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NEWS FROM EAPN
EU Summit: A Social Europe - but not quite yet! EAPN has expressed mixed feelings about the agreement reached on 23 June by the European Council on the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) mandate which will provide the basis and framework for the drawing up of the new 'Reform Treaty'.
While welcoming the balancing between social and free market objectives and other positive elements concerning Social Europe, EAPN calls on the EU political leaders to secure social policy's rightful place at the top of the EU agenda in the upcoming IGC negotiations.
Other positive elements to mention are the statement that the Charter of Fundamental Rights will be legally binding (though concern is raised by the opt out option), the etablishment of a new legal basis for public services, the addition of a protocol on Services of General Interests, as well as the retention of the new horizontal social clause.
The devil is always in the details and EAPN will monitor carefully the work of the upcoming IGC.
SEE
- EAPN's press release
- The European Council's conclusions (21-22 June 2007)
Network News: special issue on EU labour markets
The Lisbon Agenda of 2000 set out the economic goal of the EU as full employment based on economic growth, competitiveness, higher quality jobs and greater social cohesion. It has been obvious for some years that these goals are not being reached. Unemployment remains high and economic strategies focused on competitiveness have failed to impact on social exclusion.
In this policy impasse, Flexicurity is now being promoted as a solution which neatly combines a radical liberalisation of the labour market with the maintenance of the European Social Model. And yet, a concern arises: Will the process resume to the old liberalisation agenda dressed up in social model clothing?
The new issue of Network News, the EAPN newsletter, keeps a sharp watch on the debate. It also presents the European Social dialogue, an interview with the General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation, a case study on the UK's 'flexible' approach to the labour market, another one on Hungarian flexicurity, as well as news from the Portuguese EAPN Network.
EAPN Members meet in Malta for a basic training
13 people working for NGOs or National Networks met from 14 to 16 June in Malta to attend EAPN's annual basic training which was kindly co-organised by the Maltese EAPN Network.
On the menu: Exchange of experiences between national networks, social realities at the EU level, Overview of the EU institutions, getting to know more about EAPN and its lobby work on social policies, the role of National networks in fighting poverty and social exclusion and study visits of local NGO projects.
The EAPN team would like to thank all the participants for their active participation and their enthusiasm!
EAPN Secretariat moves offices Please note that EAPN has moved!
Its new contacts are: Square de Meeûs 18, 1050 Brussels (near Trône Metro station) Tel: + 32 2 226 58 50 Fax: +32 2 226 58 69
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