More than 23 million unemployed in EU27 The figures are official: 2009, a terrible year for world economy, ended with a record number of 23 million jobless in the 27 EU Member States, and the labour market’s downward trend is continuing. A year ago, the overall number of unemployed was 18 million. In the euro area (16 countries that adopted the single currency) the unemployment rate at the end of December was 10%; 9.6% in the 27 EU Member States. Eurostat confirms: “it is the highest rate since 1998 for the euro area and for the EU 27 since the start of the series in 2000”. According to the document presented last week in Brussels, the labour market was mostly struck in countries such as Latvia (22.8%) and Spain (19.5%), whereas the countries that are better off are Netherlands (4.0%) and Austria (5.4%). Increase in unemployment rates have been registered in eastern countries, especially the Baltic republics, while the problem is less severe in Germany, Luxemburg and Belgium. Youth unemployment rate (under -25) was 21.4% in the EU27, with highest rates in Estonia, Ireland, France, Italy, Hungary, Latvia, Slovakia and Sweden. EU Commission: Barroso II team on track These are decisive hours for the investment of the 2010-2014 EU Commission. After the oral hearing of Bulgarian candidate Kristalina Georgieva on February 3rd, the College is now called to pass the assessment of the EP, due to convene in plenary meeting in Strasburg on February 9 for the final vote and the presentation of the Commissioners-designate. During the hearing Georgieva faced questions on her suitability for the international cooperation, humanitarian aid and crisis response portfolio to which Barroso designated her, along with questions on Haiti. “If I am confirmed, it will be my immediate duty to make sure we Europeans bring to Haiti the best our Union has to offer,” she said. Other key issues raised in discussions with MEPs include improving co-ordination within the EU (and within the Commission), and between humanitarian and military players in order to meet the dual challenge posed by expanding needs and shrinking budgets. Economic crisis: the parliamentary report due in April The works of the Special Committee on the Financial Crisis set up by the European Parliament are under way. The Committee is tasked with investigating the causes of the recession, the dynamics that triggered its development, the current state of affairs and the impact on finance, production, social services and employment. The Commission is expected to release a draft report by April 29, while the EP is due to deliver its endorsement in September’s plenary. A few days ago Mario Monti, former European Commissioner for Home Market and Competition (1995-2004) intervened at the Committee’s public hearing. He stressed the importance of stepping up the single market, competitiveness and competition “preventing the risks deriving from protectionism”. The speaker delved into the need to combine market and social factors, and leave social policies to be coordinated at national level. Mr. Monti underlined the importance of cooperation at EU level in the field of taxation in order to prevent the consequences of unfair competition and social dumping. Personal data protection and Privacy With the Lisbon Treaty and the Charter of Fundamental Rights now in force, the Commission said ” it wants to create a clear, modern set of rules applicable” in all the 27 Member States, “aimed at guaranteeing a high level of personal data protection and privacy”. Starting with “a reform of the 1995 EU Data Protection Directive”. This was the statement made by Vivianne Reding, Commissioner for Information Society and Media, through a commitment that passes from the first to the second group of Commissioners headed by José Manuel Barroso. For Reding “our privacy faces new challenges: behavioural advertising can use your internet history to better market products; social networking sites used by 41.7 million Europeans allow access to personal information including photos; more than 6 billion smart chips used today can trace your movements”. EU rules, Reding points out “will allow everyone to realise their right to know when their personal data can be lawfully processed, in any area of life, whether boarding a plane, opening a bank account, or surfing the internet, and to say no to it whenever they want”.
