No business as usual?
30 October 2015

The Juncker Commission presented its new work programme for 2016 this week. As usual at first glance the glass can be seen as half full or half empty. There is no doubt that this Commission has its mind set on doing things differently, but this constant insistence that the approach is different is just another incentive for us to examine what has really been delivered in the past year. Steps have been made, such as the investment plan in which the priorities are visible: migration and the refugee crisis, jobs, growth, investment and employment. The unprecedented refugee and migrant flow to Europe represents a set of challenges and opportunities which cannot be solved by emergency measures alone, it must be accompanied by comprehensive policy plans that aim to tackle the root causes of migration and offer sustainable answers to the situati on today. We therefore call for a new approach to the Dublin III regulation. We question the proposal to strengthen European borders (e.g. by reinforcing EU border and coast guards). On top of that we need real investment in housing, education and training to facilitate long-term integration and social cohesion. The proposed New Skills Agenda for Europe will not only focus on the mutual recognition of qualifications, but following the Council Recommendation, will also encourage to Member States to develop validation arrangements to give more visibility to the learning outcomes of NFIL. The validation of skills and competences could become a great tool to enhance the labour market participation of migrants, as well their further education and training.

Last week Commissioner Timmermans stated in Strasbourg that 2016 should be ‘the year of social progress’. We welcome that statement, and hope that words will be translated into action. Listening to President Juncker proposing more flexibility in the Stability and Growth Pact rules was encouraging. Equally, the recent discussions on using the European Social Fund and the Fund for European Aid to the most Deprived to support asylum seekers and refugees is a step in the right direction. However, it is important to make sure that a rise in the number of recipients is reflected in an increase in funds to avoid trade-offs. We have also welcomed the announcement of the pillar of social rights which must include social protection and should pave the way for a new social agenda. SOLIDAR together with the trade union movement and other civil society organisations have submitted proposals and expressed support to Commissioner Thyssen for this approach.

Nevertheless a reference to a social impact assessment of policies is missing as well as a reference to human, civil and social rights from the chapter on Europe as a global actor. Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreements are one example, and security is a relevant concern, but Europe should not fall back into the trap of seeking security at the cost of accepting human and social rights violations. More for more should mean: more trade for more human rights! Neighbourhood policies, even if tailor made as stipulated in the work programme, should essentially contribute to sustainable social, economic and political development. Failing this there will not be any stability nor security. It is a simple lesson from the past and errors do not necessarily have to be repeated.

Last but not least it is deeply disappointing that civil dialogue is not even mentioned. Dialogue with citizens is a necessary and potentially enriching process, but why are those who organise and represent citizens, Civil Society Organisations, always overlooked? We are more than lobbyists and advocacy agencies and we are getting tired of repeating and justifying our representativeness and our transparent and democratic structures.

No business as usual? With this work programme we consider that the glass is only half full. And we are still thirsty!

Together for Social Europe
Step up cooperation for human-rights based solutions along the Western Balkan migratory route

27 October 2015

On 25 October, at the invitation of the President of the European Commission, the Heads of State and Government of Albania, Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Romania, Serbia and Slovenia met in Brussels to discuss immediate operational actions to tackle the emergency situation along the Western Balkan migratory route.

As reported by the press, it was a tense meeting (See article in The Guardian) which highlighted the difficulties in stepping up cooperation and developing a collective cross-border approach. The situation along the Western Balkan route is critical. After Hungary built a fence along the border with Serbia, the flow of refugees switched to Croatia which in turn imposed border controls, pushing refugees into Slovenia, where more than 60,000 have arrived in the past few days.
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On 10 November, SOLIDAR invites you to a round table debate entitled “Migration and fundamental rights: will the EU live up to its values?” to be held at the European economic and social committee from 12:00 to 16:00. during this event we will discuss with policy makers and members of civil society how to improve EU policies on asylum, migration and integration to guarantee more solidarity and respect of human rights and how to support CSOs providing humanitarian assistance to refugees along the Western Balkan route.

You can find more information on the event and the online registration here.

Progressive structural reforms: Proposals for European reforms to reduce inequalities and promote jobs, growth and social investment

28 October 2015

On 1 December 2015, SOLIDAR invites you to attend the public launch of our edited volume “Progressive Structural Reforms. Proposals for European reforms to reduce inequalities and promote jobs, growth and social investment.”

This publication presents the results of the SOLIDAR Social Progress Lab 2015 which was launched in spring 2015. The Social Progress Lab is a space for academics, policy-makers and civil society to reflect on necessary strategies and policies to achieve a more social and inclusive Europe.

It collects the analyses by 10 academic scholars from across Europe with a focus on identifying and targeting inequalities, shaping social investment and European policies affecting social safeguards, and thereby seeks to enrich the policy debate at European and national level about alternative structural reforms.

The edited volume comprises forewords by Nicolas Schmit, Luxembourg’s Minister for Labour, Employment and the Social and Solidarity Economy as well as Thomas Händel, GUE/ NGL MEP and Chair of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs of the European Parliament and was developed under the scientific guidance of Rémi Bazillier, University of Orléans, Giovanni Cozzi, Greenwich University, Amandine Crespy, Free Brussels University (ULB), Ferdi De Ville, Ghent University and Angela Wigger, Radboud University Nijmegen, as well as Special Adviser Lieve Fransen.
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Building Learning Societies
Council of Europe work on competences for democratic culture
29 October 2015

Over the last few years we have seen a decrease in people’s participation in democratic life in Europe, as well as an increase in radicalisation, in the form of extremism, hatred and xenophobia. In the context of the changing European fabric, it is highly important to step up our efforts towards developing tolerance and understanding between different societies. The development of civic and democratic competences must therefore encompass active solidarity, the respect of human rights, democracy and the rule of law.

The Education Department of the Council of Europe has undertaken the development of a set of guidelines and skills descriptors for creating a democratic culture and intercultural dialogue. They are intended to assist national authorities and educational institutions in developing and adjusting their curricula to encompass the skills, competences and attitudes that individuals need: “a set of attitudes and behaviours that emphasise dialogue and cooperation, solving conflicts by peaceful means, and active participation in public space. A modern democracy cannot function unless it is able and willing to engage in intercultural dialogue, and intercultural dialogue is difficult to imagine without democratic culture.”
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Organising International Solidarity
SOLIDAR launches Seven Social Protection Monitor Reports on the European Neighbourhood Policy
30 October 2015

On the occasion of the first day of the third regional conference on the EU Arab Partnership, organised by the ANND and the Euromed NGO Platform with the support of SOLIDAR in Beirut on 30-31 October 2015, SOLIDAR has launched the Social Protection Monitoring (SPM) of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) with seven country reports on Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Palestine, Lebanon, Egypt and Jordan.

SOLIDAR calls the EU for the upcoming revision of the ENP to foster a comprehensive agenda to promote Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ESCRs) and to promote freedom of association and collective bargaining. Find here the main conclusions of the monitoring reports and what it is exactly that the European Southern Neighbourhood countries are continuing to suffer from.

One of the speakers at the regional conference is MEP Richard Howitt, Socialist and Democrat Group Foreign Affairs Co-ordinator in the European Parliament, who reflected on “What is the changing context at EU level with the adoption of new EU Action Plan on HR and Democracy? What are the impacts?”. You can read the full version of his speech here.

In the past few days SOLIDAR has dedicated its ‘ENP up close’ newsletter to the different topics to be discussed during the Third Regional conference that is taking place in Beirut, Lebanon at the moment. You can find these thematic issues of the SOLIDAR ENP up close here.

• ENP up close No. 10 – It’s about time for a new EU-Arab partnership!
• ENP up close No. 11 – The new EU-Arab partnership should focus on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights!
• ENP up close No. 12 – The EU-Arab partnership should promote a rights based approach to migration and development!
• ENP up close No. 13 – Defending civil society space in the new EU-Arab partnership

SOLIDAR and its members and partners are organising the European Neighbourhood Days that will take place on 16 and 17 November 2015 in Brussels.

You can register now for our two public events:

Defending Civil Society Space. EU-Arab Dialogue: Rebuilding relations with European Southern Neighbourhood Countries’
Seminar organised by CONCORD, Euromed Non-Governmental Platform and the Arab NGO Network for Development (ANND).
16 November 2015, 09:30 – 16:30 at the EESC

16 November 2015, 09:30 – 16:30 at the EESC
Programme
Online Registration

The EU as a peace promoter in the Middle East and North Africa: between human rights and security’
Roundtable debate organised by SOLIDAR, Euromed Non-Governmental Platform and the Arab NGO Network for Development (ANND) hosted by Pier Antonio Panzeri, MEP.
17 November 2015, 18:00 – 20:00 at the European Parliament
Programme
Online Registration