QeC ERAN Newsflash - Issue 1 - February 2010
Focus on
Last month City Mine(d) organised a Europe wide debate on "How can local actions benefit from international connections?". City Mined is an international network of individuals and collectives involved with city and local actions and aims to put current issues from the neighbourhood to the European level by means of arts projects, campaigns and debates.
The debate organised in the Flemish Theatre KVS in Brussels on 29 of January put forward the argument that there is a strong need for a European civil society, next to the Europe of Lisbon agreements and European trade unions. For most Europeans, the EU and its institutions remain far removed from their daily lives even though these institutions are responsible for over three quarters of national laws. The collaboration of people, who work on the very local level on issues that are influenced internationally, should also internationally be addressed. In order to have real influence on the way their neighbourhoods and/or cities are organised, these “activists” should be better organised at an international/European level by sharing experience, information and strategies or by formulating shared objectives. City mined now includes 13 organisations from Istanbul to London and from Göteberg to Barcelona.
More than 200 people participated in the debate and listened to speakers such as Nikolai Jeffs, Professor of cultural theory at the University of Ljubljana and Erik Swyngedouw Professor of Geography at the University of Manchester . You can listen to their speech on the website of Citymine(d). The speeches where followed by other actions such as the opening of the Waffle Bank. The Wafflebank was founded in London during the financial crisis in 2008, and ever since opened its doors in Brussels and Berlin. Clients get a Belgian waffle in exchange for their skills, talents, ambitions or ideas.
At a time when a Belgian takes office as the first president of Europe, and at the start of the European Year of struggle poverty and social exclusion, City Mine(d) wants to ensure that the experience of local activists is put on the European agenda.This process started on January 29 and will finish on November 19/20/21 in the in Brussels with a workshop of 150 participants of which 75 participants will be invited from abroad.
Network News
Executive Board Residential and Team Residential
The Executive Board met at a residential meeting on 25-27 January 2010 which took place in Chevron, Belgium. The two day meeting allowed for good discussions on the future development of the network and on how to ensure that members are satisfied with the service being provided. As an immediate action resulting from the meeting a short questionnaire will be sent out to all members in order to find out what the real local needs are. The questionnaire will be evaluated during the next Executive Board meeting which will take place on the 25/26 March 2010 in Brussels. It was also decided that QeC ERAN will submit an application to host an event as part of the EU Open days event on October 7 2010. The theme we will propose is “Agenda 2020 and the need for a new paradigm for local urban development. Finally, the dates for the next Qec ERAN Annual General Meeting have been fixed for the 15-18 June 2010. The event will take place in St Denis ( Paris). All Executive Board documents can be viewed in the member service section of our website.
On January 18 QeC-ERAN organised a new year’s reception to discuss with policy makers and colleagues in an informal way the challenges that lie ahead of us not only in the EU but also globally. An interesting exchange of ideas and opinions took place on the themes of demographic change; climate change; energy, migration, the economic crisis; social dislocation and growing inequality.
The reception took place in the offices of QeC-ERAN (Brussels) and Katarina Mathernova, Deputy Director-General from DG Regio was invited as guest speaker in order to discuss on how the above mentioned issues will impact on the future of Cohesion Policy and what needs to be done in order to introduce changes to our "unsustainable modern lifestyles".
Project Updates
Active Age: second TEW in Maribor (Slovenia)
The Active-AGE Project partners are going to meet each others on the occasion of the Second Transnational Workshop on “Age and Care”, scheduled from 24 to 26 of February in Maribor, Slovenia. The overall aim of the workshop is to ensure and facilitate the transfer of learning. The first two days will be devoted to the presentation of the partners’ case studies and a particular attention will be given to the case studies presented by the host partner. On the 26 th the participants will focus on the development of the second Local Action Plan on Age and Care based on the exchange of experiences and knowledge acquired during the workshop. After the workshop a series of training activities will be set up in order to support the partners during the development of the LAP. For more information, please contact: mebragaglia@qec-eran.org
Local Forums for developing participatory democracy
From the 10 to the 12 of February 2010, the Local Forum for Developing Participatory Democracy project held its final conference in Barcelona. All the local partners from Spain, Slovenia, UK, the Netherlands, Italy, Greece and Cyprus gathered at this event to finalize the online training on participatory democracy.
After the project steering group meeting on the 10 th, a round session started on the 11 February chaired by Juan Pedregosa, the ITD Director ( Spain partner) and by Haroon Saad, Director of QEC-ERAN. This was followed by the launching of the “Why vote” Twitter based discussion and case studies from the IDEAL-EU project and Pep-net project. During the afternoon, Zemos 98, a cultural creation and production group, expert of communications and Internet, and ActionAid (presented by Nathaniel Ashford) presented the creation of online tools to enhance participatory democracy. On the 12 th, David Casacuberta, professor of philosophy of science at the Universidad Autonoma de Barcelona talked about some case studies on the use of smartphones, cameras, internet and GPS to improve local political participation. During the afternoon, several case studies were presented, such as the “online community of practice for an emerging European civil society” study by Jim Seger from City Mined and the “virtual European Parliament” by Mark De Colvenaer.
During the conference, partner’s smartphones and laptops were used to answer online polls and questions regarding the quality of the conference as well as brainstorming on why vote issues.
For more information, please contact: n.hauw@qec-eran.org
WEED: prepartion of Laps on supporting women entrepreneurship
Following the first transnational workshop partners have presented their Local Action Plans around the theme of supporting women entrepreneurship. This draft LAPs will also incorporate LAPs related to the other subthemes of the project. Responding to partner' interest on microfinance issues arising from the first transnational workshop, representative from the European Investment Bank have been invited to present the new Jasmine tool (Joint Action to Support Micro-finance Institutions in Europe) at an online masterclass that will be organised in February-March 2010
Building Healthy Communities: workshop on "Healthy Sustainable Lifestyles", 3-5 March 2010
The BHC second thematic workshop will be held in Torino (Italy) from the 3-5 March 2010. The workshop will focus on the Local Action Plans that each of the ten partner cities is developing according to the URBACT II framework. Each city will outline its LAP and will highlight specific actions in the field of health and quality of life, taking into account the diversity of approaches, needs and challenges that partner cities are witnessing.
In the second workshop two elements will play an important role. First, following the debate and results of the previous workshop held in Lodz and the Belfast exchange last year, a major role will be given to the capacity to evaluate actions and projects according to the indicators and criteria jointly selected and discussed. The "Indicators and Criteria for a Healthy Sustainable Urban Development Toolkit", the main output of the Lodz Workshop, is still in its draft form but will be thoroughly tested and improved during the Torino Workshop. A second important element will be represented by the active participation to the workshop of representatives of other URBACT II thematic networks and working groups whose themes are related to those developed by BHC.
For more information please contact: Isabella Haaf isabellahaaf@qec-eran.org
ESIP – closing up the Laps and Raps project
The preparation of the ESIP activity report2009 and the first newsletter issue for 2010 are underway. Both documents will be available on the ESIP website http://www.esip-platform.net/
For more information about ESIP please visit the ESIP website and/or contact Isabella Haaf isabellahaaf@qec-eran.org
URBACT network on Integration of Roma population
The first Steering Group meeting of the Roma network took place in Brussels from 7-9 January 2010 in order to plan the work for the development phase including the preparation for the second phase application to be submitted in May 2010. The partnership has been enlarged and includes now: Budapest (lead partner), Udine ( Italy), Karvina ( Czech Republic), Heraklion ( Greece), Timisoara ( Romania), Almeria ( Spain) and Bologna ( Italy). A mini website has been created including information about the project, the partners, planned activities etc. Please visit: http://urbact.eu/en/projects/active-inclusion/roma-net/homepage/
Contact: Annachiara Pecchini apecchini@qec-eran.org
Healthy & Wealthy Together: Together for the first Steering group meeting
The 4 and 5 of February in Brussels have been intense working days for our partners. Usually the SGM is a moment of international organization and planning for concepts and next actions. We focused on the issues that will constitute the common ground for the local actions and mapping and on the themes for the First Transnational meeting, scheduled in June.
The brain-storming among the partners has been very useful to identify the different visions about a so vast arguments like “Poverty and Healthy for migrant’s people from a third national country”. We agreed that “Health, Poverty and Social Exclusion are strongly inter-related concepts. Health is not only the absence of disease but a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being. Everyone coming to Europe should benefit from high level of protection of their health in different aspect. The health of the population is critical to economic performance. Migration rate in Europe is increasing, and migrants are nowadays the largest component of population change.”
Some output:
- What means Poverty? No access to public service, low education, qualification, education.
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What can we do? Provide access to public system, recognise qualifications and help to build capacity, provide intercultural mediators and specific knowledge for professional and volunteers working with and for migrants.
For more information please contact: Giulia Cantaluppi g.cantaluppi@que-eran.org
NEWS FROM EU INSTITUTIONS AND PUBLICATIONS
Spanish Presidency contributes to a strong momentum for the 2010 EU Year for combating Poverty and Social Exclusion
The Spanish Presidency hosted the official opening event for the 2010 European Year for combating Poverty and Social Exclusion in Madrid on 21 January. The presence of the President of the Spanish Government José Luis Zapatero and a number of senior Spanish Government Ministers as well as the presence of the President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso and high level interest from the Spanish media, ensured that the Opening event contributed to building a strong momentum for the 2010 year. One of the high points of the Opening event was the round table on testimonies and proposals from persons with direct experience of poverty and social exclusion. In the coming days the Spanish Presidency should present some key conclusions arising from the Opening event.
Hearings of the European Commissioners designate in the European Parliament
Between 11 and 19 January, the European Parliament held a series of public hearings with the 26 candidate Commissioners put forward by the Council and Commission President José Manuel Barroso. The "Commissioners‐designate" faced three hours of questioning by MEPs sitting on the committees relevant to their proposed portfolios. They were evaluated on their specific knowledge and competence in their field, including their European commitment, their independence and their communication skills
'Wise men' discuss EU's 2020 strategy
Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero hosted a meeting with prominent EU 'wise men' in Madrid on 5 January to discuss Europe's economic and social strategy for the next decade. Former European Commission President Jacques Delors and former Spanish Prime Minister Felipe González were the high level personalities invited to the meeting, hosted at the governmental palace of Moncloa on Tuesday.
Barroso pledges 'to fight' for EU social agenda
On 16 December 2009, European Commission President José Manuel Barroso faced accusations from MEPs that his draft EU 2020 strategy for economic and environmental renewal lacked a sufficient social dimension. Barroso, responding to a barrage of questions from MEPs during a one hour 'question time' in Strasbourg, was repeatedly challenged over the lack of social aspects in the strategy.
European Council to boosting economic growth
The 27 heads of State and government will be meeting on 11th February for an extraordinary European Council devoted to boosting economic growth said the President of the European Council, Herman van Rompuy on 4th January. "We need more economic growth in view of funding a sound basis for our social model and to protect our European way of life," he explained.
Andor eyes high ranking in Barroso II
As a result of the financial and economic crises, László Andor, Hungary's commissioner designate for employment and social affairs, expects to become a heavyweight in the Barroso II executive. "Employment and social issues will be key areas of EU policy, both in the short and long term," Andor declared in a recent hearing before the Hungarian parliament. The crisis is not over yet and tackling the Europe's record unemployment will be a crucial part of his future job, Andor admitted.
Eurozone jobless rate jumps to 10%
Eurozone unemployment jumped to an 11-year high in November and is likely to rise further this year, adding to the instability of an economic recovery now based on fickle inventory rebuilding and exports. The European Union's statistics office Eurostat said the number of people without jobs rose by 102,000 in November to 15.712 million, or 10% of the workforce in the 16 countries using the euro, the highest since August 1998.
Parliament sees crisis as 'opportunity' for tax harmonisation
The economic crisis could present an opportunity to harmonise taxation policy across EU member states, according to officials at the European Parliament who contributed to a major report on the future development of the EU. Policy experts advising the Parliament are predicting deeper integration of European economies and potentially closer ties on direct taxes – a suggestion likely to raise the hackles of several Anglo-Saxon and Eastern European finance ministers.
Tackling health inequality could boost economy
Addressing health inequality in Europe would provide a long-term economic boost, according to a report launched on 11 January in Paris. Health inequality is estimated to cost around 1.4% of GDP, prompting calls for investment in social and health services. This comes at a time when governments are looking to curtail public spending, something outgoing EU Health Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou has warned would be counterproductive
European Commission: Gearing up for the 2010 European Year
This edition of the Exchange newsletter of the European Commission focuses on the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion. In addition to outlining the aims and objectives of the Year, articles focus on the events and activities that will take place at both EU and national level.
European Commission: Monthly Labour Market Monitor January 2010
Latest data for November/December 2009 show that EU labour markets continue to weaken, although at a more moderate pace. Unemployment is still rising in most Member States, but labour markets have shown stronger signs of stabilising in certain countries, confirming an easing in the deterioration of the EU labour market overall. Nevertheless, despite improving economic prospects and sentiment, the labour market outlook remains unfavourable for this year and is only expected to show a gradual improvement afterwards. This month's edition of the Monthly Labour Market Monitor includes a special focus on the shipbuilding sector.
European Centre for Social Welfare Policy and Research. Women's Work and Pensions: What is Good, What is Best?
This publication aims at exploring difficulties women face in working life and retirement and what could be done to achieve more gender equality and fairness for women and men alike. Leading pension experts, predominantly women, from East and West, North and South of Europe, analyse the basic challenges through single and comparative country studies. The editors provide facts and figures on women's lives, work and pensions and draw theoretical lessons and practical policy conclusions from the studies and gendered statistical indicators.
Report on the links between migration and discrimination
This report analyses discrimination based on nationality to identify whether third-country nationals in the European Union are protected from discrimination on grounds of nationality, as well as on grounds of race, ethnic origin or religion in situations where nationality is used as a proxy for these grounds. Written by Olivier De Schutter, it is a product of the European Network of Independent Legal Experts in the non discrimination field. The report identifies the gaps in the degree of protection afforded to third-country nationals by examining international and European human rights law, national constitutions, and the domestic legislation of EU Member States.
Newsletter of the project “Raising awareness campaign on social inclusion and social protection in Belgium, Romania and Bulgaria”
The ‘Pour la Solidarité’ think tank has published its second newsletter of the European project PROGRESS on “Raising awareness campaign on social inclusion and social protection in Belgium, Romania and Bulgaria”. This second issue provides information on the activities which took place within the framework of the project and on their impact in terms of participation of the civil society. It also contains interesting data on the question of the minimum income in Bulgaria and an update of the European social inclusion and social protection process.
Council of Europe book: “The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance, its first 15 years”
This book provides a detailed assessment of the first 15 years of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance. ECRI’s terms of reference deriving from the Vienna Plan of Action were to “review member States’ legislation, policies and other measures to combat racism, xenophobia, anti-Semitism and intolerance, and their effectiveness” and “propose further action at local, national and European level”. This book examines how ECRI has developed and fulfilled this mandate.
EPC: EU 2010 – a reappraisal
Europe enters a new decade facing strong internal and external challenges, says this commentary by Antonio Missiroli. However welcome, the Lisbon Treaty looks more a response to past rather than future challenges, which cannot generate the required political will or strategic vision. Externally Europe will need to get its act together and fight to make its voice heard among the 21 st century’s new global players, but it will only be taken seriously if it can generate growth rates to match those of the emerging economic powers – and reform itself accordingly
Agenda
March 2010
1 March: CECOP working meeting with stakeholders on social enterprises / enterprises of general interest “Social enterprises: what is their future in Europe?”, Brussels. Get the programme in English and French writing to cecop@cecop.coop.
11-12 March: World Diversity Leadership Summit Europe, Vienna, Austria.
18-19 March: MINORITYMEDIA and the research centre MIGRINTER international conference on ethnic minority media, Poitiers, France.
April 2010
29 April: AGE EU Day on solidarity between generations.