The need for assistance and support to all people displaced by the conflict in the Ukraine and giving them access to the labour market, housing and other social services was the main message during a debate in the meeting of the Commission for Social Policy, Education, Employment, Research and Culture (SEDEC) of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) on 1 April. CoR members highlighted their support for Ukrainian refugees and underlined the need for a properly managed social support.
As the war in the Ukraine continues, local and regional leaders emphasised
the need for a quicker integration of and support for Ukrainian refugees.
During the debate of the
SEDEC
commission of the CoR, members stressed that the biggest social challenges
for Ukrainians include social security, loss of job, social support and
psychological adjustment. They therefore called for the European Union to
integrate refugees into society swiftly and grant all the support they
need. A quick access to the labour market, housing, education and social
support, particularly to children and people with disabilities is notably
important.
"Local and regional authorities are at the forefront of solidarity efforts
with the Ukrainian people. Effective and resilient public services are at
the heart of a social Europe that protects its people and all those that
seek its protection. Sub-national authorities must be fully empowered to
deliver adequately such services," said SEDEC chair
Anne Karjalainen
(FI/PES).
Hanna Zdanowska
(PL/EPP), Mayor of Łódź, reported that in her region the number of pupils
and students have increased by 10% since the beginning of the war and made
clear that a functioning education system should be created which is
available to all pupils and students.
Aleksandra Dulkiewicz
(PL/EPP), Chair of the CoR Working Group on Ukraine and Mayor of Gdańsk,
presented the
main outcomes
of the meeting of the CoR Working Group on 30 March and underlined the need
for a prompt integration of all Ukrainians who are fleeing to the EU.
The European Commission has maximised funds of the
Cohesion's Action for Refugees in Europe
(CARE) to provide additional flexibility in cohesion policy funding so that
Member States hosting people fleeing from the Ukraine have additional
support. They will also be able to use resources from the European Fund for
Regional Development and the European Social Fund to provide assistance to
all refugees.
Erja Kaikkonen, Head of Policy and Public Outreach Department at the European Training
Foundation (ETF), highlighted that the EFT is supporting Ukrainian refugees
with digital education and training inside and outside the Ukraine with
resources and helps to recognise and translate qualifications of Ukrainian
students.
SEDEC members also discussed and adopted three draft opinions that are all
set for final adoption at the CoR plenary session in June:
Better working conditions for people engaged in work through
digital labour platforms
As digital platforms and artificial intelligence are constantly changing
the world of work and impacting workers' rights and working conditions,
progress is urgently needed on the regulation of the platform economy.
Rapporteur Yonnec Polet (BE/PES), 1st Deputy Mayor of
Berchem-Sainte-Agathe, welcomed the European Commission's
draft directive
that introduces a presumption of employment, based on specific criteria.
"There is a need to put a definitive end to the abusive strategies of
platforms and to hold them socially responsible," he insisted, hoping that
this directive will allow more than 4 million European workers under the
status of bogus self-employed to be reclassified as employees. "We need to
demonstrate our ambition to extend the social acquis to new forms of
economic activity and the capacity of the EU institutions to prevent labour
rights from being sacrificed to the benefit of businesses," the rapporteur
stressed.
European Strategy for Universities
The opinion drafted by Emil Boc (RO/EPP), Mayor of
Cluj-Napoca, flags the importance of raising the standard of European
university education and research and boosting the availability of local
and regional support for the objectives identified in the European
Commission's
strategy. The rapporteur highlighted that universities play a pivotal role in
promoting objectives which are vital for the EU, such as the green and
digital transitions, and for tackling brain drain. The opinion points out
LRAs' role in creating and consolidating local and regional ecosystems
promoting active cooperation and networking between public authorities,
businesses and industry, and universities.
EU Strategy on Combating Antisemitism and Fostering Jewish Life
The European Commission presented the first ever
EU strategy against antisemitism
in October. The CoR rapporteur János Adam Karácsony
(HU/ECR), Member of County Council of Pest Megye, stressed that local and
regional authorities across Europe must promote the fight against prejudice
and antisemitism. "We should all commit to create a more inclusive and safe
future for Jewish communities in the European Union. Education plays a key
role in this process promoting a respectful dialogue among students. The EU
needs to promote an open and regular dialogue with churches and religious
associations given that only through the promotion of freedom of religion
and belief, we can ensure a safer future for our communities," he said.