Russia is the third EU-27 business partnerEconomic relations between EU-27 and Russia are progressing steadily: import-export trade increased three-fold from 2000 to 2007, while a positive trend is registered also in the area of services and direct investments. Eurostat released the data on the eve of the EU-Russia summit to be held in Nice (France) on November 14. According to the Community statistics office, “this rapid growth has undergone a steady pace in the first semester 2008. Exports of EU countries to Russia rose from 40 billion euro in the first semester 2007 to 88 billion from January to June 2008. Russia represents also 8% of total exports from the European Union and 11% of imports of the Union’s 27 Member States. In fact, the large Euro-Asian country is the third business partner of the EU, after the U.S. and China. Among Member States, Germany (with 16 billion euro) is by far and large Russia’s first EU exporting country followed by Italy (5 billion) and Finland (4). Germany is also the first importing Country, followed by The Netherlands. The financial crisis and the world economic situation were included in the items on the agenda of the summit, along with the controversial issue of the Caucasian conflict, energy supply and climate changes. Volunteer work and employment, the requests of the youthDedicating the year 2011 to volunteer work. The proposal, advanced already in the past, was reiterated in the final statement of the European Youth Week, held throughout the EU November 2-9. Over 500 events were held in this framework, attended by several thousands of under30s, such as the Feast of the Youth in Brussels on November 5 and the Conference in the premises of the European Parliament the following day, to the presence of Commissioner Jan Figel’ and several MEPs. Participants examined 33 intercultural projects that were submitted by world youth, three of which were awarded by the Commission. The final statement, issued by EU authorities, calls for a number of initiatives such as “the elimination of legal and bureaucratic obstacles preventing the youth from participating to social and public life”. As relates to solidarity, the European Union’s positive support to projects addressing European volunteer work was acknowledged with emphasis on the activities included in the “Youth in action” program. However, the existence of “a series of factors still discourages” young men and women from being actively committed in this area. Also in view of this, it was asked that 2011 be the European Year of Volunteer Work. Other issues addressed during the Week and in the final statement include employment (quality and training), enterprise policy and social integration. Figel’ pointed out that the indications brought up will be examined in 2009, when the EU’s youth policies will be reviewed.Employment, men-women equality “Before economic, demographic and social challenges faced by Europe, and despite the upward trend in the area of female employment, more effort is needed to improve the participation of women in the job market and the work-life balance”. Within this framework, on November 13-14 the EU promoted at the Grand Palais in Lille (France) a conference called “Parity between men and women in the professional life, an economic objective before the demographic challenge”. The purpose of the international meeting was to “define the various aspects linked to the question of equality between men and women in the working environment”, along with the identification of objectives while enhancing good practices adopted in European Countries”. The event was focused on four major themes and workshops: the “mixed trait” of professions (different vocational guidance of girls and boys in the area of education and employment) and women’s access to executive posts; the “quality” of women’s professions and the protection of their employment opportunities. The third round table addressed the topic of equal pay between men and women, given a situation where on average “they earn 15% less than men” with equal jobs. The fourth workshop regarded work-life balance (working hours, part-time, child care, service to households).
