Social cohesion – the oxygen of our society
This week Brussels saw one of the biggest trade union demonstrations ever with nearly 100,000 workers united against the Belgium government’s austerity policies. In the meantime, the European Commission has finally taken the long awaited decision to make a stronger social commitment. While the better regulation package (REFIT) mainly focuses on the interests of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the debate on the governance of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) added some social flower power : the Commissioner’s college announced this week a European pillar of social rights. Trade Unions and civil society have called for many years for a strong social pillar in EMU governance and for a social protocol guaranteeing high social standards that allow for upward convergence.

In the debate on Europe2020 the focus seems to be more on ownership, better analysis and understanding as well as on process orientation. The landscape has not really changed, but a window of opportunity seems to be opening up. Nevertheless, the social challenges – including the integration of migrants and refugees – will not be successfully met if there is no flexibility applied in the rules of the Stability and Growth pact. To overcome the social imbalances within and between Member States we need an intelligent policy mix and a comprehensive social investment plan. Investment in education, training, skills and competences, social and public services does not come free. Obstructing these urgently needed investments by stubbornly insisting on the rules of the Stability and Growth Pact merely transfers the problem to the next generation. The cost of not investing will be to mortgage the futures for our children and grandchildren. Currently, competiveness is achieved largely through social dumping or reducing labour costs, overlooking the fact that our “rare earths” are the people living or arriving now in Europe with their skills and competences. Increasing productiveness has to do with an enabling environment based on a solid foundation of social and democratic rights – this is the essence of our European social model!

Nobel Peace Prize 2015 to Civil Society and Social Partners
The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided that the Nobel Peace Prize for 2015 is to be awarded to the Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet for its decisive contribution to the building of a pluralistic democracy in Tunisia in the wake of the Jasmine Revolution of 2011. The Quartet is composed of The Tunisian General Labor Union (UGTT) , the Tunisian Confederation of Industry, trade and Handicrafts (UTICA), the Tunisian Human Rights League (LTDH), the Tunisian Order of Lawyers.

SOLIDAR congratulates the members of the Quartet and in particular the Union Generale Tunisienne du Travail (UGTT) and the Tunisian Human Rights League (LTDH, La Ligue Tunisienne pour la Défense des Droits de l’Homme) – with whom SOLIDAR members have long standing working relations – for the decisive role they have played in the democratic transition in Tunisia, and in ensuring meaningful participation of Civil Society to national dialogue.
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New EESC President
SOLIDAR congratulates Giorgios Dassis who was elected as new President of the EESC. Giorgios, who is a real friend of SOLIDAR, was refugee in Belgium at the time of military dictatorship in Greece and engaged for the Belgium Trade Union confederation FGTB. Over the last 5 years he was President of Group II of the EESC (Workers group) at the EESC. In his inaugural speech he called for a common effort to contribute to the progress of Europe. SOLIDAR Secretary General, in his capacity as Co-chair of the EESC Liaison Group, Conny Reuter had the opportunity to address to the plenary (for full speech, click here), to congratulate the new President and to engage the European civil society organisations members of the Liaison Group of the EESC for the new term of office and cooperation with the new President.

Together for Social Europe
Increase human rights protection along the Western Balkan route
6 October 2015
In 2015 the number of refugees and migrants trying to reach the EU through the Western Balkans route soared as conditions in their countries of origin worsened dramatically. In recent months many atrocities by human traffickers have been recorded along this route. At the same time international organisations have reported many and persistent violations of fundamental rights.

In September the European Commission decided to release an additional €1.5 million in humanitarian funding to assist refugees and migrants in Serbia and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). A small amount compared to the pre-accession support for migration–related activities in the Western Balkans and Turkey since 2007 of around €600 million. Similarly, on 23 April the European Council agreed to assist Western Balkan countries to manage the refugee crisis by increasing the budget for pre-accession instruments.
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Public Procurement – new guide on implementation published
7 October 2015

This week the Social Platform published its Guide “Public procurement for social progress” that has been developed by the Platform’s task force on access to services, together with its members, including SOLIDAR.

The 2014 Public Procurement Directive has been adopted by the EU institutions and came into force on 17 April 2014. EU Member States have two years to implement the Directive in national legislation – by April 2016 new rules need to be in place in all 28 Member States to avoid legal disputes with the European Commission and to ensure EU-wide standards regarding public procurement.

The EU’s Procurement Directive only applies to contracts above certain financial threshold values. These thresholds are set out in the Directive and fixed for two year periods.

If a public authority wants to procure goods or services with a value above the given thresholds, it is required by EU law to procure them Europe-wide. This aims at strengthening the internal market of the European Union, increasing transparency and enhancing governments’ abilities to spend public money more effectively.
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Building Learning Societies
Education Experts’ Network looks at Lifelong learning strategies
7 October 2015
SOLIDAR members met for the first of the thematic Education Experts’ Network meeting in London on 24-25 September to look at the situation of lifelong learning strategies. The meeting was kindly hosted by the Workers’ Education Association, the British member organisation whose mission is to reach those who want to improve their lives and communities.

The WEA highlighted the funding challenges currently facing adult learning in the UK, and participants discussed the impact of EU education policy on lifelong learning, including the barriers to the labour market affecting young people and the educational needs of the long term unemployed. There was a consensus that professional skills training should not be the only priority, and that civic education and well-being had an important role to play. The educational rights and needs of refugees were also mentioned as one of the upcoming priorities to be endorsed.
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Organising International Solidarity
Making Decent Work and Social Protection a Reality for All by 2030
7 October 2015
At the end of September this year, after three years of negotiations, UN Member States adopted Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development which embraces the three dimensions of sustainability: economic, social and environmental. In doing so, UN Member States have recognised the importance of decent work and social protection for all in achieving sustainable development. Indeed, goal 8 aims to “promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all” and target 1.3 at “ending poverty in all its forms and dimensions, including by eradicating extreme poverty by 2030. All people must enjoy a basic standard of living, including through social protection systems”.

Achieving decent work and social protection for all remains a challenge: according to the ILO’s estimations, some 780 million women and men in the world work but do not earn enough to lift themselves and their families out of USD 2 a-day poverty. Forced labour remains a reality for almost 21 million people, with migrant workers and indigenous people being particularly vulnerable to it. Only 20 per cent of the world’s population has adequate social security coverage, and more than 50 per cent lacks any coverage at all. These people face dangers in the workplace and have no access to pension and health insurance.
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SOLIDAR in Beirut at the Third Regional Dialogue on the EU-Arab Partnership
8 October 2015
From 30 October to the 1 November, SOLIDAR will be in Beirut to attend a regional event co-organised in partnership with the Euromed Non-Governmental Platform and the ANND in the framework of a regional programme in the MENA region.

2015 has been a key year for the EU-Arab Partnership relations with the revision of the European Neighbourhood Policy the adoption of an EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy, the adoption of the new development agenda in September 2015 and the setting of the Sustainable Development Goals. The regional dialogue aims to foster a dynamic and constructive debate among civil society organisations from the MENA region on the on-going challenges for the EU-Arab Partnership.
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