Haiti: emergency relief operations and reconstruction effortsThe Foreign Affairs Commission of the European Union, gathered in Brussels January 18, endorses and “welcomes the European Commission’s preliminary commitment of a total of 30 million EUR in humanitarian assistance” which adds up to Member States’ direct commitment. The diplomatic representatives identified “coordinated response to the massive devastation caused by the earthquake in Haiti”. The Council welcomed also the preliminary financial contribution of 100 million EUR from the EU instruments “for non-humanitarian aid, primarily for restoring government capabilities”. During the meeting the Commission envisaged the possibility of further financial contribution of 200 EUR for longer-term reconstruction. EU humanitarian workers, doctors, civil protection and relief workers are active in Port-au-Prince. EUROSTAT: children and elderly at poverty-risk The ceremony for the opening of the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion will be held in Madrid on January 21. The meeting is promoted by Spain’s EU rotating presidency and by the Commission. Among the speakers figure Premier José Luis Zapatero, EU Commission President José Manuel Barroso along with other European dignitaries. The Year’s initiatives are present on the official website 2010againstpoverty.eu. On the eve of the encounter in Madrid, Eurostat released data relating to poverty in EU-27 (updated to 2008). Emphasis is placed on the fact that poverty-risk is higher in East-European countries like Latvia, Romania and Bulgaria. Accordingly, “17% of the population in the EU27 is at risk of poverty”, amounting to some 80 million people. Eurostat findings show a “higher risk of poverty among children and elderly”, while “37% of the EU27 population cannot afford a one week annual holiday away from home, 10% cannot afford to keep their home adequately warm and 9% cannot afford a meal with meat, chicken or fish every second day”.Eurofound: “flexibility” in response to the crisis Greater job “flexibility” is among the primary policies adopted by European enterprises to address the ongoing crisis in the economy and global competition. Provisional figures (the definitive ones are due to be released in March) were released in a survey conducted in 2009 by Eurofound (the European Foundation for living and working conditions improvement, with head offices in Dublin). The survey collects data regarding 27 thousand public and private companies of EU Member States, in addition to Croatia, Turkey and Macedonia. “Initial figures show that a large number of enterprises’ employment, retribution and recruitment policies are based on flexibility to best respond to the ongoing economic situation”. Job market flexibility “is the key factor of the strategy” promoted by the EU “to boost Europe’s dynamism and competitiveness”. According to data released by Eurofound some two every three enterprises opt for external collaborators and other forms of temporary employment, while over 50% hired at least one worker with a full-time contract. “More than a third of the salaries are linked to the working responsibilities, while only 14% of private enterprises envisage profit sharing bonuses”. Flexible working hours is a solution adopted by 56% of enterprises, which permit employees to “adapt their working hours to their personal needs. Five years ago this approach was adopted by only 48%”. Polish Premier Tusk presented with the Charlemagne Prize Next May 13 the Charlemagne Prize 2010 will be presented to Polish Premier Donald Tusk. The prize is conferred by the city of Aachen since the post-war years. The prize is awarded in recognition of distinguished service on behalf of European unification. “Prime minister Tusk has played a major role in integrating Poland into the European Union. The Polish people can also take the highest pride in this recognition”, EU Commission President José Manuel Barroso declared. The Polish president of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek conveyed “wholehearted congratulations” for this decision and said he is “proud” that Tusk is the recipient of the Karlpreis. The Prize was awarded in recognition of his work “for furthering liberty and democracy in Europe” and for his work to develop “the understanding and cooperation of Poland with its European partners”, a statement from the prize organizers said. Among past recipients of the Prize figure the “founding fathers” Konrad Adenauer, Alcide De Gasperi, Jean Monnet, Robert Schuman; and John Paul II.
