European Parliament: free Aung San Suu Kyi”Free Aung San Suu Kyi now”: the European Parliament has launched an awareness-raising campaign on behalf of the Burmese opposition leader, winner of the Sakharov Prize in 1990 and of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991. In view of the resumption of the trial against Aung San Suu Kyi now underway in the Asian country, scheduled for 26 June, gigantic photographs of Aung San Suu Kyi and slogans in English and Burmese calling for her liberation have appeared on the facade of the European Parliament in Brussels. “The military Junta must release the democratic leader, immediately and unconditionally”, declared the President of the European Parliament Hans-Gert Poettering. Aung San Suu Kyi has been under house arrest for almost twenty years, with the exception of brief intermissions of freedom. “I ask for a fair and transparent trial – added Poettering -, in conformity with international rules, which make provision for the access of the media and the chance for all witnesses to express their views”. The case of Aung San Suu Kyi was also discussed during the EU summit on 18-19 June.Parental leave, agreement signedLonger parental leave, irrespective of work contract: the new framework agreement promoted at the EU level, and signed on 18 June by representatives of the main employers’ and trades-union organizations of the continent (European Trades-Union Confederation, BusinessEurope, CEEP, UEAPMI), prolongs the duration of parental leave from work, raising it from three to four months per parent and making it applicable to all employees. “This is the result of six months’ negotiations between the social partners”, explained the signatories of the agreement, and “reflects the changes that have taken place in society and on the labour market after the signing of the first agreement” in 1995. Vladimír Spidla, EU Commissioner for Employment and Social Affairs, declared: “This deal is proof that the European social partnership works and produces concrete results for workers and businesses”. It tackles “in real terms one of the priority objectives for the equality of women and men, demonstrating the will to find solutions to improve the balance between family and professional life, while taking into account at the same time the diversity of national legislative frameworks”. The main points of the document, which must now pass to the phase of implementation in the 27 member states, include: the raising of the duration of leave from 3 to 4 months for each parent; its extension to all employees (even temporary and part-time workers); the chance for mums and dads who return to work to ask for an adjustment of their working hours; and protection “against any unfavourable treatment linked to the exercise of the right to parental leave”.Transport: integrated system and “sustainability””Concentrating future European policy on transport on an integrated system, based on technology and ease of use by the consumer”: the European Commission is launching a debate at the EU level through a document on the developments of mobility for the next ten years. The “communication” adopted on 17 June, and presented by Commissioner for Transport Antonio Tajani, identifies some of the main trends “that will influence the future development of transport policy in the decades to come”: ageing of the population, migration, internal mobility, environmental and energy challenge, urbanization, and globalization. “The Commission aims to further stimulate the debate to identify specific proposals for its next White Paper planned for 2010”. Tajani explains: “Transport has been and will remain an essential component of our daily life. It has contributed to the development, integration and growth of the internal market” and “has permitted the reinforcement of passengers’ rights”. The Executive would now like to invest more in new technologies and sustainable mobility, and give priority to consumers’ rights.Council of Europe: an end to domestic violenceThe Council of Europe has embarked on a campaign to curb violence against women and domestic violence in particular, including mutual assistance in penal matters, and action in favour of the pre-eminence of the law. The Ministers of Justice of the 47 member states of the Council of Europe adopted three resolutions during a conference held at Tromso (Norway) on 18-19 June. They “discussed – says a press release – the most effective means to strengthen cooperation to prevent and combat domestic violence”, so as to “break the silence that contributes to a culture of impunity”, “punish the perpetrators, help the victims and protect all women and girls”. The Council of Europe is currently drafting a new Convention with the aim of preventing and combating violence against women and violence within the family and introducing legally binding standards. The Convention ought to be ready by 2010.
