XVII KONFERENCIJA MULTI SERVISA O LJUDSKIM PRAVIMA

1. XVII KONFERENCIJA MULTI SERVISA O LJUDSKIM PRAVIMA MULTILINGUA – ŠKOLA USMENOG PREVOĐENJA Fundamental human rights and economic crisis Is the EU living up to promises? Sanja Nikolin

2. XVII KONFERENCIJA MULTI SERVISA O LJUDSKIM PRAVIMA MULTILINGUA – ŠKOLA USMENOG PREVOĐENJA Economic crisis Social protection • large increase in the numbers of people claiming unemployment benefit • declining wage levels implies that more people become eligible for income supplements or tax credits • raising total spending on social protection Employment • not only a loss of earnings • loss of self-esteem, long-term consequences • ill-health, depression and an erosion of valuable skills. • stronger employment protection legislation, shorter working hours, subsidised early retirement, discouraging labour force participation among women and the expansion of public sector employment • Increased value of unemployment benefits www.multiservis.rs

3. XVII KONFERENCIJA MULTI SERVISA O LJUDSKIM PRAVIMA MULTILINGUA – ŠKOLA USMENOG PREVOĐENJA Discrimination and inequalityin the labor market Historical experience has shown that risesin unemployment during economic downturns tend to be concentrated among particular population groups: • young people, • older workers, • less-skilled persons, • foreign nationals and • ethnic minorities www.multiservis.rs

4. XVII KONFERENCIJA MULTI SERVISA O LJUDSKIM PRAVIMA MULTILINGUA – ŠKOLA USMENOG PREVOĐENJA Reasons behind an increased unemployment for some groups • in a recession, employers “tend to make less use of formal recruitment channels, and more of the informal networks of their current employees”, which can make it harder for minority groups and foreign nationals to find employment; • older workers excluded from training programs may be more likely to experience discouragement; • less-skilled workers are more likely to have temporary, unprotected jobs in sectors which are particularly cyclical (such as construction); • young people may find fewer jobs open to those without experience. www.multiservis.rs

5. XVII KONFERENCIJA MULTI SERVISA O LJUDSKIM PRAVIMA MULTILINGUA – ŠKOLA USMENOG PREVOĐENJA Fiscal policy: the Stability and Growth Pact • each Member State is required to not exceed a budget deficit of 3% of GDP • and a public debt of 60% of GDP • unless certain specified exceptions apply Fiscal consolidation measures lead to budget cuts in services that are important for children, as well as governmental and non-governmental initiatives in regard to, for example, early childhood development, grants or school fee waivers, but also action targeting the most vulnerable children, such as street children initiatives, action against child abuse and exploitation, and youth programmes to avoid marginalisation. www.multiservis.rs

6. XVII KONFERENCIJA MULTI SERVISA O LJUDSKIM PRAVIMA MULTILINGUA – ŠKOLA USMENOG PREVOĐENJA Economic policy • Fiscal consolidation adversely impacts lower-income and vulnerable groups • Recommendations: 1. fiscal consolidation measures to focus primarily on cutting public spending, particularly social spending, and avoid tax increases. 2. cuts in spending, particularly social spending, need to be implemented carefully, so as to avoid harming lower income and vulnerable groups. 3. greater transparency in decision-making www.multiservis.rs

7. XVII KONFERENCIJA MULTI SERVISA O LJUDSKIM PRAVIMA MULTILINGUA – ŠKOLA USMENOG PREVOĐENJA Racism and xenophobia • Increased racism and xenophobia against minority groups, particularly foreign nationals • Also, raised level of support for political extremism • In February 2009, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres declared that “xenophobia is an inevitable trend in many parts of the world when the economic situation deteriorates” www.multiservis.rs

8. XVII KONFERENCIJA MULTI SERVISA O LJUDSKIM PRAVIMA MULTILINGUA – ŠKOLA USMENOG PREVOĐENJA Responses by EU institutions • the European Recovery Plan presented by the European Commission in November, 2008 • approved by the European Council in December 2008. The plan is worth approximately €200 billion, equivalent to 1.5% of the EU’s GDP. • fundamental principle is “[…] solidarity and social justice. In times of hardship, our action must be geared to help those most in need” www.multiservis.rs

9. XVII KONFERENCIJA MULTI SERVISA O LJUDSKIM PRAVIMA MULTILINGUA – ŠKOLA USMENOG PREVOĐENJA New ideas for new challenges • ‘Europe 2020’ constitutes the “new strategy for jobs and smart, sustainable and inclusive growth”. • Article 174 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU requires the EU to aim at strengthening economic, social and territorial cohesion and reducing disparities in levels of development between regions. www.multiservis.rs

10. XVII KONFERENCIJA MULTI SERVISA O LJUDSKIM PRAVIMA MULTILINGUA – ŠKOLA USMENOG PREVOĐENJA The European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) Established in 2006 to further EU Cohesion Policy • Up to € 500 million available each year • the EGF helps workers find new jobs and develop new skills when they have lost their jobs as a result of: • changing global trade patterns, e.g. when a large company shuts down or a factory is moved to outside the EU or • global financial and economic crisis – funding available since 1 May 2009 and was due to end on 30 December 2011. However, the Commission extended until 31 December 2013 (when the whole EGF Regulation must be reviewed) and now a plan until 2020 is in place. www.multiservis.rs

11. XVII KONFERENCIJA MULTI SERVISA O LJUDSKIM PRAVIMA MULTILINGUA – ŠKOLA USMENOG PREVOĐENJA How exactly can the EGF help? By financing measures such as: • job-search assistance • careers advice • tailor-made training and re-training • mentoring • promoting entrepreneurship. By providing one-off, time-limited individual support, such as: • job-search allowances • mobility allowances • allowances for participating in lifelong learning and training activities. The EGF will not fund social protection measures such as pensions or unemployment benefits. These are the responsibility of EU national governments. www.multiservis.rs

12. XVII KONFERENCIJA MULTI SERVISA O LJUDSKIM PRAVIMA MULTILINGUA – ŠKOLA USMENOG PREVOĐENJA EGF Implementation • Applications: 97 applications • from 20 Member States • Workers: 89,000 workers targeted • Amount: € 415 million • i.e. € 83 million per year on average • i.e. average 17% of max. amount www.multiservis.rs

13. XVII KONFERENCIJA MULTI SERVISA O LJUDSKIM PRAVIMA MULTILINGUA – ŠKOLA USMENOG PREVOĐENJA EGF value added Response to large-scale redundancies • Better assistance • Involvement of social partners • Solidarity • Subsidiarity www.multiservis.rs