03 December 2008

News from the EU

 

Equality Men/Women

Meeting on 14 November 2008, the 27 European Ministers responsible for Equality between men and women suggested establishing common objectives to reduce the differences in salary between men and women in the European Union, to define the means to achieve this, and to publish the yearly results. They agreed on the establishment of a European company network by 2010 which will be on the leading edge of professional equality between men and women thereby leading to an exchange of good practice. On 20 November 2008, the European Commission presented a progress report of its “4th Action programme for equal opportunities between men and women at the European Commission (2004-2008)” which highlights that the Commission recruited more women than men in 2007 and that its targets for 2007 had all been achieved for the very first time. The European Commission hopes to increase its efforts to correct the continuing under-representation of women in management, promote greater harmony between private and professional life, notably thanks to parental leave, distance-working and more flexible working hours.

 

For further information, click here & here.

European Commission Work Programme 2009

The European Commission presented its Legislative and Work Programme 2009 which highlights the main priorities for the coming year, structured around 4 pillars: Growth and Jobs; Climate Change and Sustainable Europe; Citizens; and International issues, such as Enlargement. The Commission will follow up on the initiatives launched in 2008 to address the financial crisis and to set out a European framework to address the economic downturn; and intends to complete the initiatives that have already been started such as: climate change, migration, and social policy. 2009 will also be the first year that inter-institutional communication priorities will be agreed by the Council of Ministers, the European Parliament and the Commission under the joint declaration on “Communicating Europe in Partnership”.

 

For further information, click here.

Towards better societies for families and older people

The European Commission published its second European Demography Report entitled “Towards better societies for families and older people” which points out that while the number of over-60s working in Europe is still short of the target set by the Lisbon Growth and Jobs Agenda, there has been a considerable increase during the first decade of the new millennium. 50% of men and 40% of women aged 60+ were in employment in 2007 - slightly short of the Lisbon 2010 target of 50% but nevertheless a positive sign. According to the report, the 1990’s trend of early retirement has been reversed, and ‘ageing baby-boomers’ have the “potential to make a major contribution to the economy through their participation in the labour force”. 

 

For further information, click here.

New Toolkit for Patient Safety

The International Alliance of Patients’ Organizations (IAPO) launched a toolkit “Addressing Global Patient Safety Issues: An Advocacy Toolkit for Patients’ Organizations” for patient groups to inform and support their activities, advocating for improved patient safety. This toolkit will provide the means for patients and patients’ organizations to engage in the provision of healthcare and contribute to a quality and safe healthcare system, as well as a reduction in harm to patients.

 

For further information, click here.