ICT solutions for assistance to the elderly "Information and communications technologies have immense potential to improve the quality of life and health of older people and other vulnerable members of society in very practical ways": Digital Agenda Commissioner Neelie Kroes launched a consultation inviting citizens, businesses and researchers to share ideas on how best to use information and communications technologies (ICTs) to help older Europeans live more independently, and more generally to establish new ways to put ICTs at the service of the most vulnerable members of society. The project was followed by a panel of advisors purposely established, chaired by former European Commissioner Meglena Kuneva. The public consultation, addressed to experts, namely researchers and social and health workers, runs until 1 July 2010. It is "the first step towards meeting the target of doubling the take-up of independent living arrangements for the elderly by 2015 set by the Digital Agenda". It aims to develop new solutions to deal with such problems as preventing falls and supporting sufferers of dementia", and "eldercare social robots" which can help perform daily tasks such as lifting or cooking".EESC: harmonization in working conditions"The upwards harmonization in working conditions should be a key priority for EU action as health and safety at work are crucial in fostering growth and productivity", said Leila Kurki, president of the EESC’s Section for Employment, Social Affairs and Citizenship. The statement was made June 3rd in Barcelona during an international Conference on the subject, and came as a reaction to the publication of a report by Eurofund (European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions) where 35% of workers found that their work put their health and safety at risk. Accordingly, "poor working conditions have a negative impact on the health of millions of workers in Europe". Health and safety should be seen as an integral part of a modern, competitive business and as a pillar of the European Social Model. I really hope that the goal to cut accidents at work by 25 percent set in the current strategy on health and safety at work will be achieved”, president Kurki said. In view of the revision of the strategy due to expire in 2012 president Kurki indicated the opportunity "of a new strategy which should feature a comparable target for reducing occupational illness. Musculoskeletal diseases are still the most common occupational diseases, along with "stress at work" and diseases related to issues "of alcohol". These areas ought to be adequately addressed with efforts by national and EU institutions, by the enterprises and by the trade unions. CoR: Europe 2020, considering the differencesEurope 2020 does not have the means to deliver on its promises on growth and employment, according to the Committee of Regions. The CoR voiced the concern that Europe 2020 does not take into account existing socio-economic disparities in European regions, and that target setting at EU and country levels, appear to have been made so far in a top-down manner. The remarks are contained in a letter signed by the first vice-president of the CoR, Ramón Luis Valcárcel Siso, to EU27 leaders and Community authorities: to José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, Prime Minister of Spain, current holder of the EU rotating presidency, to the President of the European Council, Herman van Rompuy, to José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, to Jerzy Buzek, President of the European Parliament, in order to feed into the discussions of the upcoming European Council on June 17 on the Europe 2020 strategy. The CoR calls for "political determination", adequate financial resources, and "adapting the strategy to the variable territorial conditions".Scientix: the new web-based community for Science EducationResearch results and policy documents: in a nutshell, this is the "philosophy" of the EU Commission for Scientix, a new web-portal targeted towards teachers, researchers, policy makers, local actors, parents and anyone interested in science education". Scientix (http://scientix.eu) "will give access to teaching materials, research results and policy documents from European science education projects financed by the European Union and by various national initiatives". The new platform will facilitate regular dissemination and sharing of news, know-how, and best practices in science education across the European Union. This new portal is available in six languages: English, French, German, Spanish, Italian and Polish and will facilitate regular dissemination and sharing of news, know-how, and best practices in science education.
