European Interests - newsletter provided by European Social, Organisational and Science Consultancy (ESOSC), Aghabullogue, Ireland. ISSN 1649-1955. Issue 1-2003

NEWS MIX - NEWS MIX - NEWS MIX - NEWS MIX

Italian Presidency of the European Union

Cooperation on person oriented services and social service agencies

International Project Week in Nordhausen

Series of public lectures at University College Cork

Chairde ESAN: submission to the NAP/incl.

NEWS MIX - NEWS MIX - NEWS MIX - NEWS MIX

European Interests - newsletter provided by European Social, Organisational and Science Consultancy (ESOSC), Aghabullogue, Ireland. ISSN 1649-1955. Issue 1-2003

Europe is still too much the Europe of market and currency and too little the Europe of the citizens. That is why the European Trade Union Confederation, the Social Platform, and politicians are organising a large scale European action: “A Social Europe is a must!” as part of the act4europe campaign.

More attention must be given to social rights, social protection, equality and non-discrimination. Clear European decision-making and more democracy are also vital.

Make your voice heard and send an e-card. Let the Convention and President Giscard d’Estaing know that Europe really must become more social. Click here to support the campaign

http://www.fnv.nl/europe/social

More information at www.socialplatform.org and www.act4europe.org

European Interests - newsletter provided by European Social, Organisational and Science Consultancy (ESOSC), Aghabullogue, Ireland. ISSN 1649-1955. Issue 1-2003

Der fünfte Bundeskongress Soziale Arbeit ist mittlerweile in den Vorbereitungen weitgehend abgeschlossen - zumindest was die programmatische Seite anbelangt. Das Motto des Kongresses lautet

Ein vollständiges Programm und weitere Informationen auch zum Technischen finden sich auf dem Internet unter

www.bundeskongress-soziale-arbeit.de

European Interests - newsletter provided by European Social, Organisational and Science Consultancy (ESOSC), Aghabullogue, Ireland. ISSN 1649-1955. Issue 1-2003

This more or less recent network is an association of academics involved or interested in the analysis of social policy in Europe. In particular it highlights and fosters the multidisciplinary work in the field and aims on supporting particularly young scholars in the field.

Further information on the network and its work: http://kubnw5.uvt.nl/~worschot/espanet/

contact: Minna van Gerven  m.m.l.vangerven@uvt.nl

European Interests - newsletter provided by European Social, Organisational and Science Consultancy (ESOSC), Aghabullogue, Ireland. ISSN 1649-1955. Issue 1-2003

On its meeting in Birmingham in February, the European Social Action Network adopted a declaration which emphasised the importance to consider more closely the peoples' interest in the further elaboartion of the European Convention. In the following you find the

Déclaration de Birmingham en français

text of the declaration in English

further information: www.esan.org

European Interests - newsletter provided by European Social, Organisational and Science Consultancy (ESOSC), Aghabullogue, Ireland. ISSN 1649-1955. Issue 1-2003

Au moment où l’Union européenne se prépare  dans un contexte mondial troublé à se doter pour la première fois d’un traité constitutionnel, le Conseil d’Administration du Réseau Européen d’Action Sociale – ESAN, réunis les 14 et 15 février 2003 à Birmingham, s’est interrogé avec les membres anglais d’ESAN sur les enjeux de ce futur traité.

Quelles avancées pour les personnes les plus fragiles, pour les millions de celles-ci aidées par plus de centaines de milliers de bénévoles et salariés d’ONGs de terrain de 16 pays d’Europe, rassemblées par ESAN ?

La lecture des premiers articles de ce projet n’apporte pas de réponses suffisamment fortes pour espérer un changement radical pour ces millions de personnes en situation de pauvreté ou d’exclusion, tant sur le territoire de l’Union que dans les pays candidats.

Si nous apprécions que le projet d’article 2 énonce les valeurs qui fondent l’Union : le respect de la dignité humaine, la liberté, la démocratie, l’état de droit, le respect des droits de l’Homme, nous constatons malheureusement que cet article ne cite pas la liberté de conscience et se termine en ne situant pas au même niveau la tolérance, la justice et la solidarité.

Ces valeurs doivent être reconnues au même titre que les autres en tant que fondement de l’Union et non seulement comme une visée d’avenir.

Les personnes les plus fragiles n’ont besoin ni de paternalisme ni d’assistanat.

Les bénévoles et salariés, de même que les millions de donateurs qui soutiennent nos ONGs, refusent ces pratiques humiliantes qui ne sont pas respectueuses de leur dignité.

Tous demandent justice et solidarité.

Nous apprécions que le projet d’article 3 précise « que le but de l’Union est  de promouvoir la paix, les valeurs et le bien être de ses peuples ». Mais cela n’est pas suffisant parce que nous constatons que 60 millions de personnes pauvres ou menacées de pauvreté dans l’Union sont privées des richesses produites par le Marché Unique.

Nous préconisons que soit ajouté le bien être de ses membres sans exclusions.

Nous accueillons favorablement l’objectif proposé pour L ‘Union d’œuvrer “ pour une Europe du  développement durable fondée sur une croissance économique équilibrée et la justice sociale… »(art.3)

Nous sommes convaincus que l’Union doit pouvoir faire le lien et trouver l’équilibre entre le développement économique et le domaine social, sans prévalence de l’un sur l’autre . Elle doit en être le garant politique.

Nous appelons à ce titre les chefs d’Etat et de gouvernement à garantir pareillement les quelques progrès réalisés dans le domaine social et à les conforter, par l’inclusion notamment de la Charte des droits fondamentaux de l’Union Européenne dans le traité, ainsi que du principe de la méthode ouverte de coordination.

Cependant pour les publics les plus fragiles que nos ONGs de terrain accompagnent, enfants des rues, enfants abandonnés, jeunes en situation d’exclusion, familles en difficulté, personnes privées d’emplois et/ou de logements, personnes handicapées physiques ou mentales, migrants, sans oublier les millions de travailleurs ayant des revenus qui les laissent dans la précarité, le but de l’Union ne peut pas se limiter aux objectifs généraux énoncés.

Il est impératif que le contenu de ce futur traité se traduise, dès son acceptation, par des politiques concrètes basées sur les droits humains.

Nous demandons en conséquence :

1.        Des objectifs qui permettent concrètement à tous d’accéder à un emploi de qualité permettant de sortir de la misère, à un logement décent, à une formation permettant un progrès;

2.        Une égalité dans les faits tenant compte des différences de départ des êtres humains. (Naître dans un milieu pauvre ne permet pas d’accéder à une égalité réelle si une politique de protection et de développement des plus faibles n’est pas décidée ) ;

3.       Une garantie d’accès réel aux  droits fondamentaux pour toutes les personnes sur son territoire ;

4.       Une garantie des services publics de bonne qualité et de leur accès pour tous  ;

5.        Une garantie de la protection des services d’intérêt général et de ses opérateurs dans le cadre du marché ;

6.       L’inscription dans le texte constitutionnel d’une disposition claire précisant que les services privés non lucratifs dont ceux rendus par les ONGs du secteur social, de la santé et de la solidarité qui participent de fait aux services privés d’intérêt général, relèvent du domaine des dérogations autorisées aux règles de la libre concurrence ;

7.        Une reconnaissance  officielle des ONGs en tant qu’un des piliers de la mise en œuvre des politiques sociales.

8.        A cette fin le processus de consultation de la Société civile doit être renforcé et amélioré. Outre une meilleure représentativité au sein du Comité économique et Social Européen, il conviendrait de trouver les mécanismes adéquats pour permettre une consultation effective dans le cadre de la méthode ouverte de coordination et en amont des processus décisionnels. L’Union européenne doit continuer à favoriser et promouvoir les coopérations entre ONG de terrain et autorités publiques locales, nationales et européennes.

Nous apprécions encore la proposition que « L’union dispose de la personnalité juridique » ( art. 4)

Nous insistons sur la nécessité d’une adhésion rapide à la Convention européenne des Droits de l’Homme, à la Charte Sociale révisée, à la Convention Internationale des Droits de  l’Enfant.

Parce que nous constatons que des milliers d’enfants sont abandonnés, mal traités, exploités, nous demandons que les enfants soient reconnus explicitement comme des personnes de droit et en conséquence que leur protection soit énoncée dans les compétences partagées entre l’Union et les Etats membres.

Pour cette étape historique, nous demandons aux Chefs d’Etats et de Gouvernements ainsi qu’aux Conventionnels que le traité qui va rassembler dans un document unique les progrès réalisés depuis 50 ans, qui va confirmer la volonté des peuples européens à vivre ensemble en paix soit de même l’occasion de recréer la confiance avec toutes les personnes les plus fragiles en lien avec nos ONGs, en proposant des progrès réels garantissant un développement social durable pour tous.

European Interests - newsletter provided by European Social, Organisational and Science Consultancy (ESOSC), Aghabullogue, Ireland. ISSN 1649-1955. Issue 1-2003

At this time of international conflict and when for the first time in its history the European Union is considering the possibility of a Constitutional Treaty, the European Social Action Network at its executive board meeting held in Birmingham the 14^th and 15^th of February asked its UK members what they felt about this future Treaty.

How will it improve the lives of the millions of Europeans the most in need, as those helped by the hundreds and thousands of volunteers and salaried staff brought together by the grass root organisations of 16 European countries members of ESAN ?

It would seem on the reading of the first articles of the project that answers forceful enough to give a real chance for radical change for these millions of people in situations of poverty or exclusion, in the EU and the candidate countries, are absent.

If we appreciate the draft article 2 which announces the values on which the Union is founded : the respect of human dignity, liberty, democracy, the rule of law and respect for Human Rights, we note that unfortunately this article does not mention the freedom of conscience and ends by situating tolerance, justice and solidarity simply as aims rather than fundamental values.

It is necessary that these values be recognised like the others as the foundation of the Union and not only as an objective for the future.

Paternalism and mere assistance are not what is needed.

The volunteers and salaried staff, the millions of donators who support our NGOs, refuse such humiliating practices which do not respect dignity.

They together call for justice and solidarity.

We welcome the draft article 3 which states that «  The Union’s aim is to promote peace, it’s values and the well-being of it’s peoples ». But this does not take into account the needs of the 60 million people menaced or victims of poverty in the Union, left on the wayside by the single market.

The well being of all, without exclusion, should be explicitly stated.

The proposition : « The Union shall work for a Europe of sustainable development based on balanced economic growth and social justice … »(art.3) is appreciated.

The Union should be the means and the political guarantee of finding the balance between economic and social development without one taking preference over the other.

We call for the Heads of State and the Governments to likewise guarantee the advances made in the social field and to reinforce them, particularly by the inclusion within the next Treaty of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the Union and of the open co-ordination method.

However, for the public the most in need in contact with our grass-root NGOs, abandoned and street children, youth in situations of exclusion, families in difficulty, the unemployed, the homeless, the physically disabled and mentally handicapped, and migrants without forgetting the millions of low paid workers on the poverty line, the Union’s goals can not be limited to its general objectives.

We consider that the content of the future treaty should reflect and as from its acceptation, result in concrete policies, based on human rights.

In consequence we call for :

1.        Objectives that really permit access to quality employment for all, this to vanquish misery, to ensure decent housing with proper training for possibilities of progression;

2.        Equal opportunities for all taking into account the real differences at the start (to be born in a disadvantaged environment does not allow real access to equal opportunities if the necessary welfare care and development work are not available) ;

3.       The guarantee of real access to fundamental rights for every person on EU territory;

4.       The guarantee of high quality public services with access for all ;

5.        The guarantee of the protection of high quality general interest services  and their operators within the open market;

6.       The inscription in the constitutional text  of clear provisions stating that the private not for profit services provided by the social, health and solidarity sector NGOs, which are an integral part of the private sector general interest services, should benefit from authorised derogation concerning free competition;

7.        The official recognition of NGOs as one of the pillars of the implementation of social policy

8.        To do this the consultation procedure of the civil society must be strengthened and improved. Other than a real representation within ECOSOC it is important to find the necessary mechanisms to allow proper consultation using open co-ordination and this before decisions are made. The EU should continue to encourage and support co-operation between grass root NGOs, and local, national and European public bodies.

We appreciate the proposition that « The union shall have legal personality » ( art. 4)

And we insist therefore on the importance of the EU’s immediate ratification of European Convention of Human Rights, the Revised Social Charter and the International Convention of Children’s rights.

Realising the numbers of children, abandoned, abused and exploited, we call for the explicit recognition of the child as a legal entity and in consequence that their protection become part of the shared competencies between the Union and it’s member states.

For this important moment in history, we call upon the Heads of State and the Governments as well as the Convention members to ensure that the Treaty which will bring together in one document the progress of the last fifty years , which will confirm the wish of the peoples of Europe to live together in peace be at the same occasion a means of recreating mutual trust for those, the most fragile, in contact with our NGOs, by proposing a real progress which will guarantee a sustainable social development for all.

European Interests - newsletter provided by European Social, Organisational and Science Consultancy (ESOSC), Aghabullogue, Ireland. ISSN 1649-1955. Issue 1-2003

Beginning in the middle of the year, Italy will take over the Presidency of the European Union. It is still a question which had not been entirely clarified. However, in any case it can be taken for granted that "Presidency matters", and in particular this means as well that nationality matters.

it is of major influence which of the member states holds the presidency. For a general introduction and as a kind of gateway the website http://www.formez.it (mostly Italian language)  may be of interest.

European Interests - newsletter provided by European Social, Organisational and Science Consultancy (ESOSC), Aghabullogue, Ireland. ISSN 1649-1955. Issue 1-2003

The Max Planck Institute for Foreign and International Social Law - MPI - , Munich, Germany and the European Social, Organisational and Science Consultancy - ESOSC -, Aghabullogue, Ireland will begin during the summer a cooperative project, titled Personenbezogene Dienstleistungen und soziale Einrichtungen in vergleichender und europaeischer Perspektive.- person oriented services and social service providers in comparative and European perspective.

As the debate on Services of General Interest is in the full swing, the research in this field is mostly very particularistic - concerned with the situation in a distinct area of the so-called network industries or concerned with the situation in a particular country. The planned study is concerned with a wider picture. It is only from a comparative view, that the real challenges can be grasped in their social meaning.

Further information on this project and its results will be announced in later editions of the newsletter

European Interests - newsletter provided by European Social, Organisational and Science Consultancy (ESOSC), Aghabullogue, Ireland. ISSN 1649-1955. Issue 1-2003

The University of Applied Sciences in Nordhausen organised in early Mai its fifth International Project Week. Lecturers of several countries, representatives from various fields of expertise gathered and gave lectures on topics as Planning for Development, Recycling, Risk Management, Social Management: challenges for services providers, Languages, Journalism, living and working in another country etc. The lectures had been part of project work which had been supervised by the lectures. The contribution of the though small University to International Exchange has to be highly valued, in particular as these project weeks are a highlight of an orientation that coins the overall performance of the College. Not least the fact that language courses are part of all courses is definitely a step which opens a variety of opportunities for the students.

Despite the valuable opportunity for the lectures to apply their teaching in another setting, the University organised an informative and pleasant programme for them - during the time the students worked on their projects the lectures could explore the surrounding and could work on new ideas and own projects for International Exchange.

Special thanks have to be credited to Thomas Hoffmann, the school's expert for international affairs - though he has a strong and committed crew it is definitely his personal effort that cannot be acknowledged by the University in Nordhausen.

European Interests - newsletter provided by European Social, Organisational and Science Consultancy (ESOSC), Aghabullogue, Ireland. ISSN 1649-1955. Issue 1-2003

After University College of Cork, Department of Applied Social Studies organised during the closing academic year a series of public lectures with internationally renown lectures the first preparations for a second round are already on the way. While ESOSC will supports the edition of the presentations of the first round in the book series Applied Social Studies – recent developments, international and comparative perspectives it is hoped to welcome for the next round Paul Boccara, Helen Johnston, Hans-Uwe Otto, Peter Townsend and others.

European Interests - newsletter provided by European Social, Organisational and Science Consultancy (ESOSC), Aghabullogue, Ireland. ISSN 1649-1955. Issue 1-2003

Chairde ESAN, the Irish European Social Action Network sent a submission to contribute another time to the debate on the National Action Plan to Combat Poverty and Social Exclusion. After already contributing  during regional meetings the written submission is a seen as a way to point out some urgent issues. The text can be found

here as -file.