Job opportunities in the EU

Since some of you have asked questions about the working opportunities offered in the EU, take some time to visit the following links, where you can find useful information about EURES (European Employment Services). Thanks to Irene (6th semester) for asking me and providing me with the chance to find this info.

http://ec.europa.eu/eures/main.jsp?lang=en&acro=eures&catId=1&parentId=0&langChanged=true (English version)

http://ec.europa.eu/eures/main.jsp?lang=el&acro=eures&catId=1&parentId=0&langChanged=true (Greek version)

SOS questions (February exam)

Practice lessons

• How did the idea of a united Europe germinate? (1)
• Which are the founding treaties and their issues? (1)
• How many countries have joined the EU since 2004? (1)
• Which countries are candidate members? (1)
• Briefly refer to the four symbols of the EU. (2)
• What do you know about the European Parliament’s elections and its seat? (6)
• Describe in brief the three main working areas of the Parliament. (6)
• What do we mean by the ‘co-decision procedure’? (6)
• Justify the sentence: ‘The European Parliament is the democratic voice of the citizens’.(6)
• Which are the four freedoms of movement? (8)
• What do you know about the free movement of people within the EU? (8)[1]
• What does the EU do in order to prevent organised crime? (8)
• Eurocrat, Eurosceptic, Euroland, four freedoms, Intergovernmental Conference, Schengenland, official languages, subsidiarity principle. (9)

Theory lessons

• Who is considered to be the instigator of the European Single Market? Why? (1)
• In how many political groups are the members of the European Parliament divided? (3)
• What do we mean by the term of ‘co-decision procedure’? (3)
• Explain the motto “think small first”. How is this principle met in the EU? (4)
• Refer to the Europass documents and their value.(6)
• Which funding programmes would attract: (6)
  a higher-education student
  a young worker
  a secondary-education teacher
  an adult
• Briefly refer to the main goals of the Union’s Education and Training 2010 work programme.(6)
• Explain the statement “Mother tongue-plus-two”. (8)
• Which treaties is the Constitutional Treaty going to replace? (9)
• Briefly refer to the structure of the Constitutional Treaty. (9)
• Refer to the procedures needed in order for the Constitutional Treaty to enter into force.(9)
  
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  Special attention should also be paid to all T/F exercises (including their justifications) and theory lesson 3, which deals with the European Institutions. Vocabulary exercises will be similar to the ones included in your notes, but there will be no more than one exercise in each part.

[1] Please have in mind that all EU member states -plus Norway and Iceland- belong to the Schengen area, as well as the newcomers (i.e. the countries that have entered the EU since 2004), except Cyprus, Romania and Bulgaria. The UK and Ireland are still out of the Schengen agreement. This means that you need a valid passport or ID to travel to these countries.

Europe Direct-EU info offices in your country!

These info centres are situated in many parts of Greece, as you can see on the map below. The nearest one to our area is located in Ioannina (38 Charilaou Trikoupi, europedirect@asik.gr, asik@otenet.gr, www.asik.gr, operating hours 08:00-14:00- Manager: Dimitrios Golas).

Some of you found these materials quite interesting, so I thought it would be a nice idea to inform you about these relay info offices. Many thanks to Marina for sending me to TEI a package with interesting EU staff. In case some of you are interested in getting these materials, please feel free to contact me.

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• General information about EU matters in any of the official EU languages
• An answer to your questions on any European Union policy
• Practical information on dozens of subjects: for example, how to get your qualifications recognised or how to complain about unsafe products
• Contact details of relevant organisations you may need to deal with
• Advice to help you overcome practical problems with exercising your rights in Europe
  

  

(www.asik.gr/eud/index.htm)

European Year of Intercultural Dialogue

A lot is being heard about this Intercultural DialogueYear, so we all need to get a general idea of what this means. According to the official EU website, Europe is becoming more culturally diverse. The enlargement of the European Union, deregulation of employment laws and globalisation have increased the multicultural character of many countries, adding to the number of languages, religions, ethnic and cultural backgrounds found on the continent. As a result, intercultural dialogue has an increasingly important role to play in fostering European identity and citizenship.
The European Year of Intercultural Dialogue (EYID) 2008 recognises that Europe’s great cultural diversity represents a unique advantage. It will encourage all those living in Europe to explore the benefits of our rich cultural heritage and opportunities to learn from different cultural traditions.
The Year will feature a small number of flagship projects on a European level, as well as EU support for a national project in each Member State, and a Partner programme aimed at mobilising civil society. The active involvement of civil society will be essential in highlighting good practices and identifying needs in intercultural dialogue. Well-known ambassadors have also been appointed to raise awareness of the importance and benefits of intercultural dialogue.The European Year of Intercultural Dialogue (2008) was established by Decision N° 1983/2006/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council. (18 December 2006).

Debate Europe! Itching to tell the Commission what you think about environmental issues or energy policy?

On 29th January 2008 Commission Vice-President Margot Wallström and Commissioners Stavros Dimas (Environment) and Andris Piebalgs (Energy), as well as other Commission staff, will be online between 15:00 and 17:00 CET to take part in discussions with European citizens. "With this forum we want to continue the discussion with European citizens that we started during Plan D" said Margot Wallström.

Itching to tell the Commission what you think about environmental issues or energy policy? Want to let us know how you see the future of Europe, or voice your opinion on intercultural dialogue?
Stavros Dimas, Andris Piebalgs and Margot Wallström will be among the Commission representatives online to field your comments and questions in a debate to launch the new forum. So log on between 15.00 and 17.00 CET on 29 January.
You can get a head start by creating a username that morning.

(Further information: http://europa.eu/debateeurope/)

Latest exam news...

Since there has been a problem uploading my word document on the blog, you will be sent an email with the attached file. However, you can still visit the blog these days in case there are new postings related to your exam. Have a nice weekend and good luck with the rest of your exam. In case someone cannot receive the email in due course, let me know, or get informed by your co-students.
Don't worry...be happy!

Announcement

Within the next two days, I will have posted more information about your exam paper content, e.g. SOS questions, texts to pay special attention to, etc. I would also like to remind you that you will have to study all notes from the follopwing lessons:

practice lessons 1,2,3,4,5,6,8,9, and theory lessons 1,2,3,4,5,6,8,9.

Announcement

Dear students,

I would like to inform you that there will be two more sessions held until the exam period (on Monday 14th and Monday 21st), so please be there in order to get the latest instructions and advice about the exam paper.

Since we have missed some sessions, we won't have the chance to complete all texts included in our notes booklet. You will get informed about the exact number of units to be included in your exam materials the soonest possible.

See you tomorrow

Is immigration the cure for a declining working population?

The demographic make-up of Europe is changing. We are getting older and the number of people of working age is decreasing. A study commissioned in 2007 on "Europe's Demographic Future" found that around 56 million immigrant workers could be needed by 2050 to compensate for this decline. A report on the demographic future of Europe by French PSE Member Françoise Castex will be discussed by MEPs in their February plenary session. It is likely to stress the positive role immigration can play.
The high point of immigration into the European Union was in 2004 and 2005 with 2 million people entering the Union each year. They form part of the 3.7% of the total EU population who are from outside the borders of the 27 states. Eurostat - the EU's statistical collection agency - has found that decline in the working population could begin by the end of this decade - in just two years time. On the other hand, if 2005 levels of immigration are maintained that the population will continue to grow until around 2030. Countries with low fertility rates such as Germany, Spain, Italy and Poland could require a significant number of immigrants over the coming decades if they want to maintain the existing number of people of working age. Working population provides tax revenue Having sufficient people of working age is vital not only for the economy but also for tax revenue. This money will be needed to fund the pension and health needs of the growing numbers of elderly people. However, the extent to which immigrants integrate and are accepted are delicate issues. A "Eurobarometer" survey found that the insufficient integration of immigrants causes a negative perception of migration. According to polls, only 4 out of 10 EU citizens feel that immigrants contribute to their country. The report by Françoise Castex MEP aims to try and address this issue by emphasising that the EU needs a clear and reasoned approach to immigration to counter xenophobic opinions and attitudes. It calls for immigrants to be given legal and social security and for human traffickers and employers who use illegal labour to be the target of legal and criminal measures if need be. Steps to manage migration A proposed European "blue card" based on the American green card has been one way suggested of managing immigration. Under the proposed scheme it would facilitate the free movement of "brains" around the Union. MEPs have supported the creation of such an EU work permit system. In September last year they backed a report by Italian PSE Member Lilli Gruber which called for managed legal migration. Ireland and Spain are frequently put forward as two countries whose economies have benefited from well managed immigration. Neither country would have achieved the strong economic growth they did between 1999 and 2005 without foreign labour.

KPG exams-May 2008

If any of you are interested in sitting the KPG exams in May 2008 take a look at the following address: http://www.ypepth.gr/docs/deltio_typoy_prokhr_ekset_05_2008_xr_gg_071224.doc

Schengen area spreads eastwards – lifting border checks for 24 European countries.

The EU’s border-free area is extending to cover nine extra countries – the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia – all in time for Christmas (21 December). These countries will also see their airport check points unmanned from March 2008. This is also good news for visitors to the EU, who will need just one visa to travel throughout the whole of the Schengen area.
Celebrating this major development, president Barroso said: "From now on, more than 399 million Europeans will enjoy one of the most cherished liberties by European citizens: free movement […] People will be able to drive uninterrupted from Portugal to Estonia and from Slovenia to Denmark." This, he underlined, is a very practical example of Europe making life better for its citizens.

Aware of concern that lifting border checks might increase freedom but reduce security, Mr Barroso remarked: "By combining the abolition of internal border checks with effective measures against security threats, we actually make Europe safer than before. We can concentrate law enforcement capacity where it makes a difference. Instead of penalising every citizen with queues and controls, we can target what needs to be targeted."
Data protection, police cooperation, visa policy and external controls at land, sea and air borders in the nine new countries have all been thoroughly vetted. Their preparations have paid off. Not only have border checks been lifted, but the countries will now also be included in the Schengen information system. This gives permanent access to information on individuals who are wanted or missing, and on lost and stolen property.
Until this latest expansion, the Schengen area counted 13 EU countries, plus Norway and Iceland. The UK and Ireland opted out and Cyprus delayed entry. Bulgaria and Romania are already preparing to join.

Single currency now used in 15 countries as Cyprus and Malta join the eurozone

Euro banknotes and coins have been circulating in Cyprus and Malta since 1 January, at rates of €1 to 0.585274 Cyprus pounds and 0.429300 Maltese lira.
The changeover took place smoothly. By 2 January about €150m had been withdrawn from banks and cash dispensers, and around 40% of people in Malta and Cyprus had only or mostly euro cash in their wallets and purses. Cyprus pounds and Maltese lira can still be used until 31 January, in parallel with the euro.
President Barroso congratulated both countries on their excellent preparations for eurozone membership.
He emphasised that European businesses, citizens and consumers have all benefited from the euro: "The euro is a strong and stable currency. Along with the economic reforms the EU and Member States have undertaken, it is a reason why the European economy is still growing despite some difficult challenges caused by high energy and commodity prices".
Cyprus and Malta have both made economic changes since they joined the EU in 2004, significantly reducing their budget deficit and public debt and meeting the inflation and interest rate criteria for joining the eurozone.
Despite increasing support for the euro in Cyprus and Malta, opinion polls still indicate concerns that the introduction of the new currency could lead to price rises, mainly as a result of traders rounding up their prices when converting them into euros. So far, only a few cases of undue price increases have been reported. Several preventive measures have been put in place: there are fair-pricing schemes in both countries as well as measures to monitor the dual display of prices.
President Barroso and economy and finance commissioner Joaquín Almunia will take part in celebrations marking the introduction of the euro in the Maltese capital Valetta (12 January) and the Cypriot capital Nicosia (18 January).

Happy New Year!

Dear all,

I hope you had a wonderful time during your Christmas holiday!

I haven't made any postings, as you can see, for the last two weeks, since I felt the need to relax and recharge my batteries spending my holiday with my family and touring all playgrounds of Thessaloniki with my kids!

There will be new postings, of course, so don't forget to visit the blog regularly.

I 'll see you next Monday!

Have a nice day and a nice week!