JADE SPRING MEETING 2009 HOSTED BY MARIE PANAYOTOPOULOS CASSIOTOU MEP

05/03/2009: JADE (Junior Associations for the Development of Europe) held its 2009 Spring Conference at the European Parliament on Thursday 5 March 2009. The event was organised in cooperation with the EPP-ED Group of the European Parliament and JADE's partners, and was hosted by Marie Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou MEP. This year's theme concentrated on 'Innovation and Creativity in youth entrepreneurship education of the XXIst century'.

JADE unites and supports 20,000 students in 280 Junior Enterprises across 15 European countries and contributes to making Europe an entrepreneurial and knowledge-based economy. During the past 16 years, JADE has represented higher education students committed to fostering their entrepreneurial spirit and that of generations to come, by founding and managing Junior Enterprises selling consulting reports and other services to companies, non-profit organisations and governments. Every year, SME-like functioning non-profit organisations reinvest their earnings in the students, while providing them with valuable entrepreneurial experience and confidence in making their future projects come true.

In her opening speech, Mrs Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou underlined the importance of entrepreneurship and the development of new skills in fostering employability of young people, especially this year, 2009, which has been declared the European Year of Creativity and Innovation. She reminded that the European Parliament stands by young entrepreneurs and has undertaken actions in view of reducing the high pessimism and insecurity of young persons in the 'transition phase' from education to employment, such as the Written Declaration 33/2008 on devoting more attention to youth empowerment in EU policies.

"It goes without saying that all social actors should work closely together in order to reinforce employability, mobility and professional training of young people. It is our duty as politicians not to fail them in their hopes and yearnings by increasing their efforts", noted the Greek MEP.

European Commissioner, Ján Figel' responsible for Education, Training, Culture and Youth, stressed the importance of entrepreneurship in society, but also of innovation and creativity, lifelong learning and education and transfer of knowledge. Mr Figel' recalled the EU's contribution to these efforts by mobilising and promoting the value of knowledge. "Youth is our future and present. Youth is a gift and we should deal with responsibility and care for the next generation. In time of difficulties, like the crisis we are now facing, we must encourage initiative", declared Commissioner Figel'. He also announced the creation of an Erasmus Programme for young entrepreneurs.

The round tables of the conference dealt with 'junior enterprises developing Europe's competitiveness' and 'the benefits of businesses/university cooperation'.

"It is highly important for the EU's future that young persons take further initiatives and participate in economic and social life by combining theory and practice", stated Marie Panayotopoulos - Cassiotou.

For further information:
Tel: +32-2-2847447 - Fax: +32-2-2849447
E-mail: marie.panayotopoulos-cassiotou@europarl.europa.eu

INNOVATION AND CREATIVITY IN YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION OF THE XXIST CENTURY

04/03/2009: The meeting on 'Innovation and creativity in youth entrepreneurship education of the XXIst century' will take place on Thursday 5 March 2009, Room Jan 6Q2 from 15:30 to 20:00 hrs.

The two roundtables scheduled, 'Junior enterprises developing Europe's competitiveness' and 'The benefits of business / university cooperation', will be followed by an Excellence Awards Introduction where young student- entrepreneurs will be selected by a jury for the best Junior Enterprise project.

The speakers include, among others, Christian Weinberger and Simone Baldassari from DG Enterprise, Sergei Koperdak and Peter Bauer from DG Education, Christiane Westphal from DG Employment, Margarete Rudzki from Eurochambres, a representative from BusinessEurope, John Lindsay from 'Serial Entrepreneur', and Florent Barel from JADE (The European Confederation of Junior Enterprises).

More than 100 young entrepreneurs from different European countries are expected to attend.

For further information: +32-2-22847447

A EUROPEAN AND INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL IN NANTES, FRANCE : 26TH-29TH OF MARCH, 2009.

05/02/2009: On Sky News : Johnson's dad, the old block of whom Boris is a chip off, believes that Boris's success will be down to a classical upbringing. "If you can really master ancient Greek, you can do anything! Pericles' view of Athenian democracy is a very good model if you're going to be mayor of London".

Associated Press : "Johnson is focusing his campaign on London's outer boroughs [...] Mindful perhaps that London conservatives are stereotyped as rich white English males, he has spoken mangled ancient Greek to Greek voters (he learned it in school).»

Every year, other countries participate with representative groups, authors, films, professors and teachers. The following year, we bring events to their country. In some cases, we can give distance to the passions of a modern event. For example, it is easier to speak of Persia (Iran) from the perspective of Thucydides and Aeschylus. Egypt could be better understood by reading Herodotus. Cicero helps with concepts of the law. All the modern issues: human rights, women’s liberation, technology, advertising, ecology and even citizenship have their roots in classical times as well.

Festum Europaeum Latinum et Graecum quartum tractabit argumentum c.t."Barbari, Alteri, Limes". Patroni hujus festi erunt duo administri galli, Domina Valérie Pécresse ab Institutione Superiore et Dominus Xavier Darcos ab Institutione Nationali, et patrona perennis festi erit Domina Jacqueline de Romilly, Academiae Gallorum. Constabit e tribus diebus et duobus vesperibus congressuum et disceptationum minorum. Allicient quoque cantica linguâ latinâ, excerpta e comoediis antiquis hodiernisque, expositiones de Carthagine, conventûs de Pace Romana, 'Babylonia et Graecia', 'Hierosolyma, Athenae et Roma', itinera humanistarum, concentûs de Pythagoro, afflatûs antiqui super opera Debussy.
Fient apparatûs vestituum antiquorum, cena graeca, et legentur opera latina scripta a Joachim du Bellay, Karl Marx et Arthur Rimbaud.
Mense Marte anni 2005-i aperto, huic evento prodest favor non solum virorum feminarumque politicorum (François Fillon, qui illo tempore Administer ab Institutione Nationali primus eo favit, quem secutus est R. Donnedieu de Vabres, Administer a Cultu Civili); litteratorum (Jacques Lacarrière, qui eum inauguravit, Karl-Heinz de Rothenburg et Olivier Germain-Thomas, qui quoque adfuerunt, et Vassilis Alexakis; sed etiam diurnariorum, quorum P.P.D.A., hospes et sidus televisificum, qui consentit edicere titulo magnis litteris scripto Acta Diurna anni 429-i a.Chr.n. Athenis; necnon sodales Academiae Scientiarum (sicut ei, de quibus tractavit emissio «Rayon Gamma Facteur Epsilon» in Canal Académie [Catena televisifica Academiae]; et scholae, quarum specializatio 'Periegesis et Patrimonium', ubi horno 'Point Métier' [Angulus ad vitae cursum eligendum] ad juniores dicatus inaugurabitur.
In hoc festo aliquantum insolito ordinabitur certamen europaeum ludorum et inventorum pertinentium ad Antiquitatem, ut oblectamentis, musicâ, artibus elegantioribus, colloquiis de aspectibus historicis, et illo Angulo ad vitae cursum eligendum, emolumenta eruditionis conditae in memoria communi et patrimonio universali humanitatum (bene vocatarum) probet. Hoc patrimonium semper vivet pro eis, qui subsidiis latine in Interret pansis et Graeciae linguae mythisque, annorum plus quam duo millia et multas vicissitudines superantibus, student. Nam, nisi homo suum proprium cultum civilem et ejus virtutes noscit, quo modo ingenia alienigena explorare et ad ea se accommodare potest?
Ecce tres dies festivi et jucundi. (translated by Brennus Legranus)

http://www.festival-latin-grec.eu/en

DIALOGUE ENTRE LE PARLEMENT EUROPÉEN ET LE GOUVERNEMENT FRANÇAIS POUR PRÉPARER LA PRÉSIDENCE FRANÇAISE DE L'UNION EUROPÉENNE

18/04/2008: Dans le cadre de la future Présidence française de l'Union européenne (UE), Marie Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou et Elisabeth Morin, Députées au Parlement européen ont représenté le Groupe du Parti Populaire Européen et Démocrates Européens (PPE-DE) au Parlement européen (PE) au cours d'une délégation de la commission de l'emploi et des affaires sociales à Paris, pour une prise de contact directe avec les ministères compétents et les partenaires sociaux.

Lors de ce déplacement, les députées européennes ont rencontrés successivement: Xavier Darcos, Ministre de l'Education nationale, Xavier Bertrand, Ministre du Travail, des relations sociales, de la famille et de la solidarité et Laurent Wauquiez, Secrétaire d'Etat chargé de l'Emploi.

Lors de ces contacts ministériels, Marie Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou et Elisabeth Morin ont insisté sur l'écoute du Parlement européen à travers les prochains mois au cours de la Présidence française de l'UE.

La discussion s'est concentrée sur le programme de la Présidence française dans les domaines de l'emploi et de la protection sociale et les députées ont été informées des suggestions de la Présidence prochaine concernant:

• les conditions de travail (Directive sur le temps de travail, Directive sur la santé et la sécurité au travail, la fléxicurité);
• la promotion de l'éducation tout au long de vie;
• le cadre européen pour les qualifications professionnelles;
• les systèmes de retraite et la portabilité des droits à pension complémentaire;
• ainsi que la reformulation des directives relatives aux congés parentaux et de maternité.

Marie Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou et Elisabeth Morin ont rencontré les partenaires sociaux, membres du CDSEI (Comité du Dialogue Social sur les questions Européennes et Internationales) avec lesquels elles ont évoqué entre autres:

• l'économie sociale;
• la responsabilité conjointe et solidaire dans les relations de travail;
• la mobilité des travailleurs dans le secteur de la santé et de ses effets; mais aussi
• l'amélioration de la vie des personnes handicapées grâce à l'utilisation des technologies de l'information et des communications (TIC), etc.

Pour Marie Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou et Elisabeth Morin, MdPE, la Présidence française de l'UE se prépare dans l'écoute et le dialogue des sujets qui touchent les citoyens européens.

Pour toute information :
Marie Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou, MdPE, Tél.: +32-2-2847447
Elisabeth Morin, MdPE, Tél.: +33-3-88-177630
Service de Presse du Groupe du PPE-DE, Antoine Ripoll, Tél.: +32-475-856290

URGENT NEED FOR COMMON EUROPEAN LEGISLATION ON ILLEGAL MIGRATION

14/11/2007: Recognising that among the illegal migrants entering the EU, there is a percentage of minors whose future living conditions and education on European soil is neither guaranteed nor based on common standards, Marie Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou MEP asked the Vice-President of the European Commission the following question: "In the framework of the future strategy for the rights of the child, is it possible to plan a common European policy which will ensure decent living conditions and education to illegal minor immigrants who come to Europe, based on the obligation of the Member States to respect their international commitments?".

Responding to the MEP during the Strasbourg Plenary, the Vice-President of the European Commission, Franco Frattini, admitted that there is no legal base in the Treaties for the protection of the rights of women and children who enter the EU illegaly. The Commissioner underlined that all Member States have signed international treaties which provide for minimum common guidelines for the protection of all immigrants. According to the European Charter for Human Rights, European countries are bound to provide them with medical care and living resources. "Children however, because they are considered as illegals, have no possibility to attend school and are thus deprived of all the opportunities for a good start in life", admitted Commissioner Frattini and stressed that the Convention for the Rights of the Child imposes on host countries the obligation to take into account, in their decisions, the best interest of the child.

The Commissioner further referred to two pending Directive proposals, and in particular the one that deals with the return of migrants. This Directive foresees that when the Member States have obligations based on international human rights such as the right to education or the right to family reunification, then they shall not issue orders of expulsion. The second pending Directive refers to sanctions on employers who employ illegal immigrants in the EU. "Illegal labour affecting vulnerable social groups should be considered as the most serious offence and receive adequate sanctions", replied Commissioner Frattini to the second intervention of Marie Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou, who pointed out the difficulties in the implementation of international obligations since neighbouring countries, through which illegal immigrants enter the EU, do not comply with their obligations. As far as the treatment of minors is concerned, the MEP noted that the problem gets complicated when children become involved in an illegal working relation and mentioned the case of a 14 year-old trafficker who was arrested in Chios.

For further information:
Tel: +32-2-2847447, Fax: +32-2-2849447
E-mail: marie.panayotopoulos-cassiotou@europarl.europa.eu

DISCRIMINATION AND EXCLUSION OF CHILDREN WITH 'DYS'ABILITIES

29/10/2007: Following the adoption of Written Declaration 64/2007, the Intergroup on Family and Protection of Childhood met on the 24th of October under the presidency of Mrs Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou MEP (EPP-ED, GR) in order to exchange views on the better recognition of learning disorders with the purpose of improving the living conditions of children with "dys"abilities and their families.

The meeting, which gathered MEPs, representatives of DG Employment and DG Education of the European Commission, doctors, parental and educational organisations as well as youth associations, highlighted the necessity to provide early and multidisciplinary treatment for learning disorders at medical, educational and social level with the view to eliminating the existing discriminations and enable the full and equal participation of "dys"-children in society and later on in the labour market.

The representative of DG employment recalled that the European Commission has committed to ensure the promotion of equal opportunities for all and has recently launched an impact assessment on the different kinds of discrimination in the labour market. He underlined that despite the fact that there are no specific actions relating to "dys"-children, the PROGRESS Programme for social inclusion can finance actions of Non-Governmental Organisations in favour of those children and their families as well as promote lifelong learning measures adapted to the specific needs of people suffering from learning disorders. The representative of DG Education insisted on the importance of intensifying the collection of statistics and the establishment of common indicators on "dys"abilities in order to better target the actions and policies. He recalled the fundamental role of trans-national cooperation among different organisations for the exchange of good practices and the setting-up of projects at European level.

In the framework of the discussions on the relevance of recognising "dys"abilities as a handicap, Professor Dattke from the Theodor-Hellbrügge Stiftung in Germany, stated that children with "dys"abilities constitute a very diversified group and thus require a distinctive and personal treatment. He underlined the need for close collaboration between the medical team and the parents in order to identify and treat as early as possible the learning disorders. Commissioner Kyprianou, who could not be present at the meeting, had sent a letter presenting DG SANCO's planned actions, thus enriching the debate on the medical treatment of "dys"children.

Following the testimony of the President of the Association Groupe d'Ados Dys, which is present in various French cities, Mrs Panayotopoulos pointed out that "the coordination and increased use of European programmes for social inclusion and lifelong learning, the Health Strategy for 2008-2013 and new technologies, offer new perspectives for the better exploitation of the potential of people suffering from learning disorders and the achievement of their personal and professional expectations."

For further information:
Tel: +32-2-2847447 Fax: +32-2-2849447
E-mail: marie.panayotopoulos@europarl.europa.eu

26 SEPTEMBER - EUROPEAN DAY OF LANGUAGES - PRESERVATION OF MOTHER TONGUE FOR EU WORKERS

26/09/2007: "The European Union respects and promotes linguistic diversity. By overcoming economic and technical difficulties, the EU has put into practice the use of 23 official European languages in almost all Community documents", said Marie Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou MEP.

EU citizens should have the same respect of their language whilst they are established in another European country.

The Community financial mechanisms, the new programmes for lifelong learning (2007-2013) and support of educational infrastructure as well as the future prospects which were highlighted during the European Year of Workers' Mobility and Equal Opportunities, provide many opportunities - to the extent that there are appropriate political initiatives - for maintaining the mother tongue and teaching official European languages in any EU country.

Mrs Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou concluded that the knowledge of a European language, including the less spoken ones, is both a qualification and an asset for any European citizen. Therefore, it shall be maintained and enforced while moving across the EU by giving opportunities of written and oral expression and supportive teaching.

For further information:
Tel: +32-2-2847447, Fax: +32-2-2849447
E-mail: marie.panayotopoulos-cassiotou@europarl.europa.eu

UNE STRATÉGIE EUROPÉENNE POUR LUTTER CONTRE LES "DYS-CRIMINATIONS" VIS-À-VIS DES ENFANTS ET ADULTES DYSLEXIQUES, DYSPRAXIQUES ET DYSPHASIQUES

20/09/2007: Anna Záborská, Présidente de la commission des droits de la femme du Parlement européen, Amalia Sartori, coordinatrice du Groupe du PPE-DE dans cette commission, et Marie Panayotopoulos, Présidente de l'Intergroupe "Famille" du Parlement européen, ont déposé une question orale à la Commission européenne plaidant en faveur d'une Stratégie européenne contre:

les "dys-criminations" dont souffrent les enfants atteints de difficultés d'apprentissage;

l'exclusion du monde du travail des adultes atteints des mêmes handicaps.

La question orale, qui sera débattue en session plénière mercredi à Strasbourg, souligne que plus de 10 pc des enfants sont atteints (*) de troubles "dys" (dyslexie, dyspraxie(**), dysphasie, dyscalculie, troubles de l'attention avec ou sans hyperactivité - TDAH. D'autres troubles ont des manifestations très voisines (enfants dits "surdoués", crampe de l'écrivain etc).

Ces troubles, même lorsqu'ils sont minimes, sont très invalidants car ils touchent dès le plus jeune âge les domaines de la communication (lire, écrire, compter, (parfois même parler) et d'autres domaines de la vie quotidienne (manipuler des objets, faire du vélo ou jouer au foot, etc).

S'ils ne sont pas repérés très tôt, si les rééducations adaptées ne sont pas entreprises, si certains aménagements scolaires ne sont pas mis en place (autorisation d'utiliser les technologies de l'information dans ce cadre notamment), ces enfants sont promis à l'exclusion scolaire, puis professionnelle et sociale. Non seulement leur vie, mais également celle de leur famille, notamment celle de leurs frères et soeurs, risque d'être ruinée.

Or ces troubles ne sont pas encore bien repérés et traités dans tous les Etats membres de l'Union européenne.

La question orale demande à la Commission si elle pourrait fournir des statistiques détaillées sur les problèmes "dys" et si elle pourrait contribuer à de meilleurs diagnostics et prises en charge de ces troubles trop souvent encore méconnus, en améliorant notamment l'information à leur sujet.

Alors que la Commission a déjà lancé l'an dernier un grand programme de recherche pluriannuel "Neurodys" pour mieux identifier les raisons de la dyslexie et de la dysphasie, la question demande si elle compte étendre cette recherche à d'autres troubles "dys".

Le texte interroge également la Commission sur:

la place accordée aux "dys" dans les programmes européens éducatifs, notamment en ce qui concerne les technologies de l'information et l'apprentissage tout au long de la vie;

les aspects concernant la réconciliation de la vie professionnelle et familiale pour les parents responsables de l'éducation de ces enfants;

l'application de la Directive 2000/78 établissant un cadre concernant l'égalité de traitement en matière d'emploi et de travail en ce qui concerne les "dys";

l'opportunité de créer un réseau européen afin de promouvoir l'échange des meilleures pratiques entre les Etats membres et de rédiger une "Charte" des enfants "dys";

l'utilité de mettre sur pied un réseau scientifique européen multidisciplinaire afin de rassembler et étudier les informations disponibles et de promouvoir la coordination d'actions transnationales.

Par ailleurs Anna Záborská, Marie Panayotopoulos, Richard Howitt, Président de l'Intergroupe "Handicapés" du Parlement européen, Roberta Angelilli, Rapporteur du Parlement européen sur la communication de la Commission consacrée aux droits de l'enfant ainsi que Kathy Sinnott, Vice-présidente de l'intergroupe "Famille", ont déposé en juin dernier une déclaration écrite (numéro 64) demandant notamment de promouvoir les meilleures pratiques ayant cours dans les Etats membres en ce qui concerne le dépistage et la prise en charge des enfants "dys".
Cette déclaration, qui sera clôturée le 25 octobre prochain, a recueilli jusqu'à présent 273 signatures de députés européens.

(*) à des degrés divers et parfois simultanément ;
(**) également désignée sous les termes de "troubles de la coordination" ou "syndrôme de l'enfant maladroit" ('developmental coordination disorder' ou 'clumsy child syndrom' en anglais).

Pour toute information:
Anna Záborska, MdPE, Tél.: +32-2-2845923
Amalia Sartori, MdPE, Tél.: +32-2-2845556
Marie Panayotopoulos, MdPE, Tél.: +32-2-2845447
Anne Vahl, Service de Presse du Groupe du PPE-DE, Tél.: +32-475-493354

PARTICIPATION OF MEMBERS OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT OF THE EPP-ED GROUP

16/11/2005: Participation of Members of the European Parliament of the EPP-ED Group Marie Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou MEP and José Ribeiro e Castro MEP in the International Symposium on Family, Education and Gender.

The International Symposium on "Family, Education and Gender" which was organised by the Higher Institute for Family of the University of Cataluña took place in Barcelona on Saturday the 12th of November 2005. Mrs Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou, MEP and President of the Intergroup "on family and the protection of childhood" and Mr Ribeiro e Castro, MEP and Head of the CDS-partido popular in Portugal, both members of the EPP/ED participated in this international meeting.
In her opening speech, Mrs Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou reminded that the EU aims at becoming, by 2010, the world's most dynamic and competitive knowledge based economy respectful of the environment and of the European social model. However, in parallel with this ambition, one has to face the increasing danger of the decline of the European demography as underlined in the Green Book on Demography, and therefore, the significant reduction of the active population.

The difficulties which will appear, as a consequence of the increase of the structural imbalance of the age pyramid, in the fields of the renewal of the work force, the financing of pensions and intergenerational solidarity, call for the strengthening of existing community policies- such as the eradication of all forms of discrimination in the labour market, the respect of the principle of equality between men and women, the reconciliation of family and professional life, the promotion of young people and the protection of children, as well as the reform of the pension schemes.
Mr Ribeiro e Castro, who was invited to close the debate, expressed his concerns over the fact that the European social model could disappear because of the incapability for future generations to finance it.

He also indicated that he regretted the poor attention given to families by the public authorities and underlined the necessity to take coordinated actions at international and European level on the topic of "family, education and gender". Finally, he presented an initiative on this regard: the request which was addressed to the European Commission to promote the establishment of a Large Families Forum.

Both MEPs, Mrs Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou and Mr Ribeiro e Castro called for the integration of the family dimension into all community policies, the analysis and comparison of effective family policies and the exchange of good practices between Member States.