Three key words

On July 2 the European Commission launched in Brussels its renewed social agenda. “Opportunity, access and solidarity”; these are the three key words of the package for the promotion of citizens’ social welfare through the improvement and modernization of existing political tools. Everyone from all age groups ought to be able to access, quality services in areas such as education and health. As explained during the presentation of the Agenda, “Europe needs solidarity between individuals, generations and regions. It is a matter of concretizing access and opportunity principles and ensuring that nobody is left at the margins, especially those who more than others suffer the negative consequences of changes regarding the climate, birth-rate, emigration and employment”. Seven priority areas. As recalled during the presentation, the EU has limited powers and skills. However, a concerted approach by Member States and the interested parties may positively affect citizens’ lives. On the wake of the progress made by the EU in the past 50 years, especially in the field of development, employment, gender equality along with improved working conditions, the Agenda promotes a series of initiatives in seven priority areas which combine a series of Community policies: “childhood and the youth; investment in human capital; mobility; better health; the fight against poverty and social exclusion; anti-discrimination and the promotion of gender equality; access on the world scene”. In order to reach these objectives, the agenda proposes a plurality of tools such as “legislation and social dialogue, cooperation between Member States, community financing and communication”. The documents of the agenda. The package consists of the following documents: a framework communication which explains the Commission’s global approach; proposed directives regarding anti-discrimination policies, European enterprise committees and safeguarding patients’ rights to access cross-border healthcare; along with a draft-directive regarding the implementation of the agreement between the social parts in the maritime sector. The package equally includes specific communication on the European Fund for Globalization Adjustment, on the follow-up of 2007 – European Year of Equal Opportunities for All and on the open coordination method in the field of social protection and inclusion. The Agenda includes a series of working papers by the Commission concerning the Roma minority, teleworking, social services of general interest, diginified work, restructuring, citizens’ wellbeing in the media world, and improved efficiency of social expenses. Lastly, the package envisaged a Green Book on education and immigration, a communication on schools in the 21st century, and a reccomendation of volunteers’ mobility. An overview. As relates to the fight against discrimination, the Commission proposed a directive to step up anti-discrimination legislation as envisaged in article 13 of the Treaty, in particular discrimination based on age, sexual orientation, disability, religion or faith. The Agenda devotes equal attention to the difficulties faced by the Roma people, and proposes a series of strategies aimed at promoting their integration in the job environment, in schools and as relates to access to health facilities. In the context of the Agenda, the Commission adopted a proposal aimed at simplifying access to cross-border health services. In brief, Mr. Carparelli explained, “European citizens will be able to choose where they want to be cured, even abroad. Health expenses will be reimbursed of the same amount charged in their own Country. The directive gives instructions on implementing this right, and addresses the limits placed by Member States on health assistance abroad, especially as refers to budget protection”. As relates to education and youth policies, the Agenda promotes youth mobility by encouraging Member States to improve the inter-operability of their national systems and remove the last obstacles to cross-border volunteer work. The purpose is to enable all youth to engage in volunteer projects throughout Europe. The Agenda places special emphasis on “the fight against poverty”. “78 million Europeans – was remarked during the Agenda’s presentation – live under the threshold of poverty, 19% of whom are children. Cooperation between States ought to be urgently strengthened to this regard. The solution isn’t just in social policies. It must also be found in the field of employment and education. A good job and good education are the best tools against poverty”.