Chronology 2010 Key Events in European Social Policy
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Chronology 2010 Key events in European social policy Cécile Barbier JANUARY 8 January: Euro area unemployment rate up to 10.0% in November 2009, and in the EU27 up to 9.5% (http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/ cache/ITY_PUBLIC/3-08012010-AP/EN/3-08012010-AP-EN.PDF). 14 January: Launch of the new social dialogue committee in the area of metallurgy, engineering and technology. 15 January: Trichet says Greece leaving euro area is an ‘absurd’ notion. 18 January: The Eurozone Finance Ministers decide unanimously to extend the the term of office of the Eurogroup Jean-Claude Juncker. 20 January: Bulgaria puts forward Kristalina Georgieva as its nominee for the next Commission following the withdrawal of Rumiana Jeleva from the list of candidates. The vote on ‘Barroso II’ is scheduled for 9 February (http://ec.europa.eu/news/eu_explained/ 100122_en.htm). 20 January: The Commission launches the 2010 European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion (http://www.2010 againstpoverty.eu/?langid=en). 29 January: At an informal meeting in Barcelona from January 27 to 29, the EU Ministers of employment and social security agree that the Europe 2020 Strategy should be different from the Lisbon Strategy, which comes to an end this year. Social developments in the European Union 2010 213 Cécile Barbier ................................................................................................................................................................. 30 January: Climate change: the European Union announces EU emission reduction targets following the Copenhagen Accord (http:// europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/10/97&format= HTML&aged=1&language=EN&guiLanguage=en). 30 January: In January, the euro area unemployment rate is stable. FEBRUARY 2 February: The European Commission publishes the results of the public consultation on Europe 2020 and an evaluation of the Lisbon Strategy, SEC (2010) 116 final and SEC (2010) 114 final. 3 February: On the eve of the Informal European Summit, to be held on 11 February, an ETUC delegation will visit the President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, to set out workers’ expectations and demands (http://www.etuc.org/a/6915). 4 February: Despite progress in recent years, nearly a third of Europeans lack the skills to meet the demands of the labour market. 5 February: The Committee of Permanent Representatives of the EU Member States (COREPER) approves (at first reading) a compromise on the new European Microfinance for employment and inclusion (PROGRESS). 6 February: Social organisations and environmental non-govern- mental bodies criticise the Europe 2020 Strategy. 9 February: The European Parliament approves the ‘Barroso II’ Commission (http://www.europarl.europa.eu/hearings//default.htm; jsessionid=088E94B2695EECEB1C6EC34071DB3449?language=EN). 10 February: The ETUC and the European Union of Christian Democratic Workers (EUCDW) of the European People’s Party adopt a joint declaration on Social Europe and a social market economy (http://www.etuc.org/a/6942). 214 Social developments in the European Union 2010 Chronology ................................................................................................................................................................. 10 February: MEPs call for more binding tax cooperation to tackle banking secrecy and fraud (http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/ getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//TEXT+IM-PRESS+20100209IPR68641+0+ DOC+XML+V0//EN). 10 February: Male/female equality: tackle violence and guarantee paternity leave, say MEPs (http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/get Doc.do?pubRef=-//EP//TEXT+IM-PRESS+20100209IPR68656+0+DOC +XML+V0//EN). 15 February: At today’s meeting of the Macro Economic Dialogue, the ETUC warns against the danger of a ‘double dip’ in economic activity (http://www.etuc.org/a/6973). 16 February: A draft of the Joint Report on Social Protection and Social Inclusion 2010 examines how to address the impact of the crisis on pension schemes, housing and security for savers, COM (2010) 25 final. 19 February: Broad consensus of Development Ministers on the need to revive the Millennium Goals, with financial support. 19 February: László Andor and Martin Hirsch agree on the goal of a one-third reduction of poverty by 2012. 23 February: Europe’s unions fully support the general strike in Greece and ask Eurozone Ministers to go for realistic and socially acceptable plans (http://www.etuc.org/a/6986). 24 February: MEPs remain divided on the inclusion of self- employed workers in the Directive on working time in the road sector. 26 February: The EU economy is gradually recovering, whilst still facing turbulent times ahead. 27 February: The EU agrees on concrete measures to combat illegal immigration (http://www.immigration.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/ConclJAI 25022010.pdf). 28 February: The Euro area unemployment rate stands at 10.0%, the EU27 rate at 9.6%, in February. Social developments in the European Union 2010 215 Cécile Barbier ................................................................................................................................................................. MARCH 3 March: Commenting on the publication of the Commission paper ‘Europe 2020’, John Monks, ETUC General Secretary says: ’The 2020 exercise so far is flawed and disappointing. There is a desperate need for the EU and the rest of the world to digest what caused the crisis and how we can avoid a repeat’ (http://www.etuc.org/a/7010). 3 March: Europe 2020: the Commission proposes a new economic strategy in Europe, calling for strengthened economic governance, COM (2010) 2020 final. 4 March: Publication of the Joint Report on Social Protection and Social Inclusion 2010, SEC (2010) 98 final. 4 March: A person may lose refugee status when the circumstances in the third country on which his fear of persecution was founded have ceased to exist (http://curia.europa.eu/jcms/upload/docs/application/ pdf/2010-03/cp100016en.pdf). 5 March: Ahead of International Women's Day, the European Commission strengthens and deepens its commitment to equality between women and men with a Women’s Charter (http://ec. europa.eu/social/main.jsp?langId=en&catId=89&newsId=708&further News=yes). 8 March: Council Directive 2010/18/EU of 8 March 2010 implementing the revised Framework Agreement on parental leave concluded by BusinessEurope, UEAPME, CEEP and ETUC and repealing Directive 96/34/EC (JO L 68/13 of 18 March 2010). 8 March: The Council adopts the European microfinance facility for employment and social inclusion, Press release, 6868/10 (Presse 45). 9 March: Guerrero Salom reports on the effects of the global financial and economic crisis on developing countries and on development coo- peration (Guerrero Salom (S&D, ESP), A7-0034/2010 of 09 March 2010). 9 March: The Council extends parental leave, Press release, 6641/10 (Presse 33). 216 Social developments in the European Union 2010 Chronology ................................................................................................................................................................. 10 March: The Commission sets out its post-Copenhagen climate strategy (http://euobserver.com/885/29645). 10 March: The OECD, WTO and UNCTAD once again call on the G20 to resist protectionism (http://www.oecd.org/document/48/0,3746, en_21571361_44315115_44741628_1_1_1_1,00.html). 10 March: The EU ministers draw up Community measures against gender-based violence (http://www.eu2010.es/en/documento synoticias/noticias/mar08_epscomujer.html). 17 March: The European Commission proposes negotiating directives for the Union’s accession to the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) (http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do? reference=MEMO/0/84&format=HTML&aged=1&language=EN&gui Language=en). 17 March: The ETUC unveils its proposals for a revision of the Posting Directive (http://www.etuc.org/a/7046). 20 March: Second revision of the Cotonou Agreement, but the question of the readmission of illegal immigrants is not yet settled (http://ec.europa.eu/development/geographical/cotonouintro_en.cfm). 23 March: The ETUC meets the President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy. At this meeting, held on the eve of the Spring Summit, the ETUC stresses in particular the need to keep employment at the top of the agenda, to have a robust public sector, to maintain social expenditure, and to fight financial speculation (http://www. etuc.org/a/7073). 23 March: The Commission launches a consultation on how the European Company Statute (SE) is working (Bulletin of the European Union, No.10103 of 23 March). 24 March: MEPs from the EPP and S&D groups organise the first European conference on the ‘Protection of a Work-free Sunday’ in Brussels. Social developments in the European Union 2010 217 Cécile Barbier ................................................................................................................................................................. 24 March: Improved access to finance, more flexicurity and credible governance are BusinessEurope’s priorities for the Europe 2020 Strategy (Bulletin of the European Union, No.10104 of 24 March). 24 March: Proposal for a Council Decision authorising enhanced cooperation in the area of the law applicable to divorce and legal separation and Proposal for a Council Regulation (EU) implementing enhanced cooperation in the area of the law applicable to divorce and legal separation COM (2010) 104 and COM (2010) 105. The FR, EN and DE versions were replaced by COM (2010)