European Briefing Digest

Employment and social policy: Council of the European Union (2008a): 2876th Council meeting Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Luxembourg, 9-10 June 2008 Press:166 Nr:10414/08. http://www.consilium.europa.eu/ueDocs/cms_Data/docs/pressData/en/lsa/101031.pdf; Council of the European Union ( 2008 b): `Common position adopted by the Council with a view to the adoption of a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2003/88/EC concerning certain aspects of the organisation of working time', DOC 10597/08, 1 August 2008; Eurociett-UNI-Europa (2008): `Social partners issue joint declaration on draft EU directive for temporary agency workers', 3 July 2008, Document ref. EU0806029I, European Foundation of Living and Working Conditions; UK Social Partners (2008) `Agency Workers: Joint Declaration by Government, the CBI and the TUC', Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform , 22 May 2008. The Renewed Social Agenda: European Commission (2008a): Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: Renewed social agenda: Opportunities, access and solidarity in the 21st century, COM (2008) 412 of 2 July 2008: http://eurlex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2008:0412:FIN:EN:PDF; Euractive ( 2008): `Mixed reaction to EU's social package', Euractiv.com , 3 July 2008; European Commission (2008b): Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council: Solidarity in the face of change: The European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) in 2007 - review and prospects, COM (2008 ) 421 of 2 July 2008: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2008:0421:FIN:EN:PDF ; European Commission (2008 c): Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: A renewed commitment to social Europe: Reinforcing the open method of coordination for social protection and social inclusion, COM (2008) 418 final of 2 July 2008: http://eurlex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2008:0418:FIN:EN:PDF ; European Commission (2008 d): Commission Staff Working Document: First biennial report on the situation of social services of general interest in the EU, SEC (2008) 2179/2 of 2 July 2008: http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/spsi/docs/spsi_gpa/commnatsecdoctrav_en.pdf ; European Commission (2008 e): Commission Staff Working Document: Report on the EU contribution to promoting decent work for all in the world, SEC (2008) presented on 2 July 2008: http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=554&langId=en; European Commission (2008f): Commission Staff Working Document: A renewed social agenda for Europe: Citizens wellbeing in the Information Society, SEC ( 2008) presented on 2 July: http://ec.europa.eu./information_society/activities/einclusion/public_consultation/doc/1_en_autre_document_appui_part1_v1.pdf ; European Commission (2008 g): Commission Staff Working Document: Efficiency and effectiveness of social spending, accompanying COM ( 2008) 412. SEC (2153) of 2 July 2008: http://register.consilium.europa.eu/pdf/en/08/st11/st11560_ad03.en08.pdf ; European Commission (2008 h): Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, Improving Competences for the 21st century: An agenda for European Cooperation on Schools, COM (2008) 425 of 3 July 2008: http://eurlex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2008:0425:FIN:EN:PDF; European Commission (2008i): `Proposal for a Council Recommendation on mobility of young volunteers across Europe: Recommendation on the mobility of volunteers', COM ( 2008) 424 of July 2008: http://ec.europa.eu/youth/pdf/doc1108_en.pdf; Eapn ( 2008): `A flawed consultation process and a social vision out of line with the views of social actors', Letter to President Barroso , 9 May 2008: http://www.eapn.eu/images/docs/lettertocompresresocialagendamay2008.pdf and Eapn Briefing: Renewed Social Agenda, Social Package: Is there anything new for the fight against poverty and social exclusion? , 14 July 2008: http://www.eapn.eu/images/docs/briefingsocialpackage2008_en.pdf.

Citizenship: Asylum and immigration: European Commission (2008j): Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: A common immigration policy for Europe: Principles, actions and tools {SEC(2008) 2026} {SEC(2008) 2027}, COM (2008) 359 of 17 June 2008: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2008:0359:FIN:EN:PDF ; European Commission (2008 k): Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of Regions: Policy plan on asylum: An integrated approach to protection across the EU {SEC(2008) 2029} {SEC(2008) 2030}, COM (2008) 360 of 17 June 2008: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2008:0360:FIN:EN:PDF. Illegal immigration: Council of the European Union (2008c): 2873rd Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting, Luxembourg , 5 and 6 June 2008, Press:146 No. 9956/08: http://www.consilium.europa.eu/ueDocs/cms_Data/docs/pressData/en/jha/100983.pdf; European Parliament (2008 a): `European Parliament legislative resolution of 18 June 2008 on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on common standards and procedures in Member States for returning illegally staying third-country nationals', http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//TEXT+TA+P6-TA-2008-0293+0+DOC+XML+V0//EN&language=EN ; Council of the European Union (2008d): 2887th Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting , 24 and 25 July 2008, Press:205 No. 11653/08: http://www.consilium.europa.eu/ueDocs/cms_Data/docs/pressData/en/jha/102007.pdf. Implementation of the Hague Programme: European Commission (2008l): Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament: Report on implementation of the Hague programme for 2007 {SEC(2008) 2048} {SEC(2008) 2049}, COM (2008) 373 of 2 July 2008: http://eurlex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2008:0373:FIN:EN:PDF. Green Paper on Education of Migrant Children: European Commission (2008m): Green Paper - Migration and mobility: Challenges and opportunities for EU education systems {SEC(2008) 2173}, COM (2008) 423 of 3 July 2008: http://eurlex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2008:0423:FIN:EN:PDF . Political groups in the European Parliament after June 2009: European Parliament (2008b): European Parliament decision of 9 July 2008 on amendment of Rule 29 of Parliament's Rules of Procedure - Formation of political groups : http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//TEXT+TA+P6-TA-2008-0351+0+DOC+XML+V0//EN . Governance of the enlarged Union: European Commission (2008n): Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on Progress in Bulgaria under the Co-operation and Verification Mechanism {SEC(2008) 2350}, COM (2008) 495 of 23 July 2008: http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/secretariat_general/cvm/docs/bulgaria_report_20080723_en.pdf .

Future of the Union: Ratification of the Lisbon Treaty: European Council (2008): Brussels European Council. 19/20 June 2008. Presidency Conclusions No. 11018/08: http://www.consilium.europa.eu/ueDocs/cms_Data/docs/pressData/en/ec/101346.pdf .

Equal opportunity and non-discrimination: EU proposes protection from discrimination beyond the workplace: European Commission ( 2008o): `Proposal for a Council Directive on implementing the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation', COM (2008) 426 of 2 July 2008: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2008:0426:FIN:EN:PDF; European Commission (2008p): Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, Non-discrimination and equal opportunities: A renewed commitment, COM (2008) 420, 2 July 2008: http://eurlex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2008:0420:FIN:EN:PDF; European Commission (2008q): Commission Staff Working Document accompanying the Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic And Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, Non-discrimination and equal opportunities: A renewed commitment ( COM (2008) 420): `Community Instruments and Policies for Roma Inclusion', SEC (2008 ) of 2 July 2008: http://ec.europa.eu/social/BlobServlet?docId=481&langId=en. The absence of an identifiable complainant does not mean that there is no direct discrimination: European Court of Justice (2008a): Judgment in Case C-54/07, Centrum voor gelijkheid van kansen en voor racismebestrijding v. Firma Feryn NV, 10 July 2008; Council of the European Union (2000): Council Directive 2000/43/EC of 29 June 2000 implementing the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of racial or ethnic origin, Official Journal L 180, p. 22. Victims entitled to compensation no matter their nationality: European Court of Justice (2008b): Judgment of the Court of Justice in Case C-164/07, James Wood v. Fonds de garantie des victimes des actes de terrorisme et d'autres infractions, 5 June 2008.

Working conditions: ECJ further limits scope for Member States to demand respect for national labour law and industrial relations by foreign services providers: European Court of Justice (2008c): Judgment of the Court of Justice in Case C-319/06, European Commission v. Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , 19 June 2008; European Parliament and Council of the European Union (1996 ): `Directive 96/71/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 1996 concerning the posting of workers in the framework of the provision of services' , Official Journal, L18, 21 January 1997, pp. 1-6.; Etuc (2008): Press release, 19 June 2008. Draft Directive clarifies role of European Work Councils : Council of the European Union (1994): `Council Directive 94/45/EC of 22 September 1994 on the establishment of a European Works Council or a procedure in Community-scale undertakings and Community-scale groups of undertakings for the purposes of informing and consulting employees' , Official Journal, L 254, 30 September 1994, pp. 64-72; European Commission (2008r): `Proposal for a European Parliament and Council Directive on the establishment of a European Works Council or a procedure in Community-scale undertakings and Community-scale groups of undertakings for the purposes of informing and consulting employees' (revision), COM (2008) 419 of 2 July, 2008: http://eurlex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2008:0419:FIN:EN:PDF.

Healthcare and public health: Commission adopts proposal for Directive on patients' rights in cross-border healthcare: European Commission (2008s): `Proposal for a Directive on the application of patients' rights in cross-border healthcare' , COM (2008) 414 of 2 July 2008: http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_overview/co_operation/healthcare/docs/COM_en.pdf ; European Commission (2008 t): `Communication from the Commission: A Community framework on the application of patients' rights in cross-border Healthcare' , COM (2008) 415 of 2 July 2008: http://eurlex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2008:0415:FIN:EN:PDF ; European Commission (2006 a): `Amended proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on services in the internal market' , COM (2006) 160 final of 4 April 2006: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/site/en/com/2006/com2006_0160en01.pdf; European Commission (2006b): Communication from the Commission: Consultation regarding Community action on health services , 26 September 2006: http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_overview/co_operation/mobility/docs/comm_health_services_comm2006_en.pdf; Council of the European Union (2006): `Council Conclusions on Common values and principles in EU Health Systems' , 2733rd Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council meeting, Luxembourg, 1-2 June 2006: http://www.eu2006.at/en/News/Council_Conclusions/0106HealthSystems.pdf .

Social partners and social dialogue: Agreement between the European community shipowners' associations (ECSA) and the European transport workers' federation (ETF) to be convert into EU legislation: European Commission (2008t): `Proposal for a Council Directive implementing the agreement concluded by the European community shipowners' associations (ECSA) and the European transport workers' federation (ETF) on the maritime labour convention', 2006 and amending Directive 1999/63/EC, COM (2008) 422 of 2 July 2008: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2008:0422:FIN:EN:PDF . Transnational company agreements: European Commission (2008u): Commission Staff Working Document , SEC (2008) of 2 July 2008: http://ec.europa.eu/social/BlobServlet?docId=462&langId=en . Restructuring and employment: European Commission (2008v): Restructuring and employment: the contribution of the European Union, Commission Staff Working Paper, SEC (2008) 2154 of 2 July 2008: http://ec.europa.eu/social/BlobServlet?docId=461&langId=en . Report on Social Partners' agreement on telework: European Commission (2008w): Commission Staff Working Document, SEC (2008) 2178 of 2 July 2008: http://ec.europa.eu/social/BlobServlet?docId=463&langId=en.