Living and Working in the EU

Living and working in the European Union.

Debate Europe - giving citizens a voice - guide — 03 April 2008, 09:23 CET

The European Commission wants to increase citizens' involvement in the EU decision-making process. In a Communication entitled 'Debate Europe – building on the experience of Plan D for Democracy, Dialogue and Debate', it put forward on 2 April 2008 a set of future actions to foster a general and permanent debate on the future of the European Union among people from all walks of life, at both national and EU level.

Gender mainstreaming of employment policies in practice — 06 March 2008, 14:35 CET

The European Commission just published an expert report analysing gender mainstreaming in practice in the field of employment policies. The report also presents concrete examples of gender mainstreaming implemented over the last few years in 30 European countries.

Women and men in decision-making — 06 March 2008, 14:24 CET

This website on women and men in decision-making gives an insight into the relative numbers of women and men participating in the decision-making process and taking up leadership positions in the European Institutions, the 27 Member States of the European Union, the EEA countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway), and two of the EU candidate countries (Croatia and Turkey). The website contains data and indicators that cover decision-making in political, public and juridical and social and economic domains both on European and national level. For the political domain only, decision-making at regional level is also covered.

European Border Surveillance System (EUROSUR) - guide — 13 February 2008, 12:26 CET

The European Commission on 13 February 2008 presented a Communication on the creation of a European Border Surveillance System (EUROSUR), with the main purpose of preventing unauthorised border crossings, reducing the number of illegal immigrants loosing their life at sea and increasing the internal security of the EU by contributing to the prevention of cross-border crime.

112 single emergency number - guide — 12 February 2008, 14:20 CET

112 is a telephone number that can be used to call emergency services anywhere in the European Union. As European citizens travel more and more to other countries, for business or pleasure, a single emergency number is needed. It should be the same number throughout the European Union, so that they no longer need to remember several different numbers, but only one, wherever they go. This factsheet offers answers to your questions on the 112 single emergency number.

Supplementary pension schemes and mobility in Europe: studies — 24 January 2008, 19:55 CET

Supplementary pension schemes continue to pose obstacles to mobility for workers across Europe according to two new independent studies, presented by the European Commission on 22 January 2008. The Commission says the studies support the case for a Europe-wide initiative to improve people's access to supplementary pension rights when changing jobs or working in another EU country. The Commission's proposal for a directive on the issue – revised in October 2007 – forms part of the work programme for the Slovenian EU Presidency.

Freedom to travel - Schengen — 21 December 2007, 00:56 CET

European Commission FAQ on the Schengen Agreement and the Schengen Convention - objectives, controls, the Schengen acquis, visas.

Schengen enlargement : background — 21 December 2007, 01:00 CET

On 14th June 1985, the Governments of Belgium, Germany, France, Luxembourg and the Netherlands signed an agreement at Schengen, a small town in Luxembourg, with a view to enabling "all nationals of the Member States to cross internal borders freely" and to enable the "free circulation of goods and services".

European Union Counter-Terrorism Strategy — 02 November 2007, 16:50 CET

Fight against terrorism is one of the greatest challenges the Union is facing today. The challenge lies in the complex nature of this phenomenon. Hence, if the EU wanted to be successful in fighting terrorism, it needed a strategic document which would reflect the comprehensive nature of EU’s response to terrorism.

Attractive conditions for the admission and residence of highly qualified immigrants - guide — 23 October 2007, 19:16 CET

On 23 October 2007 the European Commission adopted two legislative proposals in the area of economic migration. The first proposal aims at establishing a Framework Directive for the purpose of admission of highly qualified migrants to the EU, creating the EU Blue Card. The second proposal is a Directive establishing a single application procedure for a single residence and work permit and a common set of rights for third-country workers legally residing in a Member State.

Simplified admission procedures and common set of rights for third-country workers - guide — 23 October 2007, 19:05 CET

The European Commission on 23 October adopted two legislative proposals in the area of economic migration. The first proposal aims at establishing a Framework Directive for the purpose of admission of highly qualified migrants to the EU, creating the EU Blue Card. The second proposal is a Directive establishing a single application procedure for a single residence and work permit and a common set of rights for third-country workers legally residing in a Member State.

European Private Company - guide — 20 November 2007, 16:30 CET

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about EU Company Law and the European Private Company (EPC)

European Police College - CEPOL — 27 September 2007, 15:28 CET

CEPOL brings together senior police officers across Europe with the aim to encourage cross-border cooperation in the fight against crime, public security and law and order. Established as an agency of the European Union (EU) in 2005 (Council Decision 2005/681/JHA of 20 September 2005), the CEPOL Secretariat is based at Bramshill in the United Kingdom.

EU initiatives to promote physical exercise - questions & answers — 31 August 2007, 22:29 CET

The European Commission and the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) are launching a joint TV advertising campaign that aims to encourage European citizens to make physical activity part of their daily lives. The advert encourages viewers to get out of their armchairs and be physically active, using the slogan "Go on, get out of your armchair'. Millions of Europeans are expected to view the advert, as it will be screened free of charge during the half-time break of this season’s televised Champions League football games. This initiative comes at a time when poor diets and low levels of physical activity in Europe account for six of the seven leading risk factors for ill health in Europe. The lack of physical exercise, coupled with unbalanced diets, has turned obesity into a serious public health problem. In most EU Member States more than half of the adult population is overweight or obese. It is also estimated that almost 22 million children are overweight in the EU and each year this figure is growing by 400,000.

Benchmarking of EU mobile operators — 03 August 2007, 13:01 CET

According to the EU Roaming Regulation, mobile operators should have offered customers a Eurotariff by 30 July 2007. This tariff shall be activated no later than one month after the receipt of the customer's request. Roaming charges should not exceed EUR 0.49 for making calls and EUR 0.24 for receiving calls abroad (excluding VAT).

European Disability Forum — 25 July 2007, 17:12 CET

The European Disability Forum exists to represent disabled people in dialogue with the European Union and other European authorities. Its mission is to promote equal opportunities for disabled people and to ensure disabled citizens' full access to fundamental and human rights throught their active involvement in policy development and implementation in the European Union.

Access to air transport for persons with reduced mobility - guide — 25 July 2007, 16:07 CET

On 26 July 2007 new rules enter into force to offer disabled and elderly people access to air transport which is comparable to that of any other passengers flying from airports in the European Union.

Safety and health at work - EU report — 19 July 2007, 22:59 CET

The central role of the ‘European Agency for Safety and Health at Work’ in promoting healthier, safer and more productive workplaces is underlined in its 2006 annual report, published 16 July 2007. It shines a spotlight on last year’s impact on young workers and small businesses and shows how the Agency continues to improve the quality of working life in an expanding European Union.

Bridging the Gender Pay Gap - EU guide — 18 July 2007, 15:51 CET

Across the EU economy, women continue to earn an average of 15% less than men, according to the European Commission. A new report released today sets out ways the EU can bridge the gap – which has barely changed over the past decade. The gender pay gap represents the difference between average hourly pay for women and men before tax across the economy as a whole. It reflects ongoing discrimination and inequality in the labour market which, in practice, mainly affects women.

EU sun exposure pictograms — 10 July 2007, 11:23 CET

New pictograms from the European Commission to inform consumers on the dangers linked to sun exposure. For use by local authorities and stakeholders in the EU Member States.

Sunscreen products: EU guide — 10 July 2007, 11:26 CET

The European Commission on 9 July 2007 launched an information initiative to alert consumers to a new sunscreen labelling regime which will be phased in from summer 2007. Sunscreen products protect from UV radiation and can be effective in preventing sun-burn and skin cancer. The EC says consumers should use sunscreens, and clearer labelling should help consumers to make informed choices. Through this information campaign the Commission is also seeking to remind consumers that there are several reasons why sunscreen products should be only one out of a number of measures to protect from the UV radiation of the sun.

European Arrest Warrant — 29 June 2007, 13:43 CET

The European Union has adopted a Framework Decision on the European arrest warrant and the surrender procedures between Member States. The decision simplifies and speeds up the procedure, given that the whole political and administrative phase is replaced by a judicial mechanism

EU terminology translator — 28 June 2007, 12:23 CET

A one-stop shop for EU-related terminology (InterActiveTerminology for Europe) in 23 languages opened to the public on 28 June 2007. The InterActive Terminology for Europe database, known as IATE, combines the terminology databases of the individual EU institutions and bodies in a single database containing 8.7 million terms and covering all 23 official EU languages. IATE ,which has been in use by the translation services of the EU institutions since 2005, already plays a major role in ensuring the quality of the written communication of the EU institutions and bodies. Offering easy access to validated EU-related terminology, it ensures the consistency and reliability of terminology which is indispensable for producing the clear and unambiguous texts necessary for guaranteeing both the validity and transparency of the legislative process and effective communication with the citizens of the Union.

EU Race Equality Directive — 27 June 2007, 20:08 CET

The European Commission on 27 June sent formal requests to 14 EU Member States to fully implement EU rules banning discrimination on the grounds of race or ethnic origin (2000/43/CE). The countries concerned – Spain, Sweden, Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Ireland, United Kingdom, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia and Slovakia – have two months to respond, failing which the Commission can take them to the European Court of Justice. The Race Equality Directive was agreed in 2000 with a deadline for implementation into national law by 2003.

International Mobile Roaming : how will new 'Eurotariffs' reduce cost of using a mobile phone in the European Union? — 25 October 2007, 10:38 CET

The European Union (EU) Regulation on international mobile roaming comes into force in the 27 EU Member States at the end of this week, meaning that consumers will be able to benefit from “Eurotariff” rates from August 2007.