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The online version of this special report is sponsored by Eurofound.
You can download the report in PDF here.
Better policies for a competitive and fair Europe
Europe faces some of its greatest challenges while prospects for economic and social development are increasingly unclear. Responding to the information needs of those tasked with the important role of developing and implementing policies to improve quality of work and life in Europe, in a relevant, timely and accessible manner, remains at the core of Eurofound's mission.
During the Cyprus Presidency of the second half of 2012, Eurofound will present its most recent research data and findings, and provide insights into developments at EU, national and company level, relating to social cohesion and youth unemployment, sustainable employment and the gender pay gap as well as the ageing workforce.
Policymakers are reflecting on the role of older people in society, both as economic and social providers of resources and users of services. The promotion of employment opportunities for an ageing workforce requires new thinking at company, national and EU level.
The European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Eurofound) is a tripartite EU agency that provides European social policymakers with knowledge to assist in the development of social and work-related policies, based on comparative data and research findings.
In 2007, the Portuguese presidency of the Council of Ministers spearheaded an ‘integrated maritime policy' that contained a great many promises. The packed action plan promised to establish a network of “motorways of the sea” throughout Europe, eliminate illegal fishing, and mitigate the effects of climate change on coasts.
Five years later, and there is no integrated maritime strategy. “There was a lot of discussion...but since then we have not heard much about it,” said Eleni Marianou, secretary-general of the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions.
Cyprus, as a maritime island state, says reviving the policy is one of the main goals of its period at the head of the EU. In October, an informal ministerial conference will be held in Limassol with the aim of producing a ‘Limassol declaration' that sets out the priorities for action.
Earlier this month, Efthemios Flourentzou, Cyprus's minister for communications and works, said the declaration would mark “a new drive for the further development and implementation of this innovative, cross-cutting policy”.
The European Commission is expected to present a progress report on the integrated maritime policy at the October conference, which will be attended by Maria Damanaki, the European commissioner for fisheries and maritime affairs, and José Manuel Barroso, the president of the Commission.
The declaration will not contain plans, dates or deadlines. But it will indicate policy areas that need to be strengthened and ways in which maritime policies can be better linked.
The Cypriot government hopes that this push for an integrated policy will last longer than its predecessor.
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