European Union

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

Microloans help people in difficult social circumstances to find their way out of unemployment and poverty. Although generally associated with South Asia and Latin America, where the first initiatives were launched four decades ago, they are also increasingly used in Europe. In 2010, the EU launched the European Progress Microfinance Facility to improve conditions for borrowers to obtain small loans. On Tuesday the EP's employment committee votes on a report concerning its implementation.
Committee on Employment and Social Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

Microloans help people in difficult social circumstances to find their way out of unemployment and poverty. Although generally associated with South Asia and Latin America, where the first initiatives were launched four decades ago, they are also increasingly used in Europe. In 2010, the EU launched the European Progress Microfinance Facility to improve conditions for borrowers to obtain small loans. On Tuesday the EP's employment committee votes on a report concerning its implementation.
Committee on Employment and Social Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

The economic and monetary committee will debate the macroeconomic adjustment programme for Greece with Jeroen Dijsselbloem, Eurogroup president and chair of the Board of Governors of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM), and Klaus Regling, the ESM managing director, on Tuesday at 17.00.
Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

The economic and monetary committee will debate the macroeconomic adjustment programme for Greece with Jeroen Dijsselbloem, Eurogroup president and chair of the Board of Governors of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM), and Klaus Regling, the ESM managing director, on Tuesday at 17.00.
Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

The final round of the ninth edition of the 2015 LUX Film Prize competition starts in Brussels on Monday. It includes three screenings, live debates with audiences and two weeks in which the three shortlisted films –Mediterranea, Mustang and Urok (The Lesson) – will be shown at the EP, with MEPs voting for the winning film and audiences choosing their favourites.
Committee on Culture and Education

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

The final round of the ninth edition of the 2015 LUX Film Prize competition starts in Brussels on Monday. It includes three screenings, live debates with audiences and two weeks in which the three shortlisted films –Mediterranea, Mustang and Urok (The Lesson) – will be shown at the EP, with MEPs voting for the winning film and audiences choosing their favourites.
Committee on Culture and Education

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

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EU Ministers of Justice and Home Affairs meet in Brussels on 9 November 2015 to discuss the current migration crisis.

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EU Finance Ministers of the eurozone meet in Brussels on 9 November 2015 to discuss Greece's economic adjustment programme, post-programme surveillance in Spain, and the banking union.

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General : It's a busy week ahead in Brussels as members return from duties in their constituencies or with parliamentary delegations. In coming days committees deal with the macroeconomic programme for Greece, plans for energy union and the ECB's quantitative easing programme. In plenary on Wednesday MEPs are set to discuss and vote on EU funding to deal with the Syrian conflict and irregular migration from Africa. The aviation sector and electoral law reform will also be on the agenda.

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

General : It's a busy week ahead in Brussels as members return from duties in their constituencies or with parliamentary delegations. In coming days committees deal with the macroeconomic programme for Greece, plans for energy union and the ECB's quantitative easing programme. In plenary on Wednesday MEPs are set to discuss and vote on EU funding to deal with the Syrian conflict and irregular migration from Africa. The aviation sector and electoral law reform will also be on the agenda.

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

Political progress needs to happen faster in Palestine. At the moment, the greatest concern in the country is the Gaza crisis, and the only source of hope has been economic development. But how far can economic development really drive the peace process in Gaza, and a solution that is long-lasting and beneficial to both Israel and Palestine? With a more democratic nation, Palestinians can be in charge of their own land’s development, can contribute to the economy self-sufficiently, and this shift in perspectives in the country can drive the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) closer to home for the EU because it has acted as an important reason for the EU supporting Palestine and it’s agendas, it’s demands for a very long time now.

More support from the EU can only be expected if Palestine manages to tidy up its democratic roots nationally, can assure security and stability in the region and in the country, as well as implement regular good governance. Humanitarian assistance and government-expenditure support is not inclusive to political mishaps that have become the norm in the country, but is that really a good outlook for Palestine for the long run? Political instability and a burden on security issues because of faltering dogmatic concepts, is crating a lot of hardship in the country. The EU over the last ten years has been looked unfavorably in the Middle East, so if this policy shift takes place it can be looked as a two-way street: it is going to benefit both Palestine and the EU, if the latter engages in fair dialogue, with the former and this is inclusive of more other important matters in the region.

One of the key issues that needs to be looked into is that Palestine needs to earn more of an international presence than it does so presently. Israel and Palestine share an unequal global status, and this is happening as there is no deadline in sight for a two-state solution. Palestine is almost always at the receiving end of a faltering economy, so there is always a good amount of skepticism thrown in attitudes towards external powers interested in the peace process. The economy is faltering because of Israel’s restrictive measures on Palestine in the name of greater regional security. What should be viewed as political intervention that breeds financial collapse for the country, is merely looked upon as a leeway to commercialization of standards inside Palestine.

There is not much infrastructure, and the condition of public services is constantly deteriorating, unemployment levels, especially in the Gaza Strip has reached a 41percent and poverty has hit a 39percent, according to 2014 estimates. Public consumption is dependent on what Israel allows into Palestine, and this is not just for resources; there is a restriction on free movement for Palestinians in the West Bank because Israel does not seem interested in it. Where resources are concerned there has been a lack of construction raw materials, a fluctuating manufacturing trade sector and a light industry that does not do much.

Financial support to poverty-stricken people and public sector salaries is what helps Palestinians pay for basic amenities in a country that is only fully-functional as a state. But there needs to be progress from that level of basic consumption for the general public because right now aid from EU is the only thing that is keeping Palestine from sinking. The private sector in the Gaza Strip is not really working all too well for Palestine and this is really nothing more than an untapped area of national resources: agriculture and investment in projects, are multiple capitals that can really drive home greater income tax generation and revenues.

The post Palestine: Where To Go From A Regular Diplomacy? appeared first on Ideas on Europe.

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EU Ministers of European Affairs, Industry, Research and related areas meet in Brussels on 9 November 2015 to discuss the competitiveness situation of the steel sector.

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Britain has more job vacancies than can be filled by the native workforce. That, in a nutshell, is why we need migrants.

The country has a chronic skills shortage and without migrants helping to fill that gap, Britain – and Britons – would be poorer.

Britain now has more people at work than ever before. We also have a record number of job openings – around 750,000 vacancies in August alone. It’s no wonder that in line with that, immigration from the rest of Europe is also at a record high.

Why? Because migrants mostly come to Britain for jobs, and if there were not so many jobs, there would be little reason to come here, and therefore, not so many migrants.

Of course, none of this is any consolation to the 1.77 million people currently unemployed. But unfortunately, many of the unemployed do not have the skills now needed by employers. Britain, of course, should be spending billions in upskilling our workers, and especially the unemployed.

Similarly, we shouldn’t blame migrants that parts of the country lack sufficient schools, hospitals, homes, or that many are struggling on zero-hour contracts. For that, we should blame our political masters.

It’s too easy for the government to scapegoat migrants for our problems, when the fact is that without migrants, the country would be poorer. If all migrants went home, we wouldn’t have more schools, hospitals and homes. We would simply have a bigger shortage of teachers, doctors, nurses and builders.

In the meantime, British businesses are hungry for more skilled workers. Without them, our economy would stagnate and die. That, actually, is one way to stem the flow of migration to Britain – to trash our economy. But who would seriously advocate such a policy?

The fact that Britain now has record numbers at work, record numbers of vacancies, and unemployment at a 7-year-low of 5.4%, is a sure sign that the country is steadily climbing out of its economic downturn. And helping to propel that recovery are migrants, most of whom are in gainful employment, working hard, paying taxes and spending most of their earnings here, in Britain.

And yet, Britain still doesn’t have enough workers to fill the profound skills gap the country is facing.

Yes, of course, we should be training more people.

But in the meantime, the government has compiled a long list of skills the country needs – now, urgently. It’s called the UK Shortage Occupation List. We need, for example:

Scientists, such as geologists; nuclear medicine experts; mechanical engineers, such as for the oil and gas industries; electronic engineers for the motoring industry; software developers for 2D/3D animation; contaminated land specialists; medical practitioners, such as psychiatrists, anaesthetics and radiographers; specialist intensive care nurses; maths and science teachers; social workers; contemporary dancers; orchestral musicians; overhead lines workers; skilled chefs..

..And the list goes on and on. Skilled workers that the country needs now.

In addition, many farms, catering establishments, hotels, care homes and builders categorically state that they simply could not survive, let alone thrive, without EU migrants. Not because they are cheaper (can you really find a cheap Polish plumber these days?). No. It’s because these establishments have more vacancies to fill than British people either can or want to fill.

Eurosceptics say they are not against migration, but want the country to have fewer migrants, and to be able to choose who can come here, based on the skills needed. And they don’t want EU migrants to come here unless they have a job in advance.

But that just creates another bureaucratic barrier to EU migrants coming here at all. And in any event, the country already does choose which migrants to employ – the decision is made by British businesses, who want the right to choose their workforce from across our continent.

If an EU migrant can’t come here without having a job first, then chances are they will go to another country, and help their economy instead. That will be our loss.

EU regulations state that any EU citizen can move to another EU country to seek a job, so long as they have the means to look after themselves and don’t become a burden to the state. And what’s wrong with that? If they come here and don’t find a job, they usually go back home.

It’s a Daily Mail myth that migrants can simply come here and immediately start claiming benefits. It simply isn’t true.

The fact is that most migrants here have jobs; jobs that British businesses desperately need them to do. Britons shouldn’t complain – especially since more Britons are now in work than ever before. Migrants are not taking the jobs our unemployed could do. Migrants are coming here mostly to do the jobs that Britons can’t all do.

Britain needs migrants. They are not a threat; they are a boon. Our message to them should be, “Welcome, and thank you.”

 

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Related stories by Jon Danzig:

• Why is Britain so against migration?
• Fact: Most migrants come to work or study
• The free movement of people: it works both ways

To receive regular updates on this and other ongoing stories, please click the ‘Like’ button on my new Facebook page: Jon Danzig Writes

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#Britain needs #migrants because of a chronic skills shortage. Read and share my blog today: https://t.co/Yfiz0ZThBw pic.twitter.com/kcBykzUgTi

— Jon Danzig (@Jon_Danzig) November 8, 2015

 

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The post Why Britain needs migrants appeared first on Ideas on Europe.