Valencia, Comunidad Valenciana (E), 19 September 2008 Figures are still poor in relation to gender equality in Europe: although women's success rates at school and university are higher than men's, their rate of employment is much lower (57.2%) and the average pay gap between women and men is still around 15% for the same work and equal skills. In addition, women hold the … [Read more...]
Subcategory to Structure - use only for organizational issues, not topical ones.
Sidebar: Vice-Presidency Equal Opportunities & Inclusion
Michèle Sabban appointed Acting President of Assembly of European Regions
Strasbourg (F), 24 April 2008 Ile-de-France (F) Vice-President Michèle Sabban was this week appointed Acting President of the Assembly of European Regions (AER). She will be Acting President until AER's General Assembly appoints a new President in November. "I regret Riccardo Illy's departure from the AER Presidency, to which he brought a new essential dimension. I will do my … [Read more...]
Launch of the AER Observatory on Migrant Women
"The AER Observatory on Migrant Women is born" announced Michèle Sabban, Vice-President of the Assembly of European Regions (AER) and of the Region Ile-de-France (F), at the Conference on Equal Opportunities for Men and Women, in Timis County (RO). It follows two days of debates with international and local experts, where an in-depth consideration of the special issues … [Read more...]
Use the New Media to bring Regional Governments closer to its Young Citizens!
Jämtland (S), 5 October 2007 New media technologies and the Internet offer new horizons for regional governments to link up to their young - and not so young! - citizens. This was the statement of the “Youth and Media” Seminar organised by the AER 'Culture, Education & Interregional Cooperation' Committee (3) in Jämtland (S) on 3-5 October. “The Assembly of European … [Read more...]
IGC start: AER President Illy asks to “Keep the regional dimension in order to ensure Europe moves forward”
“Regional interests have to be safeguarded in the new EU Reform Treaty”: Riccardo Illy, President of the Assembly of European Regions (AER, aer.eu) and of the Region Friuli-Venezia Giulia-I, asks EU representatives to maintain the momentum of European integration, by preserving the regional dimension of the text. Mr. Illy’s comments come on the eve of the next Intergovernmental … [Read more...]
Regions launch two major Initiatives on integrating Ethnic Minorities and supporting Migrant Women
European Year of Equal Opportunities Strasbourg (F), 25 April 2007 "European Regions want the EU to do more in the field of anti-discrimination": Klaus Klipp, Secretary General of the Assembly of European Regions (AER, www.aer.eu), stressed today during a press conference at the European Parliament in Strasbourg the crucial importance of anti-discrimination issues for … [Read more...]
Press Invitation Combating Discrimination in Europe: Regions and MEPs speak out
On the occasion of the launch of the anti-discrimination truck tour in Strasbourg, which is due to leave the Alsatian capital on Wednesday 25th April, European regions and MEPs team up to announce joint initiatives on the integration of ethnic minorities, migrant women and gender equality. 'We want to show that the regions of Europe have been working for years on these … [Read more...]
European Year of Equal Opportunities: Regions set the example on integrating Ethnic Minorities
Pécs, Baranya (H), 30 March 2007 Meeting in Pécs, Baranya-H at the occasion of a seminar organised by the Assembly of European Regions (AER), 38 regions from 14 European countries set today a milestone in the field of ethnic minorities integration, by signing up to a declaration that firmly commits them to concrete targets in this field. The "Regions' Declaration on the … [Read more...]
The Assembly of European Regions 2006 vintage: Riccardo Illy re-elected AER President
Mallorca, Balears Islands (E), 9 November 2006 Riccardo Illy, President of the Region Friuli Venezia Giulia (Italy), was re-elected President of the Assembly of European Regions (AER), for a second two-year mandate. In his speech after re-election, President Illy declared "Since the beginning of my first mandate two years ago, I gave myself the task to bring a new impulse to … [Read more...]
Disabilities open up a whole new perspective on regional societies
Timis (ROM), 29 September 2006 'Disabilities are a wealth for the regions and should be viewed as an opportunity, rather than a difficulty' affirmed Constantin Ostaficiuc, President of Timis County Council (RO), and future President of the Health and Social Affairs Committee of the Assembly of European Regions (AER). 'Formulating policies for the integration of disabled … [Read more...]
Making Europe crystal clear: AER proposes more transparency, less bureaucracy
Strasbourg (F), 31 August 2006 The Assembly of European Regions (AER) welcomed the European Transparency Initiative in a letter to Commissioner Kallas. 'The regions are legitimate levels of government which apply transparent and open procedures for full citizen participation in the decision-making process', said Klaus Klipp, Secretary General of the AER. 'The regions and the … [Read more...]
The Vienna conference on co-existence pays lip service to freedom of choice’
The 'Freedom of Choice' conference on co-existence, organised by the European Commission and the Austrian Presidency of the EU, has not born fruit, to the regret of the Assembly of European Regions (AER). Following our meeting at the end of March with European Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel, we expected more from this event. However, once at the conference, we simply … [Read more...]
The European Regions adopt their political strategy for gender equality
Kiruna (FIN), 9 March 2006 In the context of International Women's Day, the European regions have confirmed their commitment to the promotion of gender equality and have adopted today the Kiruna Declaration, which defines their political priorities in this area for 2006-2007. The Assembly of European Regions (AER), the largest regional organisation in Europe, will focus on … [Read more...]
The European Social Model must be grounded in diversity, the AER stated
's-Hertogenbosch, Noord-Brabant (NL), 13 October 2005 'The European Social Model cannot be defined as a single model, which can apply in the same way to all European regions and states. The Europe's regions are convinced that any definition of the European Social Model must be grounded in diversity and take account of the various traditions and needs in evidence across … [Read more...]
Professional and social inclusion of young people: a new priority for Europe
During the European Conference on "Promoting vocational training and youth mobility - an investment in Europe's future", organised today by the Assembly of European Regions (AER), Pierre Moscovici, Vice-President of the European Parliament, stated: "The EU Member states must absolutely promote youth employment, in order to reduce unemployment among young people. They have to … [Read more...]