Social Policy Guides

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Equal treatment beyond the workplace - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 02 July 2008, 14:27 CET

The Commission on 2 July 2008 adopted a proposal for a directive which provides for protection from discrimination on grounds of age, disability, sexual orientation and religion or belief beyond the workplace. This new directive would ensure equal treatment in the areas of social protection, including social security and health care, education and access to and supply of goods and services which are commercially available to the public, including housing. Eurobarometer surveys show that a large majority of Europeans support such legislation: 77% back measures to protect people from discrimination in education and 68% in access to goods and services.

Renewed Social Agenda - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 27 June 2008, 15:52 CET

The European Commission will launch the Renewed Social Agenda in Brussels on 2 July 2008. This ambitious package presents a comprehensive answer to rapidly changing social and economic realities. It aims to promote social well-being of European citizens by bringing together a wide range of EU policies and instruments, while streamlining and modernising existing policy tools.

Financial inclusion - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 29 May 2008, 00:52 CET

The study “Financial Services Provision and Prevention of Financial Exclusion”, prepared for the European Commission, aims at identifying and analysing the most effective policy measures to prevent financial exclusion of people facing poverty or social exclusion.

European Social Fund (ESF) 2007-2013 - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 14 May 2008, 23:05 CET

Set up in 1957, the European Social Fund (ESF) is the oldest of the EU's Structural Funds pursuing cohesion policy.

EU strategy on the rights of the child - update by EUbusiness — last modified 10 April 2008, 11:58 CET

The European Commission is engaged in the implementation of its strategy on the Rights of the Child, which was announced in its 2006 communication "Towards an EU strategy on the rights of the child". A number of actions envisaged in the communication have already been launched. The EU has developed various concrete policies and programmes on children’s rights, spanning both internal and external policies and covering a broad range of issues, such as child trafficking and sexual abuse, violence against children, discrimination, child poverty, social exclusion, child labour, health and education.

EU commitment to the Millennium Development Goals - milestones by EUbusiness — last modified 30 May 2019, 23:24 CET

At the half-way stage of the Millennium Development Goals timetable, 2008 is a crucial year on the international stage as regards the development agenda. In 2000 the international community set eight Millennium Development Goals to be achieved by 2015.

Joint Report on Social Protection and Social Inclusion 2008 by EUbusiness — last modified 26 February 2008, 11:20 CET

The European Commission on 25 February presented the annual Joint Report on Social Protection and Social Inclusion, prepared jointly with EU Member States. The annual report explores a selection of key issues that are high on the social agenda of the EU and the Member States. It presents some key messages at EU and national level. The 2008 report examines policies and developments in the area of social inclusion, pensions, healthcare and long-term care. It reviews the main trends across the EU and at national level. This year's report looks in depth at a number of themes, including child poverty, access to health care and evolving long-term care needs, longer working lives and privately managed pensions.

Supplementary pension schemes and mobility in Europe: studies by EUbusiness — last modified 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.

European social dialogue: benefits for workers and companies by EUbusiness — last modified 29 November 2007, 16:58 CET

The Portuguese EU Presidency and the European Commission organised a major conference on 29 and 30 November 2007 in Lisbon to discuss the concrete outcomes of European social dialogue and the benefits they have brought to European workers and companies.

Access to air transport for persons with reduced mobility - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 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.

Bridging the Gender Pay Gap - EU guide by EUbusiness — last modified 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.

50 years of the European Social Fund by EUbusiness — last modified 28 June 2007, 15:33 CET

On 28 June 2007, in Potsdam, Germany, a high-level event to mark the official 50th birthday of the European Social Fund (ESF) brought together EU Ministers and key players in the Fund. Organised by the German Presidency, the event reflected on how the ESF is helping millions of Europeans join and progress in the job market. The next generation of ESF programmes (2007-2013) will have a budget of EUR 77 billion for 27 Member States, providing funding in areas like training, ensuring better access to jobs, fighting discrimination and improving public services.

EU Race Equality Directive by EUbusiness — last modified 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.

INTI - Integration of third country nationals by EUbusiness — last modified 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.

Driving time and rest periods - Regulation (EC) 561/2006 by EUbusiness — last modified 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

Meeting the challenge of ageing by EUbusiness — last modified 12 October 2006, 16:07 CET

The issue of demographic ageing is not confined to older workers and pensioners. Europe's population structure is changing. Demographic ageing affects the whole of society and has repercussions for all generations.

Corporate Social Responsibility in the EU by EUbusiness — last modified 25 August 2006, 20:20 CET

Companies throughout the European Union are showing growing awareness of the importance of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in business.

Pensions in the European Union by EUbusiness — last modified 03 January 2007, 18:20 CET

The proportion of older people in the EU is increasing much faster than the population of younger wage-earning taxpayers, making pensions reform in the EU essential. The fear is that the costs of caring for such a large number of older people will overwhelm the future budgets for pensions and health care.

Regional Policy in the European Union by EUbusiness — last modified 03 January 2007, 19:20 CET

Although the European Union is one of the richest parts of the world, there remain striking internal disparities of income and opportunity between its regions. The entry in May 2004 of 10 new member countries whose incomes are well below the EU average has widened these gaps. Regional policy transfers resources from affluent to poorer regions. It is both an instrument of financial solidarity and a powerful force for economic integration.

Employment and Social Affairs in the EU by EUbusiness — last modified 24 August 2006, 18:09 CET

More and better jobs and equal opportunities are the watchwords of European employment and social policy. A function of the European Commission is to make sure that everyone is equipped for change as the EU evolves into a more competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy. The main framework is a Social Policy Agenda designed to link economic, employment and social policies, whilst at the same time ensuring that these policies are environmentally sustainable.