Combating abuse and sexual exploitation of minorsEnsuing the adoption by the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee of the European Parliament, the draft Directive aimed at combating sexual abuse and exploitation of children as well as child pornography needs to be formally adopted by the European Parliament. The EP website (www.europarl.europa.eu) summarises the content of the provision, aimed at providing Member States with an efficient legislative tool to combat all abuses against children, due to obtain the green light by the hemicycle in Strasbourg after the summer, and subsequently by the EU Council. The EU Parliament underlines that “studies suggest that between 10% and 20% of minors in Europe may be sexually assaulted during childhood”. The Directive will replace current EU legislation dating from 2004. Member States will have two years to transpose the new rules into their national laws. “Parliament’s negotiating team have advocated complete removal of web pages containing child pornography. MEPs have ensured that the text requires Member States to ensure the prompt removal of web pages hosted in their territory. They must also co-operate with third countries to obtain the removal of pages hosted outside the EU”. The draft directive lays down minimum penalties, but Member States could impose harsher measures in case of sexual exploitation and child pornography”. The text adopted by the EP Committee stipulates that “sex tourists” travelling abroad to abuse children would face prosecution and new forms of abuse and exploitation, such as on-line “grooming” (befriending children via the web with the intention of sexually abusing them) or making children pose sexually in front of web cameras, would be a crime. The text stipulates that convicted offenders “may be temporarily or permanently prevented from exercising at least professional activities involving direct and regular contacts with children”. The new Directive provides for tough penalties across Member States, and harsher measures especially in cases of abuse by persons in a position of trust, authority or influence over the child.Citizenship and town twinning, the Congress in Rybnik (Poland)Comparing different “visions of Europe” along with the impact of political integration on EU citizens; promoting twinnings and the next generation of partnerships between local and regional governments; sustaining the EU financed “Europe for Citizens” programme are among the objectives of the “The European Congress on Citizenship and Twinning” scheduled to take place next September 29 to October 1st in Rybnik, Poland, organised with the financial support of the European Commission and under the patronage of the Polish EU presidency, in partnership with CEMR (Council of European Municipalities and Regions). Information on the Congress is available by logging on www.rybnik2011.eu, that also provides the event’s program and registration form. Hundreds of politicians, local administrators, civil society representatives and citizens’ associations will be attending the meeting. How to foster the development of a more “grassroots democracy”? What does it mean to be European today? How to promote a more diverse and inclusive society at local and European levels? What types of twinning links can help respond to the concrete needs of citizens and municipalities? These will be among the questions posed and discussed during the Congress.”Bank account for financial and social inclusion”Thirty million European consumers over the age of 18 in the European Union do not have a bank account; out of these, it is estimated that between 6 and 7 million do not have a bank account “because they have been denied access to one”. “These individuals cannot currently benefit fully from the Single Market”. On July 18 Internal Market and Services Commissioner Michel Barnier presented a “Recommendation” by the Executive addressed to Member States “on access to a basic payment account will promote financial and social inclusion for consumers across Europe”. Michel Barnier said: “Access to a basic bank account is an essential service for participating fully in the economic and social life of a modern society and the use of cash is rapidly decreasing. In today’s world, not having access to a basic bank account makes everyday life difficult and more expensive. Everything from paying a utility bill, receiving income or benefits to purchasing goods and services becomes a challenge”. It is thus necessary “to ensure that such accounts become available at a reasonable charge to consumers, regardless of their country of residence in the EU or their financial situation”. The Commission “will assess the situation in one year’s time and propose any further measures as necessary, including legislative measures”.
