The impact of an ageing population on employment and the labour market is increasingly recognised as one of the most pressing issues confronting European societies. This summary charts the initiatives being taken to reverse trends for early retirement and exit from the labour market towards retention, reintegration and retraining of older workers. The lessons from and recommendations for action are directly and urgently relevant to governments, social partners and all in the ageing workforce.

The programme of work for 2000 is set out under the six challenges which formed the framework of the present four-year rolling programme 1997-2000: employment; equal opportunities; health and well-being; sustainable development; social cohesion; participation.

The first issue of the new BEST reports on Foundation research into urban time policies in five Member States which identified and analysed innovative cases involving the synchronisation of various time policies (working hours, school time and shop opening hours). The study highlights the case of Italy, the only European country to have adopted a consistent approach to time policies, and shows how there is a growing awareness in all countries to find new ways of organising modern life in order to improve the quality of life for city-dwellers BEST presents important developments in the field of time. It is addressed to those developing policies in this field working in the Institutions of the European Commission, national governments and the social partners in the European Union. BEST is published twice a year in English, French and German.

Communiqué is the newsletter of the Foundation It is published 10 times per year and provides up-to-date news and information on the Foundation's work and research. The November issue contains the following articles: Working time; Gender in work organisation; New work programme.