AGENDA/10/41

Brussels, Friday 17 December 2010

Top News from the European Commission 17 December 2010 – 21 January 2011 Background notes from the Spokespersons' service for journalists. The European Commission reserves the right to make changes

Monday 20 December: Strategy for equal opportunities for women and men in the European Commission for 2010 – 2014 2

Monday 20 December: in the final run-up to the changeover 3

Saturday 8 January: Official Launch of the European Year of Volunteering 2011 in Budapest 4

Tuesday 11 January: Launch of 2011 EU-China Year of Youth 5

Wednesday 12 January: Adoption of Annual Growth Survey 6

Editor Michael Karnitschnig +32 2 299 60 66 SPP Coordination and Planning

Monday 20 December: Strategy for equal opportunities for women and men in the European Commission for 2010 – 2014

The news: The strategy has three main elements. Its purpose is to attract, develop and retain a balanced and committed workforce. Its target measures include multiannual objectives for the representation of women at management level. These objectives were set out following a forecasting exercise on staffing levels.

The second element of this strategy involves the promotion of a more flexible, considerate and result-orientated working environment.

The third element - a cross-cutting objective - is to create the conditions for ownership and accountability at the highest level. Equal opportunities must be systematically incorporated into human-resource management within the DGs. The importance of equal opportunities should be conveyed more forcefully to management and staff.

The background: Attracting and retaining the most talented people and making the most of their skills is a strategic challenge for the European Commission. Making the best use of the pool of talent which it has, using the creativity and innovation of its staff to the full and in doing so taking account of the potential of the men and women who show their commitment on a daily basis is a key issue for the Commission if it wants to respond efficiently to the challenges of the next few years.

A public service where equality is at the heart of human resource management.

A public service which reflects European citizens and which recognises and values all of its female and male staff in line with their talents and aspirations.

The event: Vice-President Šefčovič will present this new strategy at the lunchtime meeting on 20 December.

The sources: Website of Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič http://ec.europa.eu/commission_2010-2014/sefcovic/index_en.htm

The contacts: Michael Mann +32 2 29 99 780 [email protected] Marilyn Carruthers +32 2 29 99 451 [email protected]

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Monday 20 December: Estonia in the final run-up to the euro changeover

The news: On 1st January 2011 Estonia will introduce the euro. The practical preparations for the changeover are in their very last stage and proceeding smoothly. The advance delivery of banknotes and coins to banks as well as to their customers is ongoing. As from 1 December it has been possible to exchange cash free of charge for euro. Also so-called mini-kits of worth 200 kroon (12.79 ) with the Estonian national side are on sale in bank and post offices. Over 380 000 sets have been sold to the public as of 10 December. The Estonian euro coins will only have legal tender status as from 1 January 2011, but providing them in advance will make the changeover smoother.

The background: On 13 July 2010 the Council decided that Estonia fulfilled all the necessary criteria and that it was ready to adopt the euro on 1 January 2011. The irrevocable conversion rate is set to 15.6466 kroons per 1 EUR. The event: On 1 January 2011 Estonia will become the 17th member of the euro area and will bring to 330 million the number of people in the who share the single currency.

The sources: IP will be available on 31 December and welcoming words by Commissioner Olli Rehn on 1 January at the Commission's website at: http://ec.europa.eu/economy_finance/focuson/estonia_euro_en.htm Further press releases and web updates will be available throughout the first two weeks of January.

EbS coverage in Tallinn and visit by Commissioner Rehn. For general documentation on the changeover to the euro in Estonia: http://ec.europa.eu/economy_finance/euro/countries/estonia_en.htm

Link to Commissioner Olli Rehn´s speech in Tallinn 20 September 2010 10/464

Website of the President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso

I-066849 Stockshots: Introduction of the euro in Estonia

The contacts: Amadeu Altafaj Tardio +32 2 29 52 658 [email protected] Pia Seppala +32 2 29 92 488 [email protected]

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Saturday 8 January: Official Launch of the European Year of Volunteering 2011 in Budapest

The news: On 8 January, the European Commission, together with the Hungarian EU Presidency, will ceremonially launch the European Year of Volunteering 2011 (EYV2011). The event also sees the inauguration of the Hungarian stage of the EYV2011 Tour – a one-year travelling roadshow that will visit the capitals of each Member State to give volunteering organisations the opportunity to showcase their work and engage with policy makers and the general public. On the same day the Hungarian EU Presidency is also organising a conference on "Recognising the contribution of volunteering to economy, society and the individual – where are we now, and where do we want to go?" Several cultural activities will accompany the launch even and the conference.

The background: 2011 is the European Year of Volunteering. It has four main objectives: to remove obstacles to volunteering in the EU; to improve the quality of volunteering; to reward and recognise volunteering activities; and to raise awareness of the importance of voluntary work as a means of promoting social cohesion and solidarity across Europe in an increasingly competitive and globalised economy. The events: At 10:00, in the Millenaris Theatre, located in the Millenaris Park, Budapest: Official opening ceremony of the European Year of Volunteering 2011 by the State President of Hungary, Pál Schmitt, and European Commission Vice-President Viviane Reding, responsible for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship.

At 12:00, in the European Youth Centre, Budapest: European Commission Vice-President Reding will give a keynote speech at the beginning of the EU-level thematic conference accompanying the official launch.

The sources: More on the European Year of Volunteering: IP/10/1640, www.europa.eu/volunteering

The Alliance's web site: http://eyv2011.eu/

Vice-President Viviane Reding's website: http://ec.europa.eu/commission_2010-2014/reding/index_en.htm

The contacts: Mathew Newman: +32 2 296 24 06 [email protected] Mina Andreeva +32 2 299 13 82 [email protected]

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Tuesday 11 January: Launch of 2011 EU-China Year of Youth

The news: The 2011 EU-China Year of Youth will be officially launched by Androulla Vassiliou, Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, and Wang Xiao, President of the All-China Youth Federation, in the presence of German Olympic gold-medal winning fencer Britta Heidemann, Goodwill Ambassador of the Year, and 200 young people from the EU and China. The EU and Chinese leaders will sign a joint declaration on strengthening dialogue and cooperation on youth issues.

The background: The youth representatives from the EU and China, who are gathering for the first time, will follow a two-and-a-half-day programme of exchanges and discussions on issues including volunteering, mobility, culture and creativity. The aim is also to develop ideas for joint youth projects, which could be supported through the EU's Youth in Action programme.

Goodwill Ambassador Britta Heidemann is 28. She studied Chinese and now divides her time between Köln and Beijing.

The launch ceremony will be the first of a series of events to be held throughout the Year in Europe and China.

The event: 11 January 12:30 - Press conference with Commissioner Vassiliou, Wang Xiao and Britta Heidemann in the press room, Berlaymont Building, Brussels. 14:30-18:00 – Official launch ceremony, Alcide de Gasperi room, Charlemagne Building, Brussels

The sources: European Commission's youth website: http://ec.europa.eu/youth/index_en.htm

Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou's website: http://www.ec.europa.eu/commission_2010-2014/vassiliou/index_en.htm

All-China Youth Federation http://www.acyf.org.cn/index.htm

EU-China Year of Youth Joint Action Plan: http://ec.europa.eu/youth/news/news1824_en.htm

Available on EbS

The contacts: Dennis Abbott +32 2 29 59 258 [email protected] Dina Avraam +32 2 29 59 667 [email protected]

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Wednesday 12 January: Adoption of Annual Growth Survey

The news: The adoption by the European Commission of the Annual Growth Survey will mark the beginning of the first cycle of coordination of the Member States' macro-economic, budgetary and structural reform policies, known as the "European semester". This is a real step forward for European economic governance. From now on, every year the Commission will present its "Growth Survey" – an evaluation of the economic situation and of the main challenges the EU must address, and its recommendations to the Member States.

The background: The idea of a European semester, which was proposed by the Commission last spring to reinforce European economic governance, was validated by the Member States in September. It consists of a cycle of coordination of the Member States' macro-economic policies in the framework of both the Stability and Growth Pact and the Europe 2020 strategy.

The Annual growth survey is a necessary policy monitoring and guidance tool for ensuring this coordination. In it, the Commission will set out its overall evaluation of the EU's economic situation and its recommendations to Member States. This Communication, which will be presented to Parliament and the Council, will serve as a basis for the guidelines and conclusions drawn up by the spring Council with a view to the medium-term budgetary strategies and national reform programmes to be adopted in April.

The first Annual Growth Review will focus on the most urgent key messages and on those concerning sectoral or fiscal and macro-economic issues.

The event: A press release on the Communication and a Memo setting out the findings of the evaluation (impact of the crisis on the real economy, employment, public debt, growth prospects, etc.). An "off-the-record" briefing could be considered.

The sources: Website of the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso: http://ec.europa.eu/commission_2010-2014/president/index_en.htm

The contacts: Pia Ahrenkilde Hansen +32 2 29 53 070 [email protected] Cezary Lewanowicz +32 2 29 93 050 [email protected]

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