Dare more Europe!
12 February 2016
On Tuesday six Ministers of Foreign Affairs from Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands published a joint communiqué reconfirming their strong commitment to Europe and the European project. They invited all member states to join them in this stance, sending a strong message towards the UK. The statement maintained that “the European Union remains the best answer we have to today’s challenges and allows for different pathways of integration”, bringing security and defense as well as the European Neighborhood Policy (ENP) back on the agenda. Finally we are hearing a strong statement from political leaders at a time where doubt, fear and hesitation seem to dominate political debate and decision making.

This particular statement is urgently needed to counter balance the tendency to look for “sanitary” solutions at a national level. As current public opinion does not align with the statement, all those who are pro-European need to work more closely together on a joint agenda. Pro-European governments, progressive and democratic politicians, trade unions and civil society need to adopt a ‘Charter of deliveries’ – going beyond an affirmation of intentions and principles and representing real action.

Citizens‘ trust in political action will be ignited if social delivery is prioritized – reducing unemployment and inequality by promoting social investment in public and social services, training and education. Improving security means more than increasing police and security services, it is about democratic and transparent governance which is essential for a respected rule of law.

While trade unions engage citizens at the workplace, civil society has a wider scope. We need to move beyond “our” issue, beyond “our” scope. If we want to stop terrorist, radical and even fascist movements, concerted action is needed. No more “business as usual” yes, but only when ending the usual business of the economic growth at any social and environmental price mantra. Our common challenge: dare more Europe and convince citizens through action that a united Europe really is the best answer! It is feasible, realistic and can be financed: a European alternative and perspective!

SOLIDAR makes integration happen!

Several members in the SOLIDAR Network have been active for many years with projects and activities facilitating integration. In a time where integration of migrants and asylum seekers has never been more crucial, we would like to highlight the great work that is getting done within our network. This week we will give you a closer look at our members’ projects: Solidarité Laïque in France who has set up the ’Ecole Laïque du Chemin des Dunes’ in Calais, France. Our German member Arbeiter Wohlfahrt has been running for several years the “AWO Refugium /Marie-Schlei-Haus” offering protection and support to refugees. Our member in Sweden, Arbetarnas (ABF) Bildningsförbund, aims at increasing the social integration of immigrants/asylum seekers through language courses and study groups.

Solidaritè Laïque: access to education for migrants in Calais
08 February 2016

On Saturday 6th January, SOLIDAR member Solidarité Laïque has inaugurated its ’Ecole Laïque du Chemin des Dunes’ providing education to minors and adults living in the encampment in Calais, also wrongly called “the jungle”. The action aims at coping with the emergency as well as calling on national authorities such as the Ministry of Education to take its responsibilities in ensuring universal access to education as stated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This positive example of social inclusion promotes solidarity within the camp and highlights how inter-cultural values can be promoted in spite of degrading living conditions.
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AWO Refugium at the Marie-Schlei-House in Berlin
10 February 2016

The “AWO Refugium /Marie-Schlei-Haus” in Berlin-Reinickendorf is a home for refugees in need of particular protection. It was opened in April 2013 as the first facility of its kind in Berlin. Refugees in need of particular protection are elderly persons, pregnant women, single parents, minors, victims of torture, rape or other forms of physical, psychological or sexual violence, persons with signs of psychological problems, victims of human trafficking and victims of female genital mutilation.

The emphasis of the work done by the social workers in the Marie-Schlei-House is to motivate and help the refugees in their daily life with the challenges they are facing. The refugees are supported in all kinds of daily and administrative matters to ensure them their social and fundamental rights and to support them to integrate as fast and efficient as possible. They can offer support in German, English, French, Arabic, Turkish, Kurdish, Serbo-Croatian, Farsi, Russian and Urdu.
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ABF’s integration of migrants and asylum seekers
11 February 2016

This article highlights one good example of a refugee project by SOLIDAR’s member ABF who has understood that civic education plays a crucial role in fostering the social and cultural integration of people from a migrant background, and in promoting tolerance between the cultures.

ABF (Arbetarnas Bildningsförbund – Workers’ Educational Association) is Sweden’s largest adult liberal education association. Provision of civic and citizenship education, and in particular learning opportunities helping to develop social, civic and intercultural competences, is one of ABF’s core priorities. The Swedish government granted 30 million SEK (approximately 3.1 million EUR) to the 10 study associations to work specially with integration projects for the 85.000 immigrants/asylum seekers that arrived in Sweden in 2015. The increasing number of immigrants/asylum seekers from third countries makes the local authorities struggle and in part of the host population racism and xenophobic attitudes are growing. ABF’s aim was to reach out to at least 22.000 individuals.
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Together for Social Europe
Social Progress Watch on poverty and social inclusion

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.

Fighting unemployment – Country Reports from Croatia, Greece, Hungary and Slovakia
10 February 2016

The European labour market continues to be plagued by high levels of unemployment, despite showing a slight improvement on average (i.e. 10.2% EU28 in 2014, down from the record high of 10.9% in 2013).

The country studies of the 2015 SOLIDAR SPWI provide a tangible insight in the relation between this state of play and the policy response within the 2014 European Semester. The high levels of unemployment continue to trigger a one-sided policy response aimed at more flexible labour market rules and wage setting, despite international institutions such as the International Labour Office (ILO Office) clearly stating ‘[…] that reducing protection for workers does not lower unemployment.

Against this background, SOLIDAR reiterates its call for a reorientation of the currently narrow-minded set of structural reforms pursued by national governments and promoted by the European institutions. The current set of reforms carry a high social costs as they have been contributing to the rise in poverty and social exclusion. SOLIDAR advocates instead for a set of progressive structural reforms such as investment in education, social services and social security systems as well as a comprehensive reform of the current tax system towards progressive taxation of wealth and environmentally damaging activities as well as financial transactions as foreseen in the proposal for a Financial Transaction Tax.
Read the full version of the newsletter here.

Organising International Solidarity
Egypt: EU should not compromise on Fundamental Rights!
08 February 2016

The assassination of Italian PhD researcher Giulio Regeni, whose body was found in Cairo last week with signs of torture has raised international concern over the worsening security situation in Egypt at the expenses of human rights and fundamental freedoms. Although the circumstances behind Regeni’s killings remain unknown, the fact has drawn international attention to the unlawful practices of the current regime in Egypt when it comes to human rights and fundamental freedoms. Giulio Regeni was researching on independent trade unions and labour rights and the 6 April movement in.

SOLIDAR strongly condemns the brutal escalation of violence against fundamental freedoms and human rights in Egypt, and calls upon the EU Institutions and the member states to take immediate and concrete actions to put pressure on the Egyptian Government to stop unlawful practices such as forced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, arrest and imprisonments, torture, and travel bans, that are carried out systematically or in a widespread manner and constitute crimes against humanity.
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2030 agenda for Sustainable Development: CSOs coalition letter to Frans Timmermans
09 February 2016

From June 2015 onwards, a considerable number of EU-based Civil Society Organisations from the sustainability, development, environment and social sectors have been meeting to consider in which way we can contribute to the implementation, monitoring and follow-up of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, both in Europe and beyond.

This week, this broad CSOs Coalition in which amongst others SOLIDAR takes part, has addressed a joint letter to the European Commission’s First Vice-President Frans Timmermans.
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Morocco: New approved social security law extends coverage to the self-employed workers!
10 February 2016

Morocco’s Government Council has approved the draft law on extending social insurance coverage for self-employed workers. While the previous health insurance and pension schemes, covered only 30 to 35% of the employed population, two thirds of the Moroccan population remained outside of any form of social protection. SOLIDAR considers that the approval of the new law will improve the compulsory implementation of health insurance and pensions’ scheme for all self-employed workers, regardless of their socio-professional affiliation.
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A joint statement ‘EGYPT: Travel bans systematically used to silence Human Rights defenders’ voices’
12 February 2016

The travel ban against Mr Gamal Eid issued on 4 February 2016 is only the latest in a long series of arbitrary travel restrictions against prominent Human Rights defenders and activists. Amnesty International, EuroMed Rights, Front Line Defenders, Human Rights Watch, IFEX, the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (a joint OMCT-FIDH programme), People In Need and SOLIDAR condemn this blatant crackdown perpetrated by the Egyptian authorities against independent civil society.

On 4 February 2016, Mr Gamal Eid, a renowned Human Rights lawyer, founder and executive director of the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI), was informed by Egyptian security at Cairo International Airport, where he went to take a flight to Athens for a business trip, that a travel ban had been placed upon him. No explanation was given to him about the reasons for the ban, nor had any previous notification or summon for investigation been notified to him.
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