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Living and Working in the EU

Living and working in the European Union.

The EU and musculoskeletal disorders 04 June 2007, 20:49 CET
Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are the most common work-related health problem in Europe, affecting millions of workers. Across the EU27, 25 per cent of workers complain of backache and 23 per cent report muscular pains. Lighten the load, the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work's 2007 campaign to tackle MSDs in the workplace, supports an integrated management approach with three key elements. First, employers, employees and government need to work together to tackle MSDs. Secondly, any actions should address the ‘whole load on the body’, which covers all the stresses and strains being placed on the body, environmental factors such as cold working conditions, and the load being carried. Thirdly, employers need to manage the retention, rehabilitation and return to work of employees with MSDs.

Organ donation and transplantation in the EU: questions & answers 30 May 2007, 18:17 CET
The European Commission on 30 May 2007 adopted a Communication proposing actions for closer cooperation between Member States in the field of organ donation and transplantation, and announcing plans for a European Directive on quality and safety of organ donation.

Attitudes of Europeans towards Tobacco 22 May 2007, 12:22 CET
This survey, commissioned by the Directorate-General Health and Consumer Protection of the European Commission aims to evaluate the Europeans’ attitude towards tobacco. The main themes addressed in this survey are: the level and frequency of tobacco consumption, attempts to give up smoking, level of exposure to tobacco smoke at home, at work and in public places, attitudes towards smoke-free policies, and awareness of harm caused by tobacco smoke. This survey was carried out in October and November 2006 by the TNS Opinion and Social network.

EU fight against cybercrime 18 May 2007, 15:43 CET
The European Commission is exploring various avenues for preventing and combating cybercrime in order to tighten up the security of information infrastructures - SCADPlus

EU Mini-Chefs - website for children on healthy cooking 16 May 2007, 13:55 CET
The European Commission and Euro-toques International, the European Chefs' association, on 15 May 2007 launched "EU Mini-chefs" - a website for children which aims to contribute to the fight against child obesity by encouraging healthy eating and cooking. It promotes the European Day for Healthy Food and Cooking on 8 November 2007. On that day chefs across the EU will demonstrate to children how to cook and eat healthily in schools and restaurants. The website also outlines how children can take part in a drawing contest for a poster to be used in the campaign. It provides an internet forum on healthy food & cooking for parents, teachers and children. The website includes simple healthy recipes and cooking advice from some of the best chefs of Europe.

Sanctions against employers of illegally staying third-country nationals 16 May 2007, 13:49 CET
The European Commission on 16 May 2007 presented a proposal for an EU Directive to tackle the pull factor for illegal immigrants created by employers providing illegal work. The Directive on sanctions against such employers is part of a comprehensive European Migration policy which supports legal migration, fights illegal migration, builds cooperation with Third Countries and works with the development agenda. Two Communications on the external dimension of migration were also published on the same day.

Communication on a European agenda for culture in a globalizing world 10 May 2007, 23:04 CET
The main purpose of the Communication is to see both what Europe can do for culture and what culture can do for Europe , with two main sets of objectives in mind: developing active European citizenship, respecting cultural diversity, promoting intercultural dialogue, while fostering a sense of 'European identity' complementary to other identities; the economic and social objectives of the Lisbon agenda, and the role of creativity in enhancing the competitive edge of Europe. (Culture and Creativity to Make Lisbon Work, states European Council - 9 March 2007).

Culture & the European Union - Frequently asked questions 10 May 2007, 17:22 CET
On 10 May 2007, the European Commission adopted a Communication entitled "A European agenda for culture in a globalizing world". Whilst the Communication is not the first in the field of culture, this is the first time the Commission has proposed a common European strategy for culture in the EU.

Europe for Citizens 10 May 2007, 16:29 CET
The Europe for citizens' programme provides the Union with instruments to promote active European citizenship. It puts citizens in the centre and offers them the opportunity to fully assume their responsibility as European citizens. It responds to the need to improve citizen's participation in the construction of Europe and encourage cooperation between citizens and their organisations from different countries in order to meet, act together and develop their own ideas in a European environment which goes beyond a national vision, respecting their diversity.

"Europe for Citizens" – Frequently asked questions 10 May 2007, 17:23 CET
The new "Europe for Citizens" programme, in force since January 2007, gives EU citizens the opportunity to interact in initiatives and projects with a European profile in order to foster citizens' participation, development of their European identity and sense of ownership of the European project as well as to enhance tolerance and mutual understanding between them. The programme was officially launched in Brussels on 10 May 2007.

INTI - Integration of third country nationals 07 May 2007, 22:46 CET
INTI is a European Union funding programme for preparatory actions promoting the integration in the EU member states of people who are not citizens of the EU. Its aim is also to promote dialogue with civil society, develop integration models, seek out and evaluate best practices in the integration field and set up networks at European level.

Privacy Enhancing Technologies (PETs) 02 May 2007, 22:47 CET
The use of Privacy Enhancing Technologies (PETs) can help to design information and communication systems and services in a way that minimises the collection and use of personal data and facilitate compliance with data protection rules. The use of PETs should result in making breaches of certain data protection rules more difficult and/or helping to detect them.

Poverty among migrants in Europe 01 May 2007, 11:42 CET
The aim of this Policy Brief from AlphaGalileo is to analyse the level of poverty among migrants in 14 European countries. Migrants from outside the European Union are occasionally exposed to a multiple times higher risk of poverty than the “indigenous” population, according to the widely used Laeken indicator of poverty (with a threshold of 60% of national median income). EU and non-EU migrants constitute two rather distinct groups in most countries in terms of their exposure to poverty.

E-Communications household survey 01 May 2007, 11:12 CET
The results of a special Eurobarometer survey conducted by TNS Opinion & Social between 17 November 2006 and 19 December 2006 to measure the attitude of European households and individuals towards fixed and mobile telephony, Internet access, TV broadcast services, bundled offers, 112 emergency call number, telephone directories, privacy and security. The survey covers the 27 EU Member States together with Candidate countries (Croatia and Turkey) and the Turkish Cypriot Community, with an average of 1.000 households interviewed per country. It follows on from the previous Eurobarometer survey that was conducted between December 2005 and January 2006.

Payment Services Directive: Frequently Asked Questions 24 April 2007, 17:12 CET
The aim of the PSD is to ensure that payments within the EU – in particular credit transfer, direct debit and card payments – become as easy, efficient, and secure as domestic payments within a Member State, by providing the legal foundation to make the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) possible. The PSD will reinforce the rights and protection of all the users of payment services (consumers, retailers, large and small companies and public authorities).

Driving time and rest periods - Regulation (EC) 561/2006 13 April 2007, 00:04 CET
Regulation (EC) No 561/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 March 2006 on the harmonisation of certain social legislation relating to road transport and amending Council Regulations (EEC) No 3821/85 and (EC) No 2135/98 and repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No 3820/85 (Text with EEA relevance) - Declaration

.eu one year on - questions & answers 12 April 2007, 22:10 CET
This April 2007, Europe's internet domain .eu celebrates its first year of being open to the public. Over 2.5 million domain names have been registered. This enormous number of active users makes .eu Europe's third most popular top level domain (TLD) and the seventh most popular worldwide. With a 17% increase of registrations over the past five months, .eu is also one of the fastest growing TLD names on the web. According to a recent Europe-wide study, use of the .eu has proved particularly effective for small businesses.

New EU rules tell truck drivers to work less, take more breaks 11 April 2007, 20:51 CET
New EU-wide regulations have come into force restricting the working week for lorry and coach drivers and requiring longer rest stops.

Europe's .eu a soaring success in cyberspace 11 April 2007, 19:47 CET
The .eu online domain name is enjoying a runaway success in cyberspace with over 2.5 million registered users during its first year.

EU Transparency Initiative 21 March 2007, 20:15 CET
The purpose of this corner is to give a small overview on the Transparency Initiative – an idea, which among other goals aims to increase openness and accessibility of EU institutions, raise awareness over the use of the EU budget and make the Union's institutions more accountable to the public. The site will be constantly updated as the debate progresses, providing you with fresh information on the outcomes of the debates and future plans.

European Consumer Centres Network (ECC-Net) 16 March 2007, 00:17 CET
Who can you turn to if you have a problem with a product you bought in another European country? Who can inform you of your rights and what you are entitled to as a European consumer? If you have a complaint against a company or you are in a dispute with a trader, who can assist you and help solve your case? The network of European Consumer Centres is there to help with such questions and any other problems you may have concerning your activities as a consumer in Europe. The aim being that you should feel as confident when shopping in another country as you do at home.

European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) 05 March 2014, 10:46 CET
The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) is one of the EU’s specialised agencies. These agencies are set up to provide expert advice to the institutions of the EU and the Member States on a range of issues. FRA helps to ensure that the fundamental rights of people living in the EU are protected. Fundamental rights set out minimum standards to ensure that a person is treated with dignity. Whether this is the right to be free from discrimination on the basis of your age, disability or ethnic background, the right to the protection of your personal data, or the right to get access to justice, these rights should all be promoted and protected. Through the collection and analysis of data in the EU, the FRA assists EU institutions and EU Member States in understanding and tackling challenges to safeguard the fundamental rights of everyone in the EU. Working in partnership with the EU institutions, its Member States and other organisations at the international, European and national levels, the FRA plays an important role in helping to make fundamental rights a reality for everyone living in the EU.

Social Protection and Social Inclusion 07 March 2010, 00:02 CET
A key feature of the Open Method of Coordination (OMC) is the joint analysis and assessment by the European Commission and the Council of the National Reports on Strategies for Social Protection and Social Inclusion submitted by the Member States. The Joint Reports assess progress made in the implementation of the OMC, set key priorities and identify good practice and innovative approaches of common interest to the Member States.

Internal Market Scoreboard 01 February 2007, 18:00 CET
The Internal Market Scoreboard examines how quickly and how well each of the EU Member States writes Single Market directives into national law. It also highlights the number of infringements proceedings that are underway against Member States.

Smoke-free options - Green Paper 31 January 2007, 22:50 CET
Green Paper - Towards a Europe free from tobacco smoke: policy options at EU level