France, less barriers for Bulgarian and Romanian workers "This is a step in the right direction towards creating a truly European approach to employment". László Andor, European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion thus welcomed the decision of the French government to to ease access to certain professions for Bulgarian and Romanian workers and to remove the employment tax. "I would encourage France to look at lifting all further restrictions on the free movement of workers". Commissioner welcomed the French government’s suggestion to discuss Roma integration in the Council of the EU building on the 2011 EU Framework for National Roma Integration strategies, following the proposal of the French Government. "Not only recipient countries, but also countries from which Roma people come need to work hard on improving their socio-economic integration. Better inclusion of Roma people in Central and South-Eastern Europe is also an opportunity for economic development", he said. To this regard the Commissioner launched the proposal to use EU structural funds in order to "significantly contribute to improved education, employment, housing and health of Roma minorities", he concluded. Eurostat, more unemployed in Euro land compared to EU27Unemployment rates in the euro area (17 countries adopting the euro currency) register remarkable differences compared to the European Union as a whole with its 27 Member States. According to figures released a few days ago by Eurostat at the end of July the euro area unemployment rate was l’11.3%, with no variations compared to June but 1,2 percentage points higher compared to July 2011. The EU271 unemployment rate was 10.4% in July 2012, also stable compared with June 4. It was 9.6% in July 2011. Eurostat estimates that 25.254 million men and women in the EU27, of whom 18 million were in the euro area, were unemployed in July 2012. The lack of jobs continues affecting a larger proportion of women than men, but the youth are the most severely affected: as many as 5.468 million young persons (under 25) are unemployed in the EU27, amounting to 22.5%. The highest increases were registered in Greece whose youth unemployment rate is of 53.8%, while in Spain figures amount to 52.9%. The most favourable job markets for young people continue being Germany’s (8.0% unemployed youth), Austria (8.9%), The Netherlands (9.2%).EU Parliament: State of the Union and donation of tissues The resumption of European Parliament activity is geared towards the September plenary session, to be held in Strasbourg on 10-13 this month. During the session MEPs will focus on the debate with the Commission President, José Manuel Barroso, who will present the “State of the Union" document; the Executive’s proposal on Banking Union is also due soon. Other items on the agenda appear equally important, notably two reports that will be presented in the opening sitting. The first regards "voluntary and unpaid tissue and cells donations", an issue with delicate medical, health, ethical, and economic implications. The document’s rapporteur, Marina Yannakoudakis, made known that "the report doesn’t include questions related to embryo stem cells research, therapeutic cloning and IVF". The second report presented during the plenary concerns "education, training along with the Europe 2020 strategy". The democracy Forum at the Council of Europe "What are the forces shaping democratic societies in the future? Will the emerging voices of the Arab Spring bring about lasting stability? And can they be a source of inspiration for reforms in established Western democracies? The Strasbourg World Forum for Democracy will brings together reformers and global leaders to identify democratic responses to the economic, social and political challenges which affect our societies today". Thorbjørn Jagland, Council of Europe Secretary General presented the major event that is being organized by the international body with headquarters in Strasbourg, representing 47 countries for October next. The program of the Forum, scheduled for 5 to 11 October 2012 includes debates, public events, workshops, youth meetings that will be held in the French city, with special emphasis on the challenges addressed by the democracies of the old continent. "By confronting conventional concepts with new realities the Forum will gauge how democracies can satisfy the expectations of citizens and adapt to their different values and traditions", Jagland said. Among the dignitaries invited to the event figure the Secretary General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon, French president Francois Hollande, the president of Tunisia Moncef Marzouki.
