“Based on our latest survey, flexible employment contracts play an important role in the successful operation of European metal, engineering and technology-based industries”, comments CEEMET Secretary General Uwe Combüchen CEEMET’s latest survey among its membership.

Due to the volatile economic cycles today, rapid technological development, the intensified globalisation of markets, lean manufacturing and changing employee needs, more flexible forms of employment contracts have become a necessity. 

Opening the GUE/NGL hearing on women's pension rights on the eve of International Women's Day, MEP Mikael Gustafsson, Chair of the Women's Rights and Gender Equality Committee, reminded participants that "women's precarious working conditions, sharp pay inequalities during their working lives, and an unequal sharing of care for children, are later mirrored in their lower pension rights".

The European Commission today announced it would be continuing with infringement proceedings against the Hungarian government for the proposed laws threatening the independence of the judiciary and the data protection authority, as well as seeking further clarification over a new law affecting the independence of the central bank (1). The Greens welcomed the decision but expressed concern that the Commission is continuing to ignore the wider concerns with constitutional changes, which are leading to a scale-back of democracy in Hungary.

Now in their 12th year, the SOLIDAR Silver Rose Awards 20121 this year honour four individuals or organisations whose extraordinary struggles contribute to social justice and solidarity in Europe and worldwide:

European Category: Kaos GL, Turkey

COGEN Europe launches a wider debate on planning for heat in Europe

The EU total thermal energy demand consumes 60% of the primary energy resources in the EU but its energy and climate strategy has virtually no measures on heat. At its upcoming Annual Conference in Brussels on 3-4 May 2012, COGEN Europe will launch a wider debate among key representatives of the cogeneration sector on how the heat planning under the new Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) can help swing the balance towards more integrated energy thinking.