Summary: EU Presidency Statement - Commission for Social Development: Agenda Item 3b (10 February 2006: New York)
Commission for Social Development, Agenda Item 3b, Review of Relevant UN Plans and Programmes of Action Pertaining to the Situation of Social Groups; Statement by Ambassador Gerhard Pfanzelter, Permanent Representative of Austria to the United Nations, on behalf of the European Union, New York
I have the honour of speaking on behalf of the European Union. The Acceding Countries Bulgaria and Romania, the Candidate Countries Turkey, Croatia* and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia*, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro, and the EFTA country Liechtenstein, member of the European Economic Area, as well as Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova align themselves with this
statement.
Copenhagen +10
1. The Programme of Action adopted in Copenhagen focused on poverty reduction, the promotion of employment and social integration, three objectives which are valid for developing and industrialised countries alike. The European Union once again reiterates its determination to ensure a full and effective implementation of the commitments made in Copenhagen as well those agreed in the Millennium Declaration and the World Summit Outcome Document 2005. We welcome that this document includes the
goals of full and productive employment and decent work for all in the Millennium Development process. The EU remains committed to the comprehensive approach of social development as laid out in the Copenhagen documents.
2. Since the Copenhagen Summit, the European Union has developed its social polices internally. The objectives of the policies adopted by the European Union in the areas of employment, the fight against poverty and the promotion of social integration, and the commitments made by the Member States in implementing those policies, agree in many respects with the three objectives of the Copenhagen Programme of Action.
3. We recognize that more than ten years after Copenhagen, despite the efforts made and progress achieved in economic and social development, the situation of many developing countries, particularly in Africa and the least developed countries as well as countries with economies in transition, requires further attention and action.
4. Therefore we very much welcome the commitment made during the Commission for Social Development's 43rd session, to continue implementing the Declaration and Programme of Action, in particular to eradicate poverty, promote full, productive and freely chosen employment taking into account the core labour standards, social dialogue and social protection and foster social integration and equal access to social services to achieve stable, safe and just societies for all. National action, enhanced
global cooperation and a global dialogue on social issues are essential to realizing the Copenhagen commitments worldwide.
Disabilities
5. The European Union welcomes the advancement made by the Ad Hoc Committee on the development of an international convention on the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by persons with disabilities. The European Union appreciates the active participation of NGOs in the negotiation process.
6. The European Union is aware of the fact that persons with disabilities still often face problems like lack of access to employment, barriers to the physical environment including public transport and lack of access to mainstream education. To tackle discrimination in the labour market, the EU adopted legislation like the Employment Equality Directive which requires employers to provide reasonable accommodation for disabled people to allow equal access to employment and vocational
training.
7. The EU has also elaborated a medium term action plan to better integrate persons with disabilities into society across Europe and the EU anti-discrimination programme funds activities such as awareness-raising initiatives, conferences and training projects on the rights and obligations conferred by the EU anti-discrimination legislation. During the "European Year of Equality of Chances for All" in 2007, programmes and actions for all disadvantaged groups and specifically for persons with
disabilities will aim at further contributing to the full integration of persons with disabilities into society.
Ageing
8. Not only the European Union, but countries all over the world are faced with challenges of demographic change. In the European Union, the number of people over 65 is set to increase remarkably from now until 2030, while the number of younger people will fall sharply. This is the result of simultaneous continuing increases in life expectancy, ageing of the so called baby boom generation and low birth rates. It is both an opportunity and a challenge, and it requires determined policy measures
everywhere to maximise the benefits to society as a whole.
9. We welcome the continued growth in longevity as an important achievement of our societies. Older persons are a valuable resource and make an essential contribution to society. Our approach to ageing is comprehensive and targeted to the promotion of a society for all ages. Our particular attention is directed to the situation of older women, who are at the greatest risk of poverty.
10. In 2002, the UN Second World Assembly on Ageing adopted a Political Declaration and a comprehensive International Plan of Action. The EU committed itself together with the other UNECE member states to implement and monitor these outcomes in the framework of the Regional Implementation Strategy, which was adopted by the UNECE-Ministers Conference of Berlin in 2002. The EU Employment Equality Directive requires Member States to adopt legislation prohibiting discrimination in employment on the
grounds of age, sexual orientation, religion and belief, and disability. The European Employment Strategy aims at increasing participation of older workers in employment and the European Social Fund provides financial backing for the EU policies on ageing.
11. The EU is confident that a strong impulse for dynamic and effective implementation of the Madrid Plan could emanate from a clear and targeted review process and invites the relevant actors across the UN -System to play an active role in this context. In this regard we look forward to its first review and appraisal in 2007-2008.
Youth
12. Regarding Youth, the European Union very much appreciates the celebration of the 10th anniversary of the World Programme of Action on Youth held in the General Assembly at its 60th session and acclaims the large number of "Youth Delegates" who actively participated in the general discussions and specific events dealing with issues identified by young people as particularly relevant to their generation such as obtaining the relevant skills necessary for future employment. In developing
countries where young populations are growing, this is an urgent challenge to address.
13. In 2005, the European Union adopted the European Youth Pact which focuses on the improvement of education, training, mobility and vocational integration and social inclusion of young Europeans.
14. With the EU initiative "Youth takes the floor" a new regular forum for youth participation on EU level was established in December 2005. An EU-wide working mechanism has been established to continuously guarantee the exchange of achievements and best practice. In preparing the new European Union Programme "YOUTH IN ACTION" (2007-2013) a focus lies on the further development of Volunteering activities for young people. Being active as a volunteer in the social profit sector, young people can
contribute actively to society and therefore develop a deeper understanding of the benefits of solidarity and active citizenship.
Families
15. In Copenhagen, we all agreed that the family is the basic unit of society and is a strong force of social cohesion and integration. In different cultural, political and social systems, various forms of the family exist. Demographic change does not only impact on the population structure, economic growth, labor markets and the social protection systems, but also on family structures, family life and the relationship between the generations.
16. We need to ensure the full enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all individual family members, including women and children as laid down in the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. In any society, the future begins with children. In this regard, the European Union welcomes and contributes to the preparation of the UN Studies on Violence Against Children and on Violence Against Women.
The European Union also wishes to focus special consideration on the situation of the growing number of AIDS-orphans in Sub-Saharan Africa. These orphans often live in families headed by children.
17. Apart from improving family financial support, measures to reconcile work and family life are a key field for family policy action. Helping both men and women balance their work and family life is a crucial step in the effort to meet the combined challenges of gender inequality, low employment rates and demographic ageing. Together with the business community, we have to find ways and means to enable women and men to enter part-time jobs up to the time the child attends school. We also need
to ensure adequate maternity and paternity provisions to support parents who may wish to work full-time before their children attend school. For parents to be able to reconcile work and family, they need to have adequate and - even more importantly - flexible childcare facilities at their disposal. Parents' employment opportunities directly depend on the childcare facilities available for their children. The European Employment Strategy promotes the provision of accessible and affordable care
facilities for children and other dependants and innovative and adaptable forms of work organisation.
18. Problems faced when trying to combine work and family life may well lead to couples having fewer children than they would like, which is further exacerbating the problems of demographic ageing. Reconciliation measures could therefore make a contribution to slowing down the process of population ageing and shrinking. The Austrian Presidency is attributing great importance to the future demographic development in the EU and to the role of the families as major actors in coping with the
challenges of ageing population. To this end, a high-level conference on "Demographic Challenge - Families need Partnerships" will be held during the Austrian Presidency in February 2006 in Vienna.
Conclusion
19. The Member States of the European Union are determined to still further improve their social protection systems in all these respects. We undertake to continue the discussion on future social policies both within the Union and at the United Nations. The Commission for Social Development is the key forum for taking forward the international social development agenda across the UN and the EU is committed to ensuring that the Commission fulfils its role effectively and strengthens its voice as
an authoritative, relevant and respected UN body. Outcomes on the main theme, therefore, need to be substantial and political. We therefore welcome progress made by the Commission at last year's session to reform its methods of work and will actively engage in the consolidation of this reform at this session.
20. Mr Chairperson, the EU looks forward to playing a full and active role in the discussions of the Commission.
Thank you for your attention.
* Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process
| Top |
European Union Member States
Alerts by email
Email this page
Print this page