DECLARATION ON COMBATING POVERTY AND SOCIAL EXCLUSION IN EUROPE

26/09/2008: During its plenary session in June, the European Parliament adopted a report on establishing the year 2010 as the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion.

Greek MEP Marie Panayotopoulos - Cassiotou, draftswoman of the report, has expressed her high satisfaction following the Council's final decision ratifying the EP's decision. Following this positive outcome, a Declaration by the European Commission has been inserted in the final text. This Declaration is essential to the accomplishment of the report's objectives.

"The Commission attaches the greatest importance to facilitating and supporting wide participation at all levels in activities connected with the 2010 European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion as a practical means of ensuring that its impact is positive and lasting.In accordance with the Decision on the European Year, the Commission will draw up common guidelines in the Strategic Framework Document (SFD) which will set the key priorities for the implementation of activities relating to the European Year, including minimum standards in terms of participation in national bodies and actions.

The SFD is addressed to the National Implementing Bodies (NIBs) responsible for defining the national programmes for the European Year and for selecting individual actions to be proposed for Community funding, and to other actors concerned. In this context, the Commission will underline the importance of facilitating access by all NGOs, including small and medium-sized organisations. With a view to ensuring the widest possible access, the NIBs can decide not to request any co-financing and instead to fully fund certain actions".

According to Mrs Panayotopoulos - Cassiotou's report, the EU's contribution to the activities amounting to €17m shall be reinforced by the contribution of national executive bodies in view of the creation of preventive structures against poverty and marginalisation and launching of efficient projects on crisis management.

"In this European framework, the Greek Government's actions aiming at establishing measures protecting poor households, improving living conditions and education and creating the fund against poverty are very interesting examples", noted Mrs Panayotopoulos - Cassiotou.

The French Presidency has declared that combating poverty is a priority, as it is particularly attached in guaranteeing fair living conditions, social inclusion of fragile groups, but also access to social services to all European citizens

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

ADULTS AND FAMILY SOLIDARITY: CONCILIATION OF FAMILY AND PROFESSIONAL LIFE AND RECOGNITION OF INFORMAL WORK

06/07/2006: Within the general discussion on intergenerational relations and their impact on economic and social life, the meeting of the Intergroup on Family and Protection of Childhood which took place on the 5th of July in the EP in Strasbourg focused on the situation of adults of the so-called " transition generations" identified as those who care both for the young and the elderly. The meeting, which gathered representatives of EU organs, the French Ministry for the Family, civil society and NGOs, enabled exchange of ideas on the one hand, on the way to support the conciliation of professional activities with family life and on the other, on the social, economic and cultural recognition of unpaid family work.

Mrs Noora Heinonen, from the Finnish Presidency of the Council of the EU presented the activities scheduled for the next six months on the conciliation of family and professional life and stressed that the Presidency would focus on the follow up and implementation of EU legislation on equal opportunities and protection of disadvantaged persons. In addition, she gave an overview of existing Finnish legislation on the matter.

Mr Dominique de Legge, inter-ministerial delegate for the family of the French Government, indicated the new measures adopted by the French Government in favour of families and "family helpers" in order to be able to respond to the new family and social challenges. Among the measures proposed one can find the creation of a family support leave for family helpers, measures for return to the workforce, a solidarity action plan for the very old aiming at establishing temporary housing facilities for the elderly and finally, the granting of loans with no interest rates for young people between 18 and 25 years old to help them enter professional life.

Mrs Maryse Huet who represented the European Commission, recalled the EU legislation and programmes aiming at improving conciliation between family and professional life and a more balanced sharing of obligations between parents. She explained that in addition to family leave and services of care for dependant persons, the European Commission will propose measures in favour, among others, of caring facilities for young children, support for family helpers, creation of a pro-family environment in companies and finally, the diversity of the employment market and the flexibility of working time and professional conditions.

Mrs Marielle Helleputte from the European Federation of Unpaid Carers and Parents at Home (FEFAF) recall the voluntary work which takes place within the family or within associations in favour of children, the elderly and dependent persons plays an important role in safeguarding social stability. She underlined however, that most national legislations relating to the conciliation of family and professional life give priority to employment and put aside persons who wish to chose a lifestyle adapted to their family's needs. Free choice should be promoted through the recognition of the human, cultural, economic, educational and social value of family work. According to Mrs Helleputte, this recognition depends on the opening of pension rights for the parent who stays at home and the provision of help for social reintegration.

Concluding the meeting, Mrs Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou called on Member States should evaluate the impact of the new responsibilities taken up by adults and adopt social policies in order to enable parents to chose to combine professional and family life or to focus on the latter while enjoying the same social and pension rights as paid workers.

“OLDER PERSONS AND THE SOLIDARITY OF EUROPEAN SOCIETY”: MEETING OF THE INTERGROUP ON FAMILY AND PROTECTION OF CHILDHOOD

07/04/2006: Within the broader context of intergenerational relations and their impact on economic and social life, the meeting of the Intergroup on Family and Protection of Childhood on 5 April in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, chaired by Marie Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou MEP, focused on the topic of "Older persons and the solidarity of European society". The meeting was launched with an introduction by Mrs Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou who emphasised the importance of an exchange of ideas on this issue. More particularly, she indicated that "it was important to examine the measures that Europe should take to deal with demographic ageing and the improvement of the living and working conditions of older persons. In parallel, it is also necessary to ensure the long-term viability of pension systems and the provision of good quality health care for older persons."

Philip Bushill-Matthews MEP, Member of the Employment Committee and rapporteur of the report on demography which was adopted by a large majority by the Parliament, briefly presented the main points of his report. Among others, he underlined that intergenerational solidarity was the good approach since the question of demographic ageing concerns society as a whole and that it is necessary for Europe to adopt measures in order to ensure a greater flexibility in working conditions. Finally, Mr Bushill-Matthews insisted on the necessity of leaving older people to decide on whether they wish to contribute economically and socially by working longer.

Representing the Council and more particularly the Austrian Federal Ministry for Social Protection, Generations and Consumer Protection, Mrs Winkler presented the conclusions of a Conference entitled "Active Ageing in Europe" which was held in Vienna on 8 and 9 March and dealt with healthy ageing. She recalled that active ageing through volunteer work could constitute a means to strengthen social relations as well as the physical and mental health of older people. Finally, Mrs Winkler underlined that lifelong learning for older workers was essential to their quality of life. Participation of older workers in the labour market is very positive for growth and competitiveness.

Mr Kiviniemi from DG Employment and Social Affairs of the European Commission, presented the Commission's actions on demographic ageing but insisted on the fact that questions linked to this issue remain of national competence. He reminded, inter alia, the necessity to modernise social protection schemes and to make full use of the possibilities offered by the Open Method of Coordination in the fields of pensions, inclusion, and long-term health care. He finally indicated that the Commission's Communication on demographic change is under preparation.

Finally, as a representative of the AGE platform, Mrs Patel explained the activities of the platform which aims at promoting the recognition of the role of families as carers not only of children but also of older persons. In addition, she presented the conclusions of a study which was conducted in several Member States, entitled "European Family Carers (EUROFAMCARE)" which focused on the role of families in providing care for the elderly. The study showed that the best strategy is probably one that offers a diversity of care enabling the elderly to remain at home, and which recognises the work of carers and offers a possibility of remuneration, thus making this activity more attractive.

Closing the meeting, Mrs Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou thanked the speakers and commented: "Today's discussions reflect the complexity of the question of demographic ageing but one should not forget the need of Member State financing of adequate measures which enable us to deal with ageing and preserve intergenerational solidarity".