Employment: European skills passportThe European Commission officially launched the European skills passport that helps citizens to assemble their skills and qualifications online. The passport is one of thirteen actions launched under the Commission’s Agenda for New Skills and Jobs. Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou said to this regard: "Today it is more than ever crucial that all citizens receive high quality education and training to equip them with the skills they need to find work. Lifelong learning must become a reality in Europe. For that to happen, a joint effort of all partners – governments, employers, trade unions and citizens – is essential". The European passport is available for free in 26 languages on the Europass portal (http://europass.cedefop.europa.eu/) where an on-line editor helps users to create their individual passports. It is meant to help job-seekers to improve their chances on the labour market. The Passport will improve the presentation of CVs by bringing together educational and training certificates in one place.New framework regulation for quality schemes in agriculture"The strength of European agricultural production lies in its diversity, in the know-how of farmers, and in the soil and territories of production. Farmers, who are under pressure from the economic downturn, concentration of retailer bargaining power, and global competition, need the tools to better communicate about the quality of their products to consumers". Dacian Ciolos, Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development thus commented on the entry into force of the New Framework Regulation for Quality Schemes in Agriculture", meant to encourage the diversification of agricultural production, to provide consumers with information on products’ characteristics, and protects product names from misuse and imitation. Key elements include: more coherence and clarity, reinforcing the existing scheme for protected designations of origin and geographical indications (PDOs and PGIs), among others with faster registration procedures; simplifying and strengthening the traditional specialities guaranteed scheme (TSG), and creating the optional quality term "mountain product" to help producers market their products at local level. The next key meeting is scheduled for 23-24 Jan. when, the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development will vote on CAP reform.Euraxess: a "network" for European researchersAlthough Europe holds a leading position in research and entrepreneurship, the number of researchers in proportion to the rest of the population is less than in the United States, Japan and other countries. The Euraxess network preserves the connection between Europe and European scientists, researches and scholars working abroad. "Euraxess provides information on European research, on research policies and opportunities for funding, international cooperation and transnational mobility", states a release". "The initiative has been implemented in China, India, Japan, Singapore and the United State so far. Membership is free". Euraxess is a pan-European network, supported by forty member Countries across Europe. It provides access to a wide range of information and support services for European researches that do not wish to undertake a career in Europe. "This platform provides access to the job market, helps researchers continue their careers in another EU country and grants support to scientific organizations in the selection of researchers". Protecting the soil from desertification and decayEvery minute, 23 acres of land are subject to desertification at global level, 5.5 hectares are transformed by urban invasion and 10 acres are subject to degradation, making the soil unable to support ecosystem functions and thereby seriously threatening global food security. This is the alarm raised by the Global Soil Forum (GSF) which initiated a process of awareness and concrete actions for the protection of the soil. "Without fertile soil food security, poverty reduction and climate change mitigation are no longer guaranteed", pointed out Klaus Töpfer, Klaus Töpfer, Executive Director, IASS – Institute for Advanced Sustainability, chairman of the Forum. "With one out of eight in the world suffering from hunger – reads a note – the soil must be protected not just to ensure global food security, but also sustainable development, ecosystem services, biodiversity and adaptation to climate change".
