Parental leaves, an agreement for the family Longer parental leave; better protection against discrimination and a smoother return to work; greater attention to parents of adopted children and children with a disability or long-term illness. After a long phase of negotiations between enterprises and social partners, and among the very EU institutions, Member States defined the key points of the revised Directive, due to modernize the previous regulations dating back to fifteen years ago. The revised directive on parental leave will give each working parent the right to at least four months leave after the birth or adoption of a child (up from three months now). "”Full equality on the labor market between men and women will only be attained if working fathers take more responsibility in family affairs, such as looking after their children”, stated Vladimír pidla, Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities. All matters regarding the income of workers during parental leave are left for Member States and/or national social partners to determine. Moreover, "governments and employers/unions will be obliged to assess the specific needs" of the parents of adopted children and children with a disability or long-term illness parents of disabled children. The new Directive will be formally adopted in the coming months. Member States will then have two years to transpose the new rights into national law. Lisbon Treaty: a website to inform citizens Increased citizens’ protection thanks to the new status conferred by the Charter of Fundamental Rights, solidarity between Member States in case of natural disasters; common action against organized crime responsible for illegal immigration. Upon the enforcement of the Lisbon Treaty, the EU Commission launched the website (http://europa.eu/lisbon_treaty) which provides relevant information and specific documents regarding the renewed legal framework introduced with the Treaty in the field of policies/institutions, and as relates to concrete opportunities for citizens. Benefits for EU citizens include "Diplomatic and consular protection for all EU citizens when traveling and living abroad"; "new possibilities of combating serious cross border threats to health"; "Tackling terrorism through the freezing of assets"; "A right for citizens to make a request to the Commission for it to propose a new initiative".Climate change: Europeans’ concerns European citizens are concerned over the effects of climate change and "believe that combating climate change could revive the economy". These are the main conclusions drawn by the special survey issued by Eurobarometer in view of the Copenhagen UN Conference on the after-Kyoto. From the survey it emerges that 63% of interviewees consider climate change "a serious problem, while 24% considers it quite serious". 47% describe it as "one of the most serious problems the world is called to face today", second only to poverty. "The majority of the sample believe that industry, citizens, national and local authorities don’t do enough" to this regard. 49% of interviewees are willing to spend more for energy starting from less polluting sources. Christmas lights, beware of fires 30% of Christmas lights present "an obvious risk" of fire and electric shots according to a report published by the European Commission in the framework of a joint market surveillance project involving authorities from 5 Member States – Hungary, Germany, Slovakia, Slovenia and the Netherlands as well as the European Commission. "Testing was carried out on 196 random samples of lighting chains across the entire price range. The samples were checked against over 20 administrative and technical requirements. Many lighting chains failed multiple tests". This report is a “wake up” call, Commissioner Meglena Kuneva pointed out. "National authorities and industry will redouble efforts to crackdown on the gaps and loopholes that can let shoddy goods into shops and our homes". The main problems found were, among others, the lack or failing "technical safety requirements relating to the construction of, for example: plugs, cord anchorages, wiring, insulation, protection against electric shock". The Commission’s advice for consumers includes: "Purchasing Christmas lights from reputable dealers where basic safety standards should be assured"; "Never leave Christmas lights on when you are out of the house or at night when people are asleep".
