Simon is about caring. Caring about what happens. Caring about the way society is structured. Caring about individuals and what happens to them. Caring on a person-to-person basis. Caring enough to ask why. Caring enough to campaign for the elimination of homelessness.

With these words from Dick Shannon, taken from his comment in the February 1999-edition of Simon Community of Ireland newsletter we want to wish Simon all the best.

The work undertaken by this organisation is one important contribution to combat poverty and one of its most disastrous consequences, namely homelessness in Ireland. And unfortunately this work is today as important as it has been thirty years ago when Simon began with the work. Perhaps it is today even more important – the Celtic tiger on its move doesn’t take much care for all people. Some are prospering by its push forward. However, the tiger is a biting and scratching beast: Caring for speculators on the property market and kicking the weak.

Good luck to Simon for this birthday year!

<www.eurocoop.ch/Fortress_Europe.htm>

Dort bieten wir auch kostenlosen Zugriff auf frühere FECL-Nummern.

FECL Nr. 58 (Juni 1999) enthält, unter anderem, Artikel zu den folgenden Themen:

Despite this there are some new ECRI-publications available, which are of some interest: Volume IV (CRI [99] 6; 26.1.1999 – on Denmark, Estonia, Russian Federation, Spain, United Kingdom) and V (cri [99] 11; 13.3.1999 – on Austria, Latavia, Romania, Ukraine) of ECRI’s country-by-country approach have to be mentioned here. The reports are not only interesting to read for those who are specially interested in one of the countries. Instead they give some insight in more general patterns and their success or failure respectively. For example, we are made aware of the fact that even countries with a more or less prosperous and exemplary social (security) system and which are, moreover, seen as very tolerant face problems of increasing racism – Denmark is one example in this regard. Another interesting feature is the development in Spain, which might be seen as example for other countries of the so-called southern periphery. Up to recently countries, which only new emigration they now have to cope with immigration and despite their ‘emigrant experience’ the problem of racism and intolerance is too well known even in these countries. A third important insight is that the United Kingdom is confronted with increasing problems ‘despite having one of Europe’s most highly-advanced institutional frameworks for combating racism and discrimination.’ According to a note on the likewise recently published Annual Report on ECRI’s Activities Covering the Period from 1^st January to 31 December 1998 (CRI [99] 28. 23.3.1999) we read – in part contradicting the latter realisation: ‘The most striking feature … is the "persistence of discrimination at various levels", such as employment, housing provision of services and acquisition of citizenship, which is "compounded by a lack of effective antidiscrimination provisions in most member States". Such daily discrimination is practised by both public bodies, for example the judicial and law enforcement systems and schools, as well as by private individuals. It is closely linked to an unsatisfactory implementation of existing antiracist provisions. And of course, social work has a special role in regard of this crucial problem of today’s societies.

Another responsibility lies on ‘Specialised bodies, which are presented in another document: Good practices: specialised bodies to combat racism, xenophobia, antisemitism and intolerance at nation level (CRI [99] 43. April 1999). Even if not sufficient they provide important tools to develop progress in the field.

Unfortunately, however, the issue will have to stay on the agenda for the foreseeable future – the problem cannot be solved in a short period and, moreover, it is most probable that racism and any other forms of intolerance are on the increase. Thus, the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination , Xenophobia and Related Intolerance will be an important step at least as means of symbolical politics. Two documents present the European preparations: One is concerned with the meeting of and with NGOs, which took place on January 25^th, 1999 (PREP-EUROCONf/NGO [99] 1). The other document is concerned with the ad-hoc meeting of experts to exchange views on European preparations for the UN World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination , Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, February 22^nd – 24^th , 1999 (PREP-EUROCONF [99] 5 rev.)

Finally, an important development in the area can be seen in the Agreement for the purpose of establishing close co-operation between the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia and the Council of Europe.

Paid Leave and Job rotation in Europe – a model for battling unemployment and improving service quality

The title quoted above describes in part the multi-layer structure of a project which takes unemployment and the search to overcome it as starting point. However, even if unemployment is at core it is only one pillar of the project. The introduction of job rotation schemes gives a means at hand to kill two (or even more) birds with one stone:

* Employed people gain time for the education of their children without loosening job security;

* Unemployed people get at least for a limited period a job on the first labour market (in the international project different ways of financing are used);

* The unemployed people get the opportunity to refresh and even increase their skills;

* In some cases it is possible to improve the quality of local social services.

Besides the Danish Confederation of Municipal Employees – DKK the Netherlands Institute of Care and Welfare (NIZW) and the Berufsfördungsinstitut in Vienna (bfi) are carrying out the project.

In der letzten Ausgabe des newsletter wurde (im Englischen Teil) auf die Konferenz unter dem vorgenannten Titel, die im Rahmen der deutschen Ratspräsidentschaft durchgeführt wurde, hingewiesen. In Aachen trafen sich vom 19. bis 21. Mai 1999 zwei- bis dreihundert Experten aus dem Bereich jener Organisationen, Initiativen und Dienste. Anwesend waren sowohl Repräsentanten aus dem Bereich der Wissenschaft als auch aus Politik und Praxis, zahlreich darunter jene, die durch ihre praktische soziale Arbeit im Bereich der sog. Freien Träger eine besondere Kompetenz besitzen. Obwohl insgesamt durchaus von einem internationalen Treffen gesprochen werden kann, war leider bei der Vorbereitung die Gefahr einer Deutschlastigkeit entweder wohl unterschätzt worden oder aber es wurde bewusst darauf abgezielt, die weitere Perspektive eher aus deutscher Sicht zu beleuchten.

Auffällig waren insbesondere zwei Momente, die wohl auch insofern eine bedeutsame Richtungsbestimmung darstellen, als eine augenfällige Übereinstimmung zwischen den meisten der Anwesenden bestand, d.h. gleichsam eine Art Bündnis zwischen Praktikern aus Politik und sozialer Praxis sowie Wissenschaftlern.

In dem Eröffnungsgruß des Sozialkommissars Padraig Flynn wurde als besonders hervorhebenswert betont, dass die Nichtregierungsorganisationen selbst ein großes ökonomisches Potential darstellen. Fernerhin wies er auf die Dienstleistungen und hier eben besonders die Sozialdienste als besondere Quelle für zukünftiges für Beschäftigungswachstum hin. Hier wurde dann auch eine ausdrückliche Verbindung zur Europäischen Beschäftigungsstrategie (‘Luxemburger Prozess‘) (link Beschäftigungspolitik – 3 Saeulen) hergestellt. Dabei hob Flynn hervor, dass die Arbeit der NROs gerade auch insofern von besonderer Bedeutung sei, da sie im Trend der Abkehr von passiven und der Zuwendung zu aktiven Maßnahmen liege – die Kritik an einer solchen Terminologie, wie sie beispielsweise von EAPN immer wieder geübt0 wird , hat der Kommissar freilich nicht erwähnt oder in irgendeiner Form als Problemdimension thematisiert.

Neben und mit der Orientierung auf eine forcierte Ver-Dienstleistung (service-Orientierung) sowie der Stärkung der Arbeitsmarktorientierung wurde wiederum ein ziviler Dialog betont und neben den sozialen Dialog gestellt. Damit ergibt sich freilich ein mysteriöses Geflecht von Politikbeziehungen der zivile Dialog wird einerseits gleichsam ‘ökonomisiert‘, bleibt aber andererseits neben den sozialen Dialog gestellt, d.h. hier erhalten die NROs, die nunmehr ‘Dienstleistungsanbieter‘ i.e.S. werden sollen, keine Rolle als Sozialpartner.

– Freilich muss darauf hingewiesen werden, dass auch in Aachen Gegenstimmen zu hören waren, die sich nicht nur gegen eine weitere Ökonomisierung richteten, sondern deren Rücknahme forderten und ferner auch eine Umgestaltung des Sozialsystems und der sozialen (Ver-)Sicherungssysteme forderten, die den Namen wirklich verdient und nicht Einschnitte als Reform verkaufen will. Von Übereinstimmung zu reden bezieht sich vielfach auch darauf, dass formal gleiche Konzepte mit unterschiedlichen inhaltlichem Verständnis transportiert werden.

Ein zweiter grundlegender Gesichtspunkt, der im Rückblick auf die Aachener Konferenz zu betonen ist, kann – zynisch formuliert – unter dem Titel Nabelschau gefasst werden. Wie gesagt, wurde das Treffen gerade auch durch die Anwesenheit der Vertreter der NROs selbst geprägt und hatte damit keineswegs den Charakter einer reinen wissenschaftlichen Konferenz, die sich gleichsam intern mit der Rolle und Stellung dieser Organisationen, Initiativen und Dienste befassen sollte. Umso mehr muss es verwundern, dass kaum ein Wort zu hören war, über (geschweige denn von) jenen, die als Klienten, Kunden oder Selbst-Helfende bezeichnet werden. Ehrenamtliche spielten höchstens in jenem Sinn eine Rolle, dass z.B. die Rolle ihrer materiellen Sicherung (z.B. Versicherung bei der sozialen Tätigkeit) thematisiert wurde. Es geht mir hier nicht darum, eine fehlende Partizipation der Betroffenen zu beklagen, sondern darum, dass die betreffenden Einheiten selbst sich offenbar nicht primär über die Bedürfnisse dieser Menschen definieren, sondern über ihre eigene Stellung in einem System von Erbringern unterschiedlicher ‘Dienste‘. Freilich spricht nichts dagegen, einmal die eigene Position in einem solchen Geflecht zu bestimmen und vor allem auch, die eigenen Interessen gegenüber oder mit den Vertretern der politischen Seite auszuhandeln. Weil und insoweit es sich um ein Geflecht handelt, sollten jedoch gerade jene Interessen in den Mittelpunkt gerückt werden, in deren Namen man sich engagiert.

– ‘Ein Motor der Sozialpolitik in Europa‘ – diese Sentenz war im Titel der Konferenz zu lesen. Die NROs sollten Obacht geben, dass sie in dieser Funktion als Antrieb sich nicht in ein Vehikel einbauen lassen, welches in eine falsche Richtung fährt.

Even if it is a long way to get a wider European social policy on the way the development of a co-ordinated strategy gains more and more validity as part of the so-called Luxembourg process (cf. http://europa.eu.int/comm/dg05/empl&esf/naps99/naps_en.htm and http://europa.eu.int/comm/dg05/elm/summit/en/papers/home.htm:). In connection with the recent summit in Cologne (Germany) undoubtedly further progress could be made with the employment pact (for presidency conclusions and part of this the employment pact as annex go to: http://ue.eu.int/newsroom/main.cfm?LANG=1). And of course, all this I sat least one important part of still wider social policy approach. Nevertheless, even within this approach we find a fundamental, serious shortcoming. This is not just concerned with the specific orientation in terms of labour market or economic patterns. Moreover, the problem goes much further:

As we all know the process of European integration is split into 3 pillars, expressed in the 3 pillars of the primary law, i.e. now the Amsterdam Treaty. Part of it is binding law and compelling for all member states (the Treaty of the European Union) without any way out. Thus we are at least near to a supranational entity. The other parts are to be characterised as something added: Even if in strict legal terms and following judgements of the ECJ compelling as well they are still a matter of permanent negotiation on the level of an intergovernmental system. Thus, we are concerned with different levels of responsibility and enforceability in regard of matters of European integration. Metaphorical: 3 pillars are necessary. One leg (the Union) is not strong enough to involve what is left in the other pillars. And so the balance can be kept only by providing different crutches, crutches with different length to find an ever new and always only temporary balance.

Now, to understand the process of European integration and, furthermore, the role and position of social issues (and, in general: matters subject to the principle of the subsidiarity) we have to consider that only one pillar of these three strands can be seen as part of the original European competencies. Namely for what we have named as Cardiff process (III) the European Institutions have far-reaching competencies and can develop political decisions in their own right. All other fields are restricted either by the procedures of decision making or by the requirement of a specific added European value, while the main responsibility is ongoing a matter of the respective member states. In other words, in fact we find again a very unstable and unbalanced structure with different reaches of the particular systems. In consequence, the employment pact is not just problematic in terms of its own aims and the means used to proceed. Rather, it is questionable in terms of its location in the contractual structure.

An excellent documentation of the work under the Community Initiative Employment Horizon is available for Ireland – and probably many professionals working with people with special needs (disabled people) in other countries can gain precious stimulation by this overview. Even more, some may take it as point of departure for cross-border co-operation.

As the title states, the document presents the work of the projects and gives a brief overview of the aim and the development. As well, it contains information about the actors and professional structure and the participants. In general, each presentation (one page) follows the following outline:

Promoter Name. Project Name. Address. Contact Person. Measure. Theme. Target Group. Geographical Focus. Sector. Description. Transnational Partners. Specific Learning. Products.

Products, named in the report, are as various as pottery products, reports and public information about the experiences and manuals for training courses, which may be used in other contexts.

A brief overview is given to make the Community initiative known to the reader.

Another excellent tool, provided by the National Rehabilitation Board (NRB), is a Directory of Disability Research in Ireland 1996 – 1998. It makes important pieces of work accessible, which are not necessarily known to people even working in the field in Ireland. Many of the research had been undertaken without aiming on the (immediate) publication of publicly available literature. So, without the directory many results would have been produced just for the drawers of any desks of funding organisations, academic circles, small organisations etc.. However, now the results of the research projects are widely available. Probably there useful information not only for national organisations ar activists in the field but as well for those in other European countries. Moreover, some of the projects already had been undertaken as international projects, as projects with a comparative orientation.

The information on each project follows mainly the following outline:

Name of the project. Researcher(s). Institute/Address. Abstract. Research Methods. Keywords. Geographical Area. Starting/Completion Date. Funding Agency. Publications/Progress Report.

The given information is provided by the researchers themselves and an index of keywords completes the document.

Frauen in der EU verdienen im Durchschnitt ein Viertel weniger als Männer - so das Fazit einer von Eurostat, dem Statistischen Amt der Europäischen Gemeinschaften in Luxemburg, durchgeführten EU-weiten Erhebung, die soeben unter dem Titel Eurostat Statistik kurzgefaßt, Bevölkerung und soziale Bedingungen, Nr. 6/99 erschienen ist.

Die Berechnungen der jüngsten auf harmonisierter Basis verfügbaren Daten basieren auf der Grundeinheit der Vollzeitbeschäftigten in allen Wirtschaftsbereichen, ausgenommen Landwirtschaft, Bildung, Gesundheit, persönliche Dienstleistungen und Verwaltung.

Dieser Durchschnittswert spiegelt strukturelle Unterschiede bei den Merkmalen von arbeitenden Frauen und Männern, wie beispielsweise Alter, Bildung und die Art der Beschäftigung wider. So bekleiden z.B. weniger Frauen als Männer gut bezahlte Führungspositionen. Das Ungleichgewicht im Anteil von Frauen und Männern in bestimmten Wirtschaftssektoren und Berufen ist einer der bestimmenden Faktoren für den Unterschied in der Bezahlung beider Geschlechter. Bei dem Versuch, den Durchschnittsverdienst von Frauen mit strukturellen Faktoren der männlichen Beschäftigten zu kombinieren, reduziert sich zwar der Unterschied in der Bezahlung, aber es bleibt eine Differenz von etwa 15%.

Laut Eurostat sollten die Gesamtdurchschnittswerte der Einkommen mit Vorsicht interpretiert werden. Berücksichtigt werden müssen auch Unterschiede in der Beschäftigungsstruktur von Männern und Frauen auf dem Arbeitsmarkt der EU, und hier insbesondere die Konzentration von Frauen auf bestimmte Tätigkeitsarten.

Erstens üben Männer und Frauen nicht die gleichen Tätigkeiten aus. Von der in der Erhebung erfassten Personengruppe war ein Drittel der vollzeitbeschäftigten Frauen als Bürokräfte tätig, während es bei den Männern nur 10% waren. Dagegen waren 47% der Männer Arbeiter oder Anlagenbediener, während lediglich 18% der Frauen eine solche Tätigkeit ausübten.

Zweitens sind berufstätige Frauen im Durchschnitt jünger:

44% sind unter 30 Jahre alt, gegenüber 32% bei den Männern. Dies ist darauf zurückzuführen, dass in den älteren Generationen weniger Frauen berufstätig sind und dass viele Frauen zur Kindererziehung aus dem Berufsleben ausscheiden. Die Folge ist, laut Eurostat dass Frauen im Durchschnitt eine kürzere Betriebszugehörigkeit haben und ihre Möglichkeiten, in Führungspositionen aufzusteigen, geringer sind, was sich wiederum auf ihre Gehälter auswirkt.

Drittens besteht ein Bildungsunterschied: Von den berufstätigen Frauen verfügen 51% lediglich ueber einen Primar- oder Sekundarschulabschluß, gegenüber 43% der Männer. Andererseits haben 36% der Männer einen Sekundarabschluss mit Fachausbildung, während es bei den Frauen nur 29% sind.

Aber auch wenn man die Verdienstunterschiede von Personengruppen betrachtet, die die gleichen statistischen Merkmale aufweisen, so stellt man fest, dass Frauen systematisch schlechter bezahlt werden. Zum Beispiel ist bei den "Führungskräften" laut Bericht die ungleiche Bezahlung in 10 der 15 Mitgliedstaaten besonders stark ausgeprägt. "An der Unternehmensspitze, wo die Einkommen extrem hoch sein können, finden sich nur sehr wenige Frauen."

Der Bericht stellt auch andere Unterschiede heraus, zum Beispiel die Bezahlung von Überstunden hauptsächlich für Arbeiter – meist Männer – während das Verkaufspersonal im Einzelhandel mit seinem niedrigen Einkommensniveau hauptsächlich aus Frauen besteht.

Selbst in der Altersgruppe der 25-29jährigen erreichen Frauen nur 86% der Verdienste der Männer. Grundsätzlich, so Eurostat, hatten die Frauen dieser Altersgruppe die gleichen Bildungs- und Berufschancen.

"Damit wird deutlich, dass es selbst bei der jüngeren Generation Unterschiede im Hinblick auf den Zugang zu gut bezahlten Arbeitsplätzen gibt. Hinzu kommt, dass junge Frauen ihre Berufstätigkeit später möglicherweise für längere Zeit unterbrechen, so dass die Einkommensunterschiede zunehmen und denen ähneln dürften, von denen ihre Mütter derzeit betroffen sind."

Bei den Bruttostundenlöhnen sind die Unterschiede am geringsten in den neuen deutschen Bundesländern einschließlich Ostberlin, wo die Verdienste der Frauen 89,9% der Verdienste der Männer erreichen (gegenüber 76,9% in den alten Bundesländern). Es folgen in geringem Abstand Dänemark (88,1%), Schweden (87,0%), Luxemburg (83,9%) und Belgien (83,2%).

Am andern Ende der Skala befinden sich die Frauen in Griechenland (68,0%), in den Niederlanden (70,6%) und in Portugal (71,7%). Der EU-Durchschnitt liegt bei 76,3%.

Die Daten beziehen sich auf 1995, ausgenommen Frankreich (1994) und Österreich (1996). Da davon ausgegangen werden kann dass sich die in dieser Erhebung dargelegten strukturellen Unterschiede nur sehr langsam ändern, vermutet Eurostat, dass die Ergebnisse auch die heutige Situation widerspiegeln.

Belgien: 83,2%

Dänemark: 88,1%

Deutschland, alte Bundesländer: 76,9%

Deutschland, neue Bundesländer einschl. Ostberlin: 89,9%

Griechenland, nur Industrie: 68,0%

Spanien: 74,0%

Frankreich: 76,6%

Irland: 73,4%

Italien: 76,5%

Luxemburg: 83,9%

Niederlande: 70,6%

Österreich: 73,6%

Portugal: 71,7%

Finnland: 81,6%

Schweden: 87,0%

Ver. Königreich: 73,7%

oder bei

Eurostat. Marie-Paule BENASSI. Joseph-Bech-Gebaeude. L-2920 Luxemburg. Tel: +352-4301-32 297. Fax: +352-4301-34 415. EMail: mariepaule.benassi@eurostat.cec.be

Probably in September 1999 EUROSTAT, the Statistical Office of the European Communities will publish new figures on Poverty. Actually, the data will be concerned with income distribution and stem from the European Community Houshold Panel (ECHP) and will be based on data for 1995.

Since its development, social work (in a wider sense) is employed by the debate about the meaning of different levels of social intervention, namely the individual, the groups on a small-scale level and the society in general respectively. Approaches in favour of a somewhat holistic perspective still have a difficult standing in social work – sometimes even increasingly because of the flourishing professional differentiation and not least in the context of economisation. Nevertheless, the community approach is of ongoing interest. The persistence of the interest is highly justified insofar we are not only concerned with an integration of different aggregate levels of intervention rather than an integration of different ‘fields’ of the social being: being together informally, economic activities, education, social care etc.

A new handbook will be a useful tool for those working in this field and it may be chosen as guidance and as stimulation to reflect own approaches:

Chanan, Gabriel: Local Community Involvement. A Handbook for Good Practice. Dublin: European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, 1999/Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, 1999

On page 27 we find a comprehensive guide, giving

Ten building blocks for community development (which are quoted from Voluntary Activity Unit, Northern Ireland Department of Health and Social Services: Measuring Community Development, 1996)

We divide community development into ten ‘building blocks’. The first four of these are about community empowerment, whose aim is to encourage communities to be better able to cope with, challenge or change their situation., The other six … depend on the policies and decisions of investors and authorities outside the community itself. Progress on the quality of life thus depends partly on what a community can do for itself and partly on how far the community can influence the decisions of investors and policy-makers.

1. A learning community …
2. A fair and just community …
3. An active and organised community …
4. An influential community …
5. A commonwealth …
6. A caring community …
7. A green community …
8. A safe community …
9. A good place to live …
10. A lasting community …

Soziale Qualität kann als eine Art roter Faden angesehen werden, der sich auch durch Fragen der Sozialarbeit zieht, so sie mehr sein will als nur ein Anhängsel einer Beschäftigungsstrategie im Rahmen der Binnenmarktorientierung Ich möchte die Aufmerksamkeit nochmals auf die Amsterdamer Erklärung zur Sozialen Qualität richten. Die Erklärung wurde bereits im Rahmen dieses Mitteilungsblattes veröffentlicht und ist zugänglich unter

Bei Interesse hinsichtlich der Arbeit der Stiftung Soziale Qualität können weitere Informationen gerne angefragt werden.

As social quality can be seen as a kind of thread running through the story of social work issues and as it is furthermore a crucial question for a Social Europe, which goes further than attaching an employment strategy to the main-stream of setting up a single market I want to draw your attention once again on the Amsterdam Declaration on social Quality. The Declaration had been publishged already as part of this newsletter and can be accessed under

If you are interested more in detail in the work of the Foundation please don not hesitate to as for details.

Die neue Bundesregierung in Deutschland hat in einer Broschüre gut sechzig Seiten ihre Europapolitischen Gedanken vor: Europa Leben ist das Motto unter dem eine Strategie Für ein soziales und wirtschaftlich starkes Europa (so der Untertitel) anvisiert wird. Ob und wie weit damit bewusst ein Anspruch impliziert ist, der Europa als gemeinsame Tradition und als wirklich bestehende Einheit, die man bereits leben kann, sei dahingestellt – zumindest haben wir verschiedentlich darauf hingewiesen, dass es noch viele Hindernisse gibt, die überwunden werden müssen, um dann wirklich Europa zu leben.

Auch wenn die bilderreiche Broschüre in engem Zusammenhang mit der deutschen Ratspräsidentschaft steht, ist sie doch auch darüber hinaus von einigem informativem Wert hinsichtlich der Position der Bundesregierung, der Veränderungen und nicht zuletzt der Konstanten hinsichtlich der EU-Politik.

The new German government presents in a booklet on about sixty pages guiding ideas on European matters: Living Europe is the motto under which a strategy For a social and economically strong Europe (thus the subtitle) is envisaged. If and in which sense this claims consciously a common tradition and an in fact existing unity, whgich can be lived already at this stage may be a case of some doubt. At least we mentioned already several obstacles in this newsletter, which have to be surmounted before we really can live Europe.

Even if edited in immediate connection with the German presidency the booklet gives more general information as to the ideas of the current German government, the changes and not least the continuities in EU-matters.

In April a conference on Caring for Older People took place in Dublin under the auspices of the Ministry for Social, Community and Family Affairs. We had been confronted with an encouraging debate because the issue at stake had been approached from various points, thus respecting the multi-faceted character of the problem: social needs, community care, the needs of the carers, issues of preventive care and the role of the NGOs had been set on the agenda. Contributions had been successfully invited from various member states of the EU.

Recently we announced the publication of the booklet Voluntary Actoion in Ireland, Noth and South: Report of a Research Symposium. Now, we are glad thet the Irish Research in this field gets another boost: The Irish Research Community will host a major Conference at Trinity College in Dublin. The 4^th International Conference of the International Society for Third Sector Research (ISTR) will warmly be welcomed for this major event. The conference is planned for July 5 – 8, 2000. The Association for Voluntary Action Research in Ireland, North and South (AVARI) and the School of Business Studies of Trinity College will serve as local hosts.

FOURTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE of THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR THIRD-SECTOR RESEARCH (ISTR). TRINITY COLLEGE. DUBLIN, IRELAND. JULY 5-8, 2000

THE THIRD SECTOR: FOR WHAT AND FOR WHOM?

Proposals are invited for contributions to the fourth international conference of the International Society for Third-Sector Research. The conference will take a critical look at the development of the sector across the globe and the contribution it is making to human welfare and democratic life. The main themes of the conference will be:

* Evaluating the impact of the Third Sector

* The Third Sector, democracy and social capital

* The Third Sector and religion

* Commercialization and privatization in the Third Sector

* The Third Sector in partnership

* Management and organization in the Third Sector

* Globalization, the Third Sector and the social economy

* Philanthropy and volunteering

However, contributions are encouraged on all topics related to Third Sector studies. They may take the form of a panel, a paper or a poster.

Abstracts of 500-1000 words are invited in English, French and Spanish. The abstract should give a working title and summarize the argument of the paper and the issue(s) which it addresses; locate that issue within a wider literature; indicate its relevance to an international audience; and refer to its empirical and/or theoretical base. It should be suitable for blind refereeing. Brief biographical details should be given on the attached form and authors are requested to indicate which of the conference themes their proposal addresses. Original papers presented at the conference will be considered for the Conference Working Paper Series to be published shortly after the conference. Authors will have the opportunity to revise their papers in the light of conference feedback with an eye to an appropriate submission to Voluntas, the peer-reviewed official journal of ISTR.

For the purposes of this conference, the Third Sector is broadly defined, including for example: NGOs, non-profit organizations, voluntary associations, social economy organizations, community organizations, self-help and mutual organizations, civil society organizations, unions, religious organizations and co-operatives. Contributions are also welcome which discuss civic participation, community development and citizenship.

ISTR is keen to encourage contributions from all countries and disciplines, as well as contributions from practitioners carrying out research in and with the sector. Comparative papers and panels covering more than one country will be particularly welcome. A number of scholarships and subsidies will be available for researchers from the developing world.

Several scholarships will also be reserved for post-graduate students from any part of the world.

A Panel submission is a proposal for a coordinated set of papers (usually 3 or 4 in number) all dealing with a particular topic or issue. The person submitting the panel proposal must be willing to act as the panel coordinator and ensure that all proposed paper presenters commit to attending the conference. Panel proposals must contain a general description of the panel topic as well as specific proposals for each paper.

A Poster proposal is an alternative to presenting a full research paper. This is an opportunity to display a poster about completed and ongoing research. Posters will be displayed through out the conference and a designated session will be scheduled in which participants can meet with authors to discuss their work. (Full instructions on poster formats will be provided for those accepted for presentation.)

One (1) copy of the abstract, along with the presenter information sheet, should be submitted by September 30, 1999, to the ISTR Secretariat. Panel proposals should include information on all the constituent papers; if necessary, additional sheets may be used. Proposals may be submitted by mail or fax, but we regret that we cannot accept proposals via e-mail.

Authors will be advised by the end of January 2000 whether their abstract has been accepted. Authors are requested to confirm their participation in the conference by April 1, 2000, and will have an opportunity to submit an extended abstract for inclusion in the conference abstract volume by that date. The completed paper should be submitted to the ISTR office by May 15, 2000, to allow adequate time for session chairs/discussants to read the paper.

As social matters in Europe are still a matter of the member states and moreover, since as well any convergence, harmonisation or whichever of Europeanisation largely depends on severe knowledge about the various national systems the importance of any kind of comparative literature is of crucial importance. Thus, we want to f-draw your attention on some sources that give useful insight in various issues of ‘the social’.

The Platform published a position paper on the Social Action Programme 1998 – 2000. In this paper the alliance of various European social Networks

* Demands a societal and social impact assessment of the different Community Policies on Social cohesion in order to correct and adjust them

* Asks for a global social impact assessment in relation to the actions, intiative and programmes of other parts of the EU institutions, not directly involved in social policy

* In particular, demands that a careful study of the social impact of EMU, especially on social protectionm, be carried out and the findings published.

Furthermore the platform

ESOSC contributed in the preparation to this debate and a respective submission can be found on the ESOSC homepage (http://homepages.iol.ie/~herrmann)

Another important document was published by the Platform under the title Le travail. La protection sociale. La participation & la citoyenneté. L’approche des ONG. This document assembles the Contributions of the Platform on the recent European Commission’s Social Policy Forum. The documents gives valuable stimulation on the respective issues and shows, not least, the contradictions within the platform.

For example one contribution states: La mise en place d’un dialogue sociale véritable sur l’avenir de la protection sociale doit impliquyer tous les acteurs concernés: l’Etat, les partenaires sociaux et la société civile. (19) On the other hand, in another contribution the necessity for a civil dialogue aside the social dialogue is emphasised (cf. 31). Nevertheless, speaking of contradictions is meant absolutely not as reproach: Social policy in the European Union and the role of the NGOs are, indeed, a matter for further debate and it would be overbearing if anybody comes along with a ready made concept.

What is clear and concurring is, however, the call for o coherence of political, social and economic rights: En Europe démocratie et cohésion sociale sont intimement liées: à l’égalité politique répond le souci de l’égalité et de la justice sociale.

Le modèle social européene repose sur la reconnaissance des droits fondamentaux des citoyens, ces droits étant mis en œvre sous le contrôle des États, garants de l’intérêt général. (17)

Europäische Sozialpolitik ist – unendlich oft wurde dies bereits festgestellt – im Zentrum Arbeitsmarkt- und Beschäftigungspolitik und die nunmehrige Verankerung des Beschäftigungskapitels im Amsterdamer Vertragswerk sowie der jüngst beschlossene Beschäftigungspakt bedeutet – wenn es auch sicherlich ein zu begrüßenswerter Schritt war – sicherlich auch eine Festschreibung dieser tendenziellen Gleichsetzung. Einerseits ist eine solche verengte Sichtweise problematisch, andererseits aber wird umgekehrt vielfach von Seiten der sozialen Professionen der Blick vor der großen sozialen Bedeutung eben des Ökonomischen als Sozialer Lebensweise verschlossen. In Fakt: Ökonomie hat für die Lebensweise nicht nur eine Versorgungsfunktion, sondern stellt zu einem guten Teil selbst eines der zentralen Elemente der Gesamtlebenslage dar, ist selbst wesentlich Lebensweise. Dies gilt hinsichtlich der ‘negativen‘ Bestimmung‘, d.h. mit Blick auf mögliche repressive, entfremdende Aspekte und ebenso mit Blick auf die ‘positiven Aspekte‘ der Selbstentfaltungspotentiale, die nur mit und durch Arbeit als aktiver, gesellschaftlich anerkannter Tätigkeit bzw. Teilhabe.

Wenn man fortwährend in der eher aktuellen Auseinandersetzung um politische Strategie- und auch Taktikdiskussionen, in der Debatte und Ausgestaltung einzelner Maßnahmen gefangen ist, so sollte man nicht vergessen, sich von Zeit zu Zeit auch der grundsätzlichen Fragen zu entsinnen. Ein hier vorzustellendes Buch von Elsen über die Gemeinwesenökonomie zeigt, dass dies keineswegs eine Aufgabe für theoretische Reflektion unter Hinnahme des Verlustes von Praxisrelevanz sein muss. Dies gilt umso mehr, wie gerade die Sozialarbeit eben an gleich zwei Nahtstellen zu verorten ist: Einerseits geht es darum, die Lebensweise in einen konkreten Zusammenhang zu integrieren, der sowohl ökonomische Aspekte als auch jene der allgemeinen Lebensführung, des Zusammenseins mit anderen umfaßt. Zum Anderen sind – gerade die Europäische Debatte zeigt dies immer wieder von Neuem – globale und lokale bzw. kleinräumige Strukturen miteinander handlungsmäßig in einer homogenen Einheit zu verflechten.

Auch wenn das vorliegende Buch für eine universelle Antwort sicherlich keine schlüssige Antwort geben kann, bietet es doch für die Diskussion gerade auch der Entwicklung einer Sozialökologie einen wertvollen Beitrag. Dies gilt nicht zuletzt auch deshalb, weil mit der Bezugnahme auf konkrete Projekte einer Lokalen Wohlfahrtsstaatlichkeit (das Beispiel Duisburg-Marxloh, lokale Beschäftigungsinitiativen, Genossenschaftliche Gemeinwesenunternehmen u.ä.) und die Vorstellung eines ‘berufsbegleitenden Fortbildungsprogramms "Solidarische Ökonomie"‘ praxisnahe Anregungen nicht zu kurz kommen. Dabei geht es nicht zuletzt – und dies verleiht den Ausführungen ein besonderes Interesse aber zugleich eine besondere Angreifbarkeit – auch um die Behandlung von Gemeinwesenökonomie als sozialpädagogischem Konzept.

Über fundamental Rechte zu räsonieren ist eine Sache (s. Die Grundrechte in der Europäischen Union verbürgen. Bericht der Expertengruppe ‘Grundrechte‘. Hrsg.: Europäische Kommission. DG V. Luxemburg: Amt für amtliche Veröffentlichungen der Europäischen Gemeinschaften, 1999. http://europa.eu.int/comm/dg05/fundamri/index_en.htm); eine andere Sache sind Stammtischgespräche; und eine dritte (sowie vierte) Sache ist wirkliche Einsicht in die Situation jener Menschen, deren Grundrechte hier und heute mit Füßen getreten werden. Dies sind nicht nur aber doch eben auch MigrantInnen vor allem aus den sog. Drittstaaten.

Of course, fundamental social is in general a highly sensible issue. However, this is especially a problem for the European Union. On the one hand, we find for many times the claim of a common history, common traditions and a general harmony in regard of the accepted values in the member states. This is even said to be a source for an already existing European identity and citizenship. Nevertheless, it is obvious difficult to agree on fundamental rights as part of the primary EU-law and the actual policies. For many times this issue had been discussed either in connection with concrete issues (e.g. free movement) or in general terms and various documents (e.g. Comité de Sages).

A newly published document takes up the issue again: ‘The quest for explicit recognition of fundamental rights is … still of immediate importance. In fact, the very adoption of the Amsterdam Treaty has made the need even more apparent. The enlargement of the European Unions tasks demonstrates that recognition of fundamental rights is not a long-term policy but a short-term necessity.’ (9) An Expert group consisting of lawyers has compiled the report.

Vielleicht wird es ja etwas: Die Fraktionen von SPD und Grünen fordern von der Bundesregierung einen jährlichen Armutsbericht, der nicht nur über Quantität der Armut im Lande berichtet, sondern auch die Lebenslagen beleuchtet sowie Einblick in die Ursachen bietet. Derweil dies aber noch Zukunfstmusik ist, ist folgende Schrift von Bedeutung: Beate Hock/Gerda Holz: Arm dran (?)! – Lebenslagen und Lebenschancen von Kindern und Jugendlichen . Zu Armut und Benachteiligung inDeutschland. Auszuewge aus dem 1. Zwischenbericht der dreijaehrigen AWO-ISS-Untersuchung.

FEANTSA, the European Network working on housing issues and engaged for the improvement especially of the life situation of homeless people published a booklet which provides a set of practical policy proposals to promote social inclusion and ensure access to decent housing for all citizens and residents of the European Union.

Auch wenn es sich teils m schon ältere Dokumente handelt, so sind sie doch nach wie vor und vielleicht mehr denn je der Aufmerksamkeit zu empfehlen:

* Integration konkret. Flüchtlingsprojekte im Paritätischen

* Zur Sozialen und gesellschaftlichen Integration von Arbeitsmigrantinnen. Modellprojekte im Paritätischen gefördert durch das Bundesministerium für Arbeit und Sozialordnung

* Lebenssituation und –perspektiven von Zuwanderern und ihren Kindern. Projekte im Paritätischen gefördert durch die Kommission der Europäischen Union

* Migrationssozialarbeit

Positionen zu Fragen der Migrationspolitik.

The discrimination against women is not least a matter of political decision making. Three documents point at the problematic situation and some positive approaches alike:

Die Maastrichter Erklärung 23 bestimmt den Eingang der neuen website des ETWelfare, mit der nun indirekt auch die Europäische Vertretung der Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft auf dem Netz vertreten ist. Berichtet wird in erfreulich ausführlicher und offener Weise über vergangene, gegenwärtige und geplante Projekte der Vereinigung.

Seemingly Europe is back on the track of peace. But unfortunately this is only half of the truth. Weapons might be silent in the south-east. Nevertheless another battle is faught in the North, a war, which seems to be just ordinary daily life.

No, this contribution is not concerned with the Irish conflict in the north. At least not much. The conflict in the North of this island nation has insofar some meaning as an English supermarket chain has some difficulties to settle here. It is not long ago that a brand leader came here, took over outlets from another chain etc. – business as usual, despite the fact that the promotion strategy of the English company is particularly ‘Irish’. For example we find inscriptions for the goods in Irish, it is said that especially Irish products are sold and thus Irish enterprises are supported, that … Anyway, this is business and not war.

The battle takes place at another front, at the front we might call the shape of information society and the future of living together therein.

There are three pillars, and this might be somewhat symbolic. We all know that three is the number of the holy Trinity. And in the case we looking at it might be the number concerned with a new trinity, of course holy in the eyes of modern business.

1. Computer for schools: One motto of the supermarket store reads ‘Every little helps’ and this is true enough. Thus, part of the promotion strategy is to help with a little. Over a special period of the year the customers are invited to collect points. At the end of the period everybody can pass these points on to his local school or any school he wants to support. And the school is entitled to buy Computers and respective peripherals etc. with these points. Every little helps, indeed. And it is really a great thing to support by this means the education. If we like it or not: We are living in the era of Computers and the kids really benefit from this action.

2. Virtual shopping is a second pillar of this business war and it would be foolish to oppose this means. Even if there are some problems (for example especially for senior citizens, which enter a completely new world; for SMEs it will be even harder to compete) the idea is basically or generally not to be turned down. It will soon be possible to shop via Internet. There is no need to go to the shop, there is no heavy carrying of goods – just ‘walk through the store, click at what you need or want and it will be delivered in due time. (Of course, there is no chat with other customers and you will have no opportunity to speak to John or Tracy from the till – but that is another question) Part of this virtual shopping strategy is that the management of the superstore chain "announced last week that it is launching a subscription free internet access scheme for all 10 million Clubcard holders in Britain and if the demand is high in Ireland the package may be introduced here.’ (Southside/Northside News. February 10^th, 1999: 11) – Indeed, every little helps and thus we will be happy if we can enjoy free access to the net of all nets.
No, up to here there is really now reason to speak of a war or a battle.

3. Glorification of war, however, changes the image. And shopping in the Cork outlet at Paul’s Street I recently came across that in this mainly food store CD-ROM’s are sold as well. ‘Every little helps’ – why not. The shop gets some money extra by selling additional products and the customer can avoid looking in another shop what he is looking for. Anyway, it is a supermarket I am writing about. A closer look showed that not only the usual rubbish is on offer: Get the right dog. Choose the right cat. And: Learn to speak French, Spanish etc. – If you ever looked at one of these pieces you know why I said usual rubbish even you sometimes may be lucky and find something useful. Besides this I found CD ROM’s on offer which cannot be characterised other then glorifying war. What makes it even worse: this stuff presents itself as enlightening in regard of historical and social knowledge: World War I and II and any Star War as WW III. It is sad and unworthy. The shop management cannot be blamed for its effort to make some coins additional cash. However, it can be blamed to make it either without knowing what is being sold or, even worse, well aware of the stuff in the shelves. My complain had been unanswered in two ways: I took some of the CD-ROMs out of the shelve, brought them to the information desk and asked to remove the stuff from the shelve. The girl there agreed, said that we have violence enough, indeed. She promised me to pass the matter on to the responsible manager. Even if I left my telephone number with her I never heard from it again. This happened for two more times. Finally I asked the respective manager and she told me that they passed my query on to the management in Dublin. And they said that the CD ROM’s would not be taken off the shelves – it would not be possible to serve all customers.

What wonder? However, it is shameful that a large shop sells such stuff, which glorifies war and violence just as addition to the core of the goods. Nobody would miss a single piece if it wouldn’t be on the shelves. They probably would even mention it. Of course, everybody would miss in a food market superstore butter, milk, fish and veg. But who would miss a CD ROM which plays down war?

What makes all this worse and, in fact, repulsive, irresponsible and even near to societal crime is the following: Seen together with the other two element, namely the promotion Computer for Schools and Virtual Shopping it is indeed a battle to conquer the heads of the people. And they know too well that an early start is half of the job. – Every little helps, indeed.

Each year some 600 tonnes of cannabis, used to produce marijuana and hashish, are seized in the European Union (EU). Meanwhile, the success of EXTASY in discotheques shows no signs of flagging. Numerous adolescents are not only consumers of illegal drugs but also pushers. Drugs, petty crime and illness seem to go hand in hand. With the Treaty of Amsterdam (the EU's new constitution, as it were) the EU now has additional means at its disposal to combat this scourge.

The action plan for the years 2000 to 2004, which the European Commission proposed at the end of May, should be adopted by the end of the year. It would take over from the plan launched in 1995, which comes to an end in December. Like the earlier action plan, the new one would seek to reduce both demand and supply in a balanced manner; collect and disseminate reliable and comparable information on the drugs situation in the EU, and cooperate with the rest of the world in combating drug production and trafficking. The plan also seeks to ensure that the fight against drugs remains a major EU priority, and is adequately funded.

A European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) has already been set up. Based in Lisbon, it collects and studies all available information on drug use in the 15-nation EU, in order to provide the comparable data needed to follow the situation. The drugs unit of Europol, the European police office based in the Hague, is a valuable source of information.

Cannabis is the illegal drug which is the most widely consumed in the EU. However, one of the major new challenges facing the EU is the steady increase in the use of synthetic drugs, such as amphetamines - in second place in the EU - and EXTASY, a newcomer which is finding a ready market in the member states. Another sturbing development is the use of drugs in sports.

It should be pointed out that the production of illegal drugs is not confined to poor and distant countries.

Many synthetic drugs are produced in Europe, as is cannabis. Other problems which have assumed greater importance in recent times include the mixing of drugs and of drugs and alcohol, drug-related juvenile delinquincy and social exclusion.

The Treaty of Amsterdam, in force since May 1, allows the EU to disseminate information and take preventive measures in order to reduce drug-related health problems. It also allows the EU to adopt a system of incentives, and requires member states to join forces in combating drug trafficking, through closer cooperation between their police forces, customs officials and courts, as well as through the approximation of their national criminal legislation.

The action plan will take advantage of these possibilities in order to reduce the quantity of illegal drugs available in the EU. At the same time it will continue to fight against not only the diversion of chemical products to the manufacture of synthetic drugs but also money laundering and criminal organizations in general. The plan would also prevent the use of the Internet by criminals, to produce and market their goods.

The action plan would have two ambitious goals as regards prevention. It would seek to reduce by 20% the proportion of young people under 18 years who take drugs, and to cut by 50% the number of deaths linked to drugs. The sharing of experiences between member states, information campaigns, the creation of European networks of healthcare professionals, training and research would help reach these goals, as they would complement measures taken at the local, regional and national levels.

At the international level, the projected action plan calls on the EU to strengthen its cooperation with drug producing countries, particularly Turkey and Morocco as well as countries in Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean.

Equal pay for equal work is a principle which the European Union (EU) has insisted be implemented in numerous cases. But the fact remains that EU rules do not prevent two persons, or two groups of people, who apparently are doing the same work but have been trained differently, from being treated differently. This is something which psychologists employed as psychotherapists by the regional health authorities in the Austrian capital, Vienna, learned to their cost, through a recent ruling of the European Court of Justice.

The psychotherapists in question, nearly all of them women, had studied psychology. They complained that they were earning much less than their colleagues, nearly all of them male, who had studied medicine. The latter, who were classed with the doctors and dentists employed by the health authorities, were paid some 50% more on average than the psychotherapists who had trained as psychologists, as they were classed with nurses and administrative staff.

The works council representing the Vienna regional health authorities' employees asked the labour court to put these psychotherapists in the same category as their colleagues who had trained as doctors. The court rejected the demand. The works council turned to the Court of Appeal in Vienna, which turned to the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg.

The European Court noted that the two categories of psychotherapists made use of knowledge and abilities acquired in very different disciplines. In addition, the psychotherapists who had studied medicine could engage in activities not open to those trained as psychologists, while the reverse was not true. The Court concluded that the two groups were not comparable, so that the psychologists were not being unfairly discriminated against.

John Brown is English and works in Brussels. His French wife recently left him, to live in Paris with their two children, Martin, who is nine, and Anne, who is seven. The couple wants to divorce, but cannot agree on the custody of their two children, as John would like to keep his son with him. But which court will rule on the matter - and in which country? And how to be sure that the court's decision is implemented, even while avoiding fresh disputes and a generally tense climate for years to come?

It was in order to be able to answer such questions more easily that the European Commission recently proposed to the European Union (EU) Council of Ministers both a regulation and a directive for early adoption.

This is not the first time that the EU has tackled such problems, which are a source of difficulty for a growing number of Europeans, more and more of whom are taking advantage of the possibility of living and working in another EU country. Last year the 15 EU member states signed a convention aimed at simplifying, as well as reducing the cost, of the procedures to be followed in matters of divorce, judicial separation, annulment and the custody of children.

This convention has not come into force, as member states have failed to transpose it into national law. However, the recent Amsterdam Treaty which has been in force since May 1 gives the EU the power to adopt legislation designed to facilitate cooperation between the judicial authorities of the various member states in civil cases, such as divorce and in matters arising from them.

The new proposals take advantage of this possibility in order to resolve more effectively and quickly the problems of EU citizens - and their children - who find themselves facing a cross-border divorce. The regulation embodies the contents of the 1998 convention, even while adapting them to the relevant provisions of the Amsterdam Treaty. Once it has been adopted by the EU Council of Ministers, it will come into force directly and at once in all 15 member states.

The regulation, like the convention, would determine which court, or courts, have competence in the matter. In practice, in cases of divorce, separation and annulment it would be a court in the country of residence of the couple, or of one of them. If both husband and wife have the same nationality, it would be a court in the country of which they are nationals.

Decisions regarding the custody of the children, and the rights of parents who are divorced or separated, would be made by a court in the country in which the divorce or separation was pronounced, even if the children were living in another country, although the decision would then be in the interest of the children, and the couple would have to be in agreement. The proposal also covers the risk of the children being taken by one of the parents to another EU country. In such cases competence would remain with the court of the country in which the children would have been legally resident but for their having been taken from it.

The draft regulation provides for the automatic recognition and implementation in all EU member states of a judgement given in one of them. In other words, it lays down the principle of the recognition of a decision in another country, without the need for further legal proceedings. This would represent a considerable saving in time and money, in order to change civil status, for example. In a very few specific cases judges in one EU country could refuse to recognize a decision of their colleagues in another EU country.

In the field of child custody, a European procedure would replace the various national procedures when it comes to enforcing in one member state a judgement given in another. The proposal also stipulates that an individual who received legal aid in the country in which judgement had been given, should have the same opportunity in the country in which its enforcement was being sought. Here, too, the result would be lower costs.

The directive which the European Commission has proposed to the EU Council would facilitate the transmission of documents relating to court decisions and other legal acts of interest to the wider public. It would prevent delays and mix ups through improvements to the channels of communication between the judicial and administrative services of the various EU countries. The proposal would also apply to notarial deeds.

Take the case of a young European who leaves his country of origin after having worked eight months in a company making widgets. He contributed to a supplementary pension scheme, but as he left before the minimum period of a year, he lost his right to a pension, and with it all his contributions.

Now take the case of a somewhat older European who finds employment in another EU country. For 10 years he contributed to a supplementary pension scheme with a life assurance company in his country of origin. He can continue with his payments, but will no longer be entitled to deduct them from his tax return.

This are the kinds of problems which the European Commission looks at in a recent document, and comes up with solutions. In a Europe with an ageing population, social security pension schemes are coming under growing pressure. Meanwhile supplementary pension schemes are growing in importance, whether they are linked to employment or a professional occupation or consist of contracts subscribed by individuals with life assurance companies. In some European Union countries they already account for half the retirement benefit payments, and everywhere they handle vast sums of money.

In the EU as a whole pension funds hold the equivalent of 23% of the gross domestic product (GDP), as against the 35% of GDP held by insurance companies. They are important, therefore, from the viewpoint not only of future pensioners but also the economy as a whole.

However, despite the European single market and the euro, and despite the adoption last year of a specific directive on the subject, supplementary pension schemes and funds remain subject to national laws, which prevent them from acquiring a European dimension.

The difficulties mentioned above are one consequence of this; additional costs for those insured are another. The fact that, in their investment policies, pension funds are largely confined within their national boundaries, and in some countries to certain specific kinds of investments, reduces their performance and raises the level of contributions.

In its paper the European Commission sets out a European framework for supplementary pensions, which would involve action in three directions. To begin with, a directive would give occupational pension schemes a "European passport", as it were, similar to that which exists for banks and insurance companies. This particular law would guarantee the rights of those affiliated to these schemes, even while allowing the pension funds in question to manage the sums which are entrusted to them as effectively as possible, by taking advantage of the single market.

The second line of action would require consultations involving the authorities, employers' organizations, trade unions and the supplementary pension funds, in order to ensure that the conditions for the acquisition and transfer of the rights of workers are no longer an obstacle to their settling in another EU country. Finally, it would be necessary to gradually eliminate the discriminatory way in which national tax systems treat contributions to pension funds and assurance companies located in another EU country. A start could be made with occupational schemes.