Fundamentalist for fundamental rights
08 January 2016
One year after the barbaric killings at Charlie Hebdo and the Jewish supermarket in Paris, several commemorations have taken place: there were the official ones with their carefully crafted words of determination, and the individual ones of those who still feel truly concerned and appalled by the attacks on fundamental freedom: the freedom of speech and humorous provocation: not everybody shares this sense of humour, but in a way it is a part of our liberties and of our right to take a distance from religion and institutions. The emergence of comments such as “unnecessary provocation” shows how much ground the appeasement approach, driven by the fear factor, is gaining in the minds of people, shrinking the public space for freedom of speech.

Following Thursday’s (7 January 2016) tweet by EU Commissioner Tibor Navracsics “My top political priority for the coming year: preserving and strengthening the values the EU founded #ParisAttacks #CharlieHebdo” it is worth pointing out that there is an opportunity to show this commitment and make a clear statement, starting not with France but: Hungary! It is more than worrying that Hungary is now in “good” company with Poland, a country where the new democratically elected government is undermining democratic institutions like the Constitutional Court and the media. What was the point of negotiating convergence chapters if the government of a Member State can simply change the rule of law and violate fundamental EU principles and reduce public space? When the so-called black and blue coalition was formed in Austria between Schüssel and Haider, democratic Europe stood up, and there were demonstrations on the streets of Vienna. Are we now entering a phase of “democracy fatigue”, giving up on all that progressives in trade unions, political parties and civil society have been struggling for over centuries?

It is time to re-find our references! Better an EU that does not please everybody, but sticks to its values, than one built on bad compromises and losing its roots. We cannot abandon those who are at the forefront of civic engagement for democracy. And the EU institutions also need to demonstrate their solidarity in practice! Our organisations have been built upon the defence of fundamental human and social rights! In our protection of these, we remain in a sense “fundamentalists”!

SOLIDAR reflecting on the priorities of the Dutch Presidency
08 January 2016
The Dutch presidency’s priorities on migration

One of the four priorities of the Dutch Presidency is to work on a comprehensive approach to migration and international security in view of the current migrant and refugee crisis in the EU. The Presidency is determined to contribute to the implementation of the European Agenda on Migration presented by the European Commission in May 2015, and the additional proposals defined in the European Commission’s work programme for 2016.

SOLIDAR welcomes the initiative of the presidency to focus on the improvement of a common and integrated European approach to asylum, migration and security policies. The difficulties encountered by EU leaders to provide a coordinated response to the migrant and refugee crisis show that more efforts are needed to improve existing EU tools for better migration management. The European Commission’s plans to work on a proposal for a new refugee resettlement scheme and on the revision of the Dublin system are excellent opportunities to do so. SOLIDAR calls on the Presidency to make sure that solidarity and a human-rights based approach are put at the heart of such legislative initiatives.
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The Dutch presidency’s priorities on social affairs

From 1 January to 30 June 2016, the Netherlands have the Presidency of the Council of the EU. In anticipation of that, Social Platform organised a networking conference on 17 November in The Hague to discuss the social dimension of the Dutch Presidency, with the participation of SOLIDAR.

The Dutch Presidency, represented by Ms Jetta Klijnsma, Dutch Secretary of State for Social Affairs and Employment at the Hague event, will focus on the overall topics of the fight against poverty and the promotion of decent work. SOLIDAR welcomes this focus as it is crucial in these difficult times of high unemployment rates, declining job security and the overall economic situation in Europe to focus on combating social exclusion and investing in people. The SOLIDAR network consists of a broad range of NGOs, social economy actors and civil society organisations that have been providing efficient social services at the local and regional level for decades now to improve the situation of the people most in need. We are happy to share these experiences and best practices across Europe to reach the goals of fighting poverty and supporting decent work.
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The Dutch Presidency’s priorities on education

The Dutch Presidency will align its education policy with the Strategic Agenda, which gives priority to employability and the development of knowledge and skills. One key focus of attention is the modernisation of higher education and vocational training.

This Council will also discuss the new Skills Agenda which is announced in the 2016 Work Programme of the European Commission. This new Agenda will promote investment in skills development so that workers are better equipped to deal with the changing labour market and society. Furthermore, the Dutch Presidency will also address the mutual recognition of qualifications, which will support vocational training and higher education and help realise the full potential of digital jobs.

SOLIDAR welcomes the new Skills Agenda as well as the priority given to the mutual recognition of qualifications. SOLIDAR calls on the Dutch Presidency to enable the Agenda to play an important role in reinforcing the process of development of the validation of learning outcomes of non-formal and informal learning (NFIL) at national level by 2018. It is of utter importance to bridge educational inequalities and empower people with limited opportunities. The development of social, civic and intercultural competences needs to take priority on education agendas, not only within formal education settings but should also be made available for other learners through non-formal and informal learning.
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The Dutch Presidency Priorities on Development Cooperation

The so-called ‘refugees’ crisis’ seems to dominate the Dutch Presidency’s priorities on foreign affairs and development cooperation policies.

SOLIDAR is concerned that Dutch presidency’s priority in foreign affairs seems to be a narrow focus on the security-oriented approach to irregular migration and management of external borders. While the development approach is mentioned, stressing the need to tackle the root causes of migration and geo-political instability in the East and South, the document proposes an “integrated” approach to migration and terrorism with the aim of linking internal and external policy through enhanced CSDP cooperation;
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Read more about the programme of the Dutch Presidency.

Together for Social Europe
SOLIDAR Social Progress Watch – Lessons learnt from SOLIDAR members contributing to long-term integration of migrants and refugees
06 January 2016
The Social Progress Watch (SPW) initiative is a tool implemented by members and partners of SOLIDAR to monitor the commitment and progress made by national governments towards a more social and cohesive Europe. Through the SPW, SOLIDAR collects country reports on a yearly basis providing recommendations for upward social convergence as well as case studies presenting innovative and sustainable models to promote social inclusion, the social economy and quality job creation.

Case studies from Spain and France

The exceptional refugee and migrant flow to Europe of recent months represents a set of challenges and opportunities which cannot be solved by emergency measures alone, it must be accompanied by comprehensive investment plans to facilitate the long-term integration of the newcomers and social cohesion.
…but how can that be done? How can migrants and refugees be empowered to truly participate in the life of their communities? How can their socio-economic integration be supported? How can a culture of peace and intercultural coexistence in the hosting communities be promoted? The programmes and activities implemented by our committed and competent members in the field of integration deliver concrete and inspiring examples.
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Building Learning Societies
“We don’t need no education” – trends of the education budgets of 2015 in the EU
08 January 2016
If you want to truly know someone’s priorities, just take a look at their financial statements. By looking at the spreadsheets you can easily see where the money goes, as the priorities are the filters for them. The top priorities are the first to absorb the incoming funds. Less and less money will go to the lower categories, until you reach zero. Shuffling the priorities may result in budgetary increases or decreases in comparison to the previous years.

The majority of politicians agree without hesitation that education is important, and we need to invest in the development of skills, competences and knowledge of our next generations, as well as strengthen investment in people’s growth. This is being echoed by the multiple strategies, agendas, political priorities… However do education and lifelong learning really stand out amongst the priorities?
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Organising International Solidarity
SOLIDAR members and partners promoting decent work for all in Morocco
07 January 2016
SOLIDAR member Movement for Peace (MPDL) is working with local organisations in Morocco to promote decent work and social protection for all. In the framework of the European Commission-funded regional project “Promoting Decent Work, Social Protection and Freedom of Association in the Middle East and North Africa, MPDL organised two national workshops in Al Hoceima on 18 December 2015 and in Larache on 25 December 2016 together with the associations BADES and REMAJEC.
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