Back to: news & info

EU News Website: www.europa.eu.int/news/index_en.htm

News:

  • Ombudsman: Most citizens complain about lack of transparency
    PRESS RELEASE NO. 8/2006
    24 April 2006

    The European Ombudsman, P.Nikiforos Diamandouros, received 3,920 complaints from EU citizens, companies, NGOs and associations in 2005. "The rate of complaints still stands at the record high level attained in 2004," said Mr. Diamandouros at the presentation of his Annual Report 2005 in Brussels. One quarter of the inquiries carried out in 2005 concerned lack of transparency in the EU administration, including refusal of information. According to the Ombudsman, "The EU institutions have, over the years, done a lot to improve their services for the public but there is still a long way to go to create a fully open, transparent and accountable administration that is reassuring for the citizens".

    Most of the inquiries in 2005 concerned the European Commission (68%), followed by the European Personnel Selection Office, the European Parliament and the Council. Among the alleged types of maladministration were refusal of information, unfairness, abuse of power, discrimination, procedural errors or avoidable delays. In 2005, the European Ombudsman dealt with a total of 627 inquiries. Following his intervention, the EU institutions settled bills, paid interest, released documents, remedied injustices and apologised for mistakes.

    Spain produced the greatest number of complaints (20% of the total), followed by Germany (11%), France (10%) and Poland (9%). But relative to their population, most complaints came from Malta, Cyprus and Luxembourg. "Many citizens do not know that I can only investigate alleged maladministration by EU institutions and bodies, and not complaints against national or regional authorities in the Member States, even if they involve Community law," said Mr. Diamandouros. "Two thirds of the complaints are therefore still outside my mandate." However, the European Ombudsman was able to help over 75% of complainants, by opening an inquiry, transferring complaints to the competent body, or giving advice on where to turn.

    The Ombudsman's Executive Summary and Statistics 2005 is available in all official EU languages and contains summaries of cases, background information and statistics. It can be downloaded at the following web address:http://www.euro-ombudsman.eu.int/report/en/default.htm
    The full Annual Report in English is also available at this web address. It will be available in all the 20 official languages in July.

    The European Ombudsman investigates complaints about maladministration in the EU institutions and bodies. Any EU citizen, resident, or an enterprise or association in a Member State, can lodge a complaint with the Ombudsman. The Ombudsman offers a fast, flexible and free means of solving problems with the EU administration.
    For more information: http://www.euro-ombudsman.eu.int

    Press contact: Gundi Gadesmann, Press Officer, tel. +32 2 284 2609


  • News from W.I.N Womens International Networking

    The W.I.N. leadership development seminar "Women supporting Women" which took place in Divonne, France in March brought together almost 30 women from 13 countries. It provided experiences to learn and practice new insights with regard to the individual personality, diversity, power, leadership and success. W.I.N. acknowledges and thanks Procter and Gamble and Legacy Unlimited for great collaboration.

    June 22nd - W.I.N. CorporateNetworkMeeting (CNG) at Tetrapak in Lausanne, Switzerland

    July 1st -2nd W.I.N. Leadership Development Seminar with Lyly Rojas , Focusing, Milan, Italy

    November 23rd - W.I.N. CorporateNetworkMeeting (CNG)

    Within its global trend W.I.N. will soon present you with a new corporate identity


  • ILO LIAISON OFFICE - BRUSSELS Press Release Thursday 27 April 2005
    For immediate release ILO/06/13

    NOTE TO CORRESPONDENTS
    WORLD DAY FOR SAFETY AND HEALTH AT WORK 2006
    NEW FOCUS ON HIV/AIDS PANDEMIC

    GENEVA (ILO News) – On Friday 28 April, government, worker and employer representatives will observe World Day for Safety and Health with over 100 events worldwide – from the Caucasus to the Caribbean, from Armenia to Addis Ababa. The special theme of this year’s observance calls attention to HIV/AIDS as an occupational safety and health issue.
    “The global epidemic of HIV/AIDS hits hardest those of working age and all who depend on them”, said ILO Director-General Juan Somavia, in a statement issued for the World Day. “It threatens their rights at work. It undermines business and the economy and the very fabric of society. It is in the interest of all to ensure safe and healthy workplaces that protect workers from HIV and support those affected.”
    The ILO estimates that at any given moment, HIV prevents some 2 million persons from going to work, a figure that is expected to double by 2015.

    An ILO report issued for this day highlights the links between decent work, occupational safety and health and HIV/AIDS. Various elements of the ILO’s Decent Work Agenda including respect for fundamental principles and rights at work, its body of international labour standards, occupational safety and health mechanisms, labour inspection, codes of practice on occupational safety and health and on HIV/AIDS and the workplace, and social dialogue provide the basis for a strong workplace response to both prevention and access to treatment.

    The observance of World Day for Safety and Health at Work will also promote awareness of general occupational safety and health issues, including prevention, in a bid to mobilize action to reduce workplace fatalities. The ILO estimates that total work related fatalities number about 2.2 million per year of which some 400,000 are attributable to the effects of hazardous substances in the workplace. In addition, some 160 million suffer from work related diseases each year. This grim toll requires urgent efforts to develop a safety culture at all levels.
    A number of products will be available from the ILO web page to support those efforts 1/.Employers’ and workers’ organizations have a huge stake in reducing the impact of the HIV pandemic, as it threatens livelihoods and productivity and the very viability of enterprises as well as slowing national economic growth. In over 40 countries with HIV epidemics an average 0.2 per cent of the annual rate of growth of GDP was lost between 1992 and 2002, equivalent to an annual average of $25 billion. The ILO has produced a new CD-ROM for employers to help them manage HIV/AIDS issues in the workplace
    2/. The world’s trade unions have long commemorated the victims of occupational accidents and disease on this day.

    1/ The link to World Day for Safety and Health at Work home page and the two reports can be found online at www.ilo.org/public/english/protection/safework/worldday/index.htm
    For a copy of the Director-General’s message, please see: www.ilo.org/public/english/bureau/dgo/speeches/somavia/2006/osh.pdf

    2/ Employers’ Organizations & HIV/AIDS: Information tools and good practice for workplace action against HIV/AIDS, available in English, French and Spanish. This CD-ROM aims to help employers’ organizations and their members cope with the impact of HIV/AIDS and strengthen the business response to the epidemic, particularly the one of smaller and less well-resourced companies. Organizations of employers play a critical role in helping the private sector develop policies and programmes on HIV/AIDS.

    For more information, please contact the ILO Department of Communication and Public information at tel: +4122/799 7912 or email: communication@ilo.org, or contact ILO offices in your country or region.


  • Brussels, 26.10.2004 - Fourth Report on Citizenship of the Union COM (2004) 695 final (1 May 2001 - 30 April 2004) - REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION Download here


  • New ILO Report on reconciling family and job:
    The year 2004 marks the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family. The ILO has taken this opportunity to highlight the problems faced by individuals with family commitments when they wish to start and hold on to a job or earn a decent living. To this end, the ILO has compiled a new report entitled How are workes with family respnisibilities faring in the workplace? The report highlights the changes that have taken place during the 20th century which have led to problems in terms of care for children left at home alone, the increasing number of women in paid employment, and the rural exodus (and the resulting loss of direct contact with the extended family). Workers in six countries were interviewed (Botswana, the United States, Honduras, Mexico, Russia and Vietnam) and their comments help to illustrate the importance of the ILO Convention (no. 156) on workers with family responsibilities, which was adopted in 1981 but has, to date, been ratified by only 36 countries.
    ILO Report


  • New Code of Conduct for Commissioners of 20 August 2004 http://europa.eu.int/comm/commissioners/barroso/pdf/conduct_en.pdf

  • New streamlined funding for European Social Fund and social policy
    Document Number: IP/04/928 Date: 15/07/2004
    The Commission has adopted a package of proposals designed to streamline and target spending on EU employment and social policy. The new European Social Fund (ESF) for 2007-2013 will link funding with policies to boost employment and strengthen economic and social cohesion in the European Employment Strategy (EES). With less red tape, simpler rules and more decentralisation to the Member States, it will be both easier to manage and better equipped to tackle the new challenges arising from enlargement, the ageing population and globalisation. It will be complemented by a new programme that will rationalise funding for other actions supporting the Commission's employment and social policy.
    http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/04/928&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN

  • The draft INTERIM REPORT ON WOMEN AND MIGRATION of the COMMITTEE ON FEMINISM AND INTERNATIONAL LAW: www.ila-hq.org/pdf/Feminism

  • HUNGARIAN WOMEN LAWYERS ASSOCIATION FOUNDED
    On 22nd, June 2004 the Hungarian Women Lawyers Association was founded. Dr. Andrea Szûcs was elected to be the President and Bánátiné Makray Ilona was elected to be the Vice-President. The Hungarian Women Lawyers Conference will take place on 1st, October

  • EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS
    Press release issued by the Registrar
    ELECTION OF JUDGES TO THE EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS
    Five new judges have been elected and 13 sitting judges re-elected to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.
    The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe has today elected new judges in respect of: Germany, Iceland, Lithuania, the Netherlands and Norway. The sitting judges in respect of Belgium, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Poland, Russia, Sweden and the United Kingdom were re-elected [1].
    Judges are elected by the Assembly from lists of three candidates nominated by each State which has ratified the European Convention on Human Rights. Under the present terms of the Convention, judges are elected for six years and can be re-elected.

    New judges
    • Germany – Renate Jaeger, born in Darmstadt (Germany) in 1940, has been a judge of the Federal Constitutional Court since 1994. She was a judge at the Federal Social Court from 1987 to 1994.
    • Iceland – David Thór Björgvinsson, born in Reykjavik (Iceland) in 1956, was a Professor of Law from 1996 to 2003 and has been Professor of Constitutional Law and Public International Law at Reykjavik University School of Law since 2003. He was an ad hoc judge at the EFTA Court, Luxembourg, from 1997 to 2001.
    • Lithuania – Danutė Jočienė, born in Akmenė (Lithuania) in 1970, has been the Agent of the Government of Lithuania before the European Court of Human Rights since 2003 and was Vice–Dean of the Faculty of Law, Vilnius University from 2002 to 2003.
    • Netherlands – Egbert Myjer, born in Arnhem (the Netherlands) in 1947, has been Chief Advocate–General at the Court of Appeal of Amsterdam since 1996 and Professor of Human Rights at the Free University of Amsterdam since 2000.
    • Norway – Sverre Jebens, born in Bergen (Norway) in 1949, has been a judge at the High Court of Frostating, Trondheim since 1988.

    Re–elected judges
    • Belgium – Françoise Tulkens (Belgian) has been a European Court of Human Rights judge since 1 November 1998. She was Vice-President of a Section from 8 November 2001 to 29 April 2003.
    • Croatia – Nina Vajić (Croatian) has been a European Court of Human Rights judge since 1 November 1998.
    • Czech Republic – Karl Jungwiert (Czech) has been a European Court of Human Rights judge since 1 November 1998.
    • Estonia – Rait Maruste (Estonian) has been a European Court of Human Rights judge since 1 November 1998.
    • Finland – Matti Pellonpää (Finnish) has been a European Court of Human Rights judge since 1 November 1998. He was a Section President from 1 November 1998 to 30 April 2001 and has been Vice-President of a Section since 20 November 2001.
    • France – Jean–Paul Costa (French) has been a European Court of Human Rights judge since 1 November 1998. He was Vice-President of a Section from 1 November 1998 until 1 May 2000 and has been a Section President since 1 May 2000 and Vice–President of the Court since 1 November 2001.
    • Greece – Christos Rozakis (Greek) has been a European Court of Human Rights judge and Vice–President of the Court and a Section President since 1 November 1998.
    • Ireland – John Hedigan (Irish) has been a European Court of Human Rights judge since 1 November 1998.
    • Liechtenstein – Lucius Caflisch (Swiss) has been a European Court of Human Rights judge since 1 November 1998.
    • Poland – Lech Garlicki (Polish) has been a European Court of Human Rights judge since 26 June 2002.
    • Russia – Anatoly Kovler (Russian) has been a European Court of Human Rights judge since 21 September 1999.
    • Sweden – Elisabeth Fura–Sandström (Swedish) has been a European Court of Human Rights judge since 2 April 2003.
    • United Kingdom – Nicolas Bratza (United Kingdom) has been a European Court of Human Rights judge since 1 November 1998. He was a Section President from 1 November 1998 to 30 April 2001 and has been a Section President since 1 November 2001.
    *** Further information about the Court can be found on its Internet site (http://www.echr.coe.int).

  • Press release issued by the Registrar: FIRST DECISION ON COURT’S COMPETENCE TO GIVE AN ADVISORY OPINION
    At a public hearing held today in Strasbourg, the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights has delivered its decision concerning the first request to the Court for an advisory opinion under Article 47[1][1] (advisory opinions) of the European Convention on Human Rights.
    The Court concluded unanimously that the request for an advisory opinion, submitted by the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers, did not come within the Court’s advisory competence. The request concerned the co-existence of the Convention on Human Rights of the Commonwealth of Independent States and the European Convention on Human Rights. (The decision is available in English and in French.)
    Further Information: http://www.echr.coe.int/Eng/Press/2004/June/DecisiononAdvisoryopinion.htm

  • Commission Directory:
    While it is an internal working tool, the administration of the Commission has decided to make its Directory available to the general public as one of the many measures being taken to increase transparency and bring the Commission closer to the citizens.
    You will see that much of the information is displayed in a mixture of the internal working languages of the Institution (English, French and German).
    Those users seeking full EU multilingual facilities covering information concerning staff of all EU Institutions (including the Commission) in managerial positions only should refer to Inter-Institutional Directory (IDEA), provided by the Publications Office of the European Commission.
    At present, the Commission Directory contains a brief job title describing the function of each member of staff. The Commission is currently reviewing these job titles where appropriate in order to make them more meaningful for members of the public. The new job titles will be progressively made available on this Directory. http://europa.eu.int/comm/staffdir/html/legal_en.htm


  • Amnesty International: Turkish women face family violence

  • Gender Equality in the World of Work ILO Electronic Newsletter: The newest edition no. 7 more information, or to download on www.ilo.org

  • European Commission: Results of the Tampere programme and future guidelines. Contributions on the new programme can be sent to the Commission until 31 August 2004, more information

  • Network of independent experts on the protection of fundamental rights in the Union: Second report

  • ILO Publication: Fighting discrimination against older female workers

  • Protocol on the Statute of the Court of Justice: Rules of procedure of the Court of Justice and of the Court of First Instance, more

  • New database on women and men in decision-making launched by the European Commission, more information

  • Reform of the European Court of Human Rights: Assembly's proposals, more

  • EFTA Court has publishes compilation: "Legal framework, case law, and composition - 1994-2003", more information and download

  • ILO Update 2004: Breaking through the Glass Ceiling - Women in Management. This publication can be found here

  • Austrian Woman Judge, Justice Renate Winter, President of the Special Court for Sierra Leone, more information

  • UN Press Release 20 Feb 2004: Annan to name Canadian Justice Louise Arbour as top UN human rights official, more

  • Woman new head of Supreme Court in Guinea-Bissau, more

  • New African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), more

  • Human Rights Watch: Information on Sexual Violence and Women’s Status, more information

  • In its 30th and 31th Session in January 2004 the CEDAW Committee examined the following reports:
    - Report of Germany
    - Shadow report of the NGOs
    - Report of Spain

  • Report of the international Expert Meeting on Article 4 CEDAW Convention, held 10-12 October 2003 in Valkenburg
    - The report
    - further information

  • Migrant Convention enters into force 1 July 2003, more



    News & Info >> General News >> (Member) Countries >> Brussels Lobby Group >> Art 13 ECT & Equality >> Asylum & Immigration & Refugee Law >> Business Law >> Criminal Law >> Family Law >> European Constitution >> Health Law & Reproductive Rights >> Gender Violence >> Trafficking >> Education on Equal Rights >> Judicial Cooperation >> News & Info