European Parliament commemorates World War I “One hundred years after the First World War: Lessons to be learned and the future of Europe” is the official title of a working session of the next plenary of the European Parliament (April 14-17) that will devote to this theme an entire morning session in Strasbourg with contributions by the Commission, EU Council, and Political groups in the European assembly. The unusual session is tabled for April 16, during the last plenary of the European Parliament before May 22-25 elections. The debate will be opened by a speech of the President of the Assembly, Martin Schulz. To confirm the EU’s attention towards the centenary of the “First World War”, the president of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy has announced that the 28th Summit of Heads of State and Government scheduled in Brussels for 27 to 28 June but take place in Ypres in Flanders, the theatre of war of four bloody battles between 1914 and 1918 where the lethal “mustard gas” Yperite, was used for the first time. The event in Ypres will be held only two days before the centenary of the murder of archduke Francis Ferdinand of Habsburg-Este Francesco (June 28 1914), in Sarajevo, which triggered the start of the First World War. Roma, small steps for integration News on “progress made and results achieved in the 28 Member States” was released during the European Summit on Roma, held recently in Brussels ahead of the International Day for the Roma, although “Roma communities continue to face poverty, social exclusion and discrimination” speakers said. The debate focused on the findings of the 2014 Report on the implementation of EU Strategy on national integration of Roma people that highlights a wide range of positive experiences. For example, in the realm of education Hungary adopted a new law “to make two years of pre-school compulsory for all children”, Ireland set up “itinerating teachers” that follow Roma communities. At the same time, “more efforts will be needed to tackle the issue of segregation in mainstream schools in several EU countries” while at European level “only 40% of all Roma children complete primary school. The EU Commission highlights the need for “systematic measures targeting the demand side of the labour market by fighting discrimination and incentivising employers”, as in the case of Austria, that promotes training mentors for Roma looking for work. Housing is another key area to promote the inclusion and welcome of the largest minority group in Europe (10-12 million). Good practices include 38 housing mediators in Belgium and a local taskforce in Berlin. But “small scale projects need to be rolled out Europe-wide to bring about results”: it is the common message on the basis of experiences at national level. Many EU countries have focused on improving healthcare services in terms of access for weaker brackets of the Roma population (in France) and in terms of investment in health mediators for the Roma community (in Romania and Spain).It is to be pointed out that “Commission action has ensured a strong legal framework is in place in all Member States to tackle discrimination”. Commission, initiative against undeclared work Undeclared work is plaguing Europe, although it is particularly felt in south and east-European countries. Unofficial data indicate that at least a quarter of the economy of certain EU member states (non-regular employment, production and market “in the black” money laundering, tax evasion) is beyond the control of the authorities, often taking the form of labor exploitation, even of women and children. For this prupose the EU Commission has proposed on April 9 the creation of a Platform, “that would bring together various national enforcement bodies involved in the fight against undeclared work”. EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion László Andor said: “Undeclared work deprives workers of social protection, puts their health and safety at risk and lowers labour standards. It also undermines fair competition for businesses and endangers the sustainability of public finances and social security systems”. The Platform would bring together, inter alia – if adopted by European Parliament and Council – labour and social security inspectorates and tax and migration authorities, “as well as other stakeholders, such as EU-level representatives of employers and employees”. The proposal envisages that all Member States should be members of the Platform, as undeclared work affects all of them”, the Commission underlined.
