Published Thursday, March 27, 2008 at 16:19
by
Editor
(817 views and 1 comments)
Euro Coop
is the European community of consumer cooperatives and one of
many NGOs who is giving their ideas for the PES manifesto. In the
video below Secretary General Rodrigo Gouveia gives the
highlights of Euro Coop's contribution to the PES manifesto:
Published Thursday, March 27, 2008 at 12:35
by
ania_skrzypek 
(1019 views and 3 comments)
Thinking about the
next post of the blog – I was actually trying to remind myself what
is that people enjoy reading. Coming from the political school of
manifesto: ‘others want to see true intentions that inspired you at
the first place, to be also inspired’, I decided to use one of my
very peculiar interests while traveling;… women magazines. From
cover to cover – scanning all the pictures, trying to get empathy
for the authors of ‘letters to editor’, looking at some clothes
that are not only strange but absolutely unaffordable for a regular
employee… But above all the most exciting and the most interesting
is what the knowledge these colorful pages give; the portrait of a
woman of today. The last time I did that reading I discovered
something absolutely disturbing; women of my own age (around 30)
are the group with the highest risk of the heart attacks. Even more
terrible, most of us had already some mini-version ones without
noticing that even!Tags: blogger of the week, childcare, equality, health, women, youth
Published Thursday, March 27, 2008 at 11:45
by
yoan.abiven
(718 views and 1 comments)
The strike decided
by the Romanian workers in the Dacia plants ishows how much we
need to consolidate a Social Europe. The wages and working
conditions are the new adjustment variables of the new
international division of labour, even within the Union's Member
States. Employment is awarded to those deserving workers who are
ready to work a lot and earn little. The workers in Dacia want a
substantial increase in their wages, arguing that there is a lack
of workforce in Romania, and that is now starting to hit the car
manufacturing industry.
I am very happy to witness this social movement in Romanie. In
the end, this is a good sign of the successful integration of
this country in the Western economic area and the beginning of
its bridging its social and economic gap with the rest of Europe.
Under these conditions, an economic development founded on better
social conditions is more conceivable. Changes are underway in
the Romanian production system and for the better: the lack of
skills on which the present system is based seems to be on the
verge of disappearing. The EU should accompany these
transformations with strong social and modern policies in order
to anticipate the needs and also pave the way for social dialogue
and the organisation of social partners so that they... » read more ...
Tags: social dialogue, wages, workers
Published Wednesday, March 26, 2008 at 16:33
by
Editor
(772 views and 0 comments)
Here is the last of
four reports from the manifesto debate in Denmark:
The manifesto theme 'New Social Europe' was one of the topics of
discussion when PES activists from Denmark, Sweden and Norway met
in Jørlunde, Denmark on March 1st and 2nd 2008. Here are the
conclusions from this dedicated discussion group:
Ole Christensen, MEP, introduced the workshop by speaking about
labour market policy in a new social Europe. One of the main
focuses was the role of Court of Justice in connection to the
Vaxholm case regarding the labour market models in the Nordic
countries.
The case was seen in connection to the increased mobility, out
posting of labour and the terms offered the employees as well as
the competition between foreign and domestic labour in relation
to collective bargaining.
The focus was also on the Danish labour market model and
flexicurity, the role of the parties within the labour market,
the social dialogue, rights and duties.
These great social democratic challenges were highlighted during
the discussion:... »
read more ...
Tags: childcare, employment, equality, social dialogue, wages, welfare
Published Wednesday, March 26, 2008 at 15:04
by
ania_skrzypek
(951 views and 3 comments)
Not a long time ago,
by November 2007, ECOSY celebrated its 15 years anniversary. For that
occasion we asked our members why they joined the movement. Among
many answers the leading one was undoubtedly: because I wanted to
make a difference, because I wanted to change… Naïve? I would not
say so – I’d rather claim ‘refreshing to remember’, inspiring!
Now “New” usually stands for something that is different from
everything we know, that can give a potential hope – which is why
the "New Social Europe" seem to be the hope to
re-boost the discussion on what is the absolutely unique project
of Socialists and Social Democrats for Europe.
We know that the world has changed – we read that in every paper,
together with acknowledgements of all the threats that not only
hide in every corner, but even enter our houses; like
globalization that we voluntarily participate in each day when
switching the TV on. Everything is unstable, insecure,
questionable – and Superman or Spiderman seem up to date enough
to save us.
I am convinced that instead of a bunch... » read more ...
Tags: blogger of the week, education, employment, wages, welfare, youth
Published Tuesday, March 25, 2008 at 16:30
by
ania_skrzypek
(984 views and 1 comments)
I write rarely about Poland – as a Secretary General of a
European Organization. But as I have also never written a blog
before I have decided to make an exception. Especially that the
issue below remains at the heart of the manifesto debate on
New
Social Europe and “how to reach a New Social Europe for
everyone and everywhere?"
There are few Easter traditions Polish cultivated up till today.
One of them is the tradition of hand-painted Eggs, and another of
“Wet Monday” when Polish are sprinkling water on one another. The
wetter you get, the more popular you are – says ancient
tradition. Both customs seem to have reached a new political
dimension; just before Easter Polish got their very own “Kinder
Surprise” hand-made by the Kaczynski Brothers colored in national
white and red, indicating the popularity to wash away in a
Niagara Falls of words like ‘never’, ‘scandal’,
‘forever’ the Lisbon Treaty.
Polish representatives, negotiating the Lisbon Treaty, made a lot of promises in the media. As a nation, educated in school by romantic literature, we like symbols underlined by a little drama. This is why it is in our political DNA to tear our clothes apart and claim that ‘we will die... » read more ...
Tags: blogger of the week, citizens, democracy, public services, youth
Published Tuesday, March 25, 2008 at 11:03
by
phoenix999
(1172 views and 12 comments)
Hello,
A few months ago I had to change my cell phone and I purchased a Nokia phone. After that, I learned that Nokia was leaving Germany with the money of the Germans, leaving Germany for Romania because salaries and wages there were, in euros, FOUR times lower. "What a social Europe !" I said to myself then. If I had known that piece of news earlier, I would have joined the Germans in the Nokia boycott. Anyway I signed the German petition FOR the boycott. But things are changing and Europe is not just a huge market place, not yet : the Romanian automobile workers have decided to go on strike because their wages were too LOW whereas the auto company was making a huge profit with their low standard cars. There, we have two choices left, yes WE, us, Europeans, have one alternative:
- Either we choose to follow the media and think : Let's keep these poor fellas underpaid, because there will be a big competition with Morocco or India or whatever, and there, they pay even lower salaries (when and where, in the World, does it end ?);
- Or, we decide to make a political DECISION : We agree on a decent minimum wage across the whole European Union and we, Europeans, TAX importations from the poor countries where they pay their salaried slaves literally nothing and exploit women and small children. This is our last chance if we want a social Europe and there, as an exception to... » read more ...
Tags: employment, equality, public services, social dialogue, wages, welfare, workers
Published Thursday, March 20, 2008 at 14:20
by
Poul_Nyrup_Rasmussen
(867 views and 1 comments)
I agree with
our PES activist when he writes that we need a
strong PES to counterweight global capitalism.
Last summer I presented, together with my colleague Ieke van den
Burg from the Socialist Group in the European Parliament,
a report on private equity and hedge funds.
In the last four years the financial market has grown 30 to 50
percent a year. Today it is no longer the real economy that
controls the financial market – it is the other way around! The
real economy is governed by nation states and the EU – but who
decides on the financial market? The answer is, unfortunately,
only a very few people behind closed doors. We in Europe made our
democratic political choice in 2000 – with the so-called Lisbon
goals – to safeguard the future of our welfare states with more
and better jobs and social cohesion. This democratic political
choice – made in the European Council – must be respected by all
– including the big guys dominating the financial markets.
We need to make the market behave, the same way we have...
» read more ...
Tags: employment, investment, president, welfare
Published Wednesday, March 19, 2008 at 11:40
by
Duncan Anderson
(526 views and 2 comments)
With the freedom to trade across borders and the freedom of movement you need the related mechanisms of transportation. The EU/European Parliament need to look at European transportation from a strategic level and liaise with national governments, hopefully to achieve a European Integrated Transport System.
At present we have freight travelling by lorry from Ireland, on a ferry to the UK, across the M62 to the Humber, out of the Humber ports and across mainland Europe. I'm not saying this is the worst way, but do we know that it is the best. What about a tunnel connecting Ireland to the UK and connecting into a high-speed, European wide train system? Should there be a tunnel under the North Sea/German Ocean?
This would need to be reviewed from a strategic position and I believe that the EU is in the best position to undertake this sort of continual review.
As more people travel freely across Europe we need to make sure that their is a unified safety system. The first issue that must be addressed is having a single rear fog light on vehicles. Whilst this maybe acceptable within the country where the vehicle was bought, as soon as that vehicle goes to country where you drive on the other side of the road there becomes a danger as the single light is invariably on the wrong side.
Whilst looking at this matter the EU should look at compulsory rear mud flaps, to keep spray down, so... » read more ...
Tags: transport
Published Friday, March 14, 2008 at 09:24
by
PES Group - CoR
(1075 views and 1 comments)
Within the
framework of the consultation for the elaboration of a PES
Manifesto for the 2009 European elections, the PES Group is
organising a seminar to encourage a broad exchange of views on
the major challenges for the PES political family for shaping a
genuine Social Europe. It will take place at the
Headquarters of the Committee of the Regions
(Room 62, Jacques Delors Building, Rue Belliard 101, 1040
Brussels), on 8 April 2008 (09h30-13h00).
The seminar will be opened by the President of the PES Group, Mercedes BRESSO, and by Michel DELEBARRE, 1st Vice-President of the Committee of the Regions.
Anna DIAMANTOPOULOU , Member of the Greek Parliament and former Member of the European Commission in charge of Employment and Social Affairs, will address the keynote speech on the Perspectives for a post-2010 EU global strategy.
The seminar will focus on five key themes: the social dimension of the Lisbon strategy, the demographic challenge, the response to restructuring, the role of services of general interest and the challenge of social inclusion (» read more ...
Tags: public services, social dialogue, workers
Published Thursday, March 13, 2008 at 16:08
by
heisbo
(1001 views and 5 comments)
On the 21st century
education has become an inevitable tool for a personal and national
success. European Union aims to be the most competitive
knowledge-based economy in the world. That requires investing in
education and training as well as in research and development.
Investing in education is investing in the future, both in personal
and in macro level.Tags: blogger of the week, education, public services, youth
Published Tuesday, March 11, 2008 at 10:00
by
carl0s
(1001 views and 3 comments)
In the Labour Party
we have always thought of full employment as a desirable goal. This
reflects the influence of those such as Keynes and Galbraith on our
thinking (despite Keynes being a Liberal). It also reflects the
localized depressions of the 1930s, 1980s and 1990s where classical
and neo-classical economics failed so many people. Simple fact:
markets are prone to failure. We should not let any prior
commitments prevent us from offering clear, humane alternatives
should this failure happen again. Around Europe, most people will
look to socialist parties to help them.Tags: elderly, employment, welfare
Published Monday, March 10, 2008 at 14:56
by
heisbo
(1110 views and 5 comments)
Last week Finnish
Minister of Labour introduced a motion that parental leave should
be divided in three: one part for mother, one part for father and
one part to share however the family wants to. In Iceland they
have already implemented this model. I have been demanding it to
be implemented in Finland as well and therefore I've been forced
to answer following questions. Aren't parents capable to decide
what's best for their child and family? Is it really necessary
that society gets involved in family life by telling parents how
to share the parenthood? I think it is. Motherhood is
unfortunately one of the main reasons for inequality on the
labour market. That's why the change begins inside the family. If
we are demanding equal pay, permanent contracts and equal
pension, we need to demand shared parenthood.
Of course the Icelandic model is not the only way to reach the goal. In Sweden it has been introduced a model where family gets tax relieves if they decide to share the parental leave in half. One way is to share costs of parenthood between all employers. The question is not only about equality in the labour market, but also in families. Father should have an equal right to parenthood as mother has. I think it's a win-win situation if fathers would also... » read more ...
Tags: blogger of the week, equality, women
Published Monday, March 10, 2008 at 09:41
by
joelld
(702 views and 0 comments)
From Tuesday, March
4th to Thursday, March 6th, the NGOs federation ILGA-Europe has
organized a conference on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender
(LGBT) families in Europe. The conference took place in Ljubljana,
Slovenia, in order to deliver a message on the EU agenda during the
Slovenia’s Presidency of the EU. ILGA-Europe and its national
members pointed out the juridical and social insecurity which is
still a very concrete threat for millions of European families and
children.Tags: discrimination, diversity, equality, fundamental rights, gay, LGBT
Published Friday, March 7, 2008 at 09:30
by
Zita_Gurmai
(1217 views and 4 comments)
Why is it that women in Europe are 52% of population & 59% of
university graduates but only 33% of managers, and 23% of
national Members of Parliament and earn 15% less than men? Women
of Europe – we’re all in it together. We should have the same
rights as men. Women should also enjoy the same rights in all EU
countries. I say “the same rights, the same fights”.
International Women’s Day – it’s as important as it has ever
been. It’s a good day to reflect on how we can make progress for
women in Europe through the PES manifesto for the 2009 European
elections.
There have been a lot of posts and good debate so far on
Yourspace relevant to women – below are just a few of my
favorites
How do... » read more ...
Tags: equality, fundamental rights, women
loading...