Employment Policy in the EU

Latest news on employment policy in the European Union.

Roma and Travellers - European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights — 17 March 2011, 22:44 CET

Some 10-12 million Roma and Travellers are currently living in the European Union. Almost all of the Roma and Travellers living in the European Union are EU citizens and have the same rights as any other EU citizen. The Roma make up the largest ethnic minority in the EU. Minorities have a specific mention in the Treaty of Lisbon and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. Evidence has shown that they are more likely to face discrimination and social exclusion than majority populations. Some of the key findings of the Fundamental Rights Agency's research on the situation of Roma and Travellers in the EU are listed here.

European Labour Law Network — 22 February 2011, 00:47 CET

The European Labour Law Network represents the European network of legal experts in the field of labour law, dealing with both individual and collective rights/aspects (since early 2008) that assists the Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities of the European Commission. The Network's website presents the latest developments in European labour law. Given that the Network consists of leading labour law experts from all Member States, they are able to provide accurate information on both national and European labour law developments.

Public consultation on the Professional Qualifications Directive and a European Professional Card - guide — 16 February 2011, 14:38 CET

The European Commission on 7 January launched a public consultation on the Professional Qualifications Directive (Directive 2005/36/EC). The consultation is an opportunity for stakeholders to highlight areas of the Directive they feel could be simplified and made more user-friendly. It also seeks views on how to better integrate professionals working in the Single Market, and raises the option of a European Professional Card. This Directive is key to enabling professionals to take full advantage of the potential of the Single Market in finding a job or extending their business in another Member State. Updating this Directive is one of the actions set out in the Single Market Act adopted in October 2010 and follows Commission reports on how the Directive works in practice. The results of the Consultation will feed into an evaluation report and a Green Paper due this autumn. The Commission will come forward with a proposal for modernising the Directive in 2012. Stakeholders are invited to respond until 15 March 2011, and a public hearing is scheduled for 21 February 2011.

EC program to deepen the Single Market for services - guide — 27 January 2011, 17:09 CET

While services currently represent two-thirds of the EU's GDP and employment, they only make up for around one-fifth of total intra-EU trade. Today, only about 8 per cent of European SMEs do business in other Member States. This lack of dynamism not only hampers choice for consumers, but also prevents small and innovative businesses to grow, develop their activities and become more competitive. To unlock this potential of the Single Market for services by 2012, the European Commission has today adopted a set of targeted actions to tackle remaining problems. The Services Directive aims precisely at removing unnecessary and burdensome obstacles to trade in services in the Single Market. One year after the implementation deadline, the Commission and the Member States have completed an assessment of how the Directive has been implemented on the ground. The results of this so-called "mutual evaluation" exercise conclude that, while much has been achieved so far, the Single Market for services is not yet delivering its full potential.

European Restructuring Monitor quarterly (ERM quarterly), from Eurofound — 28 January 2011, 00:52 CET

The European Restructuring Monitor quarterly (ERM quarterly) offers an overview of the main findings and an interpretation of the data collected over the past three months for the European Restructuring Monitor (ERM). It will provide statistics comparing restructuring activities across the 27 EU Member States and Norway, identifying the countries and sectors most affected. Each issue of the ERM quarterly will highlight developments in a specific country or sector, pointing to key facts behind the statistical data. In addition, background information on two major, recent restructuring cases will be presented.

Employment in Europe 2010 report — 25 November 2010, 23:44 CET

The Employment in Europe report has become one of the main tools of the European Commission in supporting Member States in the analysis, formulation and implementation of their employment policies. As in previous years, the Employment in Europe report 2010 addresses topics that are high on the European Union's employment policy agenda. It gives a comprehensive overview of the employment situation in the EU and of the labour market measures taken by the Member States. This year it analyses the effects of market segmentation between "temporary" and "permanent" contract holders (insiders and outsiders), particularly in relation to young people.

Agenda for new skills and jobs - guide — 24 November 2010, 12:27 CET

The European Commission has launched a flagship initiative 'An Agenda for new skills and jobs'. This sets out 13 key actions aimed at reforming labour markets, upgrading skills and matching them with market demand to boost employability and make it easier to move jobs, to improve working conditions and job quality, and to create jobs.

European Disability Strategy 2010-2020 - guide — 15 November 2010, 16:31 CET

Most people take it for granted that they can hop on a bus to go shopping, surf the Internet or enjoy a television series. But for the 80 million Europeans with a disability, there may be major obstacles that put these activities out of reach. The European Commission today adopted a new strategy to break down these barriers. The plan outlines how the EU and national governments can empower people with disabilities so they can enjoy their rights. Specific measures over the next decade range from the mutual recognition of national disability cards, the promotion of standardisation to a more targeted use of public procurement and state aid rules. These measures will have substantial societal benefits, but should also produce a knock-on effect on Europe's economy. They could for example enhance the EU market for assisted devices and services, which already today has an estimated annual value of over €30 billion. The Commission will also consider whether to propose a "European Accessibility Act" by 2012 to further develop the Single Market for accessible products and services.

Depriving a worker over 63 from a severance allowance is age discrimination: Court — 19 October 2010, 13:41 CET

The European Court of Justice has ruled that denying an individual his or her severance based on the fact that the individual is eligible for state pension is discriminatory due to its non conformity to the EU directive on equality.

EU employment rights and work organisation - summaries of EU legislation — 14 October 2010, 18:12 CET

The European Union has minimum requirements in the field of labour rights and work organisation. These requirements concern collective redundancies, insolvency and the transfer of undertakings, the consultation and information of workers, working hours, equal treatment and pay, and posted workers. They have been supplemented by framework agreements between the European social partners. This has led to the introduction throughout the EU of the right to parental leave and leave for family reasons, and has facilitated part-time work and limited the use of successive fixed-term contracts. Lastly, the concept of corporate social responsibility encourages businesses to adopt good practices in the social field on a voluntary basis. The European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions makes recommendations to the political decision-makers.

Safety of Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration and Production - Communication — 13 October 2010, 15:49 CET

The European Commission for the very first time envisages comprehensive EU legislation on oil platforms aimed at ensuring the highest safety standards in the world. In a Communication on the safety of oil and gas activities, the Commission contemplates new EU standards, including criteria for granting drilling permits, controls of the rigs and safety control mechanisms.

Costs and benefits of maternity and paternity leave - guide — 06 October 2010, 16:27 CET

Differing views about the costs and benefits of introducing 18 or 20 weeks of fully-paid maternity leave and two weeks of fully-paid paternity leave were voiced by MEPs and invited experts at a joint workshop held on 5 October by the European Parliament's Women's Right Committee and Employment Committee.

Commission statement - situation of the Roma and EU law on free movement of EU citizens — 29 September 2010, 16:36 CET

As announced earlier this month, the European Commission has today assessed recent developments in France and discussed the overall situation of the Roma and EU law on free movement of EU citizens.

Youth on the Move - guide — 15 September 2010, 14:09 CET

With five million young Europeans looking for a job, the European Commission has launched Youth on the Move, a new flagship initiative aimed at helping these young people to gain the knowledge, skills and experience they need to make their first job a reality. Part of the EU’s new Europe 2020 strategy, Youth on the Move proposes 28 key actions aimed at making education and training more relevant to young people's needs and encouraging more of them to take advantage of EU grants to study or train in another country. This will increase young people's employability and access to the labour market.

Roma people living in the EU - guide — 25 August 2010, 20:50 CET

There are between 10 million and 12 million Roma in the European Union, in candidate countries and potential candidate countries in the Western Balkans. Roma people living in the EU are EU citizens and have the same rights as any other EU citizen. A significant number of Roma live in extreme marginalisation in both rural and urban areas and in very poor social-economic conditions. They are disproportionally affected by discrimination, violence, unemployment, poverty, bad housing and poor health standards.

Solvency II Quantitative Impact Study (QIS5) - guide — 23 August 2010, 23:57 CET

The Solvency II Directive, adopted by the European Parliament and the Council in 2009 and to be implemented by 1 January 2013, has set the framework for the next generation of supervisory rules for insurance and reinsurance companies in the EU. As the rules of the Solvency II Directive are to be complemented by so-called “level 2” implementing measures, which will be adopted by the European Commission, sound and extensive empirical data for quantitative solvency requirements are needed. For this reason, the Commission has launched a fifth Quantitative Impact Study (QIS5) that will be run by the Committee of European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Supervisors (CEIOPS) from August to November 2010. The Commission strongly encourages insurance and reinsurance companies across the EU to participate in this exercise.

Coal Regulation - guide — 20 July 2010, 19:06 CET

The European Commission has approved a proposal for a Council Regulation on State aid to facilitate the closure of loss-making hard coal mines in the EU by 1st October 2014. Any further operating aid to the sector will be conditional on the presentation of a closure plan for the loss-making mines. The Member States concerned will be able to assist with the counselling and training of the affected workers and ensuring that the mining sites are properly cleaned up and safe.

EU to fast-track admission of third-country seasonal workers — 13 July 2010, 23:32 CET

The European Commission has proposed a fast-track procedure for admission of third-country seasonal workers. This would be based on common definitions and criteria, in particular the existence of a work contract or binding job offer.

EU to ease mobility of non-EU corporate employees — 13 July 2010, 23:30 CET

The proposed Directive of the European Commission covers third-country nationals who reside outside the EU territory and apply to be admitted to the territory of a Member State in the framework of an intra-corporate transfer. The new conditions of entry and residence aim at helping international companies to rely on mobility of third-country national intra-corporate transferees (ICTs).

Future of pensions - guide — 08 July 2010, 13:29 CET

The European Commission has launched a Europe-wide public debate on how to ensure adequate, sustainable and safe pensions and how the EU can best support the national efforts. Ageing populations in all Member States have put existing retirement systems under massive strain and the financial and economic crisis has only increased this pressure. The consultation document, a Green paper, poses a series of questions inviting all interested parties to contribute views, opinions and ideas on confronting the pension challenge - one of the biggest facing Europe and most parts of the world today – and how the EU can contribute to the solutions.

EU approves UK pension scheme NEST — 06 July 2010, 22:59 CET

The European Commission has approved under EU State aid rules the establishment of an occupational pension scheme in the UK, branded NEST, in the UK to ensure that all employees have access to an affordable pension vehicle.

Euro-MPs call for equal rights for part-time and contract workers — 06 July 2010, 22:58 CET

Any reform of labour law should seek to protect workers in "non-standard" employment, such as part-time or temporary work, and make it easier to move between various types of work and unemployment, says a resolution adopted by European Parliament on Tuesday.

Euro-MPs propose 4-month limit on unemployment for young people — 06 July 2010, 23:00 CET

A "European Youth Guarantee" to ensure that young people who are unemployed do not remain jobless for more than four months is among proposals made by MEPs in a resolution on improving access to the labour market for young people.

EU warns Italy on discriminatory pension age again — 04 June 2010, 23:30 CET

The European Commission has issued on Thursday a new request to Italy to comply with a 2008 European Court of Justice ruling that different pensionable ages for male and female civil servants violate the principle of equal pay.

Parliament proposes standard maternity leave rights for self-employed women — 18 May 2010, 18:11 CET

EU Member States should grant standard social protection, including at least 14 weeks' maternity leave allowance, for self-employed women and for wives or life partners of self-employed workers, says the European Parliament in a binding proposal to update an EU directive.