Social Networking online: safer Internet”The Commission applauds this first European agreement on social networking on the web. It is an important step forwards towards making our children’s clicks on social networking sites safer in Europe”, said Viviane Reding, EU Commissioner for Information Society and Media, welcoming the signing of a protocol by 17 social networking sites (including Arto, Bebo, Dailymotion, Facebook, Giovani.it, Google/YouTube, Hyves, Microsoft Europe, Myspace, Nasza-klaza.pl, Skyrock, StudiVZ, Sulake/Habbo Hotel, Yahoo!Europe). The deal is “aimed at improving the safety of under 18s who use social networking sites”. Ms. Reding explains the scale of the phenomenon by citing some figures: “Social networking sites are an emerging social and economic phenomenon, attracting 41.7 million regular users in Europe and changing the way we interact with each other on the Web. The use of social networks has grown over the past year by 35% in Europe and is expected to more than double to 107 million users by 2012”. That’s why it is essential to take steps to improve safety: the agreement signed in Luxembourg on 10 February on Safer Internet Day organized by the European Commission “will empower teenagers to deal with potential risks they may face online, like cyberbullying or revealing personal information”. The various measures adopted include the provision of a “report abuse” button that is “easy to use and accessible”: it will allow users of social networking sites to report inappropriate contact from or conduct by another user with one click”.European Parliament: the profile of the “social economy”A report that asks for the recognition throughout Europe of the profile and role of the social economy is included in the forthcoming agenda of the European Parliament, which is due to meet in Brussels on 18-19 February. “Social economy means first of all the primacy of the individual over capital, according to the principles of solidarity and responsibility”, explains the author of the report, Italian MEP Patrizia Toia, in a briefing to SIR Europe. The document was already voted on in the parliamentary committee on “Employment and Social Affairs” on 21 January, obtaining 45 votes in favour and 2 against. “In the various European countries there does not yet exist a common definition of ‘social economy’ – explains Toia -. The tendency is to speak instead of cooperative economy, third sector or some other term; this is symptomatic of the fact that the social economy is scarcely represented at the institutional level, despite the fact that it represents no less than 10% of the total of European businesses”, or 2 million firms, which is “equivalent to 6% of overall jobs” in the EU. But how can the “social economy” be defined? “It is – explains Toia – the sum of those private enterprises created with the aim of responding to the needs and requirements of their members, in the general interest. They may take the form of cooperatives, mutual-aid societies, associations, or foundations, based on the shared principles of the democratic control of their members, voluntary membership and the pursuit of the objectives of sustainable development”. The report presents three main points: first, “a European approach to the social economy and hence the recognition of this concept”; second, “a clear legal status, i.e. legal recognition”; and third, “statistical recognition”. To explain the scale of the phenomenon, the report points out for example that “150 million EU citizens are affiliated in health service mutual and insurance schemes”, “there are over 93,000 foundations” and over 240,000 cooperatives. Toia adds that “in good measure the various institutions linked to the social economy have deep roots in the history of the European Catholic movement and are still dependent on persons and environments of Christian inspiration, effectively active in society and in the world of the economy”. European campaign for citizens’s rightsThe European Union “boasts of one of the most advanced legislations in terms of social protection. However, many citizens don’t exercise their rights, because they don’t yet know what they are”. The recognition of this fact forms the basis of an awareness-raising campaign conducted in the 27 EU member states, which includes a variety of events, moments of reflection and the distribution of promotional materials (http://ec.europa.eu/social). “Women, for example, continue to earn 15% less than men – points out a press release of the Commission – and have greater difficulties in pursuing a career. EU legislation aims to close this gap, but first of all we need to raise citizens’ awareness about their rights”. The campaign on social rights plans, in the course of 2009, a series of promotional events. Many European cities (from Prague to Paris) are expected to organize circuses on social rights. This initiative is inspired by the “social circus”, “an educational movement that uses the circus arts as a way of helping the young” with various types of problems. The campaign conducted by the European Union involves nine sectors, including work (equality of treatment for men and women and mobility), social exclusion, poverty, diversity, and opportunities for the elderly. “Women, for example, continue to earn 15% less than men – points out a press release of the Commission – and have greater difficulties in pursuing a career. EU legislation aims to close this gap, but first of all we need to raise citizens’ awareness about their rights”. The campaign on social rights plans, in the course of 2009, a series of promotional events. Many European cities (from Prague to Paris) are expected to organize circuses on social rights. This initiative is inspired by the “social circus”, “an educational movement that uses the circus arts as a way of helping the young” with various types of problems. The campaign conducted by the European Union involves nine sectors, including work (equality of treatment for men and women and mobility), social exclusion, poverty, diversity, and opportunities for the elderly.
