COHESION, REGIONAL POLICY, EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, HEALTH Flashcards
What year was regional policy integrated into the Treaty of Rome?
1957
What fund was created in 1975 to support regional development?
European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)
Which treaty introduced the Cohesion Fund?
Treaty of Maastricht
Cohesion policy is based on which article of the TFEU?
Art. 174 TFEU
What are the three principles of cohesion policy?
- Concentration
- Programming
- Partnership
What is the budget for the 2021 – 2027 cohesion policy?
€392 billion
What are the five key objectives of the ERDF for 2021 – 2027?
- A more competitive and smarter Europe
- A greener, low carbon transitioning towards a net zero carbon economy
- A more connected Europe by enhancing mobility
- A more social and inclusive Europe
- Europe closer to citizens by fostering sustainable and integrated development
What does the Cohesion Fund primarily support?
- Investments in the environment
- Trans-European networks in transport infrastructure
How many Member States does the Cohesion Fund concern for the 2021-2027 period?
15
What does the European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF) provide support for?
- Severe natural disasters
- Major health emergencies
What is the total amount mobilized by the EUSF since its establishment?
Over €8.6 billion
What is the Just Transition Fund part of?
Just Transition Mechanism
What is the budget of the Just Transition Fund for the 2021-2027 period?
€19.7 billion
What is the main goal of the INTERREG Europe programme?
Improve regional development policies through exchanges of experiences and good practice
What are the four topics focused on by INTERREG Europe?
- Research, technological development and innovation
- Competitiveness of SMEs
- Low carbon economy
- Environment and resource efficiency
What is the purpose of the PEACE PLUS programme?
Reinforcing progress towards a peaceful and stable society in Northern Ireland
What key thematic areas does PEACE PLUS focus on?
- Building Peaceful and Thriving Communities
- Delivering Economic Regeneration and Transformation
- Empowering and Investing in Our Young People
- Healthy and Inclusive Communities
- Supporting a Sustainable and Better-Connected Future
- Building and Embedding Partnership and Collaboration
What does the RESTORE proposal allow Member States to do?
Complement the EUSF support for recovery after a climate-related disaster
What is the aim of the Bridge4EU proposal?
Support the development of border regions and resolve cross-border obstacles
What is the Rural Pact launched by the European Commission?
A framework for cooperation between various stakeholders to address rural issues
What percentage of the EU’s territory do rural areas cover?
83%
How many people live in the EU’s rural areas?
137 million
What is the demographic challenge associated with population ageing in the EU?
By 2050, the share of people over 65 will be around 30%
What are the four pillars of the Demography Toolbox?
- Support parents
- Support younger generations
- Empower older generations
- Address labour shortages
How many outermost regions does the EU count?
Nine
What is the main goal of the EU’s long-term vision for rural areas?
Develop a common vision with shared goals for rural development
What strategic orientations does the European Commission set for outermost regions?
- Improve living conditions
- Build on unique assets
- Support sustainable economic transformation
- Strengthen regional cooperation
What was the total funding amount for the current Overseas Association Decision (OAD)?
€500 million
What are macro-regional strategies?
Frameworks to address common challenges in defined geographical areas
What is the purpose of the ESPON programme?
Support formulation of territorial development policies in Europe
What does REGIOSTARS recognize?
EU-funded projects that demonstrate impact and inclusivity in regional development
What is the European Pillar of Social Rights?
A framework proclaimed by the European Parliament, the Council, and the Commission
What was the 22nd edition of RegionsWeek in 2024 characterized by?
Over 7000 onsite participants, over 500 speakers, 156 sessions, 30 exhibition stands, 9 regional tastings, and over 180 journalists
It was a celebration and showcase for cohesion policy.
What are the three chapters of the European Pillar of Social Rights?
1) Equal opportunities and access to the labour market; 2) Fair working conditions; 3) Social protection and inclusion.
What are the headline targets proposed by the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan for 2030?
78% employment; 60% of adults participating in training yearly; 15 million fewer people in poverty.
What was the purpose of the Social Summit held in Porto on 7-8 May 2021?
To reaffirm the commitment to put people first in Europe’s recovery and beyond.
Name the five priorities of the Action plan on skills and labour shortages announced in March 2024.
- Supporting underrepresented people to enter the labour market
- Providing support for skills development, training and education
- Improving working conditions
- Improving fair intra-EU mobility for workers and learners
- Attracting talent from outside the EU.
What does the Effective Active Support to Employment (EASE) guidance provide?
Guidance on active labour market policies focusing on hiring incentives, upskilling, and enhanced support by employment services.
What was the financial assistance provided under the SURE program in 2020?
€98.4 billion of financial assistance was provided to 19 Member States.
What does the EU Directive on adequate minimum wages aim to establish?
A framework for the adequacy of statutory minimum wages and promoting collective bargaining on wage setting.
What is the focus of the Directive to improve working conditions for platform workers, effective October 2024?
To determine employment status, promote transparency, and ensure fairness in algorithmic management.
What are some key elements of the Directive on transparent and predictable working conditions?
- Complete information on work aspects
- Limit probationary periods to six months
- Justified restrictions on taking other jobs
- Advance notice of work schedules
- Measures against zero-hour contracts.
What are the new exposure limits established in the EU Strategic Framework on health and safety at work?
10x lower exposure limit for asbestos; 5x lower exposure limit for lead; first-ever exposure limits for diisocyanates.
What is the significance of social dialogue in the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union?
It mandates the Commission to consult social partners on legislative proposals in the social policy field.
What are the objectives of the Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025?
- Ending gender-based violence
- Challenging gender stereotypes
- Closing gender gaps in the labour market
- Achieving equal participation in different sectors
- Addressing gender pay and pension gaps.
What does the Pay Transparency Directive, established in May 2023, aim to achieve?
To establish pay transparency standards to empower workers and prevent gender pay gaps.
What are the targets for gender balance in corporate boards set by the Directive on gender balance in corporate boards?
40% of non-executive director positions or 33% of all director positions should be held by the underrepresented sex by 2026.
What does the Directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence criminalize?
- Physical violence
- Psychological violence
- Economic violence
- Sexual violence.
What is the goal of the European Care Strategy established on 7 September 2022?
To ensure quality, affordable, and accessible care services across the EU.
What does the EU’s Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2021-2030 aim for?
To help persons with disabilities live independently, learn in inclusive environments, and work quality jobs.
What are the flagship initiatives under the Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities?
- AccessibleEU
- European Disability Card
- Guidance on independent living
- Framework for social services of excellence
- Labour market outcomes package
- Disability Platform
- Renewed HR strategy for the European Commission.
What was the purpose of the Youth Guarantee created in 2013?
To help 15-29 year-olds receive an offer of employment, education, apprenticeship, or traineeship within four months.
What is the purpose of the European Youth Strategy 2021-2027?
To foster participation, connect young people, and support youth empowerment in the EU.
What does the European Child Guarantee aim to achieve?
Prevent and combat social exclusion by guaranteeing access to key services for children in need.
What are the targets for the European Skills Agenda?
Strengthening sustainable competitiveness, ensuring social fairness, building resilience to react to crises.
What is the Pact for Skills?
A program that provided training to 3.5 million individuals in 2022 and 2023.
What are the five domains of the European Education Area initiative?
- Improving quality and equity in education and training
- Teachers, trainers, and school leaders
- Digital education
- Green education
- EEA in the world
When was the idea to create a European Education Area first endorsed?
At the 2017 Social Summit in Gothenburg, Sweden.
What is the aim of the European Strategy for Universities (2022)?
To support and enable universities to adapt to changing conditions and contribute to Europe’s resilience and recovery.
What are the four flagship initiatives of the European Strategy for Universities?
- Alliances of European Universities
- Developing a joint European degree label
- Possible European legal status for alliances of higher education institutions
- Scale-up the European Student Card initiative
What is the Digital Education Action Plan?
A plan adopted on 30 September 2020 focusing on digital education ecosystem development and enhancing digital skills.
What is the purpose of the Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD)?
To govern EU-wide coordination of national legislation on audiovisual media.
What does the Media and Audiovisual Action Plan (MAAP) aim to achieve?
To boost European media and maintain cultural and technological autonomy in the Digital Decade.
What financial tool was announced under the MAAP?
MediaInvest.
What is the budget of the Erasmus+ program?
€26.2 billion.
What are the three key actions of Erasmus+?
- Learning mobility of individuals
- Cooperation among organisations and institutions
- Support to policy development and cooperation
What does the ESF+ aim to support?
Investing in people and implementing the European Pillar of Social Rights.
What is the budget for the ESF+ for the period 2021-2027?
€142.7 billion.
What are the four main objectives of the EU’s health actions?
- Protect and improve the health of EU citizens
- Support the modernisation of health infrastructure
- Improve the resilience of Europe’s health systems
- Strengthen preparedness and response measures to cross-border health threats
What is the European Health Union’s proposal from November 2020 focused on?
Strengthening the EU health security framework.
What does the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) do?
Collects, analyses, and shares data on infectious diseases.
What is the purpose of the Pharmaceutical strategy (2020)?
- Access and affordable medicines
- Competition, innovation, and sustainability of the pharmaceutical industry
- Crisis preparedness and response mechanism
- Strong EU voice in the world
What are the targets of the Beating Cancer initiative?
- 90% HPV vaccination rate for girls by 2030
- Less than 5% tobacco use by 2040
- 90% of the eligible population offered cancer screenings by 2025
What is the budget of the EU4Health program for the 2021-2027 period?
€5.3 billion.
What does the European Health Data Space (EHDS) aim to establish?
A health-specific data sharing framework for electronic health data.
What are the top three health threats in the EU according to HERA?
- Pathogens with high pandemic potential
- Chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats
- Antimicrobial resistance threats
What is the purpose of the EU FAB network?
To ensure production capacities for vaccine and medicine manufacturing in case of future crises.
What does the European Reference Networks (ERNs) focus on?
Tackling rare, low prevalence, and complex diseases requiring highly specialised healthcare.
What is the European Education Area strategic framework?
The framework structures collaboration between EU Member States and key stakeholders to achieve their collective vision
It promotes monitoring progress and engaging stakeholders.
What are the main functions of the European Education Area strategic framework?
The framework functions by:
* Strengthening policy cooperation
* Enhancing synergies with other initiatives
* Identifying targets and indicators
* Fostering integration into the European Semester process
Other initiatives include the European Research Area and the Bologna Process.
What is one target for VET graduates by 2025?
At least 60% of recent graduates from VET should benefit from exposure to work-based learning
VET stands for Vocational Education and Training.
What percentage of adults aged 25-64 should participate in learning by 2025?
At least 47%
This target is part of the collective vision for the European Education Area.
What is the target for 15-year-olds in reading, mathematics, and science by 2030?
Less than 15% should be low-achievers
This target aims to improve educational outcomes.
What percentage of eight-graders should be low-achievers in computer and information literacy by 2030?
Less than 15%
This emphasizes the importance of digital literacy.
What is the target for early childhood education participation by 2030?
At least 96% of children between 3 years old and the starting age for compulsory primary education
This aims to ensure early childhood education access.
What is the target for early school leaving by 2030?
Less than 9% of pupils should leave education and training early
This target seeks to reduce drop-out rates.
What percentage of 25-34 year-olds should have a higher education qualification by 2030?
At least 45%
This target highlights the need for higher education attainment.
What methods are maintained for cooperation until 2025?
Existing peer learning methods include:
* Working Groups
* Peer learning activities
* Peer reviews
* Peer counselling
These methods facilitate sharing best practices and addressing challenges.
What does the Education and Training Monitor do?
Reports on progress towards targets and indicators related to the European Education Area
It provides data for evaluating educational progress.
How does the Education and Training Monitor relate to the European Semester process?
The analysis feeds into the evaluation of broader socio-economic progress by Member States
The European Semester process assesses economic policies.
What is the purpose of the European Education Summit?
Acts as a forum for Member States and stakeholders to cooperate and exchange best practices
It focuses on education and training policy.
What right does everyone have regarding education and training?
Everyone has the right to quality and inclusive education, training, and life-long learning
This enables individuals to maintain and acquire skills for participation in society and successful transitions in the labour market.
What is the European Skills Agenda?
A related Commission action focused on enhancing skills and training across the EU.
What must be ensured between women and men in the labor market?
Equality of treatment and opportunities
This includes participation, terms and conditions of employment, and career progression.
What is the right to equal pay?
Women and men have the right to equal pay for work of equal value.
What right does everyone have regarding equal treatment and opportunities?
Everyone has the right to equal treatment and opportunities regardless of gender, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age, or sexual orientation.
What is the EU Anti-racism Action Plan 2020-2025?
A related Commission action aimed at promoting equal opportunities for all citizens.
What is the right to active support for employment?
Everyone has the right to timely and tailor-made assistance to improve employment or self-employment prospects.
What is the right of young people regarding unemployment?
Young people have the right to continued education, apprenticeship, traineeship, or a job offer of good standing within 4 months of becoming unemployed or leaving education.
What must workers be informed about at the start of employment?
Workers have the right to be informed in writing about their rights and obligations resulting from the employment relationship.
What is the right to fair wages?
Workers have the right to fair wages that provide for a decent standard of living.
What is necessary for adequate minimum wages?
Adequate minimum wages must satisfy the needs of the worker and their family while safeguarding access to employment.
What rights do workers have regarding dismissals?
Workers have the right to be informed of the reasons for dismissal and to receive a reasonable period of notice.
What is the role of social partners in policy-making?
Social partners shall be consulted on the design and implementation of economic, employment, and social policies.
What rights do parents and caregivers have in the workplace?
Parents and people with caring responsibilities have the right to suitable leave and flexible working arrangements.
What is the EU strategic framework on health and safety at work?
A related Commission action aimed at ensuring high levels of protection for workers’ health and safety.
What rights do children have regarding education and care?
Children have the right to affordable early childhood education and care of good quality.
What is the right to adequate social protection?
Workers and the self-employed have the right to adequate social protection regardless of their employment relationship.
What do the unemployed have the right to?
The unemployed have the right to adequate activation support and unemployment benefits of reasonable duration.
What is the right to minimum income?
Everyone lacking sufficient resources has the right to adequate minimum income benefits ensuring a life in dignity.
What is the right to a pension in retirement?
Workers and the self-employed have the right to a pension commensurate to their contributions.
What rights do people with disabilities have?
People with disabilities have the right to income support, services enabling participation in the labor market, and adapted work environments.
What is the right to affordable long-term care?
Everyone has the right to affordable long-term care services of good quality.
What is the right to access essential services?
Everyone has the right to access essential services of good quality, including water, sanitation, and digital communications.
