EU Level developments
- 20 Dec 2004
EU Level: Kok group issues report on Lisbon strategy<#PDF_LINK>In November 2004, a report on the EU's Lisbon strategy, issued by a high-level group chaired by the former Dutch Prime Minister Wim Kok, was discussed at the autumn European Council meeting. The report, which will feed into the mid-term review of the Lisbon economic and social strategy, states that there has been disappointing progress in implementation. It urges all those involved to work together to make better progress.
- 20 Dec 2004
EU Level: Council discusses draft Directives on working time, equality and radiation<#PDF_LINK>An EU social policy and employment Council meeting took place in early December 2004. Topics discussed included the European Commission's proposed revision of the working time Directive, a proposal aimed at bringing existing equality Directives together into a single text, and a draft Directive on protecting workers against exposure to optical radiation.
- 20 Dec 2004
EU Level: Framework accord on social rights at Total<#PDF_LINK>In November 2004, management at the French energy multinational Total and representatives of European-level trade union organisations signed a framework agreement on social rights within the group. The accord covers information and consultation, training and competence development and the procedures to be followed in the event of changes to the business that will have an impact on employment.
- 07 Dec 2004
EU Level: Continuing controversy over services Directive <#PDF_LINK>A controversial draft EU Directive on the provision of services in the internal market was the subject of a public hearing at the European Parliament and a debate in the competitiveness Council in November 2004. Trade unions are concerned that the Directive might have an adverse effect on pay and conditions in the service sector.
- 07 Dec 2004
EU Level: Commission highlights discrimination against Roma, gypsies and travellers<#PDF_LINK>A European Commission report issued in November 2004 examines the situation of Roma, gypsies and travellers in the EU and calls for action to prevent discrimination against them.
- 07 Dec 2004
EU Level: Round table held on social inclusion<#PDF_LINK>A round-table conference on social inclusion in the EU was held in October 2004, bringing together a range of interested parties. Participants exchanged views and good practice in areas such as labour market participation, income, social protection, education, social exclusion among children, immigrants, ethnic minorities and rural poverty.
- 07 Dec 2004
EU Level: Responses to Commission Green Paper on non-discrimination<#PDF_LINK>In November 2004, the European Commission reported on the responses it had received to a Green Paper on non-discrimination it issued in June. The Commission states that the responses reveal a strong demand for more EU action in this field.
- 26 Nov 2004
EU Level: Commission consults on musculoskeletal disorders at work<#PDF_LINK>In November 2004, the European Commission launched a first consultation of the EU-level social partners on the prevention of musculoskeletal disorders. In response to a high and increasing level of this type of health problem, the Commission asks the social partners whether they would like to see a binding EU instrument, a voluntary instrument or an approach that combines the two.
- 22 Nov 2004
EU Level: EWC practice surveyed<#PDF_LINK>A survey of major multinational companies released in 2004 highlights key trends in European Works Council (EWC) practice and employer concerns about the potential revision of the EWCs Directive.
- 10 Nov 2004
EU Level: Day of action against GM job cuts<#PDF_LINK>Thousands of General Motors (GM) workers took part in a European day of action in October 2004 in protest against company plans to reduce its European workforce in order to make significant cost savings.
- 09 Nov 2004
EU Level: EU-level social dialogue progresses in chemicals sector<#PDF_LINK>In September 2004, the EU-level social partners in the chemicals sector stated that they will ask the European Commission to create a formal social dialogue committee for this industry. This follows a period of cooperation between the partners, which has most recently resulted in a joint position paper on education, vocational training and lifelong learning.
- 21 Oct 2004
EU Level: Temporary work, working time and equality discussed at Council<#PDF_LINK>At an EU social policy and employment Council meeting held on 4 October 2004, ministers debated a number of important measures including draft Directives on equal treatment for women and men (outside the workplace), temporary agency workers and the organisation of working time.
- 20 Oct 2004
EU Level: Social partners sign work-related stress agreement<#PDF_LINK>In October 2004, the EU-level central social partners signed a framework agreement on work-related stress. The agreement, which will be implemented in accordance with the procedures and practices specific to individual countries rather than by an EU Directive, aims to establish a framework within which employers and employee representatives can work together to prevent, identify and combat stress at work.
- 20 Oct 2004
EU Level: Commission proposes amendments to working time Directive<#PDF_LINK>In September 2004, the European Commission issued a proposal to amend the EU working time Directive, focusing on the opt-outfrom the maximum average working week, the treatment of on-call working and reference periods for the calculation of maximum average working time.
- 05 Oct 2004
EU Level: Survey finds that most men do not take up parental leave<#PDF_LINK>The findings of a Eurobarometer survey published in September 2004 indicate that the majority of men in the EU are aware of their right to take parental leave, but are not taking it up. The reasons for this include financial worries, a lack of information about the leave and concerns about career development.
- 05 Oct 2004
EU Level: Reducing the impact of the ageing workforce<#PDF_LINK>A European Commission report released in September 2004 looks at the potential impact of ageing in six European countries.
- 05 Oct 2004
EU Level: Framework accord on social rights signed at Prym<#PDF_LINK>A global framework agreement on social rights and industrial relations was concluded in July 2004 at the German-headquartered multinational Prym by management, the European Works Council and the International Metalworkers’ Federation.
- 22 Sep 2004
EU Level: European Court of Justice issues decision in EWCs case<#PDF_LINK>In July 2004, the European Court of Justice issued its ruling in a case concerning employees’ rights to company information prior to seeking the establishment of a European Works Council (EWC).
- 22 Sep 2004
EU Level: Commission issues equality and non-discrimination report<#PDF_LINK>In July 2004, the European Commission issued its second annual report on equality and non-discrimination in the EU. The document examines new rights to legal protection against discrimination that have recently been introduced across the Union, and describes efforts that have been made to raise awareness about the new rights and to promote the benefits of diversity.
- 22 Sep 2004
EU Level: Commission issues social dialogue Communication<#PDF_LINK>In August 2004, the European Commission issued a new Communication in which it explores the achievements of the EU-level social dialogue process to date and highlights areas where improvement could be made. It focuses in particular on the impact and implementation of the joint texts reached so far.
- 06 Sep 2004
EU Level: Worldwide youth unemployment at record high<#PDF_LINK>An ILO study issued in August 2004 found that nearly half the unemployed people in the world are between the ages of 15 and 24. It also found that young people represent a significant proportion of the world’s working poor.
- 06 Sep 2004
EU Level: Lifelong learning negotiations fail in insurance sector<#PDF_LINK>Talks over lifelong learning between the EU-level social partners in the insurance sector broke down in May 2004. Issues under discussion had included the provision of training during working time and the involvement of trade unions in the training process.
- 23 Aug 2004
EU Level: New Commission unveiled<#PDF_LINK>In August 2004, the incoming President of the European Commission, José Manuel Durão Barroso, announced the details of his new Commission. The new social affairs and employment policy Commissioner will be Vladimir Spidla, whose portfolio will specifically include equal opportunities. In terms of the new Commission’s goals, Mr Barroso has stressed that implementation of the Lisbon economic and social strategy was a key aim. The new Commission will take office on 1 November after having gained the approval of the European Parliament.
- 10 Aug 2004
EU Level: Informal Council discusses future of social policy<#PDF_LINK>EU employment and social affairs ministers met for an informal Council in July 2004 to examine the future direction of European social policy and prepare for the drafting of a new social policy agenda, which will run from 2006 to 2010.
- 10 Aug 2004
EU Level: Commission launches proceedings for non-implementation of anti-discrimination Directives<#PDF_LINK>The European Commission announced in July 2004 that it is taking legal action against six EU Member States for failing to transpose the framework equal treatment Directive, and against five Member States for failing to transpose the race discrimination Directive. Both of these Directives should have been implemented by Member States in 2003.
- 21 Jul 2004
EU Level: Report examines undeclared work in EU<#PDF_LINK>In July 2004, the European Commission issued a new report on the extent of undeclared work around the EU. It looks at the incidence in each Member State, including the 10 new Member States that joined in May 2004, and examines the reasons behind the growth in undeclared work.
- 21 Jul 2004
EU Level: Multi-stakeholder forum issues CSR recommendations<#PDF_LINK>In June 2004, the EU multi-stakeholder forumon corporate social responsibility (CSR) issued its final report after 20 months of deliberations. The report contains nine concrete recommendations on how to encourage the development and implementation of CSR strategies.
- 21 Jul 2004
EU Level: Controversy over draft Directive on services<#PDF_LINK>During 2004, there has been widespread criticism among trade unions of a draft EU Directive aimed at encouraging the free movement of services, issued by the European Commission in January. For example, some European-level union organisations expressed opposition to the proposal in June, while unions in Belgium staged protest demonstrations. Trade union concerns centre on the so-called country of originprinciple, according to which service providers would be subject only to the law of the country in which they are established (rather than those in which they operate). Unions fear that this would lead to cost undercutting and might also damage collectively-agreed regulation of employment terms in some countries.
- 21 Jul 2004
EU Level: Employer and trade union responses to EWCs consultation<#PDF_LINK>In May and June 2004, the main EU-level employers' and trade union organisations responded to the European Commission's first-phase consultation on enhancing the effectiveness of European Works Councils (EWCs), including the possible revision of the 1994 Directive. This article outlines the key points made and the likely next steps.
- 06 Jul 2004
EU Level: Electricity partners agree joint statement on skills needs<#PDF_LINK>In June 2002, the EU-level social partners in the electricity sector agreed a joint statement on future skills needs in their industry, in the context of liberalisation. The statement includes a framework of actions aimed at improving skills levels.
- 06 Jul 2004
EU Level: Continuing training guidelines agreed in hotels and restaurants <#PDF_LINK>The EU-level social partners in the hotels and restaurants sector agreed in June 2004 joint recommendations on how to implement continuing training and personal development measures. The guidelines aim in particular to help small and medium-sized enterprises.
- 06 Jul 2004
EU Level: Commission launches public consultation on anti-discrimination policy <#PDF_LINK>In June 2004, the European Commission launched an online public consultation on the future direction of anti-discrimination policy in the EU. Based on a Green Paper on this issue, the consultation will be open until the end of August 2004.
- 25 Jun 2004
EU Level: June social and employment Council<#PDF_LINK>An EU social policy and employment Council meeting was held at the beginning of June 2004. Ministers dealt with issues relating to social security and social protection, and agreed the 2004 employment package. They also discussed establishing a European Gender Institute and examined a proposed Directive relating to equal access to goods and services for women and men.
- 25 Jun 2004
EU Level: Agreement reached on Constitutional Treaty<#PDF_LINK>EU heads of state and ministers met in Brussels on 17-18 June 2004 for a European Council summit meeting and to discuss modifications to the draft Constitutional Treaty. Agreement was reached on the text of the Treaty, which seeks to ensure the smooth running of the enlarged Union of 25 Member States. As before, the draft Treaty incorporates the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, which enshrines a number of labour and social rights for citizens.
- 21 Jun 2004
EU Level: Commission launches second consultation on working time Directive<#PDF_LINK>In May 2004, the European Commission issued a second stage of consultation of the EU social partners on the revision of the working time Directive. The consultation document urges the partners to negotiate an agreement on the revision of the Directive and outlines the approach that the Commission will take, in the form of its own legislative proposals, if they do not do this.
- 08 Jun 2004
EU Level: Commission highlights social dimension of globalisation<#PDF_LINK>In May 2004, the European Commission published a report on how it intends to contribute to securing the social benefits of globalisation. This is partly in response to the publication in February 2004 of the findings of the ILO World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalisation.
- 01 Jun 2004
EU Level: Commission launches review of EWCs Directive<#PDF_LINK>In April 2004, the European Commission began consultations with EU-level social partner bodies on measures to enhance the effectiveness of European Works Councils (EWCs), including the possible revision of the EWCs Directive.
- 01 Jun 2004
EU Level: Call centres charter agreed<#PDF_LINK>In May 2004, the EU-level social partners in the telecommunications sector published a newly-agreed charter for employers and workers in the call centre sector. The charter sets out good practice guidelines in areas such as health and safety, working time and workload, surveillance, pay and benefits, training and worker representation.
- 01 Jun 2004
EU Level: ETUC adopts resolution on coordination of collective bargaining<#PDF_LINK>In March 2004, the executive committee of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) adopted a resolution on the coordination of collective bargaining and on worker participation, which includes its 2004 bargaining guidelines for ETUC member unions. Faced with what it sees as increasing unity on the part of European employers, ETUC is concerned about a potential weakening of workers’ bargaining and participation rights. It fears that this will be exacerbated by the accession in May 2004 to the EU of new Member States with less developed industrial relations structures.
- 10 May 2004
EU Level: Accidents at work decreasing<#PDF_LINK>In April 2004, Eurostat published a report analysing data on the incidence of serious accidents at work in the EU over the period 1994-2002 and concluded that there is a general downwards trend. However, this is not the case for all Member States.
- 10 May 2004
EU Level: Council adopts Directive on protection against exposure to electromagnetic fields<#PDF_LINK>A new EU health and safety Directive, protecting workers against exposure to electromagnetic fields, was adopted in April 2004. This is the third so-called physical agentsDirective.
- 27 Apr 2004
EU Level: Spring Council and tripartite social summit held<#PDF_LINK>The European Council's annual spring meeting on economic and social matters was held in March 2004. A wide-ranging discussion on the employment and social situation in the EU was held, in the context of progress towards achieving the goals of the Lisbon strategy. The Council was preceded by a tripartite social summit, at which the EU-level social partners set out their views and presented reports detailing their actions in the areas of employment and competence development over the previous year.
- 27 Apr 2004
EU Level: ECJ issues rulings on social security benefit and annual leave<#PDF_LINK>The European Court of Justice (ECJ) issued two important rulings in March 2004, which have implications for social and employment policy. The first deals with the question of whether annual leave entitlement can be taken upon return from maternity leave, even if the period for taking annual leave, set by collective agreement, falls within the period of maternity leave. The second relates to the rules surrounding the entitlement of a national of one Member State to claim unemployment benefit in another Member State.
- 05 Apr 2004
EU Level: Construction social partners promote employment of young people and older workers<#PDF_LINK>In March 2004, the European-level social partners in the construction sector published a joint brochure aimed at encouraging the employment of young people and older workers.
- 05 Apr 2004
EU Level: Unions stage 'European action days'<#PDF_LINK>A range of actions, including mass demonstrations, meetings and information campaigns were staged at the beginning of April 2004 by trade unions around Europe. The European action dayswere intended to support calls for a strong social Europe.
- 05 Apr 2004
EU Level: Making better use of older workers<#PDF_LINK>In March 2004, the European Commission issued a policy document looking at ways in which the EU and its Member States can improve the labour force participation rate of older workers. The aim is the help the EU to meet its target of a 50% participation rate for older workers by 2010.
- 05 Apr 2004
EU Level: Commission consults on reducing exposure to cancer-causing substances<#PDF_LINK>In March 2004, the European Commission asked EU-level social partner representatives for their views on how to tackle gaps in existing legislation aimed at minimising exposure to substances that cause cancer and have other harmful effects.
- 24 Mar 2004
EU Level: March social and employment Council<#PDF_LINK>An EU social policy and employment Council meeting took place in early March 2004, at which a variety of topics were discussed, including preparations for the spring European Council and tripartite social summit. The Council also took note of a range of reports and held an exchange of views on the Commission’s recent Communication on the 1993 working time Directive.
- 24 Mar 2004
EU Level: ILO World Commission issues report on globalisation<#PDF_LINK>The ILO’s World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalisation issued its final report in February 2004. It states that building a fair and inclusive globalisation should become a worldwide priority, and calls for an urgent rethink of current policies and institutions of global governance.
- 23 Mar 2004
EU Level: New social dialogue committee in local and regional government <#PDF_LINK>The EU-level social partners in the local and regional government sector established a European sectoral social dialogue committee in January 2004. The new committee has drawn up a work programme and adopted a joint statement on telework.
- 08 Mar 2004
EU Level: Report highlights persistent gender gaps<#PDF_LINK>The European Commission published its first annual report on progress towards gender mainstreaming in February 2004. It finds that despite some improvements, significant gender gaps remain across the EU, especially in the labour market.
- 08 Mar 2004
EU Level: Commission consults on directors’ pay<#PDF_LINK>Consultations on the subject of company directors’ remuneration were launched by the European Commission in February 2004, as part of an action plan to modernise company law and improve corporate governance. The responses will help the Commission to formulate a Recommendation in September 2004.
- 24 Feb 2004
EU Level: Commission consults on review of working time Directive<#PDF_LINK>In January 2004, the European Commission issued a Communication on the re-examination of the 1993 EU working time Directive in which it invites comments from interested parties on the Directive’s reference periods for calculating average working time, the possibility of allowing individuals to opt out from the maximum 48-hour week, recent ECJ case law regarding on-call working, and measures to improve work-life balance. The European Parliament gave its response in February 2004, stating that the opt-out should be phased out.
- 24 Feb 2004
EU Level: Joint employment report assesses labour market performance<#PDF_LINK>The latest draft joint employment report, issued by the European Commission in January 2004, sets out the progress made by EU Member States in fulfilling the targets set by the European employment strategy and at the 2000 Lisbon European Council. It finds that there is a danger that these targets will not be met, despite progress in a number of areas, and sets out priorities for 2004.
- 09 Feb 2004
EU Level: ECJ rules on occupational pensions for transsexuals<#PDF_LINK>The European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled in January 2004 that national legislation which denies transsexuals the right to marry is contrary to Community law if the effect of this is to deprive them of any entitlement to a survivor’s pension. The ECJ has referred the case back to national courts in the UK for them to determine whether Community law can be relied on in such a case.
- 09 Feb 2004
EU Level: Informal social affairs Council held<#PDF_LINK>An informal EU employment and social affairs Council took place on 15-16 January 2004. The meeting discussed a range of issues, including how to encourage people to move off benefits and into work and how to improve investment in human resources.
- 26 Jan 2004
EU Level: ETUC presents 'social tests' to Irish Presidency<#PDF_LINK>Representatives of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) met the Irish Prime Minister in January 2004 to present a list of trade union priorities in the economic and social field over the coming six months of the Irish EU Presidency. These include implementation of the Lisbon agenda and the European employment strategy, and progression of a range of social policy instruments and dossiers, in areas such as working time, European Works Councils, health and safety and temporary agency work.