Gender issues: Be aware they're everywhere!

Published Wednesday, July 2, 2008 at 10:01
by rikkeindenmark (446 views and 0 comments)

Not long ago I learned about the PES Group in the Committee of the Regions. To be honest I didn't know about the group's existence until a year ago (ignorance is not always bliss), but it's a forum for local and regional politicians to meet and discuss EU politics. It's an interesting organization because many EU decisions impact greatly on the local level - and the PES Group is a chance for local and regional social democrats to meet and work together to influence EU policies.

please read more

http://www.manifesto2009.pes.org/en/in-the-spotlight/post/590

Labour’s euro-strategy – orchestra or cacophony?

It’s early days for the 2009 European elections, but Labour is banging its drum already. By JAMES DEBONO

Just 14 months after winning the 2008 election by a razor-thin majority, the GonziPN ticket will be facing the verdict of the electorate in the European Parliament elections.

please read more....

http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/2008/08/27/t18.html

The Gender Dimension

Without improving the position of women in the labour market, it is hard to create a socially coherent Europe.

Gender equality is inextricably linked with employment and social inclusion, two objectives actively pursued through the Lisbon Strategy.

Please read more...

http://euractiv.blogactiv.eu/2008/08/27/the-gender-dimension/

PHOTO Competition - PES Group Committee of the Regions

Context of the Competition
The European Union has undergone major changes in the past few years due to successive enlargements, greater mobility and increased interactions between cultures, religions, ethnic groups and languages. Responding to such changes by promoting an effective and respectful exchange between people with different cultural backgrounds constitutes a priority for Socialists and Social Democrats in the Committee of the Regions (CoR). To this effect, the PES Group in the CoR have decided to organise a Photography Competition, focusing on Intercultural Dialogue in the EU. The theme of the Competition falls within the scope of the 2008 European Year of Intercultural Dialogue. The competition is organised within the framework of the “Europe Works” project, carried out by Agence VU’ and the European think tank Notre Europe.

http://www.cor.europa.eu/Pesweb/photocompetition.html#

The proposal for the right to vote at the age of 16 - This is a realistic solution because together we can make Europe work

'The right to vote from the age of 16' - Young people have to be engaged in the work of the EU. We do not want anymore a paternalistic Europe. All new rules and procedures must be drafted with consultation of young people starting from the local level to the European institutions. Abstract from the proposals by ECOSY - Young European Socialists for the run up of the European Parliament Elections June 2009.

“We have to go to grass-root level to discuss and debate these issues. This is what we are doing at party level, and this is very much in line with what the European Socialists are doing in their home towns." Claudette Abela Baldacchino

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20080819/local/muscat-proposal-in-line-with-pes-ep-elections-manifesto

Malta to take part for the first time during the OPEN DAYS in Brussels

The OPEN DAYS is aimed at EU and regional policy-makers, experts and representatives of banking, business and civil society groups. The seminars and workshops will focus on first experiences of implementing the 345 cohesion policy programmes running from 2007-2013, worth a total investment of about EUR 500 billion in EU and national funds.

http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/conferences/od2008/index.cfm?nmenu=1&sub=200

Malta to take part for the first time in the European Democracy Week

The “European Local Democracy Week” (ELDW) is a new annual European event with simultaneous national and local events organised by participating local authorities in all Council of Europe member States. The purpose is to foster the knowledge of local democracy and promote the idea of democratic participation at a local level.The week including 15 October has been chosen as the European Charter of Local Self-Government was opened for signature on that date in 1985.

http://www.coe.int/t/congress/demoweek/default_en.asp

''Involving young people in democratic processes must begin at grassroots level'' - The Congress for Local and Regional Authorities Council of Europe

Strasbourg, 11.08.2008 – “It is in our territorial communities where young people first experience democracy and feel most involved in democratic processes,” stated Yavuz Mildon, President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, on the occasion of International Youth Day, 12 August.
“The Congress strongly believes that much more could and should be done for greater involvement of young people and their increased active participation in local and regional life: This remains an important challenge for local and regional elected representatives.
“To this end, the Congress proposes lines of action to stimulate young people's interest, commitment and involvement in the life of our cities and regions, in particular by making full use of the European Charter on Participation of Young People in Municipal and Regional Life. “The Charter offers local and regional politicians a flexible and coherent framework in the priority areas such as the promotion of youth employment, education and professional training, sport and leisure activities. Practical tools for youth participation such as training courses, advice centres, youth projects and using local media created for and by young people are strong components to encourage their active involvement. The setting up of a network of youth councils, as it has been done in Bosnia-Herzegovina, is one example of good practice at the national level. “We must emphasise full integration of young people and promotion of their participation in community life and democratic decision-making processes. More youth involvement today means more democratic stability tomorrow,” stressed President Mildon.

The sphere of Local and International Politics

The Local Councils' Association is empowered to represent all Local Councils in international affairs and since its inception has always taken an active role in international or regional organisations.

http://www.lca.org.mt/pages/iseMain.asp

REPORT TRANSFRONTIER COOPERATION

Transfrontier co-operation has grown significantly in Europe in the last 30 years. This phenomenon is likely to intensify in view of the increasing interest in such co-operation as a means of overcoming "border effects" in a European integration perspective, jointly managing shared problems and improving the quality of life of the inhabitants of cross-border territories. The development of transfrontier co-operation goes hand in hand with a strengthening of the decentralisation process, reflecting the principle of subsidiarity, and is impossible without a public-private partnership between all politicians, socio-economic players and civil society.

http://www.venice.coe.int/docs/2008/CDL-UDT(2008)013-e.asp

PES Manifesto - European Parliament Elections - June 2009

"When we consult our fellow citizens at grassroots level in order to communicate their concerns, it is essential to raise awareness about the different implications for women and men of any proposed action, including legislation, policies or programmes, in all areas and at all levels of governanceLocal and regional authorities have a key role to play because equality of opportunities for social integration and for participation in economic life as well as in decision-making in all policy areas – from social to environmental and from institutional to external - should be built from the bottom up."

http://www.cor.europa.eu/Pesweb/gender-all.html#2

Roadmap for Equality between Women and Men 2006 - 2010

The opinion points out that 'the attainment of the Lisbon objectives requires the contribution of both sexes, not least women. This includes their participation in the labour market, greater family responsibility to be assumed by men, and the possibility for both men and women to reconcile family and work commitments, which is likely to have a decisive impact on the future demographic development in the EU'.Moreover, the opinion underlines that 'to achieve genuine gender equality, the problem of under-representation of women in political and economic decision making must be tackled. Local and regional authorities have a key role to play here because gender equality in participation in politics and in economic life should be built from the bottom up. In this context, the CoR suggests that the idea of quota systems should be discussed at the different levels of governance. However quotas by themselves cannot solve the problem of inequality and discrimination, but they may be one element of a broader and integrated strategy to break up existing structures which exclude women from decision making at the moment'.

http://coropinions.cor.europa.eu/CORopinionDocument.aspx?identifier=cdr\ecos-iv\dossiers\ecos-iv-005\cdr138-2006_fin_ac.doc&language=EN

It only entails a policy decision to include Local Councils

http://www.maltastar.com/pages/msrv/mssummart.asp?po=15

Youths are the change agents who can turn challenges into progress for all - Claudette Abela Baldacchino

Youths are the change agents who can turn challenges into progress for all –
Claudette Abela Baldacchino – Member Committee of the Regions
Address during the ECOSY Summer Camp Carpentras France

Youths believe in challenges, and the challenge ahead of us is that of a Europe for people. Youths, the Face book Generation has a natural, and I would say professional role to play in adapting European policies and resources which focus on people’s real concerns.

Youths are the stakeholders of the 21st century, therefore, a multi-stakeholder approach is needed, with the involvement of youths organizations in the process of a European Dream of a Europe for people. Youths are the change agents who can turn challenges into progress for all.

This was the main message delivered during the 9th ECOSY Summer Camp taking place on 25th – 31st July 2008 by ECOSY – Young European Socialists and MJS – Mouvement des Jeunes Socialistes on behalf of the Malta Labour Party and the PES Group at the Committee of the Regions. A message delivered during the “Social Europe for everyone” Conference on 30th July. Due to the quality of the program, the number of registered participants reached 2000. The Summer Camp has been a very exciting and politically relevant event!

The other speakers on the panel were Benoit Hamon MEP, Mia DeVits MEP, Zita Gurmai (MEP and PES Women President), Philip Cordery (PES Secretary General) and Dirk Jarre (Social Platform Vice President). The debate was moderated by Nils Hindarsmann, ECOSY Vice President.

The new young leader of the Malta Labour Party Joseph Muscat also featured during the discussions between the speakers and 'old active members of ECOSY'. They described Joseph Muscat as an energetic and visionary during the debate. It was said that ‘The motivation shown by Joseph Muscat, a colleague and friend from Malta during his active days in ECOSY through the Forum Zghazagh Laburisti gives a breath of fresh air to European politics’. Described a member of ‘the old generation of ECOSY’, Joseph Muscat featured as a role model for the youth in Europe.

Equal members of society
Young people are facing increasing difficulties in accessing quality education, decent employment and in their ability to live autonomously as equal members of society. Language difficulties are selected as the primary reason that a job abroad might be hard to find in all Member States except Malta, where the main reason young people think it might be difficult to find a job abroad is being unable to afford it.[1]

Today, young people face greater challenges, and longer transitions to realizing autonomy. Unaffordable housing costs, reduced access to social protection benefits, accompanied with difficulties in finding a secure footing in the employment market are realities that can stand in the way of young people becoming autonomous. Young people are also concerned about the rising of food and fuel costs.

In this context, it is of the utmost importance to ensure the availability, sustainability and functioning of social policy that encourages and enables young people to achieve their full potential and to live autonomous lives.

Our common interests
Youths are interested in the formation of policies for the betterment of their well-being, the well being of others, their localites, their regions, their municipalities, and look forward for a better environment.

I care, we care …who does not care about his or her family, his/her grandparents, friends and neighbors? about Europe in general? The European Union must not be the missing link in the era of globalization.

We cannot solve our problems in isolation from each other, however, this is not a one size fits all! Young people have a European Dream as well. What are our dreams?

Employment
Employment is the key to welfare and full integration in society. Therefore, ensuring that young people can enter the world of work and have decent jobs must be one of the overall aims of the European Social Model.

Education
Education lays the basis for achieving one’s potential as well as for one’s integration in society – both through the transfer of the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed for active participation as a citizen, and also through the development of skills and competencies to be creative, entrepreneurial and employable. In this sense, quality education free of charge, tailored to the needs of the learner in terms of personal development and relevance to the labour market should be a key element of the European Social Model.

Autonomy
Autonomy signifies that young people have the necessary support, resources and opportunities to choose to live independently; to enjoy the possibility of full social and political participation in all sectors of everyday life; and to be able to take independent decisions. Employment and education are important prerequisites for young people to achieve autonomy.

When we dream, we strive to achieve what we dreamt upon. We long :

In making Europe into an Environmental Union
A New Social Europe and a strong and fair economy
Ensuring a Europe of security and citizens’ rights
Developing an effective migration policy
Promoting a proactive peace and development policy

When we dream, we strive to achieve what we dreamt upon. These are all challenges in front of us, lets stive to achieve this dream. The Party of European Socialists is offering to make that dream reality!



[1] Abstract from the survey among young people aged between 15-30 in the European Union The Gallup Organization European Commission 2007