Editorial by Conny Reuter, SOLIDAR Secretary General

Think positive – recharge the batteries!

16 July 2015

Rising inequality and social exclusion will also have an impact on the summer holiday period. Some of us can easily travel and relax on beaches or elsewhere. For others the tourist season is an opportunity to find seasonal jobs, because even though they are precarious, they are at least a way of earning some income to help meet the toughest challenges.

The terrorist attack in Sousse has destroyed this possibility for Tunisia and thus presents a real economic loss for the only country which seemed to have a chance of making real progress after the transition process following the so-called Arab Spring.

The Greek situation is different, as the economic losses have less of an impact on the tourists from abroad than on internal demand. And travelling to Greece is a good opportunity for German tourists to perhaps rethink some of the stereotypical images of Greeks, as they will see them working hard in the tourism sector, more than 8 hours a day and 5 days a week.

Tourism is a big industry and reflects the current state of inequality, in which the less fortunate cannot afford to go on holiday, or if they do, then the conditions may well not be the best, while the rich can enjoy full luxury. This summer is thus a very clear illustration of the increasingly unequal distribution of wealth today.

For those privileged enough to go on holiday and to relax, the summer is also an opportunity to recharge their batteries. At EU-level much energy will be needed to tackle the outcome of the crisis, not only in Greece, and to give meaning to a process called ‘better regulation’ that might frame policy making, but should not replace it. Great efforts will also be needed to strengthen the Europe2020 social agenda, to find humanitarian solutions for migration and to work on peaceful conflict resolution.

For those who can enjoy, enjoy, but be aware that millions in Europe cannot!

Together for Social Europe

EP Committee LIBE calls for asylum seekers preferences to be taken into account in relocation schemes

16 July 2015

On 16 July, the European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) voted on the Ska Keller’s report on the proposal for a Council decision establishing provisional measures in the area of international protection for the benefit of Italy and Greece, namely the Commission’s proposal for a voluntary plan to relocate 40,000 asylum seekers.

The report states that the relocation determination procedure should take into account needs, preferences and the specific qualifications of the asylum seekers such as language skills, family ties, social relations, previous stays in a Member State, previous study and previous work experience with a company or an organisation of a specific Member State. The report also calls upon the Council to increase to 50,000 the total number of asylum seekers to be relocated from Italy and Greece and add a number of measures to ensure that the asylum seeker is properly informed about her/his relocation procedure (i.e. in a language that she or he understands and through a letter of notification).
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2015 CSRs Overlook Social Cohesion

14 July 2015

The Economic and Financial Affairs Council (Ecofin) today (14 July 2015) adopted the 2015 Country-Specific Recommendations (CSRs) proposed by the European Commission in May 2015. These provide a first insight into the newly streamlined European Semester, which focuses on a select number of priorities for boosting jobs and economic growth in Europe.

SOLIDAR is deeply concerned about the 2015 CSRs one-sided attention to fiscal and financial consolidation. Speaking at Ecofin’s press conference, Mr. Pierre Gramegna (Minister for Finance of Luxembourg) referred to the Semester in relation to the Five Presidents’ report of 22 June 2015 on completing Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). However, this report focuses mainly on economic, financial and fiscal union, while social cohesion is left by the wayside. Taking into account the current employment and social situation in Europe, not only in Greece, SOLIDAR considers that a re-balance is needed.
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GREXIT prevented or suspended?

13 July 2015

On the morning of Monday 13 July the Euro summit reached an agreement which has been welcomed by many as a success because the GREXIT is no longer on the agenda – for the time being.

If this was the main objective for Council President Tusk and French President Hollande, it was indeed achieved, but at what price?
Greece will continue to be a programme country and the Institutions (former Troika) will not only control ex-post, they will also be empowered to evaluate ex-ante: “The (Greek) government needs to consult and agree with the Institutions on all draft legislation in relevant areas within adequate time before submitting it for public consultation or to Parliament”. Empowerment for some, a loss of independence and autonomy for Greece!
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Building Learning Societies

Education and Training priorities of the Luxembourgish Presidency

15 July 2015

On behalf of the new Luxembourg Presidency, the Luxembourg minister of Higher Education and Research, Claude Meisch today presented their priorities in terms of education, training and youth to the European Parliament’s Culture and Education Committee.

“Luxembourg’s Presidency will be the presidency for citizens, growth, employment and innovation”, said the minister. One of the priorities is the inclusion of young people in quality education and their integration into the labour market. The Luxembourg Presidency considers that national governments must continue to facilitate the transition between the world of education and the world of work and the integration of young people into the labour market through the Youth Guarantee.
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Organising International Solidarity

Save the date – SOLIDAR discussion panel – “Social Protection for All: Putting SDGs Commitments into Practice”

22 October 2015 | 10:00 – 13:00 | European Parliament, Brussels

On 22 October SOLIDAR in cooperation with The Cercle de Coopération des ONG de développement, OGBL Solidarité Syndicale is organising a discussion panel on “Social Protection for All: Putting SDGs Commitments into Practice”, in the European Parliament in Brussels.

This event aims at:

• Taking stock of the results of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) negotiations and discussing how to move from engagements to the implementation of the social protection-related SDG targets (currently targets 1.3, 5.4 and 10.4);
• Highlight the interconnections between the right to social protection and the progressive realisation of economic, social and cultural rights.
  Mr. Romain Schneider, Minister for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs of Luxembourg, will be participating in the event.

More information will come shortly.

SOLIDAR adds its voice to that of CSOs in Egypt against the new anti-terror draft law

16 July 2015

Following the assassination of Prosecutor General Hisham Barakat, the government’s immediate response has been to draft a second anti-terror law.

SOLIDAR adds its voice to that of several Civil Society Organisations in Egypt that have strongly called for a rejection of the draft of the new anti-terror law, in light of its inconsistency with Article 71 of the Egyptian constitution and because it seeks to reinstate restriction on rights and the freedoms of expression and of association.
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Social Protection Monitor regarding EU Development Cooperation Policy is now available

14 July 2015

In recent years, achieving Social Protection for All has become a common commitment for National Governments – that adopted, in July 2012, the ILO Recommendation on National Floors of Social Protection, R202.

Major donors, such us the European Union -whose communication on Social Protection in Development Cooperation was adopted in August 2012-, have also expressed support for the Social Protection Floors approach. Moreover, social protection systems, including social protection floors, figure prominently among the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (namely Goal 1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere).
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