COM or convergence?

13 May 2016

Two months ago the European Commission launched a widespread consultation on the pillar of social rights. No doubt this could be an opportunity to return to something which resembles to a real social agenda, although it will not be called that. Probably because it may not sound innovative enough.

Social partners and civil society organisations have already started to get involved in the process and to commit to real contributions. A social rights pillar could start with a reference to the existing social rights enshrined in the Treaties (for example article 9),and in UN and in ILO conventions. Yes, the EU and Member States have signed these conventions and there is no reason to reinvent the wheel. The problem is not that they did not exist, the problem is that they are neglected in many Member States and the Commission does not really have sufficient means to exert pressure on Member States to respect them. On one hand the Open Method of Coordination (OMC is only an open process and on the other hand the European semester process is linked to the Europe2020 strategy that no longer seems to be the reference point. Nevertheless with growing inequality, the lack of social and territorial cohesion within and between the Member States, there is an urgent need to act. The Commission is right to bring this back on the agenda! But will it only serve to deepen Economic and Monetary Union? Or will it concern all Member States?

A right is a right, and is either universal or at least European wide! Fundamental rights cannot be divided. In particular, as democratic, social, cultural and economic rights are under pressure in some Member States, it would be a bad signal to link the notion of rights to that of economic, fiscal or financial performance.

Anticipating changes in labour markets means enshrining labour rights, and not labour market rights. And in addition it means for us anticipating the future of welfare states and welfare provision in a changing context. Social policies are more than employment and jobs promotion. Therefore we need to bring social investment in education, training, culture, social and public services back on the agenda.

As a social NGO and civil society network we are not interested in a nice COM exercise, but we expect results. The EU has promised well-being to its citizens and not only to a happy few. Let’s use the process and come up with the solutions we need to accomplish an upward convergence process. This will not be possible if we do not mobilise our national constituencies too. This is not the time for cynicism, pessimism or ‘wait and see’. It is time to act in close cooperation with all those who understand that social progress is needed and possible!

On 26th May SOLIDAR in cooperation with the German Trade Union Federation (DGB), the Austrian Trade Union Federation (ÖGB), Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES), the Austrian Federal Chamber of Labour (AK EUROPA) and Diakonie Deutschland is organising a conference on ‘The Pillar of Social Rights – a step towards a social Europe?’. More information can be found here.

SOLIDAR Silver Rose Awards – Join us on 14 June

In a world of rapid political and social change, mounting conflict and inequality, the need for progressive politics to ensure social justice and global solidarity is greater than ever. As a committed political activist yourself, you are in line with SOLIDAR’s long-standing efforts to facilitate and implement these values on the national as well as international level.

On Tuesday 14 June 2016 we gather in the European Parliament in Brussels to celebrate four courageous political choices, four award winners working on highly sensitive and very current political issues: Press Freedom, Decent Work, Women’s Rights, Access to Education for All.

If you would like to join us for this evening to honour our four awardees, you can find more information and the online registration here.

Together for Social Europe

SOLIDAR at the SABIR festival to build ‘Mediterranean alternatives’ to European migration and integration policies

12 May 2016

This week SOLIDAR is at the SABIR Festival of Mediterranean Cultures organised by our Italian member ARCI. It represents an excellent opportunity to foster debate on this issue among members of African and European civil society, social partners, national politicians and Members of the European Parliament. After a first edition in Lampedusa in October 2014, the second edition of the Sabir Festival will take place from 12 to 15 May 2016 in Pozzallo, another very symbolic venue as it represents a cultural crossroads on the doorstep of Europe.

You can follow the different activities taking place during the Sabir Festival through #FestivalSabir.

Renzi’s Migration Compact: not exactly the change of course we expected

04 May 2016

With Italy once again becoming the main migratory route after the closure of the Balkan route, the Italian government has tried to take the lead in the EU migration strategy by proposing a ‘Migration Compact’ non-paper. The document, presented last month by Italian PM Matteo Renzi to European foreign and defence ministers, suggests an EU strategy based on enhanced cooperation with third countries of origin and transit. Following the logic of the proposal, the cooperation would be aimed at externalising the management of migration flows to third countries, like the EU-Turkey agreement which is presented in the non-paper as a positive example to be replicated for future arrangements.
Read more

#TTIP-Leaks: the end of TTIP?

02 May 2016

Over the last two years SOLIDAR has been closely following the TTIP negotiations. We have voiced our concerns especially on the issue of public procurement and the agreement’s possible impact on social and public services in the EU.

The EU negotiating team has been trying to reassure civil society and the broader public that our European standards are safe and that under no circumstances will a trade agreement have a negative impact on our European social welfare systems.
Read more

Building Learning Societies

Europe Day: Highlighting the role of active citizenship to foster people’s participation and democracy in Europe

12 May 2016

On 9 May we celebrated peace and unity in Europe during the annual Schuman Day celebration. And we shall keep on working to showcase the true worth of the European project, which is still questioned by some. The commitment to fundamental rights, democracy and the rule of law must be continuously given priority, especially now in face of the great challenges faced by Europe with regard to migration, solidarity, inequality and economic sustainability.

What Europe needs now is active European citizenship to foster people’s participation and democracy in Europe. This should be nurtured from the cradle and throughout our lifespan. In the view of SOLIDAR members, civic education plays a significant role in this process, as well as the development of specific competences in this regard i.e. intercultural and civic competences. They should be built on human rights-based foundations, especially in face of the increasingly extreme views being voiced, and the reluctance to respect the core values, focusing solely on the economic discourse.
Read more

Organising International Solidarity

Brazil: the return of the old policy (and elites)

13 May 2016

Referring to Brazil’s idiosyncrasies and complexity, the great Brazilian composer, Tom Jobim, used to say that “Brazil is not for beginners”. The current political events would seem to confirm that. Nevertheless, a closer look would reveal that, in reality, we are just witnessing the replication of a well-known Latin American scenario.

Indeed, the story is the following: we have a parliamentary majority, forged thanks to an electoral law that favours the election of the economic and conservative elites’ representatives – it’s enough to have a look at the ethnic and gender composition of the Brazilian legislative houses to prove it! – promoting the overthrow of a president directly elected by more than 50 million people, using, as a pretext, issues related to the execution of the budget (the current government has acted in the same way as its predecessors!). This expedient, as we know, does not exist in the presidential system. The impeachment should only be used exceptionally, in cases where the President is guilty of serious crime. Otherwise, it generates permanent instability.
Read more

More comments from our partners

• Trade Union Confederation of Americas (TUCA/CSA).
• SOLIDAR member CGIL together with the other 2 Italian trade union confederations (CISL-UIL).
• Fundação Perseu Abramo.
• Instituto Observatório Social
• Mesa de articulación

EGYPT: Human rights lawyer and activist Malek Adly arrested

10 May 2016

On 6 May 2016, human rights lawyer and activist Malek Adly was arrested in Maadi, Cairo. The prosecution brought the following charges, under articles 86, 86 bis, 87, 102 bis, 137 of the Penal Code:

• Attempting to overthrow the regime, change the constitution of the state and its republican system and the form of the government.
• Joining one of the associations, bodies and organisations that aim to obstruct implementation of constitutional provisions, and prevent state institutions and public authorities from carrying out their responsibilities, and that also harm national unity and social peace.
• Advocating verbally and in writing for the aims mentioned in the first accusation using material prepared for distribution and printing.
• Spreading false news, statements and rumours, misrepresenting challenges to the state in ways contrary to the truth, which could disturb public security and are contrary to public interest.
• Possession of publications prepared in order to spread such news.
• Use of force and violence against a public servant (national security officer who carried out his arrest) to prevent him from performing his duty of arrest. The defendant pushed him and pulled him from his clothes trying to escape, although he was not successful.
  Read more

Bridging the humanitarian – development divide: the challenge of the World Humanitarian Summit

12 May 2016

What will the EU bring to the World Humanitarian Summit table? This was the main question raised during a policy debate organised this week by the Development and Peace Foundation in partnership with CIDSE. The event took place on the eve of this month’s Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) that is expected to adopt conclusions setting out the EU’s and its Member States’ position for the (first ever) World Humanitarian Summit (WHS) taking place in Istanbul between 23 and 24 May. The WHS will bring together governments, local communities, international organisations, aid providers and the private sector.

In preparation for the Summit, the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has taken the lead, after broad consultations, to set out an Agenda for Humanity. SOLIDAR welcomes the UN SG report and its wish to bridge the humanitarian – development divide. Stressing that investing in universal social protection systems strongly contributes to build resilience and self-resilience, SOLIDAR calls on the EU and its Member States to acknowledge – in their conclusions- the crucial role of social protection to reduce the humanitarian aid dependency of population groups such as internally displaced people and refugees through access to quality education and health, access to decent work and income support measures.
Read more

Another May Day amidst Freedom of Association violations: the case of labour activists in China

04 May 2016

Last week, on the occasion of International Workers Day, the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions (HKCTU) launched a Global Action Week under the slogan “Say NO to Labour Suppression” to demand the immediate release of three labour activists detained since December 2015.

Between 3 and 5 December 2015, in the Guangdong Province, at least 25 employees and volunteers from four labour organisations were detained and questioned by the police and seven of them were put into prolonged custody or forced to “disappear”. After a series of global and mainland local interventions, four activists were released. Yet, Zeng Feiyang, director of Panyu Migrant Workers Centre, his colleague Meng Han and He Xiaobo, director of Foshan Nanfeiyan Social Work Centre, continue to be detained.

The three detainees are all labour activists in Guangdong Province, who have been vocal in the labour movement in China. HKCTU and labour organisations launched a global action week which lasted until 9 May, to urge global labour organisations to send postcards to the Chinese embassies, demanding the immediate release of the activists and a halt to the crackdown on civil society.
Details on the action can be found here.
Read more

May Day is every day: SOLIDAR supporting independent trade unions in Egypt

04 May 2016

In Egypt, after the independent trade unions were prevented from holding their May Day conference in the Press Syndicate, as planned, the conference took place at the Centre for Trade Union and Worker Services. Three hundred workers representing unions and various trade sectors from all of Egypt’s governorates requested the government to cancel all legal restraints on the rights of workers to form their independent unions and the issuance of a union law according to article 76 of the Egyptian constitution and international labour agreements (ILO C98 and C87).

The rally comes in a climate of severe repression of the public space in Egypt, especially for civil society, journalists, human rights defenders and independent trade unions. Security forces have been given free rein to use excessive force, including live ammunition against demonstrators. Travel bans, the use of prolonged pre-trial detention as a punitive measure, government lawsuits attempting to dissolve independent trade unions are all common practices that close the space for independent trade unions and civil society.
Read more