International Women's Day 2005: is the role and perception of women in the European Union changing ? Every day millions of women around the world are victims of abuse of all kinds: brutality within a relationship or the family, intimidation at work, mental cruelty, sexual abuse or forced prostitution. To mark International Women's Day on 8 March, the European Parliament and the Commission joined in with NGOs to address the issue of the role and perception of women in the European Union. Beijing + 10 The European Parliament's plenary debate was based on a question to the Council and the Commission on the follow-up of the Fourth World Conference on Women by the United Nations, better known as Beijing + 10 Platform for Action, which was signed by 189 countries a decade ago. This platform for action established twelve key areas which governments should focus on to achieve gender equality. Fighting women's poverty, ensuring their access to education and power, as well as basic human rights are a few amongst them. Fighting domestic violence The European Parliament has always been concerned with this problem. On 8 March its Members (MEPs) presented a draft resolution to the Commission, calling for 2006 to be declared European Year against Violence against Women. The first report on domestic violence is currently being drafted and is due to be adopted this year. In this draft resolution, the European Parliament strongly condemned the violence used by the Turkish police force during the recent campaign in Istanbul for International Women's Day. Finally, the European Parliament welcomed the adoption in December 2004 of a directive implementing the principle of equal treatment for women and men in access to and supply of goods and services. One in five women in the EU has suffered violence at the hands of her male partner. And 25 percent of all violent crimes reported in Europe involve a man assaulting his wife or partner. Domestic violence occurs in every country and every social class. The Daphne programmes More than 150 Daphne projects, worth €17 million, have been implemented since 1997 in favour of women who are victims of violence or to find ways to prevent violence from occurring. The Daphne Programme, its projects and its results are recognised throughout Europe and beyond as a unique contribution to the fight against violence and as a model of good practice in this area. This emerges regularly in international forums held throughout the world. In part this is because the Daphne Programme has never set limits on the definition of violence but has encouraged those preparing projects to explore violence in all its diversity and impact. As a result, since its inception, the Daphne Programme has studied and found innovative responses to most types of violence, including violence in the family, violence in schools and other institutions, violence at work, commercial sexual exploitation, genital mutilation, domestic/family violence, trafficking in human beings, and the many forms of violence that afflict not only the public at large but particularly vulnerable groups such as disabled people, ethnic minorities and people living and working on the streets. The original approach of the Daphne Programme is that it works with organisations directly in contact with victims and those at risk. Most of these organisations implement their actions with the involvement of the ultimate beneficiaries (women, young people and children), giving them the opportunity to participate in the design, the objectives and actions of the project and not be just passive recipients. So far, more than 1000 organisations have participated in and been founded by Daphne projects in favour of women. Institute for gender equality Vladimír Špidla, Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, announced that a new European Institute for Gender Equality will be set up to support the EU institutions and the Member States in promoting equality between women and men and combating sex discrimination. The Institute will be an independent centre of excellence at European level. It will gather, analyse and disseminate reliable and comparable research data and information needed by policy-makers in Brussels and in the Member States. It will have a documentation centre and a library which will be open to the public. The Institute will stimulate research and exchanges of experience by organising meetings between policy-makers, experts and stakeholders and it will raise awareness of gender equality policies with events including conferences, campaigns and seminars. Another vital task will be to develop tools for supporting the integration of gender equality into all Community policies. The creation of an institute for gender equality was requested by the European Council in June 2004 and has also been demanded by the European Parliament. It will start operating twelve months after the regulation establishing it has been adopted by Parliament and Council, and should be up and running in 2007. It will be funded by the Commission, with a proposed budget of 52.5 million EUR for the period 2007 to 2013.

 

London Conference calls for "viable" Palestinian state At an international meeting on Palestine convened by Prime Minister Tony Blair on 1 March in London, the international community reaffirmed their support for the Middle East Peace Process. Two States, living side by side Members of the Quartet for peace in the Middle East (EU, United States, United Nations and Russia) adopted a declaration reiterating their firm commitment to a two-State solution. They condemned recent attacks in Tel Aviv and stressed that the Palestinian Authority must make further efforts "to thwart acts of terrorism." They also urged both the Palestinian State and Israel, which was not represented at the conference, to fully implement the commitment made at the Sharm-el Sheikh summit on 8 February: a mutual halt to violence. Participants at the London conference welcomed Israel's recent agreement to withdraw from Gaza and parts of the West Bank. They expressed their hope that this commitment would be implemented in a manner consistent with the Roadmap, as a crucial step towards achieving the vision of two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security. Whereas the meeting urged Israel (which was not represented) to dismantle its blockades, lift restrictions on the free movement of Palestinian people and ensure the renewal of Palestinian economy, the Palestinian Authority promised to hold elections "to strengthen the legitimacy of the governmental institutions", but also to unite its security and information services (by possibly nominating a police head for the West Bank and Gaza) and increase the fight against corruption. "We intend to go forward, put our house in order and stick to our commitments," said Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian Authority. Improving the daily life of Palestinians EU High Representative Javier Solana, who was also present at the meeting, stressed the need to improve the living conditions of Palestinians by getting rid of the road blocs which are not needed for security. This, he believes, would strongly help fight terrorism. The London meeting pledged assistance to tackle the most pressing social and economic needs in the Palestinian territories. The President of the Council of the European Union, Jean Asselborn, welcomed the London meeting, which, he said, "offered a real opportunity for the international community to support Palestinian efforts to consolidate the structures of the future Palestinian state." The EU believes in a two-State solution to the Middle East conflict, in accordance with the Roadmap for Peace. To date, EU support for the creation of a viable, democratic and peaceful Palestinian State has been considerable. Mahmoud Abbas wants greater political role for EU President Abbas, who was in Brussels on 3 March, thanked the EU for its "generous" financial and technical assistance to the Palestinian people and government for the creation of a Palestinian State. But he also expressed his wish for the EU to play a "major political role in the peace process, notably within the Quartet." He also pointed out that the separation wall built by Israel and the Jewish colonies on Palestinian territory is against international law. EU High Representative Solana supported President Abbas on this point and assured that the EU "will be with Palestinians until the Roadmap for peace is reality."

Barroso Commission: 100 days already! "Making Europe work" by consolidating the enlarged EU and developing its economic potential. This is, in a few words, the Barroso Commission's main objective. What has been done so far? Over the first 100 days of the Barroso Commission several measures have been put in place to achieve these goals: The adoption of strategic targets for 2005-2009 based around key issues for European citizens such as prosperity, solidarity and security  The adoption of the 2005 working programme  The decision to re-launch the Lisbon Strategy and to focus on growth and jobs  The adoption of a new social agenda The adoption of a communication on sustainable development  The re-launch of transatlantic policy The Barroso Commission's first 100 days have also been marked by a new working method based on the desire for a partnership with the other institutions. The Commission wants to listen to Member States and to other institutions in order to make progress on matters that have been in a deadlock for some time now, such as REACH legislation or the privatisation of services.

European Neighbourhood Policy makes new step forward Will Egypt, Lebanon, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia be the next neighbouring countries to intensify their relations with the European Union? That is what the European Commission suggested on 1 March. On the basis of reports on political, economic and institutional reform, the Commission invited the Council to decide whether to develop Action Plans in the three Southern Caucasus countries. A decision has already been taken to negotiate Action Plans with Egypt and Lebanon. Nevertheless, the timing for Lebanon will depend on the evolution of the political situation in the coming months. Elections should be held in May. "For the Neighbourhood Policy, 2005 will be the year of delivery," said Benita Ferrero-Waldner, Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP). " Thanks to the European Neighbourhood policy our relations with those countries will become much tighter." The purpose of these Action Plans will be to define a joint agenda for relations with the EU for the following three to five years, with the objective of deepening political cooperation and economic integration. The objective of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) is to share the EU's stability, security and prosperity with neighbouring countries in a way that is distinct from EU membership. It is designed to prevent the emergence of new dividing lines in Europe by offering neighbouring countries closer political, security, economic and cultural co-operation. Other Action Plans have already been negotiated with Israel, Jordan, Moldova, Morocco, the Palestinian Authority, Tunisia and Ukraine.

Divorces: towards greater protection of children's rights Divorces, separations, custody, child abduction…More and more citizens are crossing European Union borders causing a rise in the number of family members not sharing the same nationality nor living in the same Member State. What can be done to improve the lives of those children whose divorced parents are of different nationalities? Since 1 March the EU has new rules to facilitate the settlement of disputes over parental responsibility in these kinds of situations. The new regulation on parental responsibility aims to ensure that children can maintain regular contacts with both parents after a separation if they live in different Member States. From now on, the court entitled to adjudicate will be that of the child's usual place of residence, even if a court in the country to which the child has been taken has made an emergency ruling against his or her return to the country of origin. This new regulation will avoid "contradictory decisions made by a judge in the country of the parent wanting a visit and a judge in the country where the child lives, which have been the cause of extremely serious problems," said Franco Frattini, Commissioner for Justice. To effectively solve the problem of parental abduction within the EU, which causes appalling suffering to the children concerned, the regulation imposes a strict obligation to assure the child's return. Since time is very important in these proceedings, the court must issue its decision within six weeks. The child as well as the non-abducting parent shall be given the opportunity to be heard. To make sure that all children have equal rights, the regulation will apply for all questions of parental responsibility, whether or not the parents are married, and whether or not the child is common to both spouses. "This regulation is a significant step forward in the EU policy to protect and promote the rights of the child," said Commissioner Frattini.

Towards an EU maritime policy The sea is the mother of all life. It does not only contribute to our livelihood and well-being, but also to economic growth. To make sure we make the most of its potential, while protecting our marine environment, the EU plans to establish a Maritime Policy. "Europe's past, present and future are anchored in the oceans and the seas," said José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission. "Only if we take good care of them, the oceans and the seas will be able to care for us and future generations." "A maritime policy would enable us to identify, co-ordinate and implement sea-related measures in the Union in a way that optimises economic and recreational returns from the sea in a more participative and sustainable manner," explained Joe Borg, Commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs. President Barroso entrusted Commissioner Borg with the task of steering a new Maritime Policy Task Force with the aim of launching a wide consultation on a future Maritime Policy for the Union. The sea is very important to the Union. Twenty Member States have coasts stretching almost 70,000 km. Around half the EU population lives less than 50 km from the coast. The maritime regions of the EU-15 already accounted for over 40 percent of GNP. Shipbuilding, ports, fisheries and related services industries employ 2,500,000 people.

Lasers, synchrotrons and neutron sources push the boundaries of knowledge in material science. This science, which studies the structure, properties and performance of the materials all around us, is crucial to Europe's leadership in the global knowledge economy. "Knowledge and innovation must be our absolute priority if we are to increase our economic development and create jobs," said Janez Potocnik, Commissioner for Science and Research. "Research infrastructures directly support technological innovation, by offering the essential conditions and the necessary critical mass to carry out cutting-edge research." Moreover, he added: "Without knowledge, there is no real future for Europe as a global economic leader." This is why the Commission insists on the key role played by European research infrastructures in this drive for fundamental knowledge and economic performance. The advantages of material science are numerous. It leads to better, stronger and more efficient and sustainable materials for use in industrial systems, home appliances, and medical devices, enhancing the quality of life of European citizens and the competitiveness of our products.

According to a Eurobarometer survey European citizens from the 25 Member States expect the EU to act as a driving force for development cooperation, mostly in Africa. Most respondents feel that Europe is the actor best placed to help Africa. Fields in which EU development aid is considered most effective are in the fight against AIDS and other diseases, education and poverty. Despite the fact that Europe is the world's leading aid donor, the survey shows that awareness of action by Europe is very limited. Commissioner Louis Michel, in charge of Development and Humanitarian Aid, has undertaken to "increase EU public awareness of our activities as well as of our Millennium Development Goals (MDG)." This is why Louis Michel calls for "greater coherence, greater coordination and greater visibility (…) this is what our fellow-citizens expect."

One year after its launch, the European arrest warrant is a success. This is what came out of a Commission report. Since 1 January 2004 the European arrest warrant has replaced the extradition procedure. Its main asset is that it allows for a legal procedure instead of a political and administrative procedure. In September 2004 some 2,603 warrants were issued, 653 persons arrested and 104 persons surrendered. "Despite some initial delays, the EAW is now operational in most of the cases planned", stated Commission Vice-President Franco Frattini, in charge of Justice, Freedom and Security, "and its impact is positive, in terms of depoliticisation, efficiency, and speed in the procedure for surrendering people who are sought for questioning in the Member States, while fundamental rights are respected throughout.

New stage in the concession procedure of the European satellite radionavigation programme: the Galileo joint undertaking started negotiations with the two remaining candidates. The talks with the two candidates should take up to three months. The selected candidate will be in charge of the deployment (2006-2007) and operation (2008) phases of Galileo. The European Commission noted that this new stage in the selection procedure is in line with the established timetable. It is very pleased with the quality of the proposals, which fully comply with the conditions set, especially in financial terms. "The quality of the proposals shows, if there was still any need for it, the commercial viability of this great European space project," said Jacques Barrot, Commission Vice-President. This project was launched by the European Commission and jointly developed with the European Space Agency (ESA).

Boosting the competitiveness of the European car industry: this is the theme of a huge consultation process launched by the Commission. All interested parties are invited to provide their views, before 15 April, on the most appropriate regulatory framework to ensure a long-term competitiveness for the European automotive sector. It will be followed by a hearing of senior-level industry and civil society representatives. The results of this consultation and the hearing will be fed into the debate of the CARS 21 High Level Group, consisting of prominent representatives of Member States, the European Parliament, industry, trade unions, NGOs, users and the Commission. CARS 21 will then define a strategy to improve the policy framework affecting this sector in a comprehensive way. This strategy should maximize the benefits for both economic operators and the European society as a whole.

Most citizens of the enlarged EU are in favour of the CAP (Common Agricultural Policy), according to a recent Eurobarometer survey. The survey questioned 25,000 people in the 25 Member States between 22 November and 19 December 2004. Europeans support the recent CAP reform moving away from production support towards direct aid to farmers and greater assistance to the overall rural economy. According to the poll, the main priority for the CAP remains ensuring a stable and adequate income for farmers (36%). The second most important priority is to ensure that agricultural products are healthy and safe (30%), and the third (28%) is to promote the respect of the environment. There has been an increase in positive opinion in the EU 15 towards the role played by the CAP, especially in France (+ 9%), Luxembourg and Sweden (+ 8%), Germany (+ 7%) and the United Kingdom.

What does veal mean to you ? Up until 10 April 2005, European consumers are invited to give their opinion about the main characteristics of veal, like colour, texture and flavour. Several Member States have recently asked the Commission to harmonise the definition of veal at European Union level. At the moment, meats sold on the EU market come from animals produced in different livestock-farming systems. Animal feed, age and weight at the time of slaughter vary appreciably. The characteristics of the meat obtained change accordingly. On the basis of this consultation, the Commission intends to develop proposals for a European definition of "veal". Thanks to this harmonisation, the consumer will be better informed.

 

Spring European Council will focus on growth and employment The EU's 25 Member States will gather on 22 and 23 March at the Spring European Council to exchange their views on the latest developments in the EU and worldwide. Traditionally, the Spring Council is devoted to economic and social issues. This year, the mid-term report on the Lisbon Strategy will be centre-stage. Five years after its adoption, Heads of State and Government will discuss the re-launch of the Lisbon Strategy in order to create an effective partnership for growth and employment. EU leaders will be asked to re-set their priorities in key areas determining growth and employment and to reflect on a way to improve the strategy's governance both at EU and Member State levels. The Luxembourg Presidency hopes to reach an agreement on the reform of the stability and growth pact. To date, proposals to withdraw certain types of public expenditure from the pact fail to reach Member State approval. Heads of State and Government should also address the re-launch of the sustainable development strategy, a concept which covers all EU actions and policies. Last but not least, another major topic on the Spring Council's agenda should be the international situation, more precisely the situation in Iraq, Lebanon and the Middle-East.

 

The EU at the UN - welcome to our website Multilateralism: never has this word been used more frequently. With globalisation, we need multilateral solutions to the world's problems. This is why we need the United Nations. What about the European Union? How does it contribute to the work of the United Nations? What kind of relationship do both institutions have? In which sectors do they actively cooperate? There is one easy way to find the answer to all these questions: European Union @ United Nations. You will find EU policies and statements (either made at the UN or EU headquarters), EU priorities for the United Nations General Assembly, information on Presidency and EU institutions at the UN and, last but not least, EU publications on UN issues. The website also gives access to special information kits on a broad range of issues, including EU-UN relations, development cooperation, the fight against terrorism, environment and sustainable development, etc. The EU's presence - and representation - at the United Nations takes many forms. Since only states can obtain UN membership, the EU is represented by the state which holds the Presidency of the European Council. The EU and the UN share common objectives such as peace keeping and international security. The EU works together with all UN bodies, agencies and programmes, and contributes to all issues which are of concern to the UN, from development cooperation and peace keeping to humanitarian aid, but also human rights and culture. The EU takes part in UN actions all over the globe. Every year, the EU allocates some €300 million to UN agencies. If we include the contributions of all Member States, the EU becomes the greatest sponsor of the UN!

 

HELP: For a life without tobacco "I want to see a major shift in our society, where being smoke-free becomes the norm and the smoke-addicted are a dwindling minority." Markos Kyprianou, our Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection is determined to deter EU citizens from smoking. On 1 March, the EU launched a new anti-smoking campaign called "HELP". The campaign will promote tobacco free lifestyles to young people, encourage existing smokers to quit and promote tobacco free public places. "I am determined to do everything I can to stop young people taking up smoking, and to help young smokers kick of the habit before it ruins their health," Commissioner Kyprianou said. The new anti-smoking drive follows the success of the EU's 2002 to 2004 campaign, "Feel Free to Say No" which told young Europeans "be cool - don't smoke", achieving some 1 billion contacts with them and partnering the EU with footballers and music stars. All tobacco advertising on the radio, on the internet and in the press in EU countries will be prohibited as of 31 July 2005. The EU also prohibits tobacco sponsorship of cross-border events (i.e. those involving more than one Member State). Tobacco advertising is already banned EU-wide under the TV Without Frontiers Directive of 1989. Since September 2003 EU law requires high visibility, hard-hitting health warnings on all tobacco products sold in the EU. Every year, 650,000 EU citizens die from tobacco related disease. Most of them started smoking in their teenage years. If you would like additional information, a whole set of brochures is available at the following address: http://ec.europa.eu/health/horiz_publications_en.htm. A website to help smokers quit will also be online as of 1 June 2005 at the following address: http://www.help-eu.com

 

09-10 March Plenary session of the European Parliament, Strasbourg. The session can be followed live on Europe by Satellite. 10 March Environment Council, Brussels 14 March Agriculture and Fisheries Council, Brussels 15 March  European Consumer Day 16-17 March General Affairs & External Relations Council, Brussels 22-23 March  Spring European Council, Brussels

More information on forthcoming events can be found in the Agenda of the EU Institutions, which is published every Friday.