http://www.bma.bund.de
(Available in German, English and French
Caring for Older People at Home. A Strategy for Social Inclusion.
In April a conference on Caring for Older People took place in Dublin
under the auspices of the Ministry for Social, Community and Family Affairs. We had been
confronted with an encouraging debate because the issue at stake had been approached from
various points, thus respecting the multi-faceted character of the problem: social needs,
community care, the needs of the carers, issues of preventive care and the role of the
NGOs had been set on the agenda. Contributions had been successfully invited from various
member states of the EU.
For more information see http://europa.eu.int/comm/dg05/soc-prot/ageing/news/care_en.htm
Non Governmental Organisations – Their Role, Functions and
Perspectives
Recently we announced the publication of the booklet Voluntary Actoion
in Ireland, Noth and South: Report of a Research Symposium. Now, we are glad thet the
Irish Research in this field gets another boost: The Irish Research Community will host a
major Conference at Trinity College in Dublin. The 4th International Conference
of the International Society for Third Sector Research (ISTR) will warmly be welcomed for
this major event. The conference is planned for July 5 – 8, 2000. The Association for
Voluntary Action Research in Ireland, North and South (AVARI) and the School of Business
Studies of Trinity College will serve as local hosts.
CALL FOR CONTRIBUTIONS for the ISTR conference
FOURTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE of THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR
THIRD-SECTOR RESEARCH (ISTR). TRINITY COLLEGE. DUBLIN, IRELAND. JULY 5-8, 2000
THE THIRD SECTOR: FOR WHAT AND FOR WHOM?
Proposals are invited for contributions to the fourth international
conference of the International Society for Third-Sector Research. The conference will
take a critical look at the development of the sector across the globe and the
contribution it is making to human welfare and democratic life. The main themes of the
conference will be:
* Evaluating the impact of the Third Sector
* The Third Sector, democracy and social capital
* The Third Sector and religion
* Commercialization and privatization in the Third Sector
* The Third Sector in partnership
* Management and organization in the Third Sector
* Globalization, the Third Sector and the social economy
* Philanthropy and volunteering
However, contributions are encouraged on all topics related to Third
Sector studies. They may take the form of a panel, a paper or a poster.
Abstracts of 500-1000 words are invited in English, French and Spanish.
The abstract should give a working title and summarize the argument of the paper and the
issue(s) which it addresses; locate that issue within a wider literature; indicate its
relevance to an international audience; and refer to its empirical and/or theoretical
base. It should be suitable for blind refereeing. Brief biographical details should be
given on the attached form and authors are requested to indicate which of the conference
themes their proposal addresses. Original papers presented at the conference will be
considered for the Conference Working Paper Series to be published shortly after the
conference. Authors will have the opportunity to revise their papers in the light of
conference feedback with an eye to an appropriate submission to Voluntas, the
peer-reviewed official journal of ISTR.
For the purposes of this conference, the Third Sector is broadly
defined, including for example: NGOs, non-profit organizations, voluntary associations,
social economy organizations, community organizations, self-help and mutual organizations,
civil society organizations, unions, religious organizations and co-operatives.
Contributions are also welcome which discuss civic participation, community development
and citizenship.
ISTR is keen to encourage contributions from all countries and
disciplines, as well as contributions from practitioners carrying out research in and with
the sector. Comparative papers and panels covering more than one country will be
particularly welcome. A number of scholarships and subsidies will be available for
researchers from the developing world.
Several scholarships will also be reserved for post-graduate students
from any part of the world.
A Panel submission is a proposal for a coordinated set of papers
(usually 3 or 4 in number) all dealing with a particular topic or issue. The person
submitting the panel proposal must be willing to act as the panel coordinator and ensure
that all proposed paper presenters commit to attending the conference. Panel proposals
must contain a general description of the panel topic as well as specific proposals for
each paper.
A Poster proposal is an alternative to presenting a full research
paper. This is an opportunity to display a poster about completed and ongoing research.
Posters will be displayed through out the conference and a designated session will be
scheduled in which participants can meet with authors to discuss their work. (Full
instructions on poster formats will be provided for those accepted for presentation.)
One (1) copy of the abstract, along with the presenter information
sheet, should be submitted by September 30, 1999, to the ISTR Secretariat. Panel proposals
should include information on all the constituent papers; if necessary, additional sheets
may be used. Proposals may be submitted by mail or fax, but we regret that we cannot
accept proposals via e-mail.
Authors will be advised by the end of January 2000 whether their
abstract has been accepted. Authors are requested to confirm their participation in the
conference by April 1, 2000, and will have an opportunity to submit an extended abstract
for inclusion in the conference abstract volume by that date. The completed paper should
be submitted to the ISTR office by May 15, 2000, to allow adequate time for session
chairs/discussants to read the paper.
Contact: ISTR. E-mail: istrmbd@jhunix.hcf.jhu.edu
URL: http://www.jhu.edu/~istr
Information on Comparative Questions in different Areas
As social matters in Europe are still a matter of the member states and
moreover, since as well any convergence, harmonisation or whichever of Europeanisation
largely depends on severe knowledge about the various national systems the importance of
any kind of comparative literature is of crucial importance. Thus, we want to f-draw your
attention on some sources that give useful insight in various issues of ‘the
social’.
* Social protection for dependency in old age in the 15 Member States
and Norway. Synthesis Report commissioned by the European Commission and the Belgian
Minister of Social Affairs. Jozef Pacolet et. alt.. European Commission. DG V. Luxembourg:
Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, 1999
* Sozialschutzsysteme in Europa. Ein Strukturvergleich. Ausgabe 1998.
(Ed.) Deutsche Sozialversicherung. Europavertretung. Maison Européenne de la Protection
Sociale. Rue d’Arlon 50. B-1000 Bruxells. Ph.: +32.2.2307522. Telecopie:
+32.2.2307773. e-mail: esip.bxl@hssupport.be
* Green, David R.: Taking Steps: Young people and social protection in
the European Union. A report for the Youth Forum. Ed.: Youth Forum Jeunesse. 120 Rue
Joseph II. B- 1000 Brussels. Belgium. Ph.: +32.2.2306490. Telecopie: +32.2.2302123.
e-mail: youthforum@youthforum.org
* Jakubowski, Elke, Busse, Reinhard: Health Care Systems
in the EU. A Comparative Study. (Working Paper. Public Health and Consumer Protections
Series. SACO 101). Ed.: European Parliament. DG for Research. Contact: European
Parliament. L- 2929 Luxembourg. Ph.: +352.430023957. Telecopie: +352.430027720. e-mail: gchambers@europarl.eu.int
* Karvonen, Juha: Movement of Health-Care Personnel in
some European Union Member States and Factors Affecting on it. Ed.: Ministry of Social
Affairs and Health, Finland. Helsinki: National Board of Medicolegal Affairs of Finland.
* European Commission. DG V: Employment Policies in the EU and in the
Member States. Joint Report 1998. Luxembourg: Office of Official Publications of the
European Communities, 1999
* Wienand, Manfred: Sozialsystem und soziale Arbeit in der Bundesrepublik
Deutschland./Social System and Social Work in the Federal Republic of Germany. Système et
Travail Social en République Fédérale d’Allemagne. Hrsg.: Deutscher Verein für
oeffentliche und private Fuersorge. Am Stockborn 1 – 3. FRG – 60439
Frankfurt/M.. Ph.: +49.(0)69.95807210. Telecopie: +49.(0)69.95807163 (Actuality: three
different booklets, one in each language. Even if not strictly comparative the document
provides a systematic overview, which is useful to give information at hand for
comparative studies.)
Platform of European Social NGOs
The Platform published a position paper on the Social Action
Programme 1998 – 2000. In this paper the alliance of various European social
Networks
* Demands a societal and social impact assessment of the different
Community Policies on Social cohesion in order to correct and adjust them
* Asks for a global social impact assessment in relation to the
actions, intiative and programmes of other parts of the EU institutions, not directly
involved in social policy
* In particular, demands that a careful study of the social impact of
EMU, especially on social protectionm, be carried out and the findings published.
Furthermore the platform
* Stresses that solidarity must remain the keystone of our social
protection systems.
ESOSC contributed in the preparation to this debate and a
respective submission can be found on the ESOSC homepage (http://homepages.iol.ie/~herrmann)
Another important document was published by the Platform under
the title Le travail. La protection sociale. La participation & la citoyenneté.
L’approche des ONG. This document assembles the Contributions of the Platform on
the recent European Commission’s Social Policy Forum. The documents gives valuable
stimulation on the respective issues and shows, not least, the contradictions within the
platform.
For example one contribution states: La mise en place d’un
dialogue sociale véritable sur l’avenir de la protection sociale doit impliquyer
tous les acteurs concernés: l’Etat, les partenaires sociaux et la société civile.
(19) On the other hand, in another contribution the necessity for a civil dialogue aside
the social dialogue is emphasised (cf. 31). Nevertheless, speaking of contradictions is
meant absolutely not as reproach: Social policy in the European Union and the role of the
NGOs are, indeed, a matter for further debate and it would be overbearing if anybody comes
along with a ready made concept.
What is clear and concurring is, however, the call for o coherence of
political, social and economic rights: En Europe démocratie et cohésion sociale sont
intimement liées: à l’égalité politique répond le souci de l’égalité et
de la justice sociale.
Le modèle social européene repose sur la reconnaissance des droits
fondamentaux des citoyens, ces droits étant mis en œvre sous le contrôle des
États, garants de l’intérêt général. (17)
Contact: Platform of social NGOs. 17, rue de Lonres. B – 1050
Brussels. Ph.: +32.2.5113714. Telecopie + 32.2.5111909. e-mail: platform@euronet.be. URL: http://www.platform-ngos.org
Fundamental Rights
Of course, fundamental social is in general a highly sensible issue.
However, this is especially a problem for the European Union. On the one hand, we find for
many times the claim of a common history, common traditions and a general harmony in
regard of the accepted values in the member states. This is even said to be a source for
an already existing European identity and citizenship. Nevertheless, it is obvious
difficult to agree on fundamental rights as part of the primary EU-law and the actual
policies. For many times this issue had been discussed either in connection with concrete
issues (e.g. free movement) or in general terms and various documents (e.g. Comité de
Sages).
A newly published document takes up the issue again: ‘The quest
for explicit recognition of fundamental rights is … still of immediate importance. In
fact, the very adoption of the Amsterdam Treaty has made the need even more apparent. The
enlargement of the European Unions tasks demonstrates that recognition of fundamental
rights is not a long-term policy but a short-term necessity.’ (9) An Expert group
consisting of lawyers has compiled the report.
Affirming fundamental rights in the European Union. Report of the
Expert Group on Fundamental Rights. Ed.: European Commission. DG V. Luxembourg: Office for
official publications of the European Communities, 1999. http://europa.eu.int/comm/dg05/fundamri/index_en.htm
Euronet – The European Children’s Network informs
The children’s network has now an own website. All its publications, Newsletters
and leaflets are available in English, and French at http://europeanchildrensnetwork.gla.ac.uk
Europe against exclusion: Housing for all
FEANTSA, the European Network working on housing issues and engaged for
the improvement especially of the life situation of homeless people published a booklet
which provides a set of practical policy proposals to promote social inclusion and ensure
access to decent housing for all citizens and residents of the European Union.
Contact: FEANTSA. 1, rue Defacqz. B-1000 Brussels. Ph: +32.2.5386669. Telecopie:
+32.2.5394174. e-mail: feantsa@compuserve.com
URL: http://www.feantsa.org or Shelter. 88, Old
Street. London. EC1V 9HU. Ph.: +44.171.5052000. Telecopie: +44.1715052167. URL http://www.shelter.org.uk
Women’s Issues – local and supranational
The discrimination against women is not least a matter of political
decision making. Three documents point at the problematic situation and some positive
approaches alike:
* European Womenn’s NetworksDirectory of Networks on Women and
Decision-Making. Nordic Womnen’s Network. Rue du Méridien 10. B – 1210
Brussels. Belgium. Ph.: +32.2.2293805. Telecopie3: +32.2.2293836. e-mail: nwn@skynet.be
* Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR):
Men and Women in European Municipalieites. Seminars co-financed by DG V of the European
Commission within the Framework of the 4th mid-term action programme of equal
opportunities. CEMR. 14 Rue de Castiglione. F-75001 Paris. Ph. +33.1.44505959. Telecopie:
+33.1.44505960. e-mail: cemr@ccre.org
* Victoria García Muñoz assisted by Natacha Bonneau
(Eds.): Women’s Rights and the Treaty of Amsterdam. Ed.: European Parliament. DG for
Research. Women’s Rights Series. FEMM 104
End of war? Or: The ordinary battle of a supermarket. – A plot of
the modern world
Seemingly Europe is back on the track of peace. But unfortunately this
is only half of the truth. Weapons might be silent in the south-east. Nevertheless another
battle is faught in the North, a war, which seems to be just ordinary daily life.
No, this contribution is not concerned with the Irish conflict in the
north. At least not much. The conflict in the North of this island nation has insofar some
meaning as an English supermarket chain has some difficulties to settle here. It is not
long ago that a brand leader came here, took over outlets from another chain etc. –
business as usual, despite the fact that the promotion strategy of the English company is
particularly ‘Irish’. For example we find inscriptions for the goods in Irish,
it is said that especially Irish products are sold and thus Irish enterprises are
supported, that … Anyway, this is business and not war.
The battle takes place at another front, at the front we might call the
shape of information society and the future of living together therein.
There are three pillars, and this might be somewhat symbolic. We all
know that three is the number of the holy Trinity. And in the case we looking at it might
be the number concerned with a new trinity, of course holy in the eyes of modern business.
1. Computer for schools: One motto of the supermarket store
reads ‘Every little helps’ and this is true enough. Thus, part of the promotion
strategy is to help with a little. Over a special period of the year the customers are
invited to collect points. At the end of the period everybody can pass these points on to
his local school or any school he wants to support. And the school is entitled to buy
Computers and respective peripherals etc. with these points. Every little helps, indeed.
And it is really a great thing to support by this means the education. If we like it or
not: We are living in the era of Computers and the kids really benefit from this action.
2. Virtual shopping is a second pillar of this business war and
it would be foolish to oppose this means. Even if there are some problems (for example
especially for senior citizens, which enter a completely new world; for SMEs it will be
even harder to compete) the idea is basically or generally not to be turned down. It will
soon be possible to shop via Internet. There is no need to go to the shop, there is no
heavy carrying of goods – just ‘walk through the store, click at what you need
or want and it will be delivered in due time. (Of course, there is no chat with other
customers and you will have no opportunity to speak to John or Tracy from the till –
but that is another question) Part of this virtual shopping strategy is that the
management of the superstore chain "announced last week that it is launching a
subscription free internet access scheme for all 10 million Clubcard holders in Britain
and if the demand is high in Ireland the package may be introduced here.’ (Southside/Northside
News. February 10th, 1999: 11) – Indeed, every little helps and thus
we will be happy if we can enjoy free access to the net of all nets.
No, up to here there is really now reason to speak of a war or a battle.
3. Glorification of war, however, changes the image. And
shopping in the Cork outlet at Paul’s Street I recently came across that in this
mainly food store CD-ROM’s are sold as well. ‘Every little helps’ –
why not. The shop gets some money extra by selling additional products and the customer
can avoid looking in another shop what he is looking for. Anyway, it is a supermarket I am
writing about. A closer look showed that not only the usual rubbish is on offer: Get the
right dog. Choose the right cat. And: Learn to speak French, Spanish etc. – If you
ever looked at one of these pieces you know why I said usual rubbish even you sometimes
may be lucky and find something useful. Besides this I found CD ROM’s on offer which
cannot be characterised other then glorifying war. What makes it even worse: this stuff
presents itself as enlightening in regard of historical and social knowledge: World War I
and II and any Star War as WW III. It is sad and unworthy. The shop management cannot be
blamed for its effort to make some coins additional cash. However, it can be blamed to
make it either without knowing what is being sold or, even worse, well aware of the stuff
in the shelves. My complain had been unanswered in two ways: I took some of the CD-ROMs
out of the shelve, brought them to the information desk and asked to remove the stuff from
the shelve. The girl there agreed, said that we have violence enough, indeed. She promised
me to pass the matter on to the responsible manager. Even if I left my telephone number
with her I never heard from it again. This happened for two more times. Finally I asked
the respective manager and she told me that they passed my query on to the management in
Dublin. And they said that the CD ROM’s would not be taken off the shelves – it
would not be possible to serve all customers.
What wonder? However, it is shameful that a large shop sells such
stuff, which glorifies war and violence just as addition to the core of the goods. Nobody
would miss a single piece if it wouldn’t be on the shelves. They probably would even
mention it. Of course, everybody would miss in a food market superstore butter, milk, fish
and veg. But who would miss a CD ROM which plays down war?
What makes all this worse and, in fact, repulsive, irresponsible and
even near to societal crime is the following: Seen together with the other two element,
namely the promotion Computer for Schools and Virtual Shopping it is indeed a
battle to conquer the heads of the people. And they know too well that an early start is
half of the job. – Every little helps, indeed.
Of course, any resemblance to reality is purely coincidental. What does
it matter that some mere formalities are the same as in regard of the multinational TESCO.
Those who jump to conclusions do this on their own risk.
COMBATING DRUG ABUSE: Known problems and new challenges
A proposal for an EU action plan to combat drugs (2000-2004).
Each year some 600 tonnes of cannabis, used to produce marijuana and
hashish, are seized in the European Union (EU). Meanwhile, the success of EXTASY in
discotheques shows no signs of flagging. Numerous adolescents are not only consumers of
illegal drugs but also pushers. Drugs, petty crime and illness seem to go hand in hand.
With the Treaty of Amsterdam (the EU's new constitution, as it were) the EU now has
additional means at its disposal to combat this scourge.
The action plan for the years 2000 to 2004, which the European
Commission proposed at the end of May, should be adopted by the end of the year. It would
take over from the plan launched in 1995, which comes to an end in December. Like the
earlier action plan, the new one would seek to reduce both demand and supply in a balanced
manner; collect and disseminate reliable and comparable information on the drugs situation
in the EU, and cooperate with the rest of the world in combating drug production and
trafficking. The plan also seeks to ensure that the fight against drugs remains a major EU
priority, and is adequately funded.
A European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) has
already been set up. Based in Lisbon, it collects and studies all available information on
drug use in the 15-nation EU, in order to provide the comparable data needed to follow the
situation. The drugs unit of Europol, the European police office based in the Hague, is a
valuable source of information.
Cannabis is the illegal drug which is the most widely consumed in the
EU. However, one of the major new challenges facing the EU is the steady increase in the
use of synthetic drugs, such as amphetamines - in second place in the EU - and EXTASY, a
newcomer which is finding a ready market in the member states. Another sturbing
development is the use of drugs in sports.
It should be pointed out that the production of illegal drugs is not
confined to poor and distant countries.
Many synthetic drugs are produced in Europe, as is cannabis. Other
problems which have assumed greater importance in recent times include the mixing of drugs
and of drugs and alcohol, drug-related juvenile delinquincy and social exclusion.
The Treaty of Amsterdam, in force since May 1, allows the EU to
disseminate information and take preventive measures in order to reduce drug-related
health problems. It also allows the EU to adopt a system of incentives, and requires
member states to join forces in combating drug trafficking, through closer cooperation
between their police forces, customs officials and courts, as well as through the
approximation of their national criminal legislation.
The action plan will take advantage of these possibilities in order to
reduce the quantity of illegal drugs available in the EU. At the same time it will
continue to fight against not only the diversion of chemical products to the manufacture
of synthetic drugs but also money laundering and criminal organizations in general. The
plan would also prevent the use of the Internet by criminals, to produce and market their
goods.
The action plan would have two ambitious goals as regards prevention.
It would seek to reduce by 20% the proportion of young people under 18 years who take
drugs, and to cut by 50% the number of deaths linked to drugs. The sharing of experiences
between member states, information campaigns, the creation of European networks of
healthcare professionals, training and research would help reach these goals, as they
would complement measures taken at the local, regional and national levels.
At the international level, the projected action plan calls on the EU
to strengthen its cooperation with drug producing countries, particularly Turkey and
Morocco as well as countries in Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean.
© Eurofocus. News Items of General Interests, Edited by the European Commission. Weekly No. 20/99. 7 - 14 June 1999
EQUALITY OF SEXES: You must compare like with like
The training a person has received can make a difference here,
according to the European Court of Justice.
Equal pay for equal work is a principle which the European Union (EU)
has insisted be implemented in numerous cases. But the fact remains that EU rules do not
prevent two persons, or two groups of people, who apparently are doing the same work but
have been trained differently, from being treated differently. This is something which
psychologists employed as psychotherapists by the regional health authorities in the
Austrian capital, Vienna, learned to their cost, through a recent ruling of the European
Court of Justice.
The psychotherapists in question, nearly all of them women, had studied
psychology. They complained that they were earning much less than their colleagues, nearly
all of them male, who had studied medicine. The latter, who were classed with the doctors
and dentists employed by the health authorities, were paid some 50% more on average than
the psychotherapists who had trained as psychologists, as they were classed with nurses
and administrative staff.
The works council representing the Vienna regional health authorities'
employees asked the labour court to put these psychotherapists in the same category as
their colleagues who had trained as doctors. The court rejected the demand. The works
council turned to the Court of Appeal in Vienna, which turned to the European Court of
Justice in Luxembourg.
The European Court noted that the two categories of psychotherapists
made use of knowledge and abilities acquired in very different disciplines. In addition,
the psychotherapists who had studied medicine could engage in activities not open to those
trained as psychologists, while the reverse was not true. The Court concluded that the two
groups were not comparable, so that the psychologists were not being unfairly
discriminated against.
© Eurofocus. News Items of General Interests, Edited by the European Commission. Weekly No. 19/99. 31 May - 7 June 1999
CIVIL LAW: Towards more "European" and less painful divorce
proceedings
A proposal to simplify procedures and limit disputes.
John Brown is English and works in Brussels. His French wife recently
left him, to live in Paris with their two children, Martin, who is nine, and Anne, who is
seven. The couple wants to divorce, but cannot agree on the custody of their two children,
as John would like to keep his son with him. But which court will rule on the matter - and
in which country? And how to be sure that the court's decision is implemented, even while
avoiding fresh disputes and a generally tense climate for years to come?
It was in order to be able to answer such questions more easily that
the European Commission recently proposed to the European Union (EU) Council of Ministers
both a regulation and a directive for early adoption.
This is not the first time that the EU has tackled such problems, which
are a source of difficulty for a growing number of Europeans, more and more of whom are
taking advantage of the possibility of living and working in another EU country. Last year
the 15 EU member states signed a convention aimed at simplifying, as well as reducing the
cost, of the procedures to be followed in matters of divorce, judicial separation,
annulment and the custody of children.
This convention has not come into force, as member states have failed
to transpose it into national law. However, the recent Amsterdam Treaty which has been in
force since May 1 gives the EU the power to adopt legislation designed to facilitate
cooperation between the judicial authorities of the various member states in civil cases,
such as divorce and in matters arising from them.
The new proposals take advantage of this possibility in order to
resolve more effectively and quickly the problems of EU citizens - and their children -
who find themselves facing a cross-border divorce. The regulation embodies the contents of
the 1998 convention, even while adapting them to the relevant provisions of the Amsterdam
Treaty. Once it has been adopted by the EU Council of Ministers, it will come into force
directly and at once in all 15 member states.
The regulation, like the convention, would determine which court, or
courts, have competence in the matter. In practice, in cases of divorce, separation and
annulment it would be a court in the country of residence of the couple, or of one of
them. If both husband and wife have the same nationality, it would be a court in the
country of which they are nationals.
Decisions regarding the custody of the children, and the rights of
parents who are divorced or separated, would be made by a court in the country in which
the divorce or separation was pronounced, even if the children were living in another
country, although the decision would then be in the interest of the children, and the
couple would have to be in agreement. The proposal also covers the risk of the children
being taken by one of the parents to another EU country. In such cases competence would
remain with the court of the country in which the children would have been legally
resident but for their having been taken from it.
The draft regulation provides for the automatic recognition and
implementation in all EU member states of a judgement given in one of them. In other
words, it lays down the principle of the recognition of a decision in another country,
without the need for further legal proceedings. This would represent a considerable saving
in time and money, in order to change civil status, for example. In a very few specific
cases judges in one EU country could refuse to recognize a decision of their colleagues in
another EU country.
In the field of child custody, a European procedure would replace the
various national procedures when it comes to enforcing in one member state a judgement
given in another. The proposal also stipulates that an individual who received legal aid
in the country in which judgement had been given, should have the same opportunity in the
country in which its enforcement was being sought. Here, too, the result would be lower
costs.
The directive which the European Commission has proposed to the EU
Council would facilitate the transmission of documents relating to court decisions and
other legal acts of interest to the wider public. It would prevent delays and mix ups
through improvements to the channels of communication between the judicial and
administrative services of the various EU countries. The proposal would also apply to
notarial deeds.
© Eurofocus. News Items of
General Interests, Edited by the European Commission. Weekly No. 19/99. 31 May - 7
June 1999
PENSIONS: Towards a single market for supplementary pensions
Suggestions for eliminating administrative and fiscal borders.
Take the case of a young European who leaves his country of origin
after having worked eight months in a company making widgets. He contributed to a
supplementary pension scheme, but as he left before the minimum period of a year, he lost
his right to a pension, and with it all his contributions.
Now take the case of a somewhat older European who finds employment in
another EU country. For 10 years he contributed to a supplementary pension scheme with a
life assurance company in his country of origin. He can continue with his payments, but
will no longer be entitled to deduct them from his tax return.
This are the kinds of problems which the European Commission looks at
in a recent document, and comes up with solutions. In a Europe with an ageing population,
social security pension schemes are coming under growing pressure. Meanwhile supplementary
pension schemes are growing in importance, whether they are linked to employment or a
professional occupation or consist of contracts subscribed by individuals with life
assurance companies. In some European Union countries they already account for half the
retirement benefit payments, and everywhere they handle vast sums of money.
In the EU as a whole pension funds hold the equivalent of 23% of the
gross domestic product (GDP), as against the 35% of GDP held by insurance companies. They
are important, therefore, from the viewpoint not only of future pensioners but also the
economy as a whole.
However, despite the European single market and the euro, and despite
the adoption last year of a specific directive on the subject, supplementary pension
schemes and funds remain subject to national laws, which prevent them from acquiring a
European dimension.
The difficulties mentioned above are one consequence of this;
additional costs for those insured are another. The fact that, in their investment
policies, pension funds are largely confined within their national boundaries, and in some
countries to certain specific kinds of investments, reduces their performance and raises
the level of contributions.
In its paper the European Commission sets out a European framework for
supplementary pensions, which would involve action in three directions. To begin with, a
directive would give occupational pension schemes a "European passport", as it
were, similar to that which exists for banks and insurance companies. This particular law
would guarantee the rights of those affiliated to these schemes, even while allowing the
pension funds in question to manage the sums which are entrusted to them as effectively as
possible, by taking advantage of the single market.
The second line of action would require consultations involving the
authorities, employers' organizations, trade unions and the supplementary pension funds,
in order to ensure that the conditions for the acquisition and transfer of the rights of
workers are no longer an obstacle to their settling in another EU country. Finally, it
would be necessary to gradually eliminate the discriminatory way in which national tax
systems treat contributions to pension funds and assurance companies located in another EU
country. A start could be made with occupational schemes.
© Eurofocus. News Items of General Interests, Edited by the European Commission. Weekly No. 19/99. 31 May - 7 June 1999
© unless explicitly stated otherwise: Peter Herrmann, ESOSC
© soweit nicht einzelne Beiträge explizit andere Nachweise enthalten: Peter Herrmann,
ESOSC
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