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Female Laborforce Participation in Turkey

By Women Issues

This is the abstract of a paper I presented at the Conference in , Gammarth Tunisia entitled  «Femmes du Sud, Femmes du Nord, Osons La Réussite»

The size and quality of the human capital in countries is one of the driving forces behind the economic and social development.The policies pursued and activities carried out recently in Turkey are being aware of the fact that women are the subject of the economic and social development and this has yielded an increase in the women’s rates of employment and labor force participation.

Since 2005 there is an upward trend in female labor force participation force due to growing number of women shifting from working in agriculture to salaried work.Women’s employment rate according to turkish statistics in 2004 was 20.8 rose to 26.7 at the end of 2014.According to figures it is observed that women are mostly employed in the service sector with a rate of 49.9%.Women’s employment rate in the agricultural sector which was 50.8% in 2004 decreased to 33%.

The government has taken various measures in the past decade to create employment opportunities in the formal sector and to remove gender related barriers to education and employment.Introduction of compulsory education Law , Employment package 2008, Treasury Support to the credit guarantee fund for women entrepreneurs, Board of National Monitoring and Coordination of Women’s employment constituted.

Many projects are being run at national , regional and local levels for socio economic empowerment of women.Some examples ı can site are ; Equality at Work Platform  , this platform aims to minimize the gender gap in the field of economic participation and opportunities in Turkey. Trainings are held for women vocational courses given by turkish employment agency işkur , trainings for women farmers 4000 women were trained in all 81 provinces.Small and medium industry development organization kosgeb credit supports , micro loan practices for women who have idea to do business and in this way to improve their self confidence.Development agencies are available for reducing inter-regional disparities and achieving regional development.The agencies support the projects aimed at promoting women’s labor force participation.Lastly the ministry of food , agriculture and husbandry provides Project supports for rural development cooperatives and the ministry of customs and trade offers Project supports for other cooperatives such as small enterprises and crafts to encourage women’s cooperatives.

Besides governmental actions taken to increase women labor force participation çivil society organizations like c20 work locally , nationally and internationally .The idea to create this policy and advocacy platform to tackle inequalities was given in Turkish G20Presidency  meeting.As a policy and advocacy platform the c20 brings together civil society organizations from around the World to engage with G20 Governments on key issues of mutual concern. Female labor force participation has crucial importance for Turkey and necessary actions are taken to increase this number both by government and çivil society organizations

04/25/2020
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Crafting a way forward – European Movement Proposals

By Other

The decision of Britain to leave the EU puts the European idea to a test. We have to openly discuss the state of our Union, and the way forward. It is our responsibility to offer bold solutions to the pressing challenges facing all European citizens.

Nationalist and anti-European forces are exploiting people’s insecurities and seek the end of the European project by spurring isolationism and division amongst the European partners.

We need to stand together and confront them head-on. Whether we address migration, the economy, globalisation, climate change, security threats or Britain’s exit from the EU, what the people of Europe need is unity, solidarity and political vision. The European Movement International will continue to strive for a united, fair, diverse, open and prosperous Europe that puts the common interest above petty divisions, and that answers the needs of its citizens.

We believe that our Union needs:

Meaningful participation and transparency
Improving citizens’ trust in politics and policy-making at the national and European level is crucial to building legitimate European policies. Transparency, meaningful participation of citizens and civil society in the decision-making process, and full democratic scrutiny of policies and institutions by the European Parliament are necessary to close the perceived gap between the EU on the one hand, and citizens and representative organisations on the other hand. Concretely, this should entail the full implementation of Article 11 of the Lisbon Treaty, the introduction of structured consultations with equal access for all stakeholders, and a mandatory transparency register for lobbyists. Furthermore, it should encompass innovations in the European elections that will strengthen the link between parties and the European public. Such innovations should include the establishment of a transnational list, more visible European political parties, the introduction of e-voting and the extension of the voting age to 16. But above all we need a proper debate on European issues ahead of European elections, with parties able to link their policies at the European level with citizens’ needs at the local level.

Prosperity, economic stability, and social protection
Europe’s economic growth, the stability of the euro and social protection of its citizens can only be ensured with an improved and comprehensive Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). Increased budgetary and fiscal coordination, a fiscal capacity based on own resources for counter-cyclical policies, and a social dimension mainstreamed into the overall EMU governance structure are essential elements to maintain and improve our prosperity, economic stability, and social rights. The social dimension should include common social convergence criteria, a minimum support scheme, parameters for minimum wages and minimum income, and the integration of social policy objectives into macroeconomic and budgetary surveillance mechanisms. Furthermore, a system of European Economic Governance based on the Community method and subject to democratic checks and balances is necessary to increase the democratic accountability of the EMU.

A common market that works for everyone
A consolidation and extension of the Single Market is needed to ensure the sustainable economic development of Europe. We need to improve the way our market works for business, small and big, by removing barriers to trade and citizens, by safeguarding social, consumer, and environmental protection. In particular, the completion of the Energy union will ensure Europe’s supply with secure, affordable and climate-friendly energy. The Single Market should be to the benefit of all European citizens and we must ensure that we do not go backwards on hard-fought for rights. Initiatives such as the Digital Single Market are very welcome from the perspective of jobs and growth, if they pursue the interests of all Europeans through the development of new skills, support for the workforce, and an improved business climate for SMEs, social enterprises and start-ups. Trade agreements such as TTIP can only succeed if the concerns of all stakeholders are thoroughly and openly recognised and addressed.

Open borders and freedom of movement
Freedom of movement and the removal of internal border controls through the Schengen Agreement have played a significant role in breaking down barriers for trade and labour mobility. The freedom to live, study, work and retire anywhere in Europe is the most tangible success of European integration; it is a defining feature of the EU and key for the economic prosperity of our continent. It has also contributed to greater cultural understanding between the peoples of Europe through travel and the exchange of ideas, goods, services and best practices. The unravelling of Schengen will neither make Europe stronger nor more able to solve its problems. Gaps and concerns in the current system can be addressed, however, through the joint management of Europe’s outer border, investment in intelligence gathering and sharing, and a sound Common European Immigration and Asylum System. In all existing and new measures, EU citizens’ rights and those of refugees and asylum seekers should be fully respected.

Security and a strong international position
In an increasingly competitive global environment, speaking with one voice to represent the interests of the European Union is crucial. A joint message and common strategy are needed to respond to the ongoing and future security challenges, as well as increased defence cooperation both in existing and new areas, such as cybersecurity. The stability of the European Union is also dependent on stability in its neighbourhood. Enlargement has been a very successful instrument in neutralising instability at Europe’s borders, and expanding the prosperity, democracy and the rule of law across Europe. A credible enlargement perspective and long-term vision on the investment in peace and security can bring about positive change in the Western Balkans and the Eastern Partnership countries, and offer a clear outlook for their citizens.

The integrity and defence of European values and rights
The founding values of the European Union – respect for human dignity, liberty, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights – form the pillars of European cooperation. Membership of the EU must be intimately linked with continuous adherence to these principles. Violations of these values cannot be accepted and should carry with it sanctions, enforceable jointly by the European Parliament and the Council, following the recommendation of the European Commission. The European Union can only safeguard its standing and reach its objectives if it ensures that its core principles will not be compromised. The same should apply to certain social, employment, environmental and human rights that should be linked to EU citizenship, guaranteed by the EU and stand inalienable and irreversible by national governments.

04/25/2020
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A Summary of What I discussed at the Turkey-EU Civil Society Meeting held in London

By Participatory Democracy and Civil Society Dialogue

As the representative of the Turkey EU Association, member of the European Movement.int since 1980, I would have expected that the issues discussed to-day in London on how to secure a more prosperous, more secure, more powerful and more democratic future for the EU would have already been solved. But alas such is not the case,

EU-skepticism, electoral authoritarianism is on the rise. Populist policies abound, extremism, bigotry are seen in almost all members and applicants. Demographic trends seem to lead to an increase in the fear of others as migrants seeking work or refuge wish and try to enter these countries. Far right racist movements and acts lead to counter steps taken by minority groups and terrorist groups. As the momentum of these trends increase neither individual governments nor EU institutions are able to come up with policies which might help solve these problems. All this is happening in times when the world economy has slowed down.

When such political and economic problems are on the rise in the developed world their repercussions on the developing world are much greater. Call it a snowball effect or a domino effect, these crisis ends up affecting us all. When the EU sneezes, countries nearby do get the flue. When the sneeze starts an avalanche, this snow ball effect can reach unexpected proportions especially if the countries affected have domestic problems of their own which clueless governments are unable to solve.

Can such vicious circles be turned into a virtuous one is the question we need to answer? And if yes, how? Forecasts for the next ten, twenty years made by futurologists speak of a world where the EU, the UN, the Bretton Woods system as we know it will no longer exist. They speak of the necessity of building a new more equitable world order. I shall try not to come up with such gloomy suggestions though I feel we are more and more in a stage where we could be speaking of a “disunited” state of Europe than a united one. I shall try to come up with short run suggestions which might benefit the EU and Turkey.

1. We need to continue to address mutually the refugee influx problem.

2. There should be no formal cancellation of talks on accession negotiations, no deal of conditionality which would enable applicants to evade obligations stipulated in the acquis.

3. The duplicity which exists in Turkey’s relations with the EU should end. Chapters 23 and 24 on fundamental rights, justice and freedoms should have been opened and closed a decade ago. The chapters opened and yet not closed dealt mainly with some technical, social and mostly economic issues. If chapters dealing with the main pillars of a democracy had been opened earlier, Turkey would have benefited from them much earlier.

4. The EU-Turkey customs union agreement should be revised and extended to services, agriculture, procurement and conflict resolution issues so as to enhance the economic competitiveness of parties involved.

5. Finally all channels of communication should remain open between Turkey and the EU. A positive engagement is absolutely necessary if Turkey’s interest in the EU and EU’s interest in Turkey does not completely wither away.

04/25/2020
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Proposals for a more Fair, Safe, Sustainable and Inclusive EU

By Europe Day

On the occasion of the 60th Anniversary of the Rome Treaty, we would like to take the opportunity to look forward and lay out our proposals for the future of the European Union. Concrete action is needed that will improve the lives of all Europeans and deliver a more fair, safe, sustainable and inclusive EU.
Increasing citizens’ engagement with politics and policy-making at the national and European level is crucial to building legitimate European policies. Transparency, meaningful participation of citizens and civil society in the decision-making process, and full democratic scrutiny by the European Parliament are necessary to close the perceived gap between the EU and citizens:
 Full implementation of Article 11 of the Lisbon Treaty with solid structures in place for open dialogue with citizens, civil society, and representative organisations.
 Transparent decision-making at all levels, with a binding transparency register and a more accountable and transparent trilogue system.
 Innovations in the European elections that will strengthen the link between parties’ policies at the European level and citizens’ needs, through a transnational list, more visible European political parties and European debate, and the use of e-democracy tools.
Europe’s economic growth, the stability of the euro and social protection of its citizens can only be ensured with an improved and comprehensive Economic and Monetary Union. Essential elements in the EMU to maintain and improve our prosperity, economic stability, and social rights are:
 Own resources for a more flexible and independent EU budget and a fiscal capacity for countercyclical policies, with a clearer link between EU policy objectives and financing sources as well as a clearer link between the EU budget and citizens.
 A social dimension that supports EU citizens through quality employment and adequate social protection and integrates social objectives into macroeconomic and budgetary surveillance, through the introduction of a binding Social Pillar.
 More effective and accountable European Economic Governance with a Eurozone finance minister and closer involvement of the European and national parliaments in EMU decision-making and scrutiny.
A consolidation and extension of the Single Market is needed to support the sustainable economic development of Europe. We need to improve the way our market works for business, by removing barriers to trade, and for citizens, by safeguarding social, consumer, and environmental protections:
 Completion of the Energy Union for secure, affordable and climate-friendly energy through diversification, interconnection and integration of European energy markets.
 Implementation of initiatives stimulating jobs and growth such as the Skills Agenda, bridging the gap between the worlds of education and work in particular for youth, and the Digital Single Market, striking a balance between economic benefits and privacy concerns.
 Consolidation of the Single Market and preservation of the free movement of goods, capital, services and people, preventing a backslide on previous achievements and rights.
Freedom of movement and the Schengen area have played a significant role Europe’s economic prosperity, breaking down barriers for trade and labour mobility. We need to address the gaps and concerns in the current Schengen system to ensure its continued application:
 Joint management of Europe’s outer border through the proposed European Border and Coast Guard, while avoiding the creation of a ‘Fortress Europe’. To be successful the European Border and Coast Guard needs to be more independent of Member State resources and accountable to the European Parliament.
 Effectively monitor the movement of those who want to cause harm through improving existing systems (i.e.
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14. February 2017
Schengen Information System) and investing in intelligence gathering and sharing.
 A Common European Immigration and Asylum System with a binding mechanism on sharing the responsibility for hosting asylum seekers, direct support for cities and regions that function as the main entry points, and treating asylum seekers with dignity and respect.
 Foster channels of legal migration by extending the Blue Card regulation and ensuring its application across Member States in a transparent and similar fashion.
In an increasingly competitive global environment, speaking with one voice to represent the interests of the European Union is crucial. The stability of the European Union is also dependent on stability in its neighbourhood, and integration of defence resources can bring greater efficiency:
 A common agenda on foreign and security issues through the implementation of the EU Global Strategy, the development of a European White Book on Defence to concretise the EU’s priorities in terms of capabilities, and an effective joint message on the international stage.
 Increase defence cooperation through the use of existing tools such as Permanent Structured Cooperation and EU Battlegroups, and exploring cooperation in new areas, like cybersecurity.
 A credible enlargement perspective to neutralise instability at Europe’s borders, focussing on fundamental rights and good governance, working closely with civil society and offering a positive enlargement narrative.
The founding values of the European Union – respect for human dignity, liberty, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights – form the pillars of European cooperation. The European Union can only safeguard its standing and reach its objectives if it ensures that its core principles will not be compromised internally:
 Introduce an integrated and binding mechanism to ensure application of the rule of law in Member States and EU institutions, with regular and independent monitoring, inclusion of existing frameworks and bodies, and drawing from civil society expertise, such as proposed in the Parliament report on a pact for democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights.
 Better enforcement of existing rule of law mechanisms by using new and more effective mechanisms, either through ‘systemic infringement actions’ or a review of Article 7.
With these concrete actions, the EU can directly foster citizens’ engagement and economic growth, and safeguard Europe’s security and values. The 60th Anniversary of the Rome Treaty provides not just the opportunity to reflect on what has been achieved, but also confronts us with the responsibility to look forward and lay out a vision for how the European Union can help improve the lives of all Europeans. The European Movement International will keep working for a more fair, safe, sustainable and inclusive EU.

14. February 2017

 

04/25/2020
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Progress on youth unemployment and the skills gap

By Youth, Education and Employment

Progress on youth unemployment and the skills gap

This week, various EU institutions focus on tackling the skills gap. On Monday 22, the Council on Education, Youth, Culture and Sports adopted a conclusion on life skills for young people’s development together with a recommendation on the European Qualifications Framework for lifelong learning. It also discussed the progress report on Europass, the common framework for skills and qualifications. The debate furthermore centred on possibilities for improvement and modernisation of the EU’s education systems.

Today the European Commission will discuss the Youth Initiative and outcomes of the vocational education and training programme. Being a key element of the European Pillar of Social Rights, the New Skills Agenda was adopted in June 2016. The New Skills Agenda proposes 10 actions for next two years, of which ’Upskilling Pathways’ (formerly ‘Skills Guarantee’) serves as a main initiative.

In correlation with the actions proposed by the institutions, the Pact for Youth, a mutual engagement of business and the European Union leaders, has put forward specific objectives to tackle the skills and youth unemployment gap. The European Movement International, as a supportive organisation of the Pact for Youth, published a new Policy Position on tackling youth unemployment and the skills gap to contribute to the debate.

EMI’S POLICY POSITION

The focus on educational attainment at the EU level has borne fruit; 10 million more people finished higher education in 2014 than in 2010. There was also an increase in the number of people participating in adult learning from 9.3% in 2010 to 10.7% in 2015. 1 . Furthermore, there has been a decrease in the number of students dropping out of school from 6 million in 2010 to 4.5 million in 2014.2

Despite this important step forward, today’s changing labour market has created a gap between the skills that employees possess and the abilities that employers are looking for. 40% of EU employers have issues finding people with the skills they need while a large number of people are working in jobs that do not match their aptitudes.3 Poor quality apprenticeships and youth unemployment are anaa growing issue in many EU countries. Out of 4.5 million students who do an internship in Europe, 59% are unpaid and 30% have no learning content.4 Although the youth unemployment rate in the EU has decreased – from 20% in September 2015 to 18.2% September 2016 – there is still much work to be done.5

The skills gap is one of the main issues affecting the whole of the EU, which is why the European Commission launched the New Skills Agenda for Europe. Through ten specific measures, it aims to improve the quality of skills formation, make skills and qualifications more visible and comparable and improve skills information for better career choices. This is not the only EU initiative to fight youth unemployment and the skills gap. Other programmes include the EU Youth Strategy, Youth Guarantee, Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps. The EU is aware of the issue and is acting accordingly, but the current myriad of initiatives needs more clarity.

Communicating EU initiatives clearly: Given the number of EU initiatives on youth, the EU Youth Portal should modernise and communicate more clearly on all EU programmes related to the matter. Since the EU is not only focusing on youth, it would also be useful if another portal or website were created to list all of the programmes related to skills, education and unemployment with concrete information on how EU citizens can make use of the programmes.

Addressing different levels of skill development: One of the most important challenges is the fact that every Member State is at a different point in the development of skills, making it challenging to produce a package of recommendations that can be used throughout the EU. National authorities have to implement the initiatives of the European Commission, as the EU only has the competence to support, coordinate or supplement the actions of the Member States on education, vocational training and youth. Bearing in mind this limitation, it is possible that the improvement of the Key Competences Framework and the European Qualifications Framework could help Member States to adopt a more uniform approach towards skills development by creating a shared understanding of competences and qualifications yet still allowing them to tailor programmes to country-specific needs. This measure could also increase mobility.

Linking education to the labour market: Learners should be enabled to identify their existing skills and upskilling needs. This approach requires improved training programmes for teachers, allowing them to adapt their curricula to the individual needs of learners. Educational programmes should also become more flexible to enable learning providers to define their own methodologies.

Learning providers need to improve their understanding of what the labour market demands and adapt their educational programmes accordingly. Education should not only focus on cognitive and transversal skills, but also on civic education aimed at fostering responsible citizens. The European Pact for Youth, is an important initiative in this respect. One of its objectives is to offer more quality apprenticeships and entry level jobs through partnerships with education and training providers, as well as Youth Guarantee Providers. Digital skills formation should also be part of the education package to prepare future employees for the increasingly important digital world. The Digital Skills and Jobs Coalition, which invites Member States to bring digital skills and competences to all levels of education and training, could play an important role in this regard. Additionally, young people and adults should be encouraged to take part in work-based learning which would enable them to acquire skills that are not available in traditional education. In this respect Vocational Education and Training (VET) is an excellent opportunity for work-based learning experiences, especially in countries where it has not yet been well established. VET offers a dual objective: contributing to employability and economic growth while responding to broader societal challenges such as promoting social cohesion.6 For VET to be effective, it needs:

   Focus: VET programmes should concentrate those not in education, employment or training and should further develop entrepreneurial skills while avoiding that VET becomes a means to popularise cheap labour or unpaid work.      Better promotion: Even if VET results have been very positive, the possibilities that the training brings remain unknown to a number of citizens and are sometimes perceived as less attractive than formal educational programmes. To combat this trend, greater efforts have to be undertaken to promote the programme and raise awareness of its benefits.

Modernisation and quality: Working to modernise VET training could also increase its popularity and change people’s perception. The focus should be placed on improving the quality and recognition of VET, as well as its relevance in the labour market. VET should also be further integrated into European and national qualifications frameworks.

Encourage mobility: Given that mobility across Member States increases employability, VET should continue to promote mobility through programmes such as Erasmus+. The economic benefits of VET are wide-ranging. It has brought positive changes in relation to wages, mobility and employment opportunities in several Member States. There are also advantages for enterprises, since VET has proven to increase productivity, innovation, employment growth, and organisational culture.7

Identifying skills of Third Country Nationals In order to successfully integrate migrants into European society, the EU should increase its efforts to understand the qualifications, skills and professional experiences of migrants, as well as trying to identify them at an earlier stage.

The European Commission’s Agenda states that the Skills Profile Tool Kit “will assist services in receiving and host countries to identify and document” migrants’ competences. This initiative should specifiy Will which services should be responsible for implementing such measures and explain how the identification of migrants’ skills can be executed. Adapting the European Qualifications Framework and the Europass to the requirements of the labour market could help in this regard. The EQF could work as an integration tool, enabling third country nationals to identify the skills needed while making sure that skills acquired outside of the EU are recognised. The EQF would not only benefit migrants coming into the EU, but also European citizens wanting to find jobs outside of the EU. 8

Involving all actors:The European Commission should also provide a platform for discussion and exchange of experiences. In order to make it a Europe wide effort, information on how to get involved needs to be accessible to all organisations, education institutions, businesses and other stakeholders. The proposed portal on initiatives related to skills, education and unemployment could be a good platform for these stakeholders, and provide a space for the exchange of best practices.8

1 Eurostat, Lifelong learning statistics, June 2016.

2 European Commission Communication, A New Skills Agenda for Europe, June 2016.

3 Idem

4 International Interns’ Day, http://www.internsday.org/

5 Eurostat, Euro area unemployment at 10.0%, September 2016.

6 The Bruges Communiqué on enhanced European Cooperation in Vocational Education and Training for the period 2011-2020, December 2010.

7 European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (CEDEFOP), The Benefits of Vocational Education and Training, 2011.

8 European Commission Communication, A New Skills Agenda for Europe, June 2016.

04/25/2020
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Is Democracy in Crisis – Launch of ALL (Vanessa Cotterell)

By Participatory Democracy and Civil Society Dialogue

Launch of new Alliance for Democracy

On 7 June 2017 the European Movement International launched the ALL campaign, a pro-European alliance to support European cooperation and democracy. Read the press release about the launch here.

The ALL campaign works in partnership with civil society organisations, NGOs, trade unions, companies, local governments and individuals and engages citizens across Europe in a pro-European democratic dialogue in the run-up to the elections to the European Parliament in 2019.

‘Is Democracy in Crisis’

The launch took place as part of the conference ‘Is Democracy in Crisis’, that brought together high-level speakers from the European institutions, NGOs, the business sector and trade unions as well as academics and journalists from within as well as outside the ‘Brussels Bubble’. Not only did the panelists discuss current challenges to democracy, they also put forward ideas on how to support European core values and ensure the role of the independent media. The conference also opened the floor to creative minds from Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Finland and Spain to present successful initiatives encouraging citizen participation and bringing forward progressive forms of direct democracy.

Margrethe Vestager, European Commissioner for Competition, opened the conference with a keynote speech on ‘A healthy democracy in a social media age’. She stressed the importance of fighting for democratic values in Europe and the inherent challenges in the age of social media and other forms of communication and information platforms.

View image on Twitter

The first discussion of the launch event featured Márta Pardavi, Co-Chair of the Hungarian Helsinki Committee, a human rights organisation, Ryan Heath, Senior EU Correspondent for POLITICO, Åsa Larsson from the Swedish fact-checking page Viralgranskaren, and Nicolas Vanderbiest, social media expert from the University of Louvain. In a Q&A session with the audience, the panelists discussed current challenges to democracy in Europe, the importance of independent media, the need for fact-checking of information sources and other means to promote critical thinking vis-à-vis information distortion and propaganda.

The conference continued with the presentation of five initiatives from different 5 European countries, each of which promote a certain form of direct citizen participation on a local or national level. Whether the initiative is about motivating young Dutch citizens to vote in national elections, or turning crowd-sourced citizens’ proposals into Finnish legislation, they all share a vision for participatory democracy.

The final panel featured partner organisations involved in ALL. Leading representatives from the European Trade Union Confederation, the European Youth Forum, the European Environmental Bureau, Transparency International, BusinessEurope, the Council of European Municipalities and Regions and the European Centre of Employers and Enterprises providing Public Services spoke about the reasons why they joined this new initiative and the importance of democracy and European co-operation.

There was a shared feeling about the need to support democracy in Europe in times of uncertainty, to defend the main values of the EU and to promote a European and inter-organisational dialogue. The focus should also lie on fostering debates and using new ways to address the challenges the EU is facing, while hearing out local voices and taking their ideas to a European level.

We would like to thank all partners, speakers and participants for contributing to an insightful debate around the future of democracy in Europe and look forward to welcoming you to the next event of ALL.

04/25/2020
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Policy Update on EU Finances

By EU Fiscal Policies
Reflection paper on the future of EU finances to be published

Today, the Commission will publish its reflection paper on the future of EU finances, the fifth and final reflection paper that sketches the possible future scenarios for the EU and its Member States.

The reflection paper follows the publication of the ‘Monti Report’ in January 2017, which was the result of the work of the High Level Group on Own Resources and included a list of recommendations for more transparent, simple, fair and democratically accountable ways to finance the EU.

The publication comes right after the mid-term revision of the current Multiannual Financial Framework and in the middle of the negotiations on the 2018 budget. The reflection paper will be able to feed into the negotiations for the post-2020 Multiannual Financial Framework, which will start end 2017 or summer 2018.

In our new Policy Position on The Future of Europe: a future-proof European Union budget, we share our ideas on how to make both the expenditure and income side of the EU budget fit for the future. The Policy Position discusses the benefits of own resources mechanisms, highlights priorities for future investment and calls for a more citizens-oriented budget.
Background information

Final report and recommendations of the High Level Group on Own Resources: Future Financing of the EU

European Parliament report on a budgetary capacity for the Eurozone

Mid-term revision of the Multiannual Financial Framework

European Parliament Briefing on the MFF Mid-term revision
Key upcoming dates

28 June Publication Reflection paper on the future of EU finance

28 June CoR adopts draft opinion on “Reform of EU own resources within the next MFF post-2020”

29 June European Parliament debate on Reform of the European Union’s system of own resources

11 July Economic and Financial Affairs Council

End 2017/ summer 2018 Commission draft for the post-2020 MFF
Input from the European Movement International

We believe that new approaches in managing the EU budget must be considered to make it an agent of change for a more fair, safe, sustainable and inclusive EU. In our recently published Policy Position on the Future of Europe: a future-proof European Union budget, the European Movement sets certain priority areas, which among others, focus on youth, migration and climate.

Moreover, we support the move towards a closer link between the funds paid out to Member States and their compliance with EU rules and values, provided the conditionality and different steps of enforcement are clearly specified. To ensure democratic participation and strengthen civil society we also propose the introduction of elements of participatory budgeting.

As argued in our Policy Position on The Future of Europe: a future-proof European Union budget, new own resources could furthermore provide tools to react adequately to economic shocks, provide resources to run EU programmes in priority areas, and address shortcomings in the setup of the Economic and Monetary Union. How those resources could look like and be implemented is discussed in more detail in our Policy Position on EU Own Resources.
04/25/2020
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Justice Freedom and Security Issues Discussed on Europe Day (in Turkish)

By Participatory Democracy and Civil Society Dialogue

Genel Sonuç : Avrupa Günü’nün World Café bölümünde Öğrencilerin Vurguladıkları Öneriler.

STK’ların Türkiye AB arasındaki ilişkisinde rolünü tartışırken öğrencilerden gelen çözümler:

  • Bütün STK’lar baskı grubu oluşturmalılar.
  • STK’ların bağımsızlığı için bir güvence (yargı&yasa) sağlanmalı.
  • STK’ların topluma daha fazla hizmet vermesi için devletten destek alması (FON)
  • Okularda STK bilincinin oluşturulması için STK rapor ve aktivistlerinin ( adalet-güvenlik- özgürlük alanında) tanıtılması ve genç bireylerde STK gücünün oluşması. Bireylerin, STK’ların devlet üzerinde yapabileceği baskı kuvvetine inanmalarıyla sivil toplum daha gelişecektir.
  • STK’ların özellikle barış süreci ile ilgili daha iyi medyatize edilmesi ve toplumdaki görünüş ve algının geliştirilmesi.
  • STK’ların lobi oluşturması (toplumsal farkındalığı arttırma) STK’ların üniversite ve lise bazında biçimlendirmek için.
  • Sosyal medya çalışmalarının yapılması
  • Bilgiye erişebilirliği arttırmak.
  • Uluslararası STK’lar ile işbirliği sağlayıp destek almak.
  • Uluslararası STK’lardan mentörlük alınabilir.
  • Uluslararası STK’ların Türkiye’de bir ayağı olmasını sağlamak
  • STK’lar ülkede seçim ve referandumları denetlemeli ve şeffaflığı sağlamalıdır.
  • STK’lar (ulusal ve uluslararsı) medya ve basın, ifade özgürlüğü konularında raporlar hazırlaöalı, Türkiye’de bu raporlar ışığında gerekenleri yapmalı.
  • Halk ile STK’lar arasındaki örgütlenle güçlendirilmeli
  • STK’lar ideolojik değil, kapsayıcı hareket ederek bağlantı kurmalı
  • 23 . ve 24. fasıllar kesinlikle açılmalı ve halk bu konuda bilgilendirilmeli.
04/25/2020
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Customs’ Union Agreement and Turkey’s Economic Relations with the EU ( in Turkish)

By Uncategorised

 Genel Sonuç : Avrupa Günü’nün World Café bölümünde öğrencilerin göç konusundaki Önerileri

Göç ile ilgili olarak tartışılan ilk konu Avrupa Birliği’nden gelecek olan fonların kullanımı ile ilgiliydi. Türkiye Cumhuriyeti hükümetinin, gelecek fonları Afet ve Acil Durum Yönetimi Başkanlığı, AFAD’a aktarılmasını istemesi ile ilgili olarak iki görüş öne çıktı: AFAD’ın fon kullanımında şeffaflığın nasıl sağlanacağı ve halihazırda göç ile ilgili gerekli yeni politikaların artık afet ya da acil durum olarak anlaşılmaması gerektiği. Ayrıca bu fonların tüm sığınmacılara ulaşılabilir hale getirilmesi gerektiği de görüşler arasındaydı. Katılımcılar, denetimli bir sivil toplum aracılığıyla, bu fonların etkin kullanılması için neler yapılması gerektiğini tartıştılar. Özellikle 18 yaş altındakilerin entegrasyonunu sağlamak adına eğitime ve genel olarak sağlık ve sosyal güvenliğe fon ayrılması gerektiği konusunda hemfikir olundu. Buna göre:

  • Fonların tek bir elde toplanmaması;
  • Denetim konusunda Avrupa Birliği ve Türkiye’den, kamu ve sivil toplumun birlikte oluşturduğu kontrollü bir denge-fren sisteminin geliştirilmesi;
  • Gelen hibenin barınma, eğitim, istihdam, sağlık, vb. alanlara ayrılması; çalışma konularının belirlenerek bütçelenmesi; dağılımın raporlanması ve değerlendirilmesi;
  • Denetimlerin bağımsız bir komisyon tarafından denetlenip yönetilmesi;
  • Öncelikli alanların çocukları kapsaması;
  • Eğitim alanında dil eğitimi, mesleki oryantasyon, kadınlara yönelik eğitimler (girişimciliğe teşvik) ve çocuklar için okul öncesi temel eğitim ve ilkokul eğitimi konularında geniş ölçekli bir politika oluşturulması ve uygulanması;
  • Geçici koruma altında kayıtlı Suriyelilerin yarısını 18 yaş altı bireyler oluşturduğu bilgisine dayanarak, bu kişilerin topluma kazandırılmaları için eğitimde gerekli adımların atılması; özellikle lise çağındaki çocuklar için müfredata Arapça dil eğitimi eklenmesi;
  • Annelerin çocukların eğitimindeki önemli rolü göz önüne alınarak, kadınlara mikro krediler verilmesi;
  • Göçmenlerin özellikle Anadolu’nun kalkınmasındaki rolünü artırmak adına, bölgesel olarak rekabetin az olduğu yerlerde iş kolları kurulması;
  • Göçmenlerin iş piyasasında iş kollarına göre ayrıştırılması;
  • Eğitimli göçmenlerin (özellikle entegrasyonda yaygın etkisi olacak olan doktor, öğretmen, vb.) denklikleri konusunda süreçlerin iyileştirilmesi;
  • İstihdam konusunda çalışma izni alımının kolaylaştırılması; kadınlar için İSMEK benzeri pozitif ayrımcılık içerecek kursların oluşturulması;
  • Eğitim sistemine adaptasyon, mesleki eğitim ve Türkiye toplumundaki Suriyeliler hakkında yaygın dezenformasyona karşı iki yönlü ve kapsamlı bir entegrasyon politikası oluşturulması;
  • Göç konusunda deneyimli ülkelerden iyi örnekler alınması ve entegrasyon politikasının aşamalarını belirlemede bu fikirlerden faydalanılması;
  • Sadece Suriyelileri değil, iç göç, dış göç ve diğer ülkelerden gelecekte gelme olasılığı olan sığınmacıları da kapsayan sürdürülebilir bir göç politikası tartışmasının başlatılması.
04/25/2020
Love0

Migration Issues Discussed on Europe Day ( in Turkish)

By Migration and Refugees

 Genel Sonuç : Avrupa Günü’nün World Café bölümünde öğrencilerin göç konusundaki Önerileri

Göç ile ilgili olarak tartışılan ilk konu Avrupa Birliği’nden gelecek olan fonların kullanımı ile ilgiliydi. Türkiye Cumhuriyeti hükümetinin, gelecek fonları Afet ve Acil Durum Yönetimi Başkanlığı, AFAD’a aktarılmasını istemesi ile ilgili olarak iki görüş öne çıktı: AFAD’ın fon kullanımında şeffaflığın nasıl sağlanacağı ve halihazırda göç ile ilgili gerekli yeni politikaların artık afet ya da acil durum olarak anlaşılmaması gerektiği. Ayrıca bu fonların tüm sığınmacılara ulaşılabilir hale getirilmesi gerektiği de görüşler arasındaydı. Katılımcılar, denetimli bir sivil toplum aracılığıyla, bu fonların etkin kullanılması için neler yapılması gerektiğini tartıştılar. Özellikle 18 yaş altındakilerin entegrasyonunu sağlamak adına eğitime ve genel olarak sağlık ve sosyal güvenliğe fon ayrılması gerektiği konusunda hemfikir olundu. Buna göre:

  • Fonların tek bir elde toplanmaması;
  • Denetim konusunda Avrupa Birliği ve Türkiye’den, kamu ve sivil toplumun birlikte oluşturduğu kontrollü bir denge-fren sisteminin geliştirilmesi;
  • Gelen hibenin barınma, eğitim, istihdam, sağlık, vb. alanlara ayrılması; çalışma konularının belirlenerek bütçelenmesi; dağılımın raporlanması ve değerlendirilmesi;
  • Denetimlerin bağımsız bir komisyon tarafından denetlenip yönetilmesi;
  • Öncelikli alanların çocukları kapsaması;
  • Eğitim alanında dil eğitimi, mesleki oryantasyon, kadınlara yönelik eğitimler (girişimciliğe teşvik) ve çocuklar için okul öncesi temel eğitim ve ilkokul eğitimi konularında geniş ölçekli bir politika oluşturulması ve uygulanması;
  • Geçici koruma altında kayıtlı Suriyelilerin yarısını 18 yaş altı bireyler oluşturduğu bilgisine dayanarak, bu kişilerin topluma kazandırılmaları için eğitimde gerekli adımların atılması; özellikle lise çağındaki çocuklar için müfredata Arapça dil eğitimi eklenmesi;
  • Annelerin çocukların eğitimindeki önemli rolü göz önüne alınarak, kadınlara mikro krediler verilmesi;
  • Göçmenlerin özellikle Anadolu’nun kalkınmasındaki rolünü artırmak adına, bölgesel olarak rekabetin az olduğu yerlerde iş kolları kurulması;
  • Göçmenlerin iş piyasasında iş kollarına göre ayrıştırılması;
  • Eğitimli göçmenlerin (özellikle entegrasyonda yaygın etkisi olacak olan doktor, öğretmen, vb.) denklikleri konusunda süreçlerin iyileştirilmesi;
  • İstihdam konusunda çalışma izni alımının kolaylaştırılması; kadınlar için İSMEK benzeri pozitif ayrımcılık içerecek kursların oluşturulması;
  • Eğitim sistemine adaptasyon, mesleki eğitim ve Türkiye toplumundaki Suriyeliler hakkında yaygın dezenformasyona karşı iki yönlü ve kapsamlı bir entegrasyon politikası oluşturulması;
  • Göç konusunda deneyimli ülkelerden iyi örnekler alınması ve entegrasyon politikasının aşamalarını belirlemede bu fikirlerden faydalanılması;
  • Sadece Suriyelileri değil, iç göç, dış göç ve diğer ülkelerden gelecekte gelme olasılığı olan sığınmacıları da kapsayan sürdürülebilir bir göç politikası tartışmasının başlatılması.
04/25/2020
Love0
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